Celebrate the 2023 Holiday Season in Westminster, CA

Holiday Activities

Knott’s Merry Farm: Knott’s Berry Farm may already be a favorite destination for you and your loved ones, but during the holiday season, it just gets better! From November 17 to January 7, “Knott’s Merry Farm” takes over the whole park, filling it with holiday lights, decor, food, treats, activities, and more. Knott’s Berry Farm is always fun for the whole family, and during the holiday season, it is even more memorable and magical! Check out this teaser video for a sneak peek of Knott’s Merry Farm!

Huntington Beach Turkey Wobble: Do you have some delicious food in mind for this coming Thanksgiving? You can keep it in mind as you’re competing in this year’s 12th annual Huntington Beach Turkey Wobble, which will be held on Thanksgiving morning (November 23). This year’s event has race distances of 1K, 5K, and 10K, with various start times throughout the morning.

If your idea of a perfect Thanksgiving morning includes raising money to help provide clean water to developing countries around the world while enjoying the sights and sounds of a pounding surf, a cool ocean breeze, the famed Huntington Beach pier, and a jaunt down Main Street of Surf City, USA, then this event is for you. Families with strollers are also welcome! Prices range from $20 (for children 12 and under) to $30–$40 (everyone else). You can register at this link.

Swedish Christmas Fair: Switch up your regular holiday routines and experience Christmas from a different culture’s perspective this year at the Swedish Christmas Fair! This fair is put on by the Swedish Women’s Education Association and is a unique and memorable holiday activity! Come and experience this cultural holiday event on Sunday, November 19, in Huntington Beach. The event features two sessions with separate starting times of 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Winter Fest OC: Just because you live in sunny Southern California doesn’t mean your family should be deprived of a super fun winter experience. If you feel the same way, then Orange County has just the extravaganza you’re looking for. This year’s Winter Fest runs from November 24 through January 7 and features over 1 million glorious lights, enough holiday decor to drive one giddy, a cornucopia of thrilling activities, a snow play area, a 150-foot tubing slide, a carnival, a holiday market, and plenty of food. Whew! Any Grinch’s heart would grow three sizes just typing that previous sentence!

New this year is the North Pole Journey, a one-of-a-kind winterland experience where wide-eyed participants learn exactly how to become an elf. Winter Fest OC will be chilling at the OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa. Tickets can be purchased here.

Tree Lighting Ceremony: Gather together on December 4 with the city of Westminster for the tree lighting ceremony! Sing carols, listen to live music, and see Santa! Canned foods will also be collected for those who are in need at this time. You’ll love celebrating this holiday kick-off with your local community!

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!

Light a Light of Love Pier Lighting Ceremony: Come celebrate love, family, and friendship and see the 80 beautiful snowflakes light up Huntington Beach Pier! The Light a Light of Love Ceremony is presented by the Waymakers Huntington Beach Youth Shelter, and its purpose is to shed light on the children of Orange County. This free event will take place on Sunday, December 3. Gather with your community to enjoy the magical pier while supporting this organization!

Holiday Series at the Chance Theater: It isn’t a real holiday season without your favorite shows, stories, and movies! This year, two special shows make up the Holiday Series at the Chance Theater in Anaheim: The Secret Garden, the Musical (November 24–December 23) and Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas (December 1–23). Combine the magic of the holidays with the wonder of a live theater performance. Guaranteed fun for the whole family. Check out the theater’s website for information on purchasing tickets!

Long Beach Christmas Lights: The lights along Long Beach are some of the most beautiful light displays around! Hundreds of lights line the waterfront, making it a magical holiday experience! Naples Island is known to have some of the best lights, so add this to your route so you don’t miss them! The light displays go up at different times every year, but going between early December and Christmas should be the best time to walk around and enjoy these amazing holiday lights!

Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The brainchild of late founder Paul O’Neill, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra first hit the road in 1999. The band/touring production has really come into its own in the past decade, however, where it has been named one of the top touring entities by Billboard magazine. Part extravagant rock show and part Christmas storytelling experience, TSO embarks on its annual holiday trek across North America every November through December. The tour makes an Inland Empire stopover at Ontario’s Toyota Arena on Saturday, December 2. This year’s theme is “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve: The Best of TSO and More!” Prepare to have all your senses dazzled in two stunning shows at 3 and 7 p.m.

Ways to Serve this Season

Another great activity that you can do this holiday season is to serve the people around you! Service is a great way to bring joy to others and make happy holiday memories of your own. You don’t need a lot of time or money to serve, but the results of your efforts can make a tremendous difference in the lives of others! 

For some ideas to get you started, Inc.com has put together this helpful list of simple ways that you can serve the community during the holiday season:

1. Volunteer your time. 
2. Donate to community causes. 
3. Provide a drive-thru surprise.
4. Adopt a family. 
5. Purchase gifts that give back.
6. Show your gratitude.
7. Ask, “Won’t you be my neighbor?”
8. Support local businesses.
9. Invite someone to your home.
10. Become a mentor.



There are so many ways to serve others in simple ways! This list is just the beginning of endless ways to brighten someone’s holiday season. Make sure to set aside some time during the upcoming holidays to give back, and you may be surprised by the amount of joy it gives you! For more detailed information on the points listed above, click here to read the full article by Inc.com.

You’ll love celebrating the holidays in Westminster, California! With the holiday activities, events, shopping opportunities, and ways to serve, your holiday season will be filled with joy and special memories. If you plan to stick around Westminster, Pointe Pacific Apartments could be the perfect place for you to call home! With our spacious floorplans, prime location, and incredible amenities, Pointe Pacific is a great fit for anyone!

From our entire team at Pointe Pacific, we wish you and your loved ones a happy holiday season!