by Noella Noelophile®
(Royalty-free image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay.)
As far as I’m concerned, it’s still Christmas. And will be, until Twelfth Night.
How about you?
If you enjoy making Christmas last (and now that the violent rain and wind seem to be over) here are some events you might like to check out.
L.A. Zoo Lights
Open through Sunday, January 11th
(Photo courtesy of L.A. Zoo.)
L.A. Zoo Lights’ calendar shows ticket availability, every evening until their closing date of Sunday, January 11th, with one exception: New Year’s Eve. They’ll be closed that evening.
As mentioned in my earlier post, L.A. Zoo Lights offers two entry times, each evening: 6:00 pm and 7:30 pm. Tickets are available online, but also available at their box office, which opens at 5:45 pm. Admission gates close at 8:45 pm.
And on Thursday, January 8th, L.A. Zoo Lights hosts “L.A. Pride Night”, celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community, with added festivities, including an all-ages DJ dance party.
Los Angeles Zoo is located at 5333 Zoo Drive in Los Angeles. Tickets are sold separately from general-admission tickets to the Zoo. Ticket prices range from $19 to $35 for non-member adults, with lower rates for members and children. Free parking is available.
Cambria Christmas Market
Open through Wednesday, December 31st
(Photo courtesy of Cambria Christmas Market, and used with permission.)
Surprisingly, given their popularity, Cambria Christmas Market does still have a few tickets left for tomorrow, Sunday, December 31st, as well as next week. Their final day of the 2025 Christmas season is New Year’s Eve, Wednesday, December 31st.
Hours listed on their calendar are 5 pm to 9 pm, each evening from now through New Year’s Eve, and while Santa will have left the building for another year, the days after Christmas, weather permitting, could be a fine time to enjoy the beauty of more than 3 million sparkling lights and the festive atmosphere of a German Christmas market, come to California.
Cambria Christmas Market, at 2905 Burton Drive, runs from 5 pm to 9 pm each evening from now, through New Year’s Eve, Wednesday, December 31st. General-admission tickets may be purchased at this link.
All event parking is offsite; here’s the link for parking information.
Solvang Julefest
Now through Sunday, January 4th
(Photo courtesy of SolvangUSA.com, and used with permission.)
The “hygge” continues in Solvang, which, this year, has received multiple honors, including being voted the #1 “Best U.S. Christmas Town” in TZR’s Reader’s Choice Poll!
Visitors to Solvang Julefest are invited to enjoy Santa’s Village, with its festive gingerbread house, and a nightly 10-minute “Light & Music Show”, on the hour, every evening in Solvang Park.
In addition, those mischievous “Nisser” (Christmas gnomes) will be hiding throughout the town, and you’re invited to hunt them down, with the help of a list of clues from Solvang Visitors’ Center.
And New Year’s Eve is going to be something special! Weather permitting, the town hosts a family-friendly “Copenhagen Countdown”, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm! Come celebrate with top 80’s tribute band the Molly Ringwald Project and ring in the New Year as Denmark welcomes 2026 at 3:00 PM, with a European-style countdown to midnight.
Downtown Sacramento Ice Rink
Now through Monday, January 19th (ice conditions permitting)
(Photo courtesy of Downtown Sacramento Ice Rink.)
The Downtown Sacramento Ice Rink is carrying forward a Christmastime tradition of more than three decades! Their website requests that prospective visitors call them directly to check on ice conditions; here’s their link.
Assuming the weather cooperates and ice conditions are good, they’re open for skating, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 to 9 pm, and Fridays through Sundays, 10 am to 10 pm. (The rink is closed on Mondays.)
Downtown Sacramento Ice Rink is located at 7th and K Streets, in downtown Sacramento.
Winter Fest OC
Nightly, now through January 4th
(Photo courtesy of Winter Fest OC, and used with permission.)
Ice tubing, light shows, snow play and carnival rides are all part of the festivities as Southern California’s largest winter festival continues! And so are live entertainment and Winter Fest OC’s breathtaking “Forest of Lights”.
All tickets are valid for any date of purchase, according to Winter Fest OC’s website, and they have been publishing some discounts for this weekend AND for their mascot “Yowie the Yeti”‘s eleventh birthday!
Hours begin at 4 pm and run till 10 pm, today and tomorrow, then 5-10 pm next Monday and Tuesday.
And on Wednesday, December 31st, come celebrate the New Year with a party!
(Map courtesy of Winter Fest OC.)
Winter Fest stays open till 12:30 am on New Year’s Eve.
Come enjoy the festivities with classic live 70s and 80s hits, courtesy of the Queen Nation Tribute Band, as well as two high-energy performance sets by DJ Ryan. Bring your dancing shoes and get ready for the New Year’s Eve countdown and firework show, at midnight!
Winter Fest OC is located at the Costa Mesa Fairgrounds, 88 Fair Drive in Costa Mesa.
Enjoy, and, one more time–Merry Christmas! And a very Happy New Year.