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Christmas with kids in Hesperia
In Hesperia, Christmas arrives in the High Desert with a Civic Plaza tree lighting where real reindeer have stopped by and children can mail a letter to Santa in a special mailbox.
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The story of Christmas in Hesperia
How Hesperia celebrates
Hesperia's best-known Christmas tradition is its annual tree lighting ceremony at the Civic Plaza, 15833 Smoke Tree Street, behind the Hesperia branch library. The city's parks department organizes the evening in early December, with live music, a visit from Santa and a mailbox for letters to him. Giving is part of the season too. Families are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy for the Spark of Love Toy Drive, and the Hesperia Lake Park Fishing Derby has collected toys as well.
Christmas last year in Hesperia
We could not find a published account of Hesperia's 2025 season, so this describes the most recent tree lighting we could confirm, held on a Thursday in December 2024. The free evening began at 5 p.m., and the lights came on around 6:25 p.m. Visitors met some of Santa's reindeer, mailed letters to Santa, watched choir and dance team performances, visited a petting zoo and bought hot chocolate and food from trucks and vendors. A donation station collected toys for Spark of Love.
Fun facts about Christmas in Hesperia
Hesperia's tree lighting has included live reindeer and a petting zoo in a desert town. In another year, students from the Hesperia school district performed Christmas music at the ceremony. Hesperia High School has held its own Winter Fest with photos with Santa, stories with Mrs. Claus, candy apples and face painting. And the High Desert has a railroad twist: in nearby Barstow, A Harvey House Christmas lights a tree at the historic depot.
Trains and Christmas near Hesperia
Barstow's historic Harvey House depot, in the High Desert, celebrates the season with A Harvey House Christmas and a tree lighting at 7 p.m. The Western America Railroad Museum at that Harvey House depot has indoor displays and an outdoor line of locomotives, including Santa Fe 1460. Southern California Railway Museum in Perris offers free admission, and RailGiants in Pomona lets kids climb into locomotive cabs one weekend a month.
- Western America Railroad Museum: The nearest rail museum, at Barstow's Harvey House depot, with an outdoor line of locomotives.
- Southern California Railway Museum: The West's largest collection of locomotives and streetcars, with free admission and weekend rides.
- RailGiants Train Museum: Kids can climb into giant locomotive cabs, free one weekend a month at the LA County Fairgrounds.
Traditions today
- Hesperia Tree Lighting Ceremony: A free evening at the Civic Plaza with a countdown, music, Santa and a mailbox for letters to him.
- Reindeer and petting zoo: Real reindeer and a petting zoo were part of the 2024 tree lighting.
- Spark of Love Toy Drive: Families donate new, unwrapped toys at the tree lighting and at a lakeside fishing derby.
- Hesperia High School Winter Fest: Photos with Santa, stories with Mrs. Claus, crafts and treats at a school festival.
- High Desert Second Chance Christmas: A local nonprofit gift and dinner event for families, held in December at its Smoke Tree Street warehouse.
- A Harvey House Christmas in Barstow: A depot celebration with a tree lighting at 7 p.m., listed in the 2022 High Desert roundup.
A fact for kids
Hesperia's tree lighting has had real reindeer. Children can meet them, mail a letter to Santa and then see the lights come on.
Questions about Christmas in Hesperia
How does Hesperia celebrate Christmas?
Hesperia celebrates with a tree lighting ceremony at the Civic Plaza, toy drives such as Spark of Love, a school Winter Fest and community giving events. The tree lighting is the centerpiece, with music, Santa and a mailbox for letters, held in early December on a weekday evening.
Where is the Hesperia tree lighting?
It takes place at the Hesperia Civic Plaza, 15833 Smoke Tree Street, behind the Hesperia branch library. It has been a free event open to the public. For this year's date and time, see our Hesperia Christmas events guide on this page, which lists confirmed events.
Who runs the Hesperia tree lighting?
The ceremony is promoted by Hesperia's parks and recreation department, which posts details each year on its website. San Bernardino County's First District also lists it in holiday roundups. We could not confirm a founding year, so we describe it as a long-running annual tradition.
What happened at the Hesperia tree lighting last year?
The most recent one we could confirm was in December 2024. The free event began at 5 p.m. and the tree was lit around 6:25 p.m. Families met Santa's reindeer, mailed letters to Santa, enjoyed choir and dance team performances, a petting zoo, food trucks and hot chocolate, and could donate a toy for Spark of Love.
Are there real reindeer at the Hesperia tree lighting?
In 2024 the lighting included visits from some of Santa's reindeer along with a petting zoo. Attractions change from year to year, so check the city's announcement before you go. Our Hesperia Christmas events guide on this page has this season's confirmed details.
Is the Hesperia tree lighting free?
Yes, the city described the 2024 ceremony as free, and the earlier roundup said it was free to the public. Food and treats from trucks and vendors cost extra. Bring a new, unwrapped toy if you would like to give to the Spark of Love Toy Drive.
What is the Spark of Love Toy Drive?
Spark of Love is a toy drive, and Hesperia collects new, unwrapped toys at its tree lighting and at the Hesperia Lake Park Fishing Derby. In 2022 the derby was on December 3 at 7500 Arrowhead Lake Road, and a toy worth $10 or more earned pancakes.
Can children mail a letter to Santa in Hesperia?
Yes. The tree lighting has a mailbox for letters to Santa, so kids can write a note at home and drop it off at the ceremony. Bring envelopes and a pen in case they want to write on the spot.
What is the Hesperia High School Winter Fest?
It was a school festival listed for December 2, 2022, from 5 to 8 p.m. with photos with Santa, stories with Mrs. Claus, food vendors, gift wrapping, face painting, candy apples and crafts. We have not confirmed this year's festival, so check the school's announcements.
Is there Christmas help for families in need in Hesperia?
Yes. High Desert Second Chance, a local nonprofit on Smoke Tree Street, has held a Christmas event with gifts and food boxes for registered families. One year's event was a Winter Wonderland with music, photo booths, hot dogs and photos with Santa. Registration is required, so contact the group directly.
What should we wear to the Hesperia tree lighting?
The tree lighting is an outdoor evening event in December, with the lights coming on around 6:25 p.m. in 2024. In the High Desert it can feel chilly after dark, so dress in warm layers and bring hats, gloves and a blanket for little ones. Bring a jacket even if the afternoon feels mild.
Is the Hesperia tree lighting good for toddlers?
The tree lighting suits young children, with reindeer, a petting zoo, music and photos with Santa, all outdoors at one plaza. Evenings run past a toddler's usual bedtime, so bring a stroller, a jacket and snacks. Our Hesperia Christmas events guide on this page lists this season's confirmed events.
How can I explain the tree lighting to a young child?
Tell them that the whole town gathers at dusk to turn on the Christmas tree together. There will be music, maybe reindeer, and a mailbox for a letter to Santa. Count down from ten with them so they feel part of the moment when the lights come on.
What other High Desert towns have tree lightings?
In 2022, nearby listings included Adelanto at City Hall on December 1, Phelan-Pinon Hills at Phelan Community Park on December 2, Victorville with a Festival of Lights and a children's Christmas parade on December 3, and Apple Valley at Town Hall on December 6. Dates change yearly.
What is A Harvey House Christmas in Barstow?
It is a Barstow event at the historic Harvey House depot, listed on December 2, 2022, from 5 to 8 p.m., with a tree lighting at 7 p.m. The depot is also home to the Western America Railroad Museum, a good stop for train fans of any age.
Where can kids see trains near Hesperia?
The Western America Railroad Museum in Barstow sits at the Harvey House depot, with indoor displays and an outdoor line of locomotives and rolling stock, including Santa Fe 1460. Southern California Railway Museum in Perris and RailGiants in Pomona are farther away. Confirm hours before you go.
Is the Southern California Railway Museum free?
Our museum page lists free admission, with train and trolley rides on weekends. It has the West's largest collection of locomotives, streetcars and rail artifacts. Always confirm hours and any ride fees on the museum's website before you drive from Hesperia.
Can kids climb on trains at RailGiants?
Yes. RailGiants in Pomona lets visitors climb into the cabs of giant locomotives such as UP 4-12-2 No. 9000 and a Centennial diesel. It is free one weekend a month at the LA County Fairgrounds, so check the calendar and plan ahead for that weekend.
What is the Stuff the VVTA Bus toy drive?
In one past holiday roundup, the Victor Valley Transit Authority held Stuff the VVTA Bus at the Hesperia Walmart, 13401 Main Street, on December 4 and 5 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Donors dropped off new, unwrapped toys, and the first 200 children who brought a toy received a free coloring book.
What makes Christmas in Hesperia different from other cities?
Hesperia's tree lighting has a High Desert flavor, with live reindeer, a petting zoo and a mailbox for letters to Santa at a city plaza. Community giving is a big part of the season, from toy drives to a fishing derby, and railroad history is just up the road in Barstow.
Sources
- Tree Lighting Ceremony, Hesperia Recreation and Park District
- Holiday Celebrations Planned Throughout the First District, San Bernardino County First District
- Christmas tree lighting and winter holiday events aplenty in the High Desert, Yahoo / Daily Press
- Western America Railroad Museum, Rally Takes the Train
- Southern California Railway Museum, Rally Takes the Train
- RailGiants Train Museum, Rally Takes the Train