The Top Holiday Events this Season Near Lake Forest, CA
Who said it’s not the holidays without snow? If you’re seeking a warmer place to spend this holiday season, consider visiting Lake Forest, California. Trade heavy jackets, mittens, and snow for lightweight cardigans, sandals, and sand. California’s mild weather allows for more opportunities to spend time with your loved ones while enjoying outdoor festivities.
For those who are unfamiliar with the area, we’ve created this holiday guide to give you the inside scoop on the best holiday activities, performances, shopping events, and volunteer opportunities. If you’re looking to celebrate the holidays near Lake Forest, California, keep reading!
Activities
Shows and Performances
Shopping
Opportunities to Share
Safe Celebration
Activities
There are so many holiday activities near Lake Forest that can help you feel the holiday spirit. Here are a few of our favorites.
Winter Fest OC: Starting on November 25, the OC Fair & Event Center will be hosting a light show. Every night through January 1, the center will be turned into a winter wonderland, featuring holiday decor, over a million lights, and exciting activities—including a North Pole Journey, ice skating under the stars, ice-tubing slides, food and drinks, and more! This is the perfect activity for young children as well as anyone who enjoys scenic walks and beautiful sights!
Christmas in the Canyons: Looking for old-fashioned Christmas cheer? Located 20 minutes up the canyon in historic Silverado, Christmas in the Canyons offers hayrides, caroling music, craft vendors, tasty food, and a Santa Claus photoshoot! This is the perfect opportunity to support local artists while embracing holiday festivities with a country twist.
Shows and Performances
There’s something about live performances that brings the holidays to life. Beautiful music paired with dazzling costumes and stunning scenery always makes for a great holiday event. Here are a few must-see holiday performances near Lake Forest.
Anaheim Ballet’s The Nutcracker: Watch as the cast of the Anaheim Ballet tells the classic story of Clara and her nutcracker doll who changes her woeful winter into a fanciful feast in Candyland. This show is a perfect blend of holiday cheer and tradition that will make you feel warm and fuzzy as you enjoy the comforts of the holidays.
Silent Night Silent Disco: Who doesn’t love to dance to their favorite songs—especially when they’re holiday hits? If that sounds like your cup of hot cocoa, don’t miss the Silent Night Silent Disco on December 9 at 6 p.m. at Argyros Plaza! This event will offer three upbeat channels to choose from, offering music that everyone can enjoy. From Top 40 hits to holiday classics, this is your chance to rock your favorite ugly Christmas sweater and dance the night away.
Shopping
Don’t wait until it’s too late to finish your holiday shopping! Here are some of our favorite shopping events near Lake Forest that offer unique items and gifts.
Mission Viejo Gifts & Goodies Holiday Boutique: For the past 50 years, Mission Viejo has been organizing the Goodies Holiday Boutique every holiday season. Hosted at the Murray Community Center on November 20, this holiday extravaganza features specialty items, holiday decor, ornaments, and more from over 80 local artists. Enjoy free parking and admission and get ready to shop until you drop!
The Shops at Mission Viejo: Are you hoping to get all of your holiday shopping done in one place? Then the Shops at Mission Viejo are perfect for you! This mall features all of your favorite shops in one place. From lululemon to Apple and more, you’ll find gifts for every type of person on your gift list. They even have a gift guide to help you plan your holiday shopping!
Opportunities to Share
One of the best ways to experience the holiday spirit is by serving others, but sometimes it can be hard to know where to start! If you’re interested in spreading some holiday cheer to those in need, consider one of the following events:
Santa Claus for a Cause: For our avid runners, Santa Clause for a Cause is the perfect opportunity to help others while doing an activity you love. Register for the 5K or 10K run, and don’t forget your Santa suit or ugly sweater! Proceeds will be used to provide Christmas dinners to families in Africa and help support the ranch pets at Miss Pam’s Ranch. If you’re unable to attend the race, you can help the organization by donating toiletry items, health care products, and books.
Orange County Food Bank: The OC Food Bank partners with over 300 charities to end hunger and malnutrition in our Southern California communities. The organization serves low-income families and individuals and distributes over 23 million pounds of food each year. If you are interested in donating or volunteering, visit their website to learn more about how you can help those in need this holiday season.
Safe Celebration
Holiday celebration is meant to be fun, and one way to ensure that your experience is positive and light is to follow safety celebration protocols. While everyone loves a pumpkin- or pine-scented candle, it’s important to light and enjoy candles safely. On average, 20 home candle fires are reported each day, and Christmas is the peak time for candle fires. We ask that you never leave a candle unattended and that you blow all flames out before leaving your home.
Additionally, live Christmas trees can also be a fire hazard. To ensure your safety, please water your tree regularly to prevent it from drying out, keep all open flames away from the branches, and turn off any decorative lights when you go out. Following these protocols will ensure that you have a happy and safe holiday season!
For those who will be spending the holidays near Lake Forest, California, refer to our holiday guide for the top holiday events nearby. Embrace the festive season by participating in local activities, watching live performances, attending holiday shopping events, and taking advantage of service opportunities. If you decorate for the holidays or try out one of the activities above, post a photo on social media, tag us, and use #TisTheSeasonAtAMC. We hope your holiday season is merry and bright!
From all of us at Crestwood Apartments in Lake Forest, CA,
Happy Holidays!
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SATURDAY
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SUNDAY
Closed