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Christmas & New Years in Santa Cruz (2025)

Grab a steaming cup of hot cocoa, and let’s get festive. If you’re planning a wintertime vacation to Santa Cruz over the holiday season, you’re in the right place.

There are plenty of ways to get in the holiday spirit, even in sunny California. It’s no snowy wonderland, but that doesn’t mean that Santa doesn’t come to visit!

Here is everything you need to know before you plan the perfect holiday getaway at Beachnest Vacation Rental in Santa Cruz.

Christmas & New Year Events in Santa Cruz

Photo Credit: J Mour

Many of the themed Christmas events in Santa Cruz, such as the sleigh-filled downtown holiday parade and the lighted boat parade, happen in early December rather than over the holiday. So grab your ugly sweater and keep your spirits bright, the official kickoff of the holiday season is a little earlier than you think.

Winter Wonderland at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

Photo Credit: Nick Fox

The winter holiday celebration wouldn’t be complete without the holiday lights and all the festive events of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.

Each year, the iconic boardwalk is transformed into a Winter Wonderland-themed space brimming with holiday cheer. You can take the kids for photos with Santa, enjoy fireside s’mores and treats, marvel at the hand-crafted decorations and colorful lights, or just enjoy the traditional boardwalk things like arcade games and rollercoasters.

This festive event provides some of the most special nights on the Santa Cruz beach boardwalk. You might even catch some live caroling if you’re lucky.

Roaring Camp Railroads Holiday Lights Train Ride

Photo Credit: yhelfman
  • Address: Roaring Camp Railroads, 5401 Graham Hill Road, Felton
  • Website: roaringcamp.com/holiday-lights
  • Dates: November 28 & 29, December 13 – 23 & 26 – 31, 2025

If you’re visiting Santa Cruz County in late December, the Holiday Lights Train is an excellent activity in between driving Santa Cruz city streets past homes decorated with holiday lights.

The Christmas edition of this scenic holiday train ride passes through towering Redwoods and features steaming cups of hot cocoa. You’ll even have a chance to visit Santa Claus in one of the vintage train cars. Be sure to book tickets early for this popular event, especially if you want to ride on Christmas Eve.

Camp Roaring also offers other holiday light train events. The New Years Holiday Lights Train features a live DJ and light-up hula hoopers. The Chanukah Train ride is perfect for those celebrating Chanukah traditions.

Santa Cruz County Fairground Holiday Lights

The Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds is hosting its annual Holiday Lights extravaganza during weekends in November and December, thanks to the Agricultural History Project.

Forget walk-in Christmas displays; you can drive through massive displays of dizzying color and Christmas cheer. Expect to see Santa, snowmen, might tunnels, and more. This holiday classic is one of the very best Santa Cruz holiday lights events, so don’t miss it.

Don’t forget to pack yourself a thermos of hot cocoa and pop on some holiday music, or you’ll make the Agricultural History Project’s naughty list.

Santa Cruz Lighted Boat Parade

This seasonal tradition returns every year and is always a holiday favorite. Lighted, decorated boats sail across the Santa Cruz Harbor shortly after sunset.

You can watch the parade from a range of harbor paths between Murray Street Bridge and the fuel dock. The East Harbor launch ramp is a popular viewing spot.

Although Murray Street Bridge is usually a good vantage point, ongoing construction works mean that it offers limited views in 2025. Keep in mind that boats don’t leave the harbor or travel as far as the lighthouse, so this isn’t a good viewing spot.

Toy Trains Pop-Up Exhibit at Museum of Art & History

On select December dates, the MAH welcomes winter with its annual Toy Trains event.

The pop-up exhibit is informative, interesting, and a sight to behold. You can enjoy some small models of vintage excursion cars, trains, and fairground rides. Even better, it’s free to the public.

Winter on the Wharf

Winter on the Wharf is another can’t-miss festive event. Come with the whole family to watch Santa roll into town aboard a vintage fire engine.

There are always plenty of fun activities to try at Winter on the Wharf, like face painting, balloon animals, and photo opportunities with Disney princesses.

Things to Do When Spending Christmas in Santa Cruz

Aside from the fun holiday events, Santa Cruz has plenty of activities on offer that are perfect for a winter getaway. Here are a few highlights.

Experience The Nutcracker

Possibly even more iconic than Santa Cruz holiday lights is the famous Nutcracker performances that take place every year in Santa Cruz County. There are two performances to choose from, one by the Santa Cruz Dance Guild and the Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre.

The Ballet Theatre performance has a live orchestra and is held in the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium downtown each year. It never fails to impress.

The Dance Guild puts on a simpler, community-focused production with performers of all ages in the cast. It takes place at Cabrillo’s Crocker Theater, and often features raffle prizes for attendees.

Looking for even more culture? Lovers of live music should check out Candlelight Christmas Carols on Strings. A Listeso string quartet provides a 60-minute multi-sensory experience at Cocoanut Grove on the Santa Cruz Boardwalk.

Pick Up Your Last Minute Holiday Gifts

Photo Credit: Tyler Olson

There are lots of local shops and small businesses in Santa Cruz where you can find excellent holiday shopping and stocking stuffers for anyone on your list.

Capitola Village and Downtown Santa Cruz are two of the favored places to knock out some serious shopping. You can also check out the DreamInn Holiday Marketplace for some last-minute gifts from local vendors.

Go Caroling

Photo Credit: Marcos Castillo

Take to the streets and let your song be heard! Organized caroling around Santa Cruz can be a great way to spend Christmas Eve with the family. Hanging out in Santa Cruz, listening to your favorite Christmas carols, is sure to be a night to remember.

Caroling takes place at various events across the county, so check out the full list of holiday events and their dates of operation at Santa Cruz Tourism.

Santa Cruz Attractions During New Years

Here are the unique annual traditions that occur at the end of December as we ring in the New Year in Santa Cruz.

Note that there are no fireworks displays in Santa Cruz County over the New Year in the interests of protecting the local environment. Don’t worry, there’s still plenty of fun to be had with these activities.

Spend New Year’s Eve on the Town

Photo Credit: Corri Seizinger

There are many fantastic venues to ring in the New Year in Santa Cruz. Celebrations, ranging from the sophisticated to the relaxed, can be found at restaurants and bars all over the county.

If you’re ready to dance, look for New Year’s Eve parties at venues with live music. Many places also host bar games or offer a live DJ to bump up your Downtown Santa Cruz experience.

Start the New Year Off Right With a State Park Hike

If you want to start the New Year on an energetic note, why not embark on a First Day Hike? Venture over to one of the nearby state parks and start achieving your health and fitness goals.

Official First Day Hikes vary year on year, but here are a few of the best winter hiking trails near Santa Cruz that could be perfect for your first hike of 2026:

Getting Around Santa Cruz

The easiest way to get around the area in any season, especially during the coldest months of December and January, is by car.

While the Downtown Santa Cruz area and highlights near the boardwalk are pretty walkable, you’ll need your own wheels to see the festive holiday decorations and partake in the winter holiday celebrations in places like Roaring Railroads and Wilder Ranch State Park.

For more information on getting around Santa Cruz by public transportation, check out our guide to travel in Santa Cruz during the wintertime.

Weather in Santa Cruz Over the Holiday Season

This is the coldest time of year in Santa Cruz, so the good news is that you’ll still get that crisp, cool winter air that feels like Christmas. However, it’s not cold enough for snow.

Temperatures usually drop to about 40 degrees overnight and only reach about 60 degrees during the sunniest moments of the day.

Fortunately, rain only happens about 7-8 days in the entire month, so odds are you’ll still get to enjoy the outdoors if you plan to spend your holiday season in California.

Where to Stay During the Holidays in Santa Cruz

Choosing where to stay in Santa Cruz over the holidays is more important than at any other time of year.

For starters, you’ll probably want a place to set up a little Christmas Tree or cook yourself a nice Christmas dinner. Holiday rentals book out further in advance than you would think.

Be sure to browse our vacation rentals ahead of time to scout out the perfect place for you and the family.

Come Spend the Holidays With Us

Our vacation rentals scattered across Santa Cruz County are perfect for your next winter holiday celebration. Stay with us to enjoy easy access to the region’s traditional holiday parades, light displays, and festive events.

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