Celebrate the Holidays with These Activities in Fullerton, CA!

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.

Nutcracker Holiday Village and Lighting: Happening this year on Sunday, December 3, this annual tradition is hosted by the City of Anaheim, the Downtown Anaheim Association, the Anaheim Community Foundation, and the Nutcracker Holiday Committee. Events include a dog costume contest, pictures with Santa, and the lighting of the tree at Feldhaus Circle, located at the corner of Clementine and Center Street Promenade. The event begins at 10 a.m. and continues through the tree-lighting ceremony, which will take place at 6 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.

Dickens Christmas Carol Singalong: The classic story of A Christmas Carol is a popular seasonal favorite, and the Charles Dickens Carolers have provided holiday cheer to the citizens of Anaheim and its surrounding cities since 1987. Dressed in traditional Dickensian costumes, this quartet sings traditional Christmas carols, popular holiday songs, and other children’s favorites in four-part harmony. This year’s singalong will take place on Sunday, December 17, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Sage Granada Park United Methodist Church in nearby Alhambra. This event is free and open to the public with an RSVP or $20 at the door on the day of the event.

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 even shows, there are nine different performances 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. Then they can join the race to find Elsa and end the eternal winter in this frigid holiday extravaganza. Enjoy a Disney event that you don’t have to wait in line for an hour to experience!

Shopping

Is there anything better than watching your loved ones’ faces light up as they unwrap a gift that you picked out for them? This holiday season, participate in the spirit of giving! Fullerton is lucky to have so many great and unique shops nearby. Check out the list below to find the perfect place to shop for your loved ones! 

The Brick Basement: Tired of the same old cookie-cutter gifts? Head on over to The Brick Basement in Downtown Fullerton to find a gift for your loved ones that’s truly unique! Choose from a wide variety of handmade decor, jewelry, tea sets, handbags, furniture, and more from 25 different vendors. This antique mall in downtown Fullerton is truly the perfect place for finding a unique gift! 

The Wonder Emporium: This toy store is the perfect place to shop for your kids this holiday season! Located only 15 minutes away from Fullerton in La Habra, this store sells toys for everyone from infants on up! Here, you can find things like board games, stuffed animals, arts and crafts, educational toys, and more. The extensive collection is sure to have something to make every kid happy!



Stitch + Feather: Do you have a special lady in your life? Then this boutique is the perfect place to shop! Full of not only trendy clothing and accessories but also things like makeup bags, mugs, coffee tables, and scented candles, this shop can be hard to resist! Located in downtown Fullerton, be sure to stop by and pick out a gift for all the special women in your life.

Opportunities to Share

There are so many people who don’t get to celebrate the holidays simply because they don’t have the resources to do so. If you are able, consider giving to the less fortunate this year for a heartwarming experience you will never forget.

OneOC: Did you know that the state of California alone has more than 161,000 homeless residents? That number isn’t pretty, but there’s still hope! By volunteering with OneOC, you can help those in need throughout Orange County. There are many opportunities available to help throughout the holidays and beyond. Click this link to find the right opportunity for you to help share the Christmas spirit with those in need this year. 



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

Did you know that each year, up to 7,400 fires are started because of household candles? That’s not good! As much as we all love a good holiday-scented candle, it’s important to be careful when lighting them in your apartment. Consider battery-powered candles, which can give you the same ambiance without the added danger of an open flame. If you do opt for real candles, be sure to never leave them unattended!

Unfortunately, candles aren’t the only fire hazard this time of year! Another one to be aware of is live Christmas trees. We all know how easily forest fires can start, and when you bring a piece of the forest into your home, the same principles apply. It’s very important to keep your tree watered, since dry pine needles are extra flammable. Also, be sure to keep all open flames away from the branches and turn all lights off when you’re not at home. Stay safe and enjoy the holidays!

With activities, performances, shopping, and opportunities to share, Fullerton, CA, has everything you need for a jolly season. From all of us at Highland Pinetree Apartments in Fullerton, CA, Happy Holidays!