Christmas Events for Kids in Long Beach (2026)

Christmas Events for Kids
Written by Kelsey Cecil

7 min read

The Long Beach area has 5 Christmas events for kids we could confirm for the 2026 season, from Pasko Na! Author Storytime with Kym Bisnar in Long Beach on November 24 to The Nutcracker, Long Beach Ballet in Long Beach, which runs through December 20. 3 of them are free, and every listing links straight to the host. It is one stop on our guide to Christmas events for kids in California, part of our guide for every state.

The short version

  • 5 kids’ Christmas events confirmed in Long Beach for 2026, in Long Beach
  • First: Pasko Na! Author Storytime with Kym Bisnar, Long Beach, November 24. Runs latest: The Nutcracker, Long Beach Ballet, Long Beach, through December 20
  • Free: Pasko Na! Author Storytime with Kym Bisnar, Belmont Shore Christmas Parade and Long Beach Christmas Tree Lighting 2026
  • Checked on each host’s own page; each listing links straight to it

Christmas events for kids in Long Beach

5 confirmed events for kids in Long Beach, soonest first.

Holiday story timeFree

Pasko Na! Author Storytime with Kym Bisnar

  • When: Tuesday, November 24, 2026, 11:30 am to 12:30 pm
  • Where: Harte Neighborhood Library, Long Beach
  • Cost: Free
  • Ages: Toddlers (1 to 3 years), families welcome
Details, tips and host

Pasko Na is a picture book about the Filipino tradition of making bright, colorful parols, the star-shaped lanterns that decorate homes during the Christmas season. Author Kym Bisnar reads her recently published book, Pasko Na, aloud at the Harte Neighborhood Library on Tuesday, Nov 24, 2026, from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm.

Kids and families learn how parols are made and why they are part of the holidays. After the reading, children are invited to create their own parols to decorate at home. The library lists the audience as toddlers ages 1 to 3, and families with slightly older children are welcome to join. The event is hosted by Long Beach Public Library at Harte, and the branch contact is Courtney at 562-570-1044 for questions or accommodation requests.

Parent tip: Call the branch at 562-570-1044 with questions about registration or accommodations. Bring a bag to carry the finished parol home.

Host
Long Beach Public Library (opens in a new tab)
Address
Harte Neighborhood Library, 1595 W Willow St, Long Beach, CA 90810
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom Long Beach Public Library (opens in a new tab)

Holiday show

A Christmas Carol (2026)

  • When: Fri December 4 (8 pm), Sat December 5 (8 pm), Sun December 6 (2 pm), Thu December 10 (8 pm), Fri December 11 (8 pm), Sat December 12 (8 pm), Sun December 13 (2 pm), Thu December 17 (8 pm), Fri December 18 (8 pm), Sat December 19 (8 pm) and Sun December 20 (2 pm), 2026
  • Where: Long Beach Playhouse Mainstage, Long Beach
  • Cost: Ticketed (see Playhouse box office)
  • Ages: Not admitted under age 5
Details, tips and host

Long Beach Playhouse brings back its yearly production of A Christmas Carol, adapted from the Charles Dickens novella and directed by Katherine White. The retelling is quick and highly theatrical, following Ebenezer Scrooge as the ghosts of Christmases Past, Present and Future show him the cost of his miserly ways and the joy of generosity.

Performances run Dec 4 to 20, 2026. Thursday, Friday and Saturday shows begin at 8 pm, and Sunday shows start at 2 pm on Dec 6, 13 and 20. The Friday, Dec 4 show is a half price preview, and Saturday, Dec 5 is opening night. The theatre does not admit children under age 5, so this suits school age children and families with older kids. Tickets are sold by the box office at 562-494-1014.

Parent tip: Children under 5 are not admitted. Sunday matinees at 2 pm are the easiest fit for young families.

Host
Long Beach Playhouse (opens in a new tab)
Address
Long Beach Playhouse Mainstage, 5021 E Anaheim St, Long Beach, CA 90804
Sign-up
Required ahead of time
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom Long Beach Playhouse (opens in a new tab)

Holiday paradeFree

Belmont Shore Christmas Parade

  • When: Saturday, December 5, 2026, 6 to 9 pm
  • Where: 2nd Street, Belmont Shore, Long Beach
  • Cost: Free
  • Ages: All ages
Details, tips and host

The Belmont Shore Christmas Parade is one of the largest holiday parades in Southern California, drawing about 30,000 spectators. Local marching bands, festive floats, singers, dancers and costumed groups travel along 2nd Street, and Santa and his elves are part of the show.

The 41st annual parade is on Saturday, Dec 5, 2026, from 6 to 9 pm. The route heads east on 2nd Street from Livingston Avenue to Bayshore Avenue and loops back west to Livingston, so spectators on both sides get a close view. Streets close at 4 pm, which lets families set up chairs and blankets early. Visit Long Beach suggests parking at the beach lots off Ocean Boulevard or arriving by transit, bike or rideshare because the crowds are large.

Parent tip: Claim a curb spot early and bring warm layers for the evening. Plan a parking or rideshare drop-off away from 2nd Street.

Host
Belmont Shore Business Association (opens in a new tab)
Address
2nd Street, Belmont Shore, E 2nd St at Livingston Dr, Long Beach, CA 90803
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom Belmont Shore Business Association (opens in a new tab)

Santa and Mrs. ClausFree

Long Beach Christmas Tree Lighting 2026

  • When: Monday, December 7, 2026, 5 to 8 pm
  • Where: Terrace Theater Plaza, Long Beach
  • Cost: Free, tickets required
  • Ages: All ages
Details, tips and host

Visit Long Beach hosts its 12th yearly tree lighting on Monday, Dec 7, 2026. The evening runs 5 to 8 pm, held at Terrace Theater Plaza. The 67 foot tree glows with over 500,000 lights, and snow drifts down as fireworks close out the night.

Children can watch live music and seasonal stage acts, among them Long Beach Ballet dancers from The Nutcracker, and can get pictures taken beside Santa and Mrs. Claus. Holiday sweets and food trucks are on hand, and oversized ornaments plus a snow globe you can step inside make cute backdrops for family photos. Entry costs nothing, yet you do need a ticket. Visit Long Beach hands them out in weekly rounds beginning Nov 9, and each person may take up to four. If you like, bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate to the Long Beach Fire Department's Spark of Love Toy Drive. The decorations at the plaza remain up until after New Year's.

Parent tip: Keep an eye out for ticket drops each week from Nov 9 and grab yours early. Planning to donate? Pack a brand new toy for the firefighters' collection.

Host
Visit Long Beach (opens in a new tab)
Address
Terrace Theater Plaza, 300 E Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802
Sign-up
Required ahead of time
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom Visit Long Beach (opens in a new tab)

Holiday show

The Nutcracker, Long Beach Ballet

  • When: Sat December 12, Sun December 13, Sat December 19 and Sun December 20, 2026
  • Where: Long Beach Terrace Theater, Long Beach
  • Cost: Ticketed
  • Ages: Family show
Details, tips and host

Long Beach Ballet's production of The Nutcracker at the Long Beach Terrace Theater is a longtime family holiday tradition in Southern California. Visit Long Beach describes a full orchestra, a cast of more than 200 performers, dazzling pyrotechnics and even a live horse, staged by Artistic Director David Wilcox.

The 2026 performances are on Dec 12 and 13 and Dec 19 and 20 at the Terrace Theater, 300 E Ocean Blvd, in downtown Long Beach. The listing does not give showtimes or prices, so check the Long Beach Ballet site before buying tickets. Dancers from the production also perform at the Visit Long Beach Christmas Tree Lighting on Dec 7, which can give kids a preview of the show. A large theater production like this suits children who can enjoy a full evening or matinee of dance and music.

Parent tip: Confirm showtimes and ticket prices on the Long Beach Ballet site. Arrive early because downtown parking can be busy.

Host
Long Beach Ballet (opens in a new tab)
Address
Long Beach Terrace Theater, 300 E Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802
Sign-up
Required ahead of time
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom Long Beach Ballet (opens in a new tab)

Look inside the book

Story time with Santa in Long Beach? Bring Rally home.

Rally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in real watercolor. It makes a cozy bedtime story after a big day with Santa. Turn a few pages here.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $16.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

Every event above was confirmed on the host’s own page, with the date, time, cost and the small things parents ask about (sign-ups, ages, what is included). Looking for a Santa train instead? Those are on our California Christmas train rides page.

Long Beach Christmas events for kids at a glance

Kids’ Christmas events
5 confirmed for 2026
Cities
Long Beach
Season
November 24 to December 20, 2026
Free events
3
Kinds of events
holiday show, holiday story time, holiday parade and Santa and Mrs. Claus
Last checked
See every event on a December calendar

Plan your December

When each Long Beach Christmas event for kids happens

The first is Pasko Na! Author Storytime with Kym Bisnar in Long Beach on November 24; the last runs to December 20. Each bar spans an event’s dates, not every hour in them, so check the host’s page for times.

Looking further afield? Our California Christmas events for kids guide lists every confirmed event in the state, and we have city guides for Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, San Diego, Sacramento, Fresno, Bakersfield, Riverside, Oakland, Anaheim, Irvine, Stockton, Modesto, Santa Barbara, Oxnard, Santa Rosa, Palm Springs, Fontana, Simi Valley, Victorville, Indio, Chico, Santa Clarita, Escondido, Temecula, Visalia, Thousand Oaks, San Clemente, Santa Cruz, Madera, Gilroy, Hanford, Delano, Oceanside, Salinas, Murrieta, Santa Maria, Vacaville, Hesperia, Redding, Hemet, Merced, Yuba City, Porterville and Watsonville. The national search sorts every event by distance from your town.

A story for the drive home

A morning with Santa or an evening of holiday stories tends to end the same way: tired kids, a long drive and one more book before bed. Our picture book follows Rally the corgi on his first train ride to see his grand-paw-rents, and every page is painted by hand. If your family is spending December missing someone, it was written for that too. For the car, print our free corgi and train coloring pages.

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first ride on a California train, hand-painted in watercolor. $16.99 on Amazon, ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

2026 Christmas events are coming in late November

More Christmas events arrive in late November: unlock the list and we'll email you as soon as we confirm them.

The story of Christmas in Long Beach

In Long Beach, Christmas often happens on the water. Lit-up boats have floated through the Naples canals every December since 1946, and the city's oldest traditions still sit right next to its newest ones.

Parades on the water and on the street

The Naples Island Holiday Boat Parade began in 1946 and is the oldest parade in Long Beach. Boats, kayaks and gondolas glide through the canals past decorated homes, and judges score them on theme, lighting, music, costumes and originality. In 1953 Gertrude Whittle asked the City Council to decorate Daisy Avenue, which started the Daisy Avenue Christmas Tree Lane Parade in Wrigley. The Belmont Shore Christmas Parade on 2nd Street came later, in the early 1980s, and grew into the city's biggest parade, ending with Santa on a big red fire truck.

Christmas last year in Long Beach

In 2025 the city held its 11th annual tree lighting on the Terrace Theater Plaza downtown. A 67-foot tree with about half a million lights lit up on December 3, with Long Beach Ballet dancing from The Nutcracker, photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, a children's train ride, falling snow and fireworks. The event had grown so popular, with more than 30,000 visitors a year, that it needed free tickets for the first time. At Rancho Los Cerritos, costumed docents shared about 100 years of holiday traditions by candlelight at a free open house.

Fun facts about Christmas in Long Beach

The Belmont Shore parade loops east on 2nd Street to Bayshore Avenue and back again, so families on both sides of the street get a close look. About 30,000 people come to watch it. The Parade of 1,000 Lights sails from Shoreline Marina past the Pine Avenue Pier and the Queen Mary. And the Daisy Avenue parade keeps a small-town feel, with ponies, puppies and fancy cars rolling through a neighborhood that has decorated its street for over 70 years.

Trains and Christmas near Long Beach

Little ones who love trains got their own ride at the 2025 Long Beach tree lighting, where a children's train circled the plaza. For more train time, the Lomita Railroad Museum is a short drive west, with a 1901 Baldwin steam locomotive beside a Victorian-style depot. Travel Town Museum in Griffith Park lets kids climb around historic railroad cars for free, and the Fullerton Train Museum opens its vintage cabooses and passenger cars next to a busy station.

  • Lomita Railroad Museum: The closest railroad museum to Long Beach, with a 1901 steam locomotive and two cabooses outside a replica depot.
  • Travel Town Museum: A free outdoor museum full of historic railroad cars, with a miniature train that circles the grounds.
  • Fullerton Train Museum: Six vintage railcars right beside the Fullerton station, so kids can watch real trains go by too.

Traditions today

  • Naples Island Holiday Boat Parade: Lit-up boats, kayaks and gondolas float through the Naples canals, a tradition since 1946.
  • Belmont Shore Christmas Parade: Bands, floats and Santa travel 2nd Street on a December evening while about 30,000 people watch.
  • Daisy Avenue Christmas Tree Lane: A neighborhood parade in Wrigley that began in 1953 and still feels like a small town.
  • The Long Beach Tree Lighting: A giant tree, snow and fireworks on the Terrace Theater Plaza downtown, held every December since the mid 2010s.
  • Parade of 1,000 Lights: Decorated boats sail from Shoreline Marina past the Pine Avenue Pier and the Queen Mary.
  • Holiday open house at Rancho Los Cerritos: Costumed docents share holiday traditions from different eras by candlelight, with crafts for all ages.

A fact for kids

In Long Beach, even boats get dressed up for Christmas. Every December since 1946, boats covered in twinkling lights have floated through the Naples canals like a parade on the water.

Questions about Christmas in Long Beach

What is the oldest Christmas tradition in Long Beach?

The Naples Island Holiday Boat Parade, which began in 1946, is the oldest parade in Long Beach. Each December, decorated boats, kayaks and gondolas float through the Naples canals past homes covered in lights, and judges score them on theme, lighting, music, costumes and originality.

When did the Naples boat parade start?

The Naples Island Holiday Boat Parade dates back to 1946, so it has been part of Long Beach Christmas for about 80 years. It marked its 73rd year in 2019. Boats follow the canals through the neighborhood, and larger boats circle the bay, which makes it easy to watch from the water's edge.

How old is the Belmont Shore Christmas Parade?

The Belmont Shore Christmas Parade began in the early 1980s; it was in its 36th year in 2018 and is in its 41st year in 2026. It is the youngest of the city's classic parades but has become the biggest, with more than 100 entries and over a dozen marching bands on 2nd Street.

How did the Daisy Avenue Christmas Tree Lane start?

It started in 1953, when Gertrude Whittle persuaded the Long Beach City Council to decorate Daisy Avenue. The street in the Wrigley neighborhood became known for its holiday parade, and in 1988 Maria Norvell and the Wrigley Association gave the tradition new life. It still has a friendly, small-town feel.

What is the Parade of 1,000 Lights in Long Beach?

The Parade of 1,000 Lights is a holiday boat parade in downtown Long Beach that has run since the 1960s. Decorated boats leave Shoreline Marina, pass the Pine Avenue Pier, cross Queensway Bay and go by the Queen Mary. Shoreline Village and Rainbow Harbor are good places to watch the boats sail by.

Where is the big Christmas tree in Long Beach?

The city's big tree stands on the Terrace Theater Plaza in Downtown Long Beach. In 2025 it was 67 feet tall with about half a million lights, and it stayed up through New Year's Day. For this year's lighting date and details, see our Long Beach Christmas events guide on this page.

How long has Long Beach had a tree lighting ceremony?

The current Long Beach Tree Lighting reached its 11th year in 2025, so it began in the mid 2010s. It has grown into a local tradition that draws more than 30,000 visitors a year, and in 2025 it became a free ticketed event for the first time because it had become so popular.

What happened at the Long Beach tree lighting last year?

At the 2025 tree lighting on December 3, families watched Long Beach Ballet dance from The Nutcracker, took photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, rode a children's train and saw the 67-foot tree light up. The night ended with fireworks and falling snow, and guests could donate a new toy to the Spark of Love Toy Drive.

Does it snow in Long Beach at Christmas?

Real snow does not fall in Long Beach, where December days are mild. The city brings the snow in instead: the downtown tree lighting ends with falling snow and fireworks, so kids still get a snowy Christmas moment by the beach. It is one of the most loved parts of the evening.

Where does Santa appear in the Belmont Shore parade?

Santa comes at the very end of the Belmont Shore Christmas Parade, riding on a big red fire truck. Before he arrives, neighborhood school marching bands and floats from civic groups travel down 2nd Street, so keep little ones watching until the last entry rolls by.

Why does the Belmont Shore parade loop back?

The route heads east on 2nd Street from Livingston Drive to Bayshore Avenue and then turns back toward Livingston. Because the parade passes twice, families on both sides of the street get a close view. The whole parade lasts about three hours, so many families bring chairs and blankets.

How many people watch the Belmont Shore Christmas Parade?

About 30,000 spectators line 2nd Street for the Belmont Shore Christmas Parade, which makes it one of the largest holiday parades in Southern California. Nearby streets close in the afternoon, and families arrive early to claim a spot along the curb before the parade steps off in the evening.

What holiday traditions can kids see at Rancho Los Cerritos?

At its holiday open house, Rancho Los Cerritos celebrates about 100 years of holiday traditions. Costumed docents share how families celebrated in different eras by candlelight, and there are pop-up exhibits, music and a crafts area where visitors of all ages can make holiday decorations. In 2025 the open house was free.

What is the Portraits of the Prince of Peace pageant?

It is a long-running Long Beach Christmas tradition of candle-lit living nativity scenes, presented by six churches on Wardlow Road near Bellflower Boulevard. In 2019 it was in its 47th year, with 22 live scenes, some with real actors and animals. Families walk from scene to scene in the evening.

How can I explain the boat parades to my toddler?

Tell them that in Long Beach the boats get dressed up for Christmas, just like houses do. Families cover their boats in twinkling lights and music and float through the canals like a parade on the water. Kids love counting boats and spotting their favorite lights from the edge of the canal.

Is there a Christmas parade in Long Beach this year?

Yes. Long Beach keeps its parade traditions going every December, including the Belmont Shore Christmas Parade on 2nd Street and the boat parades on the water. For this season's confirmed dates and times, see our Long Beach Christmas events guide at the top of this page.

Where can kids see Christmas lights in Long Beach?

Long Beach is known for lights on the water. The Naples canals glow during the boat parade, the Parade of 1,000 Lights sails past the Queen Mary, and the downtown tree shines with about half a million lights. Our Long Beach Christmas events guide on this page lists this season's confirmed dates.

Where can kids see trains near Long Beach at Christmas?

The closest railroad museum is the Lomita Railroad Museum, with a 1901 Baldwin steam locomotive outside a Victorian-style depot. In Griffith Park, Travel Town Museum has historic railroad cars and a miniature train, and it is free. Train fans also got a children's train ride at the 2025 downtown tree lighting.

Is there a train museum in Orange County near Long Beach?

Yes. The Fullerton Train Museum sits beside the busy Fullerton Train Station and has six vintage railcars, including three cabooses and three streamlined passenger cars. Admission is free, and volunteers open the cars on set mornings, so check its hours before you go. Kids can watch real trains pass while they visit.

Why is Christmas in Long Beach different from other cities?

Long Beach celebrates by the sea. Its oldest parade happens on boats in the Naples canals, another boat parade passes the Queen Mary, and the downtown tree lighting adds falling snow to a mild beach night. Alongside the boats are classic street parades, like Belmont Shore and Daisy Avenue.

Sources

  1. Floating holiday spirit, Long Beach Post
  2. Christmas parades: highlights of the holidays, Long Beach Post
  3. Four Christmas traditions, LB908
  4. Ring in the Holidays at the 11th Annual Long Beach Tree Lighting, December 3, Visit Long Beach
  5. Holiday Open House 2025, Rancho Los Cerritos
  6. Belmont Shore Christmas Parade, Visit Long Beach
  7. Lomita Railroad Museum, Rally Takes the Train
  8. Travel Town Museum, Rally Takes the Train
  9. Fullerton Train Museum, Rally Takes the Train

Long Beach Christmas events for kids: questions parents ask

What are the best Christmas events for kids in Long Beach this year?

We confirmed 5 for the 2026 season, and 3 of them are free. Good places to start: Long Beach Christmas Tree Lighting (Dec 7), The Nutcracker, Long Beach Ballet (Dec 12 to Dec 20) and Pasko Na! Author Storytime with Kym Bisnar (Nov 24). Every event on this page has the times, the cost and a link to the host.

Are there free Christmas events for kids in Long Beach?

Yes, 3 of the 5. Belmont Shore Christmas Parade (Dec 5) is a good one to plan around. Some free events still need a reservation, so check the listing before you go.

Where can kids meet Santa in Long Beach?

2 events here include a visit with Santa. Bring your own camera; most visits allow photos.

Are there Christmas story times for kids in Long Beach?

Yes. Library story times are usually free and walk-in; ones with a meal or a show are ticketed.

Do we need tickets or reservations?

For 3 of the 5 events, yes: they sell tickets or ask you to sign up ahead. Meals with Santa and ticketed shows fill up first. Most library and park events are walk-in, and each listing says which is which.

Are there Christmas train rides for kids in Long Beach?

Yes, but they have their own guide. Santa trains and holiday train rides are listed in our Long Beach Christmas train rides guide, so this page sticks to story times, Santa visits and other events off the rails.

How do you confirm these events?

We list an event only after we find this season’s date on the host’s own website or an official city or tourism calendar. We last checked every listing on November 4, 2026. Hosts change details, so always confirm on the host’s page before you go.

Event names belong to their hosts. Rally Takes the Train is a family picture book and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any host listed here. Confirm dates, times and prices on each host’s own site before you go.

Kelsey Cecil
Previous

Christmas Events for Kids in Oakland (2026)
Next

Que faire à Noël avec les enfants à Angers ? (2026)