Your Guide to Holiday Fun in Anaheim, CA!

Aquarium Holidays: For a fun and memorable holiday activity that is especially perfect for kids, The Aquarium of the Pacific is the perfect place to go this year! At Aquarium Holidays, you’ll see festive decorations, shop for souvenirs and holiday gifts, and even get to see the Santa Diver and aquarium characters in their holiday outfits. Photo opportunities will also be available, so you can document this experience and remember it for years to come.

During Aquarium Holidays, you can also participate in Hanukkah storytelling, with opportunities to play the dreidel, as well as a Kwanzaa celebration. The Aquarium’s holiday celebration runs December 2 through 23 and has many holiday experiences for people of all ages and backgrounds, so make sure you don’t miss out!



Piecemakers Christmas Festival: With over 70 of the finest vendors of hand-crafted items, the Piecemakers Christmas Festival will be the perfect place to get some thoughtful holiday shopping completed! Make sure to set December 2 aside to enjoy this festive shopping event!

Shows and Performances

Whether you like exciting circuses or story-filled ballets, you will love the shows happening in Anaheim this year! With a truly spectacular lineup for this holiday season, there’s sure to be something for everyone!

American Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker: The Nutcracker is a traditional holiday ballet, and The American Ballet Theatre’s performance is one of the best! With more than 100 performers, set and costumes designed by Tony-award-winner Richard Hudson, and amazing choreography, by Alexei Ratmansky, this show is truly breathtaking. Critics have described this rendition of The Nutcracker as a “colorful, cinematic creation filled with spectacle, humor and eye-popping costumes.” The event, accompanied by the Pacific Symphony, is showing December 8–17, and tickets are on sale now, so don’t wait to get seats for this spectacular show!



Disney on Ice presents Encanto and Frozen: Set the mood for the holidays by checking out the blades of glory on display in the annual Disney on Ice spectacular. This is a show for the whole family, and let’s not hear any talk about being too busy. Between matinees and evening shows, there are nine different performances on December 14–18 at the Honda Center in Anaheim. Kids will have a blast singing and dancing along with Mirabel and her sisters, Isabela and Luisa. They can then join the race to find Elsa and end the eternal winter in this frigid holiday extravaganza.

Shopping

The holiday season doubles as the season of giving. There isn’t a better time to show your loved ones how much you care about them! If you are looking for a truly unique gift for your loved ones this year, check out one of these places!

Arts and Crafts Marketplace: This arts and crafts marketplace is the perfect place to stop by if you’re looking for a gift that’s truly unique. This event, scheduled for November 19, features custom-made clothing, ceramics, jewelry, baskets, hand soap, holiday decor, and more from various unique vendors. Check the website for more details.



Candy Caneland and Craft Fair: Considering this is the 52nd annual Candy Caneland and Craft Fair, you know this is a huge tradition for many Orange County families and visitors. So pack everyone up and check out this popular event in nearby Buena Park on Saturday, December 9, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There’s a lot to do to keep everyone entertained. The kids can play on the snow slide and visit the petting zoo, and the adults can shop. There’s also general entertainment, food, and a raffle in store. It all goes down at the Ehlers Event Center on Knott Avenue. Entry is free, but please use the shuttle from Peak Park Pool (7225 El Dorado Drive, Buena Park).

Opportunities to Share

The holidays are a magical time of year, but not everyone gets to experience the holiday cheer. If you have the time and resources, consider donating time or toys to a charitable organization. Your donations can help those less fortunate to have a taste of the holiday joy.

Grandma’s House of Hope: Getting involved with this nonprofit organization in Orange County is the perfect way to give back to your community! The organization gives free meals to those in need and is looking for volunteers who can cook and deliver these meals. Whether you’re a great cook or not, this is a great way for you to help feed the hungry and get involved in your community! 



Christmas Together 2023: This annual event hosted by Families Together of Orange County serves thousands of families in and around Anaheim by providing toys to underprivileged children in the community. This year’s event will take place on Sunday, December 10, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Anaheim Convention Center and is gearing up to give away 30,000 toys along with other entertainment. Christmas Together is a free event, but preregistration is required for admission and to receive a gift.

Safe Celebration

Who doesn’t enjoy a nice winter candle this time of year? Candles can be hard not to love, but did you know that up to 7,400 fires are started each year because of household candles? Be extra careful while enjoying your holiday candles, and consider eliminating the risk completely by using battery-powered candles that can achieve the same ambiance. Whatever you do, never leave your holiday candles unattended!



Another fire hazard you should be aware of this time of year is Christmas trees. If these trees fall over, they can lead to a fire or other damages. Real Christmas trees are extra dangerous because their pine needles become more flammable when they dry out. If you do have a real Christmas tree, make sure to keep it watered. Keep all open flames—whether they come from a candle, a fireplace, or something else—away from the branches, and make sure to turn all holiday lights off when you leave the house. Following these simple precautions can help you to have a safe holiday season!

With so many activities, performances, places to shop, and opportunities to give service, Anaheim, CA, is set for a splendid holiday season. From all of us here at Twin Pines Apartments in Anaheim, CA, Happy Holidays!