The holidays are coming, the holidays are coming! November begins with a big pumpkin launch and ends with a turkey dinner and holiday tree lightings, with lots of family fun in between. Here are our top picks for the best activities and festivities of November 2018 in our area!
Dia de los Muertos – Anaheim
November 2
From their website: “Come one, come all, to Dia de los Muertos: A Night of Community & Culture! This FREE event benefits Project S.A.Y. (Support Anaheim’s Youth) Development Program. There will be a LIVE mariachi band, arts and crafts, altars, vendors, and food.”
Free.
COCO: Fall Movie In The Park – Lake Forest
November 2
From their website: “Join us in November for a special first time ever “Day of the Dead” cinematic event! The City of Lake Forest welcomes you to embark on an extraordinary journey in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead. Bring your family and friends for a free movie screening of the new Disney Pixar classic, Coco. The movie will begin after sunset.”
Free! Movie is PG and starts at 6pm. Snacks will be available for purchase – cash only.
Day Out With Thomas – Perris
November 3+4, 10-12
We had so much fun at this event last year! It’s an absolute must for any train loving kiddo and their families! From their website: “A ticket for Day Out With Thomas includes admission to the museum, the train ride with Thomas the Tank Engine, as well as a variety of Thomas & Friends themed entertainment, including Storytelling and Video Viewing, Temporary Tattoos of Island of Sodor friends, and an Imagination Station with Arts & Crafts and more. Guests will also have the opportunity to meet Sir Topham Hatt, the Controller of the Railway on the Island of Sodor. For an additional amount, train rides with Percy will be available on a space-available basis (Percy’s train is smaller than Thomas’s).”
For more details on this event, check out my review from last year: Our Day Out With Thomas The Train.
Tickets range from $16-$25. Free parking, and a variety of food options are available for purchase on site.
Pumpkin Launch – Fullerton
November 3
From their website: “Join Discovery Cube and Cal State Fullerton for a day of flight, engineering and pumpkin-smashing hi-jinks.
Pumpkin Launch is an all ages, FREE community event that invites guests to come onto a university campus and participate in a fun-filled STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) festival. The headlining event invites local engineer clubs and student Pumpkin Launch contestants to use the principles of STEM to build trebuchet machines that send pumpkins high in the sky and towards large targets lining the field – sometimes more than 50 yards! The team with the highest score wins the coveted Pumpkin Launch trophy.
In typical Discovery Cube fashion, guests can become an engineer for the day by making, building and testing their own launchers at the hands-on learning encounters and STEM festival, as well as enjoy some of Orange County’s best food trucks.”
Free and open to the public but registration is required.
Reuse-A-Palooza At Aquarium Of The Pacific – Long Beach
November 3
This inaugural event at Aquarium of the Pacific will feature interactive booths where you can explore eco-friendly alternatives to single-use plastic products. Find out how plastic waste is affecting our oceans and sea life, and what you can do about it in fun, family-friendly exhibits.
Festival activities are FREE with general admission to the aquarium. FREE for members. Plus, guests of members receive 20% off their admission.
Dia De Los Muertos at Bowers Museum – Santa Ana
November 4
From their website: “Celebrate the Day of the Dead at Bowers! Dia de los Muertos is based on the Mexican belief that our departed loved ones come back to earth to be with us every year in a joyful celebration that lasts for three days. Join the celebration and enjoy pan dulce with Mexican hot chocolate, face painting, special art projects, and performances by Rhythmo Mariachi Kids, Folklorico Raices de Mexico, Trio Tres Souls and Xipe Totec Danza Azteca.”
Festival is free to enter. General admission to Bowers Museum is free for Members and Santa Ana residents only. Admission to Kidseum’s special-ticketed exhibition Kings, Queens, and Castles is $2 for Members and Santa Ana residents only.
Holidays At The Disneyland Resort – Anaheim
November 9-early January
It goes without saying that Disneyland is the happiest place on earth. During the December holiday season, the entire resort is transformed into a winter wonderland, full of magical experiences and seasonal treats that will entertain even the Grinch-iest member of your party! Read all about the holiday offerings at the Disneyland Resort in our post here.
Cost: Free to enter Downtown Disney District. 3 hours validated parking with a $20 minimum purchase from any Downtown Disney location, or up to 5 hours of parking with validation from any Downtown Disney table-service restaurant. One day one park tickets start at $117 adults, $110 children ages 3-9.
Salute To Veterans – Costa Mesa
November 10
From their website: “Live music by Flashback Heart Attack (80’s Rock & Roll) and performances by Vanguard University of Southern California and the Pacific Symphony’s Brass Quintet. Attendees will have access to resources and a job fair, health screenings, kids activities, a complimentary hotdog lunch and more! The community is invited to bring nonperishable food items to donate to a food drive which will help veterans in need. Last year 5.6 tons of food was collected at multiple sites. Hoag will also be on site so you can donate blood in the name of your favorite veteran.
OC Market Place will be open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and will offer free admission to Salute to Veterans attendees – make sure to grab a free pass while at the event. Heroes Hall will be open and guests can check out the newest virtual reality exhibit, Bravemind, as well as the Veterans Story Booth where vets can record and share their tales of service. In honor of the Marine Corps 242nd birthday, a cake cutting will take place at noon in Heroes Hall’s courtyard area.”
Free admission and free parking, open to all members of the public.
Leeann & Michelle Comedy Night Featuring They See Me Mommin – Yorba Linda
November 17
Need a mom’s night out before the holidays? We are SO excited to announce the arrival of Leeann & Michelle to Orange County! You’ve seen their hilarious videos and now is your chance to see them LIVE and in person. Everyone needs a laugh and what better way to spend a Saturday night than trying not to pee your pants?! We can’t think of anything better! AND it’s our owner’s Birthday! Let’s help her celebrate the slide into her late 30’s!
With special guests They See Me Mommin’ this is one night out you won’t want to miss. So grab all of your girlfriends and get your tickets before they sell out. All we can say is, you’re welcome!
Early Bird tickets start at $15 or $12 for 6 or more.
The Mom Made Market – Costa Mesa
November 17+18
Get your holiday shopping done early! Come support local mompreneurs by shopping their mom-made goods and services at the Mom Made Market at the Orange County Fairgrounds. You’ll find everything from hand-knit sweaters to glitter bows to holiday decor, beauty products, food items, and much more!
$5 entry fee plus fairgrounds parking fee.
Plymouth Rock ‘N’ Run – Anaheim
November 22
Holiday Santa Tour & Sanrio Village At Tanaka Farms – Irvine
Saturdays and Sundays from November 23 through December 16
From their website: “Take a wagon ride around our 30 acre farm and sample the delicious winter vegetables growing along the way. (Yes, we are a real working farm!) Your friendly tour guide will tell you all about our farm and history as you enjoy the scenery. The last stop on the tour is on the top of the hill where you will have the opportunity to take photos with Santa and other farm-themed holiday sets while enjoying the gorgeous view. The wagon will then transport you back down to the festival grounds where you can continue the winter fun and photo opportunities.
After the tour, take a “Walk through the Seasons” in a meandering path filled with Hello Kitty & Friends decor celebrating each of our harvest seasons, all leading to the Sanrio Holiday Village, specially decorated for the holidays.”
$18 per person (2 years and under are free) for the tour, which lasts about an hour. Each paying guest receives a limited edition Sanrio button. No advance reservations needed but plan to arrive 20 minutes before tour time. To visit without the tour, entry to the farm is $4 and includes entry to the festival grounds, a Li’l Crate Ride around the farm, and admission to the Walk Through the Seasons area.”
Reindeer In The Redwoods – Brea
November 24
From their website: “OC Parks invites you to kick off the holiday season at Carbon Canyon Regional Park with Reindeer in the Redwoods, a holiday event in Orange County’s only Redwood Grove! Complete the half-mile walk to the Redwood Grove and be rewarded with a Winter Wonderland, complete with Santa and live reindeer! There will also be holiday gnomes hidden along the way, so be sure to keep an eye out.”
Free, and includes holiday crafts, face painters, cookie decorating, and carolers. Closest parking lot is about 1/2 mile away.
Home Depot Kid’s Menorah Workshop – Costa Mesa
November 25
You don’t have to be Jewish to enjoy this special Hanukah-themed kid craft at Home Depot in Costa Mesa! Kids can construct a functional and festive candle holder and enjoy free Hanukah treats. Last year there were free dreidel tops, chocolate gelt coins, and homemade latkes for all! This is a great way to introduce your children to Hanukah traditions, or to strengthen their existing understanding of the holiday.
Free.
All is Bright Celebration & Tree Lighting Ceremony – Aliso Viejo
November 29
From their website: “Help us usher in the holiday season with tons of cheer, train rides, caroling, magical snow and a visit from jolly ole St. Nick as we light our 22-foot Christmas tree! The fun takes place near the fountain.”
Free.
