Santa Back In Orange County This Holiday Season

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — Santa Claus will be back in Orange County this holiday season after a couple of years of COVID-19 restrictions that made it difficult for kids to crawl up on his lap and make their case that they’ve been good boys and girls over the last year.

Visits and pictures with Santa are at the heart of many families’ holiday traditions, but the coronavirus pandemic gave them a lump of coal. Malls and other places took social distancing measures in both 2020 and 2021 to help contain the spread of the virus, moving Santa meet-ups largely online.

Virtual visits are still an option in many places, but there’s nothing quite like seeing jolly old St. Nick live and in person. In Orange County, kids have several chances:

• Tanaka Farms Hikari — A Festival of Lights is open daily in Irvine from 4:30 to 10 p.m., with doors closing at 8 p.m., through Dec. 30. Residents can grab a photo with Santa, enjoy a holiday wagon ride or simply revel in the lit-up space of Tanaka Farms. Tickets start at $20. For more information, click here.
• Santa Claus makes daily visits to the annual Winter Fantasy at Sawdust Art Festival in Laguna Beach. Residents can still purchase tickets for the festive event until Dec. 18. To purchase tickets or learn more, visit Sawdust Art Festival's website.
• The Muckenthaler Cultural Center's annual Holiday Festival in Fullerton will take place from noon to 4 p.m. on Dec. 18. Admission is free and the event features family activities, arts and crafts and a visit from Santa Claus.

Santa arrived Nov. 12 at Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Santa’s Wonderland and will hold court through Christmas Eve. Reservations are encouraged.

Santa will be at Macy’s stores in New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Boston and Orlando.

JC Penney stores, including stores in Orange County, are offering professional portraits with Santa through Dec. 18.