# Christmas in Valley Center at Bates Nut Farm > Event for families in the San Diego–Chula Vista–Carlsbad area (CA). Times are Pacific Time. - When: Fri, Dec 11 (+1 more date) · 4:00 PM – 2:30 PM - Where: Bates Nut Farm, 15954 Woods Valley Rd, Valley Center, CA 92082 - Ages: All ages - Price: Free admission and parking; kids' activities free - Organizer: Valley Center Business Association and Bates Nut Farm - Official page: https://batesnutfarm.biz/ - Last checked: Tue, Oct 27 Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Nov 2, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-11-01), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/san-diego/activities/christmas-in-valley-center-at-bates-nut-farm--listing-8b1b88019381399ee4603afc ## About Christmas in Valley Center is a free two-day community holiday celebration at Bates Nut Farm in North County, sponsored by the Valley Center Business Association. On Friday evening the Valley Center Marching Band plays at 5:45 PM, Santa makes a grand entrance on a fire truck at 6:00 PM and then lights the farm's holiday lights tree, and a choir of Valley Center students sings carols; free hayrides and visits with Santa run from 6 to 8 PM, and the Grinch is there from 5 PM. On Saturday Santa arrives on a Polar Express hayride at 11:00 AM, followed by free hayrides and Santa visits, holiday performances on the Bates Stage through the morning and free pony rides (Saturday only). Both days have photo opportunities with Santa and the Grinch, crafts, gingerbread house making, face painting, a bounce house and a jumbo slide, all free and donated by local clubs, churches and organizations, plus a free gift for the first 1,000 kids. There is food both days and a holiday market with local vendors. Admission and parking are free; the organizers suggest arriving by 5:30 PM on Friday to find a spot for the band and Santa's arrival. ## Similar picks in San Diego - [Santa's Coming! Craft Fair at Bates Nut Farm](https://grassyknees.com/san-diego/activities/santa-s-coming-craft-fair-at-bates-nut-farm--listing-30633592eb3eafc7fef1824d) — Fri, Nov 27 (+1 more date) · 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM · Bates Nut Farm, Valley Center · All ages · Free · checked Oct 27. On the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving, Bates Nut Farm in Valley Center holds its Santa's Coming! 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