Santa's Arrival & Lighting Ceremony
Families can participate in make-and-take craft projects, play holiday games, and explore a petting zoo. The Main Stage hosts live band and dance performances alongside a variety of visiting food trucks and snack vendors. For the grand finale, Santa Claus makes an entrance on a fire engine and leads the crowd in turning on the city lights.
Sun, Nov 29, 2026 All ages
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Plan Your Visit
Hours
Festival Celebration: 3:00 PM–5:45 PM in one Event Details section and 3:00 PM–5:30 PM in another; Santa arrives at 6:00 PM.
Food & Drink
Food trucks including Deli Doctor, Dezzertaholic, and Prime Philly, plus snacks and goodies, are available for purchase.
Parking
A shuttle runs from the City Hall Lot to North Paseo from 3 PM until 7 PM.
Location
Tips & Advice
- Use the shuttle from the City Hall Lot to North Paseo, which runs from the start of the festival until after Santa's arrival.
- Stay for the finale, when Santa arrives on a fire engine and the children help him switch on the Mission Viejo holiday lights.
- Bring spending money for the snacks and goodies and for food trucks like Deli Doctor, Dezzertaholic and Prime Philly.
- Come when the festival opens so the kids have time for the make-and-take crafts, holiday games and petting zoo before Santa arrives.
Links & Contact
Run by Mission Viejo Activities Committee
Christmas Events Near Me is an independent guide, not the organizer of this event. For tickets, entries, vendor spots or questions, contact the organizer directly through their contact page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the festival for?
It's open to kids of all ages, and the whole family is invited to come along.
What is there for kids to do?
Kids can do make-and-take craft projects, play holiday games and visit the petting zoo.
What food is available?
Snacks and goodies are for sale, and the food trucks include Deli Doctor, Dezzertaholic and Prime Philly.
Who performs on the Main Stage?
The Main Stage has live band and dance performances from Pop Vision and The Joy of Dance.
How does Santa arrive?
Santa arrives on a fire engine for the grand finale. The children then help him light up the Mission Viejo holiday lights.
Browse Christmas in Mission Viejo
Always check the official website for the most current information.
We've done our best to keep details up-to-date, but event schedules, prices, and policies can change. For the latest updates, please visit the official website or contact the organizers directly. Christmas Events Near Me is an independent guide and isn't affiliated with the events we list.