Things to do with kids in Riverside — December 2026

Through Jan 3

34th Annual Festival of Lights at The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa

The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa

Through Jan 3

Alpine Zoo Wild Lights (Big Bear Alpine Zoo)

Big Bear Alpine Zoo

From $20All ages

Through Dec 27

Candy Land at Albert S. White Park (Festival of Lights)

Albert S. White Park

From $15

Through Dec 31

Festival of Lights Ice Rink (Downtown Riverside)

Festival of Lights Ice Rink, corner of Mission Inn Ave. and Orange St.

From $20

Through Dec 23

Greenspot Farms Christmas Hayride & Tree Lights

Greenspot Farms

From $15

Tue, Dec 1

Holiday Scavenger Hunt (Elf-tastic Library Hunt)

James S. Thalman Chino Hills Branch Library

Wed, Nov 11

The Polar Express Train Ride at the Southern California Railway Museum

Southern California Railway Museum

From $49.25All ages

Thu, Dec 3 · 6:00 PM

Fontana Tree Lighting Ceremony

Miller Park Amphitheater (Miller Park)

Thu, Dec 3 · 3:00 PM

Holly Jolly Holiday & Tree Lighting — Montclair

Montclair Youth Center and Alma Hofman Park

Thu, Dec 3 · 6:00 PM

Lake Elsinore Tree Lighting Ceremony

Downtown Main Street, Lake Elsinore

Thu, Dec 3 · 5:00 PM

Ontario Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony

Ontario Town Square

FreeAll ages

Fri, Dec 4 · 5:00 PM

Fontana Free Pictures with Santa at Jessie Turner Center

Jessie Turner Center

Free

Fri, Dec 4 · 7:00 PM

Santa's Electric Light Parade (Old Town Temecula)

Old Town Temecula parade route (starts at Jefferson Ave & Del Rio Rd)

Sat, Dec 5 · 2:00 PM

A Christmas Carol, The Musical (Temecula Valley Players)

Old Town Temecula Community Theater

From $25

Sat, Dec 5 · 12:00 PM

Dashing Through Montclair — Santa's Sleigh Ride Through Town

Streets of Montclair (route posted by Dec 1)

Sat, Dec 5 · 9:00 AM

Donuts with Santa — Murrieta Town Square

Town Square Park & Amphitheater

With admission

Sat, Dec 5 · 10:00 AM

Fontana Free Pictures with Santa at Don Day Center

Don Day Center

Free

Sat, Dec 5 · 10:00 AM

Fontana Free Pictures with Santa at Heritage Center

Heritage Center

Free

Sat, Dec 5 · 5:00 PM

Hemet Christmas Parade

Florida Avenue parade route (Gilbert Street to Santa Fe Street)

Sat, Dec 5 · 4:00 PM

Lake Elsinore Winterfest & Holiday Parade

Downtown Main Street (Gediman Square), Lake Elsinore

Free

Sat, Dec 5 · 4:00 PM

Menifee Christmas Tree Lighting & Holiday Bazaar

Mt. San Jacinto College – Menifee Valley Campus

Sat, Dec 5 · 5:45 PM

Moreno Valley Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony

Moreno Valley City Hall (Civic Center)

Free

Sat, Dec 5 · 5:00 PM

Murrieta Tree Lighting & Festival of Wreaths

Town Square Park & Amphitheater

Sat, Dec 5 · 6:30 PM

Ontario Holiday Light Parade on Euclid Avenue

Euclid Avenue parade route (Fourth Street to B Street)

FreeAll ages

Sat, Dec 5 · 5:45 PM

Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade (34th Annual)

Palm Canyon Drive, downtown Palm Springs (Ramon Road to Tachevah Road)

Free

Sat, Dec 5 · 8:30 AM

Rancho Cucamonga Breakfast with Santa

Central Park (Rancho Cucamonga)

From $25Ages 3+

Sat, Dec 5 · 6:00 PM

Redlands Christmas Parade

State Street, downtown Redlands

Sat, Dec 5 · 2:00 PM

Santa Visits the Library

Wrightwood Branch Library

All ages

Sat, Dec 5 · 12:00 PM

The Nutcracker – Inland Pacific Ballet (Lewis Family Playhouse)

Lewis Family Playhouse, Victoria Gardens Cultural Center

All ages

Sat, Dec 5 · 12:00 PM

Victorville Winter Festival & Tree Lighting

Victorville City Hall

Free

Sun, Dec 6 · 4:00 PM

Corona Holiday Lighting Celebration

Historic Civic Center (Corona)

FreeAll ages

Mon, Dec 7 · 6:00 PM

22nd Annual Chanukah Festival and Grand Menorah Lighting (Riverside)

Riverside Historic Courthouse

FreeAll ages

Tue, Dec 8 · 3:00 PM

Library Winter Luau featuring Santa

James S. Thalman Chino Hills Branch Library

Wed, Dec 9 · 5:00 PM

Bethlehem Marketplace — walk-through Christmas experience (Redlands)

Pathway Church

From $15Ages 3+

Thu, Dec 10 · 4:00 PM

Holiday Lights & Victorian Nights Evening Tours (Kimberly Crest)

Kimberly Crest House & Gardens

From $20Ages 9+

Fri, Dec 11 · 7:00 PM

Chino Hills Holiday Boat Parade

Chino Hills City Hall

Fri, Dec 11 · 6:30 PM

Santa's Little Helpers (Lewis Family Playhouse)

Lewis Family Playhouse, Victoria Gardens Cultural Center

Sat, Dec 12 · 2:00 PM

Beaumont Blizzard Bash & Holiday Light Parade

Beaumont Towncenter (downtown Beaumont Avenue between 6th and 8th Street)

Sat, Dec 12 · 9:00 AM

Breakfast with Santa — Hunt Park, Riverside

Hunt Park (Renck Community Center)

Free

Sat, Dec 12 · 8:00 AM

Breakfast with Santa — Jurupa Community Center

Jurupa Community Center

From $12

Sat, Dec 12 · 7:30 AM

Breakfast with Santa — Lake Elsinore Diamond Stadium

Lake Elsinore Diamond Stadium (Diamond Taproom)

Sat, Dec 12 · 8:00 AM

Breakfast with Santa — Orange Terrace Community Center

Orange Terrace Community Center

FreeAll ages

Sat, Dec 12 · 9:00 AM

Breakfast with Santa — Springbrook Clubhouse (Reid Park)

Springbrook Clubhouse

From $10

Sat, Dec 12 · 9:00 AM

Breakfast with Santa — Villegas Park

Villegas Park

From $5

Sat, Dec 12 · 9:00 AM

Chino Youth Christmas Parade and Fair

Chino Civic Center / City Hall

Free

Sat, Dec 12 · 10:00 AM

Fontana Christmas Parade

Sierra Avenue parade route (Arrow Blvd. to Orange Way)

Sat, Dec 12 · 11:00 AM

Fontana Festival of Winter

Miller Park Amphitheater (Miller Park)

Free

Sat, Dec 12 · 7:30 AM

Norco Christmas Festival, Breakfast with Santa & Horsetown Parade of Lights

Ingalls Event Center (The Barn and Turf) and Sixth Street parade route

FreeAll ages

Sat, Dec 12 · 7:00 AM

Ontario 5K Reindeer Run & Rudolph's Dash

Euclid Ave. and C St., downtown Ontario

FreeAll ages

Sat, Dec 12 · 9:00 AM

Sensory with Santa at the Bourns Family Youth Innovation Center

Bourns Family Youth Innovation Center

FreeAll ages

Sat, Dec 12 · 9:00 AM

Upland Hometown Holiday Parade (49th Annual)

Historic Downtown Upland (2nd Avenue parade route)

All ages

Wed, Dec 16 · 3:00 PM

Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet (McCallum Theatre)

McCallum Theatre

Thu, Dec 17 · 12:00 PM

Arlanza Library Holiday Craft: Paper Gingerbread Man

Arlanza Library

Free

Thu, Dec 17 · 7:00 PM

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical (Old Town Temecula Community Theater)

Old Town Temecula Community Theater

From $33All ages

Sat, Dec 19 · 7:00 AM

HealthyLE Santa Dash 5K (Lake Elsinore)

Lake Elsinore Levee at Diamond Stadium

Free

Thu, Dec 31 · 5:30 PM

Temecula New Year's Eve Grape Drop

Temecula Civic Center Quad