5 December Events to Check Out in Southern California Near Prospector Ranch!
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~ Natalia Radcliffe ~ It’s the Christmas season! Time to soak in all that this month has to offer. And one aspect of that is doing festive activities. But where to start? Don’t fret. We have compiled a list of ideas for you, and the best part is that all of them are about an hour or less drive from us!
Holiday Row at King Gillette Ranch
King Gillette Ranch is putting on their annual Christmas lights event once again! Come and experience walking through trails decked out in various Christmas scenes, complete with interactive features. For example, at one point in the trail, you get to experience listening to live carolers! It’s a twinkling wonderland, with something to see no matter what direction you turn and picture opportunities aplenty. Besides wandering around the trail, there are also other things to check out, including getting your face painted, a winter market where you can buy festive trinkets, food trucks, pictures with Santa Claus on select dates, and the Holiday Road bar, where you can enjoy sipping a festive alcoholic drink and listening to music. Tickets range from $29.35 to $36.64, depending on the day you go and the enter time you choose. You can buy tickets from their website.
Downtown Santa Monica Ice Rink
Can you ice skate in the beach town of Santa Monica? Why of course you can! Going through January 19, 2026 you can experience the freeing, fun feeling of skating under the beach air of Southern California. It’s a little bit of winter brought to sunny Southern California. There are some special days during this season where you can enjoy something different than the typical ice skating experience, including Classical Sundays, when you get to listen to soothing classical music as you ice skate during the 12:00pm and 1:30pm sessions, Theme nights, and Skate and Movie Nights. For an extensive list of, you can visit their website! Hours are daily from noon to 10pm, and skate rental and admission is $22. If you want to rent a locker to keep your valuables in, you can do so for $5. We recommend dressing in warm attire, because an ice rink has got to stay cold, right? Embrace the winter experience.
Downtown Burbank’s Winter Art Festival
Jackalope Indie Artisan’s Fair is coming to Downtown Burbank this December 13 and 14, for a Winter Arts Festival! Featuring 170+ local, hand selected artisans, you can find something for anyone or yourself, whether it’s visual art or photography, fashion, jewelry, paper goods, home decor, housewares, food, etc. It’s located on San Fernando Blvd and the surrounding streets in Downtown Burbank, from Magnolia Street to Angeleno Street. In addition to the shopping, you can visit Santa from 12pm - 4pm both days, get your face painted, make your own slime, get your own caricature drawn, decorate your own ornaments, paint a nutcracker, and much more! For a full list you can visit their website. The event is free to attend and for everyone. Even your pet is welcome! (Leashed, of course.)
Descanso Garden’s Enchanted Forest of Light
For the holiday season, Descanso Gardens is has a special Enchanted Forest of Light event happening now through January 4. From 5:30pm—10pm each day, the Gardens transform at night, becoming a twinkling wonderland filled with thousands upon thousands of lights, used in various artistic ways to create something magical to witness. For example, you can see an entire town of “stained glass” houses, rows and rows of twinkling flowers on the Promenade, fascinating lighting effects in the Ancient Forest, and much much more. We do recommend you dress warmly, as it can get chilly in the evening. There will be food and drinks that you can buy, and if you wanted to make a dinner out of it, you could reserve a spot at their new restaurant, Farmhouse. Tickets for nonmembers range from $27-$45 for adults and $17-$30 for kids, with Descanso Gardens members getting a discount on tickets. You can get tickets either on their website, or by calling 818-949-4200.
Universal Studio’s Christmas Celebration
The Grinch is once again taking over Universal Studios! For the month of December, you can experience the unique take on the holiday season that is Grinchmas, complete with taking pictures with the Grinch, Cindy Lou Who, and Max, of course! In addition, the Harry Potter Wizarding World section will also be decked out in holiday festivities, and special events will occur such as enjoying the talented frog choir and seeing Hogwarts castle lit up at night in spectacular lights. Of course, the entire park and City Walk will also be decorated in holiday cheer, putting a festive spin on familiar sights, in addition to offering special drinks just for December. You can find ticket prices on their website.
We hope you find these helpful! And hey, if you are in the area, perhaps think about stopping by at Prospector Ranch to kick up your feet for the night at one of our Airbnbs. With our vintage 1972 Airstream, Conestoga covered wagon or Safari Tent, there is something for everyone with a western rustic soul.
