When the holiday season arrives, Southern California may not be the first place that comes to mind, but it's a region that knows how to get into the festive spirit. From the sunny beaches of San Diego to the snowy retreats of Big Bear Lake, SoCal offers a surprising array of Christmas towns ready to delight and warm your heart.
In this guide, I'll introduce you to seven charming Christmas towns in Southern California that will fill your step with holiday cheer. Celebrate the season in sunny Palm Springs, where the festivities start with the annual Palm Springs Aerial Tramway tree lighting and the beloved Festival of Lights Parade on Palm Canyon Drive. Immerse yourself in the festive spirit at VillageFest, with local vendors offering tasty treats and unique gifts. Families can create lasting memories at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, where the WildLights display transforms the zoo into a mesmerizing wonderland. Palm Springs is the perfect destination for a warm and memorable holiday experience.
Head to Solvang for a month-long Danish-style Julefest, complete with lights, live entertainment, family fun, shopping, and delicious culinary delights. Don't miss the Tree Lighting, Julefest Parade, and Maker's Market, and be sure to hunt for Danish gnomes, meet Santa, and enjoy the daily light and music show in Solvang Park. Solvang could be considered the Christmas capital of Southern California!
Celebrate the holiday season in Big Bear Lake, Southern California's snowy paradise. With local businesses adorned in festive decorations, the magic of the season comes to life. The festivities begin with the Tree Lighting Ceremony in The Village, featuring live music and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus for cherished family photos. The twinkling lights and charmingly carved bears and woodland creatures in The Village make for a jolly good time.
If you're looking for places to go for Christmas in Southern California, these seven charming towns are sure to fill your heart with holiday cheer.
Christmas traditions vary widely across the globe, but they all share the common purpose of spreading joy during the holiday season. While traditions like baking cookies and decorating Christmas trees are common throughout the United States, each state has its own unique customs - and Texas is no exception.
One of the most iconic Texas Christmas traditions is Cowboy Santa. Across the state, you'll find images and decorations of Santa Claus donning a cowboy hat and boots, and using longhorns instead of reindeer to pull his sleigh. Given Texas' warm climate during the holidays, another popular tradition is Christmas barbecues. Many Texans take advantage of the weather to smoke turkeys and other meats for their holiday feasts.
Influenced by the state's German heritage, lighting a handcrafted, 26-foot-tall Christmas pyramid is a beloved tradition in Fredericksburg. These elaborate, illuminated pyramids are displayed each November for all to enjoy. Another recent Texas tradition is the festive Christmas truck - pickup trucks adorned with wreaths, antlers, and twinkling lights, often paraded through cities. And finally, the state is known for its stunning displays of luminarias - paper lanterns that some believe guide the spirit of the Christ child.
While Christmas customs may differ, the spirit of the season shines through in the unique traditions that make Texas so special.
New Mexico's rich Spanish and Mexican heritage has profoundly shaped the state's holiday traditions. Early European missionaries introduced locals to the biblical story of Mary and Joseph's search for shelter and the nativity of Jesus. Later, 18th-century settlers along the Rio Grande began celebrating Christmas with a symbolic observance called a novenario. These festivities evolved into the modern-day Las Posadas, a nine-day celebration from December 16th to 24th that reenacts the holy family's quest for lodging.
Today, Posadas are typically celebrated on Christmas Eve, with groups of carolers dressed as Mary, Joseph, and angels going door-to-door, singing songs and asking for shelter, which the "innkeepers" eventually provide. After the reenactment, there are parties with music, food, and revelry celebrating the birth of Jesus.
Luminarias (or farolitos in northern New Mexico) - small paper lanterns with candles - also illuminate neighborhoods across the state during the holidays. Major displays, like the 30,000 farolitos at San Juan College or the 7,250 luminarias at New Mexico State University, have become cherished community events.
No New Mexico holiday feast is complete without traditional dishes like tamales, posole, and biscochitos. Tamales and the hearty hominy-based posole soup are staples, while the state-designated biscochitos cookies are a ubiquitous treat. And to drink, many families enjoy a warming cup of champurrado, a thick, chocolate-based atole beverage.
Through these customs and foods, New Mexicans celebrate Christmas in a way that uniquely reflects their state's rich cultural heritage.
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