California earns its reputation as a sun-and-beaches state, and December doesn't change that much. But sunshine aside, you can certainly get into a holiday state of mind, as the Golden State has some of the most festive Christmas markets in the US.
If you plan to spend the holidays here, these are the Christmas markets in California in 2026 that you can't miss.
(For more information about Southern California check out our guides for weekend getaways, best beaches, and the best places to visit in California)
Click your city below to jump straight to it.
- Los Angeles
- Central Coast
- Sacramento
- Nevada City
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- San Diego
- Palm Springs
- Other Christmas Markets in California
Christmas Markets Near Me: California by Region
If you're searching for Christmas markets near me rather than planning a trip around one, start with your region.
| Region | Market | City | 2026 Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | Christmas Market OC at Old World Village | Huntington Beach | Nov 15, 2026 - Jan 3, 2027 |
| Southern California | Festival of Lights Parade | Palm Springs | Dec 5, 2026 |
| Southern California | Sawdust Winter Fantasy | Laguna Beach | Nov 20 - Dec 20, 2026 |
| San Diego | December Nights in Balboa Park | San Diego | Dec 4 - 5, 2026 |
| Central Coast | Solvang Julefest | Solvang | Nov 27, 2026 - Jan 3, 2027 |
| Central Coast | Cambria Christmas Market | Cambria | Nov 27 - Dec 31, 2026 |
| Bay Area | The Great Dickens Christmas Fair | Daly City | Nov 21 - Dec 20, 2026 |
| Bay Area | Christmas in the Park | San Jose | Nov 27, 2026 - Jan 1, 2027 |
| Sacramento | Sacramento Christkindlmarkt | Sacramento | Dec 5 - 6, 2026 |
| Sierra Foothills | Nevada City Victorian Christmas | Nevada City | Select Sundays & Wednesdays, December 2026 |
| Lake Tahoe | Heavenly Village Holiday Festival | South Lake Tahoe | Dec 5, 12 & 19, 2026 |
The Best Christmas Markets in California by City
Christmas Markets Near Los Angeles
Los Angeles doesn't have a traditional Christmas market of its own. Alpine Village in Torrance ran one for decades before closing permanently in 2023 after 55 years, and nothing has replaced it at that scale. The nearest real Christkindlmarkt is about an hour south in Orange County.
Christmas Market OC at Old World Village
Dates and times: November 15, 2026 - January 3, 2027
Address: 7561 Center Avenue, Huntington Beach
Entrance price: See the website for more information
Set inside Old World Village, a Bavarian-themed shopping village running since the 1970s, this is the closest Southern California gets to a traditional German Christkindlmarkt. Expect wooden stalls, glühwein, bratwurst, and a season that stretches far longer than most markets on this list.
Holiday Markets and Christmas Cheer in LA
If you'd rather stay in town, these are the closest Los Angeles Christmas market equivalents, and most cost nothing to walk through.
- Renegade Craft Holiday Market, Santa Monica: Juried independent makers in an airport hangar, held in early November.
- Holiday Artist Mercado, Downtown: A free one-day mercado at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, with Latino artists, music and food. Check website's calendar for details.
- Makers Market at Craft Contemporary, Museum Row: Ceramics, textiles and jewelry from California craftspeople, easy to pair with LACMA.
- Enchanted: Forest of Light, La Cañada Flintridge: A ticketed walk-through light installation at Descanso Gardens.
- The Grove and The Americana at Brand: Outdoor malls that are free to wander, with a tree, artificial snow, and plenty of decoration.
Tip: Give Someone a Trip to These Markets
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Christmas Markets on the Central Coast
Solvang Julefest
Dates and times: November 27, 2026 - January 3, 2027, daily 9.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m.
Address: Downtown Solvang
Entrance price: Free, with some ticketed events
Solvang was founded by Danish immigrants in 1911 and spends six weeks every winter leaning all the way into it. Julefest brings Wednesday Maker's Markets modeled on European night markets, a tree lighting on December 4, a parade on December 5, and candlelight tours through the half-timbered downtown.
A light and music show runs on the hour in Solvang Park from 5.00 to 9.00 p.m. nightly, and the season closes with the Copenhagen Countdown, an afternoon New Year's Eve celebration on December 31.
Cambria Christmas Market
Dates and times: November 27 - December 31, 2026. Gates open at 5.00 p.m. and close at 8.30 p.m., with the market closing at 9.00 p.m.
Address: Cambria Pines Lodge, 2905 Burton Drive
Entrance price: From $25
The Cambria Christmas Market is a delightful annual event held on the Central Coast of California, transforming the seaside village of Cambria into a winter wonderland.
Over three million lights fill the gardens at Cambria Pines Lodge, and visitors can shop artisan vendors, meet Santa, ride the train, warm up at the fire pits, and catch live music.
Note that no entry is allowed once the gates close at 8.30 p.m., and the market regularly sells out, so book ahead. Give yourself at least two hours.
Christmas Markets Near Sacramento
Sacramento Christkindlmarkt
Dates and times: December 5 and 6, 2026
Address: Sacramento Turn Verein, 3349 J Street
Entrance price: $5 for adults, free for children under 15
This traditional German Christmas market brings the charm of Europe to Sacramento. It features a variety of vendors selling handmade crafts, gifts, and holiday treats. Visitors can enjoy seasonal music, cultural performances, and delicious German food and beverages.
It's all staged inside the Sacramento Turn Verein, a German community hall that has been running since 1854, which gives the whole thing more credibility than a pop-up in a parking lot.
Christmas Markets Near Nevada City
Nevada City Victorian Christmas
Dates and times: Select Sunday afternoons and Wednesday evenings in December 2026
Address: Historic downtown Nevada City, 132 Main Street
Entrance price: Free
The Nevada City Christmas market is the one and only Victorian Christmas market in the region. It's become a family tradition for locals, who dress up in their fanciest Victorian attire and parade down Main Street under dazzling lights. Come for the costumes and stay for the live entertainment, yuletide treats, and Father Christmas.
The historic district closes to traffic for the event, so the whole thing plays out on foot under gas lamps and string lights. Watch for the bagpipers, the roasted chestnut stands, the living nativity, and Nevada City's Walking Christmas Tree. Parking fills fast, and a paid shuttle runs from the Nevada County Government Center.
Christmas Markets Near San Francisco
The Great Dickens Christmas Fair
Dates and times: Weekends, November 21 - December 20, 2026
Address: Cow Palace Exhibition Halls, 2600 Geneva Avenue, Daly City
Entrance price: From $25, with premium and season options up to $160
While not located within San Francisco itself, the Great Dickens Christmas Fair is a beloved holiday tradition held in nearby Daly City.
This immersive Victorian-era Christmas event recreates the streets of 19th-century London and offers a wide array of shopping opportunities for holiday gifts.
Visitors can browse shops selling period clothing, jewelry, handmade crafts, and traditional British goods while enjoying live entertainment and delicious food and drinks.
Christmas Markets Near San Jose
Christmas in the Park
Dates and times: November 27, 2026 - January 1, 2027
Address: Plaza de César Chávez, 1 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose
Entrance price: Free
Christmas in the Park has been running in downtown San Jose for more than 45 years, and it's the largest free holiday display in the Bay Area. The plaza fills with a forest of community-decorated trees and more than 40 animated displays, including the long-running Lima Train.
The centerpiece is a 50-foot Christmas tree you can walk inside. Photos with Santa are free, there's nightly entertainment, and food vendors run throughout. It stays open through New Year's Day, including Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, which makes it one of the few markets still going after December 25.
Christmas in San Diego: Open Markets and Winter Wonderland
December Nights in Balboa Park
Dates and times: Friday, December 4, 2026, 4.00 p.m. to 10.00 p.m., and Saturday, December 5, noon to 10.00 p.m.
Address: Balboa Park, 1549 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101
Entrance price: Free
December Nights in Balboa Park is an annual holiday tradition in San Diego, California, where the park is transformed into a winter wonderland filled with dazzling lights, festive decorations, and cultural performances.
This beloved event brings together people of all ages to enjoy a magical evening of holiday cheer, including food vendors, music, dance, and a unique opportunity to explore the park's museums and gardens after dark.
It's the city's largest free holiday festival, and the park's museums stay open late with free admission across both nights.
Christmas Markets Near Palm Springs
Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade
Dates and times: Saturday, December 5, 2026. The first unit steps off at 5.45 p.m.
Address: Palm Canyon Drive, running north from Ramon Road to Tachevah Road
Entrance price: Free, no tickets required
The Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade is a spectacular holiday event that lights up the desert city's streets with festive colors and holiday cheer. Featuring elaborately decorated floats, marching bands, and a dazzling display of holiday lights, it draws both locals and visitors to celebrate the season in style.
The route covers about a mile and a half of downtown, so stake out a spot on Palm Canyon Drive early. It's the perfect excuse to stay in Palm Springs with your family.
Other Christmas Markets in California
Lake Tahoe's Heavenly Village Holiday Festival
Dates and times: December 5, 12 and 19, 2026
Address: 1001 Heavenly Village Way, South Lake Tahoe
Entrance price: Mostly free, with some paid activities
The Heavenly Holidays Family Festival turns the village at the base of the gondola into a holiday market on select December Saturdays, with vendor stalls, live music, a tree lighting, and free photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Breakfast with Santa and the Ferris wheel are ticketed separately.
Come back on December 31 for the New Year's Eve fireworks and the gondola ball drop at 9.00 p.m. It's the only market on this list where you can ski in the morning and shop in the afternoon.
Sawdust Winter Fantasy in Laguna Beach
Dates and times: November 20 - December 20, 2026
Address: 935 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach
Entrance price: See the website for current pricing
The Sawdust Winter Fantasy in Laguna Beach is an enchanting annual holiday event that transforms the Sawdust Art & Craft Festival grounds into a winter wonderland.
More than 180 local artists sell jewelry, ceramics, paintings, and photography across the eucalyptus-shaded canyon grounds, with live music, food, and holiday activities throughout.
Everything on sale is made by the artist selling it, which makes this the best market in Orange County for a gift nobody else will have bought.
Christmas Markets in California: FAQs
Are There Christmas Markets in California?
Yes, more than a dozen across the state. California's markets run from traditional German Christkindlmarkts in Orange County and Sacramento to Victorian street fairs in Nevada City and Daly City, plus a Danish Julefest in Solvang that lasts six weeks. Most open between mid-November and the first weekend of December, and a few run past Christmas into the new year.
Where Is the Best Christmas Market in California?
Solvang Julefest is the strongest all-around pick, since the entire town was built in Danish style and the season runs from November 27 through January 3. For a traditional German market, Christmas Market OC at Old World Village in Huntington Beach is the closest California gets. For something theatrical, the Great Dickens Christmas Fair near San Francisco is a full Victorian recreation rather than a row of stalls. For free, San Jose's Christmas in the Park is hard to beat.
Are There Christmas Markets in Los Angeles?
Not a traditional one.
Alpine Village in Torrance ran LA's German Christmas market for decades before closing permanently in 2023, and nothing has taken its place.
The nearest real Christkindlmarkt is Christmas Market OC at Old World Village in Huntington Beach, about an hour from downtown.
Within the city you'll find holiday maker markets instead, including Renegade Craft in Santa Monica, the Holiday Artist Mercado downtown, and the Makers Market at Craft Contemporary.
When Do California Christmas Markets Open in 2026?
Christmas Market OC opens earliest, on November 15, followed by Sawdust Winter Fantasy on November 20, the Great Dickens Christmas Fair on November 21, and both Solvang Julefest and the Cambria Christmas Market on November 27.
San Diego's December Nights and the Sacramento Christkindlmarkt both land on the first weekend of December.
Are Christmas Markets Free to Enter?
It varies.
December Nights in Balboa Park, San Jose's Christmas in the Park, the Nevada City Victorian Christmas, and the Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade are all free.
For other events, always check the official site, since pricing can change depending on the day and the visitor's age.
Traveling further for your market fix? Our guides to Christmas markets in Texas, Christmas towns in California and the best places to visit in December in the US cover more ground.
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