Orange County Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremonies (2022)

Tree Lightings are the perfect way to begin the holidays here in Orange County! Many OC cities are having wonder Tree Lighting presentations. Most are FREE and included holiday performances, Santa, activities and more!

Here is aa huge list of OC Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremonies listed by city.

Tree Lighting Ceremonies in Orange County, CA

Here is a quick list of all the tree lightings in Orange County. You will find a more detailed description of the Christmas Tree Lighting below.

Here are the Orange County Tree lighting events with more detailed descriptions:

Aliso Viejo Tree Lightings

Annual All is Bright Holiday Celebration & Tree Lighting
December 1, 2022
Aliso Viejo Town Center Fountain & Amphitheater
26901 Aliso Creek Rd Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
FREE
Enjoy holiday cheer, train rides, ornament making, community and aerial performances, magical snow fall and a visit from jolly ole St. Nick as we light our 22-foot tree.

Anaheim Tree Lightings

Anaheim Tree Lighting & Nutcracker Holiday Village
December 3, 2022
Downtown Anaheim
Corner of Clementine and Center Street Promenade
FREE
Ring in the holidays with a very special tree lighting celebration. Join the Nutcracker Holiday Committee, the City of Anaheim, the Downtown Anaheim Association, and the Anaheim Community Foundation for holiday entertainment food, and fun! Guests will enjoy a variety of holiday happenings including dog costume contest, hoiday crafts, unique shopping, pictures with Santa, and the tree lighting at Feldhaus Circle.

Brea Tree Lightings

Brea Tree Lighting
December 1, 2022
Brea Civic & Cultural Center
FREE
Light up the holiday at the City of Brea’s annual tree lighting celebration. Live music and entertainment will put everyone in the holiday spirit. Watch the holiday tree light up the evening and see children’s eyes sparkle when Mr. and Mrs. Claus drop in for a visit. Pictures with Santa are available for a fee. Cookies and hot chocolate will be served.

Buena Park Tree Lightings

Buena Park Tree Lighting
December 2, 2022
Buena Park City Hall
FREE
Entertainment, festivities, and even a visit from Santa Claus himself, makes the Annual Christmas Tree Lighting you won’t want to miss! Performances from local schools will be absolutely amazing. Food trucks will be serving up tamales, hot chocolate and more!

Costa Mesa Tree Lightings

South Coast Plaza Tree Lighting Ceremony
November 17, 2022 | 6:30pm
Town Center, Costa Mesa
FREE
South Coast Plaza’s tree lighting features a magical performance by Orange County School of the Arts. Enjoy a celebration of the holidays with snow and a special visit from Santa. Admission is complimentary.

Cypress Mesa Tree Lightings

Cypress Tree Lighting Ceremony
December 6, 2022 | 6pm
Civic Center Green
Orange Ave & Grindlay Street, Costa Mesa, CA
FREE
Holiday sing and tree lighting! Refreshments, school performers, train rides, visits with Santa, games, crafts, and Letters to Veterans & Santa!

Dana Point Tree Lightings

Dana Point Winter Festival and Tree Lighting
December 4, 2022
La Plaza, Dana Point
FREE
Santa and his elves will be arriving at La Plaza Park on his Jolly Trolley to hand out pre-packaged treats for children up to 12 years of age. The event features carolers, hot chocolate, cookies, and the tree lighting at 5:15pm. Bring an unwrapped toy for the Spark of Love Toy Drive.

Pines Park Tree Lighting
December 6, 2021
Pines Park, Dana Point
FREE
Santa and his elves will be arriving at Pines Park on his Jolly Trolley to hand out pre-packaged treats for children up to 12 years of age. The event features carolers, hot chocolate, cookies, and the tree lighting at 5:15pm. Bring an unwrapped toy for the Spark of Love Toy Drive.

Fountain Valley Tree Lightings

Fountain Valley Tree Lighting
December 4, 2021
Fountain Valley Recreation & Sports Park
16400 Brookhurst Street, Fountain Valley, CA
FREE
Join us for a beautiful tree lighting with family activities, pictures with Santa, and much more. Includes Hyundai Snow Zone!

Irvine Tree Lightings

Irvine Civic Center Tree Lighting
December 4, 2021
Irvine Civic Center
1 Civic Center Plaza, Irvine, CA
FREE
Kick off the season with the lighting of the Civic Center holiday tree. Event includes visits with Santa, music, and a winter-themed train route. Guests are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped gift suitable for infants or children up to age 12. Toy donations aid the Irvine 2/11 Marine Adoption Committee Holiday Toy Drive.

La Palma Tree Lightings

La Palma Tree Lighting
December 1, 2021
Central Park
7821 Walker Ave, La Palma, CA
FREE
Join the La Palma community for its 34^th Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony. Event includes musical performances by La Palma’s local schools and enjoy the lighting of the Holiday Tree with the community! Santa, Mrs. Claus and the elves will arrive before the Ceremony so families will have an opportunity to visit with them. There will also be arts and crafts, a letter to Santa station, and more!

Ladera Ranch Tree Lightings

Ladera Ranch Tree Lighting - Miracle on Mercantile Way
December 4, 2021
Town Green
28801 Sienna Pkwy, Ladera Ranch, CA
FREE
Join us for a afternoon of fun with family activities, pictures with Santa, and much more. Don’t leave early, Santa will turn on the holiday lights at 5:00 p.m. for everyone to enjoy the first light show at Town Green for the holiday season.

Laguna Niguel Tree Lightings

Laguna Niguel Christmas Tree Lighting
December 3, 2022
FREE
We will have performances, crafts, cookie decorating, games, food trucks, face painters, balloon twisters, character meet and greets, and activities for the entire family to enjoy. Don’t forget to a bring a camera for pictures with Santa, Mrs. Clause, and our other winter guests.

Holidays at the Ritz-Carlton
November 20, 2022
Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel
The annual Open House and Tree Lighting with KTLA Channel 5 Host Wendy Burch as our co-hosts its coming! Festivities include holiday music, a special appearance from Santa Claus, music, hot cocoa, and a final countdown to light the spectacular 40-foot tree on the front drive. Donations will be collected for Miracles for Kids, Orange County Rescue Mission, and local dog shelters.

Mission Viejo Tree Lightings

Santa’s Arrival & Lighting Ceremony
November 27, 2022
200 Civic Center, Mission Viejo, CA
FREE
Enjoy holiday music for children of all ages by local band Sierra. Keep your eyes open to see some of Santa’s special friends from the North Pole. Santa will arrive atop of a fire engine at 6 pm and will help ring in the spirit of the season by turning on the holiday lights in Mission Viejo.

Newport Beach Tree Lightings

Crystal Cove Tree Lighting
December 3, 2022
Crystal Cove Conservancy Beach Cottages
5 Crystal Cove Newport Coast, CA
FREE
Every year, just after Thanksgiving, Crystal Cove is transformed into a holiday wonderland with vintage ornaments, twinkling lights, and a beautiful, majestic tree on the beach. The first Saturday in December is the Annual Tree Lighting & Holiday Bazaar complete with Santa arriving via a lifeguard vehicle to greet the crowd. As Santa and strolling carolers join the event, complimentary hot chocolate, apple cider and home-baked goodies will be provided by The Beachcomber Café. The tree lighting ceremony begins at dusk.

Newport Dunes Bay Lighting of the Bay Opening Night Celebration
November 25, 2022
Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort
FREE
Join Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort and Marina on Friday, November 25th, as we celebrate the 32nd Annual Lighting of the Bay! Enjoy family activities, performances, festive concessions, and photos with Santa. Kick off the season around the beach campfire and immerse yourself in the holiday spirit. Santa will inaugurate Lighting of the Bay at 6:00 p.m. Activities and performances will be from 4:00 pm to approximately 8:30 pm.

Orange Tree Lightings

Orange Tree Lighting Ceremony and Candlelight Procession
December 4, 2022
Circle of Orange Plaza Park
Old Towne Orange, Orange, CA
FREE
The City of Orange proudly presents the 28th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and Candlelight Choir Procession. Festivities begin at 3:00 p.m. with kids activities, photo opportunity with Santa, and booths from non-profit groups. Official Musical Program begins at 5:15 p.m. with songs by a local youth choir, the lighting of our City's tree, and traditional carols by a full choir and orchestra led by Michael Short. Public parking is available at the Old Towne West Metrolink parking structure on Lemon St. In the event of rain, please call (714) 744-7278 for relocation details

Placentia Tree Lighting

Orange Tree Lighting Ceremony and Candlelight Procession
December 4, 2022
Civic Center
401 E. Chapman Avenue, Placentia, CA
FREE
Join the City for the annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony! The event will be held from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm and will feature the lighting of the Holiday tree, light refreshments, photos with Santa, and performances from the Musical Theatre University. Please bring your own camera for photos.

San Juan Capistrano Tree Lightings

North Pole at Los Rios Street and Tree Lighting
December 3, 2022
San Juan Capistrano Historical Society
31831 Los Rios Street, San Juan Capistrano, CA
Join us at the North Pole on Los Rios Street for a family-friendly holiday experience! Join us before or after the SJC tree lighting ceremony for curated holiday shopping with dozens of local vendors, Santa's Workshop, and Story time with Mrs. Claus

Santa Ana Tree Lightings

Winter Village Grand Opening and Tree Lighting
December 10, 2022
OC Civic Center Plaza of Flags
717 W. Santa Ana Blvd. Santa Ana, CA
Join us for the official grand opening of the second annual Winter Village in Santa Ana! The outdoor ice-skating rink and village open from 11 am to 10 pm. Come meet the Anaheim Ducks Street Team, taste food from Northgate Market, visit holiday vendors, and enjoy much more throughout the day. Santa arrives at 4 pm. to make sure he’s on time to see the official Santa Ana Tree Lighting Ceremony at 5 pm.

Tustin Tree Lightings

Tustin Christmas Tree Lighting
December 9, 2022
Tustin Library Courtyard
FREE
The annual Tustin Christmas Tree Lighting is a family favorite. Get ready for live music, beautiful lights and Santa! Includes a Holiday Boutique hosted by the Tustin Host Lions Club.