California will host a range of events throughout November 2025, offering activities that span culinary festivals, ski resort openings, and holiday celebrations across the state.
Theme parks begin their holiday festivities in mid-November. Disneyland Resort in Anaheim will start its seasonal events on November 14, running through January 7. Knott’s Merry Farm in Buena Park opens on November 22 and continues until January 5. Universal Studios Hollywood in Los Angeles County plans to hold Grinchmas and other themed activities from late November into early January, while Six Flags Magic Mountain near Santa Clarita starts its Holiday in the Park event on November 27. In the Bay Area, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo and Gilroy Gardens are also hosting holiday-themed experiences.
San Diego County’s three major theme parks—SeaWorld, Sesame Place San Diego, and LEGOLAND California—will each have their own celebrations starting mid- to late-November.
Several ski resorts are scheduled to open for the season this month. Mammoth Mountain aims to welcome visitors starting November 14, followed by Northstar on November 21 and both Heavenly and Palisades Tahoe on November 22. Kirkwood is expected to open on November 28; Big Bear Mountain Resort’s opening date is yet to be announced.
Northern California will feature a variety of festivals including the Goat Hill Fair in Watsonville (October 31–November 1), Eat Drink SF Restaurant Week (November 1–9), Hot Rods at the Beach and Sea Glass Festival in Santa Cruz (November 8–9), Nightfall at Filoli estate through November 10 with holidays at Filoli beginning mid-month, Pigeon Point Light Station’s anniversary celebration (November 15), The Hive’s anniversary party in Woodland (November 15), Mendocino Harvest Festival through November 16, Redding Garden of Lights starting November 21, Mountain Mandarin Festival in Roseville from November 21–23, The Great Dickens Christmas Fair beginning November 22 in Daly City, Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden’s Festival of Lights from November 28, and Illuminate SF Festival of Light commencing the same day.
Central California events include Madera Pomegranate Fruit & Nut Festival (November 1), Whole Vine Festival at Fresno State University (November 1), Dia de los Muertos observances through early November in Oxnard, Big Sur Food & Wine Festival (November 6–8), Ventura County Farm Day (November 8), Spartan Trifecta Weekend obstacle race in San Luis Obispo (November 8–9).
Southern California hosts the Breeders’ Cup horse races October 31–November 1 at Del Mar Racetrack; Ridgecrest Petroglyph Festival highlighting ancient rock art; Los Angeles’ Olvera Street Dia de los Muertos festival; De Portola Wine Trail Harvest Festival on November 2; Palm Springs Pride parade and festival (November 6–9); Los Angeles Wine & Food Festival (November 7–9); San Diego Bay Food+Wine Festival featuring over two hundred wines and eighty chefs as well as Latin American cuisine influences during Grand Fiesta at Liberty Station; Palm Desert Choreography Festival offering dance performances with cash prizes up to $10,000; Lightscape at San Diego Botanic Garden opening mid-November with over one million lights along a mile-long path; Sawdust Winter Fantasy arts festival begins late-November in Laguna Beach; Mission Inn Hotel & Spa’s annual Riverside light display kicks off before Thanksgiving with five million lights displayed until early January.
Thanksgiving Day brings Dana Point Turkey Trot’s running events along the harbor. Other turkey trots take place across Oceanside, Napa Valley, Santa Rosa, Torrance, Davis, and Big Bear Lake.
These events reflect California’s mix of cultural traditions and seasonal activities available statewide throughout autumn into winter.
