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Christmas with kids in Murrieta
In Murrieta, Christmas starts at Town Square Park, where a big tree lights up beside City Hall. Kids trade cans of food for donuts and visits with Santa, and local families decorate trees for the whole town to see.
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The story of Christmas in Murrieta
How Murrieta celebrates
Murrieta's holiday season centers on Town Square Park, where the city lights its tree between City Hall and the police department. In 2022 that tree was a 40-foot pine, and the lighting took place at 6:30 p.m. after an evening of festivities. The city also adds neighborhood touches: letters to Santa with printable templates, a Santa Hotline families can call, a holiday home decorating contest and a toy and food drive each December. In 2022 the city reported more than 115,000 residents and 52 parks.
Christmas last year in Murrieta
On Saturday, Dec 6, 2025, Murrieta packed its holiday kickoff into one day. Donuts with Santa ran from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at Town Square Park and Amphitheater, with free donuts for the first 500 kids. Families paid with one non-perishable food or pet item per child, and Animal Friends of the Valleys brought pets for adoption. That evening the free Festival of Trees ran from 5 to 8 p.m., with trees decorated by local businesses and families, a Dessert Lane, photos with Santa and the lighting of the city's tree.
Fun facts about Christmas in Murrieta
Donuts with Santa asks kids to bring food or pet supplies, such as cat litter or dog treats, instead of money, so a sweet breakfast helps animals in need. The donut count has grown too: the first 400 kids got donuts in 2022, and the first 500 did in 2025. In 2022 the city also launched its first Santa in the City series, with evening visits at five neighborhood sites on five weeknights. Some Festival of Trees trees go home to local families, and others join a Holiday Tree Trail with local shops.
Trains and Christmas near Murrieta
Murrieta's own Christmas story is about parks and plazas, but train fans have good options within reach. The Southern California Railway Museum in Perris is the closest, with the West's largest collection of locomotives, streetcars and rail artifacts, free admission and parking Tuesday to Sunday, and train and trolley rides every weekend. Holiday trains there sell out fast. The Pacific Southwest Railway Museum in Campo runs vintage rides from a 1916 depot, and the Fullerton Train Museum has six free vintage railcars.
- Southern California Railway Museum: The closest big rail museum to Murrieta, with free admission, weekend train and trolley rides, and holiday trains that sell out fast.
- Pacific Southwest Railway Museum: A volunteer-run museum with vintage train rides from a 1916 depot and about 90 locomotives and cars.
- Fullerton Train Museum: Six vintage railcars beside a busy station, free to visit, so kids can also watch real trains pass.
Traditions today
- Festival of Trees: A free evening of trees decorated by local groups, a Dessert Lane, photos with Santa and the city tree lighting.
- Donuts with Santa: Free donuts for the first 500 kids in 2025, in exchange for a food or pet item, with pets for adoption.
- Town Square tree lighting: The city's tree stands between City Hall and the police department, and has been a 40-foot pine.
- Santa in the City: Evening Santa visits at neighborhood parks and clubhouses, launched in 2022.
- Letters to Santa and the Santa Hotline: Printable letter templates and a hotline number kids can use to reach Santa.
- Holiday Tree Trail: Sponsored trees join a trail tied to the chamber's Shop Small campaign.
A fact for kids
In Murrieta, you can get donuts from Santa by bringing a can of food or a bag of cat litter. The food and pet supplies help neighbors and animals.
Questions about Christmas in Murrieta
When does Murrieta light its city Christmas tree?
The city lights its tree in early December at Town Square Park. In 2025 the lighting was part of the Festival of Trees on Saturday, Dec 6, from 5 to 8 p.m. In 2022 the lighting came at 6:30 p.m. Dates can shift each year, so check our Murrieta Christmas events guide on this page for this season.
Where is the Murrieta tree lighting held?
It is held at Town Square Park, between City Hall at 1 Town Square and the Murrieta Police Department. The nearby amphitheater at 11 Town Square hosts the Festival of Trees and Donuts with Santa. Both are at Town Square, so families can go from one to the other without a long trip. Check the city's holiday pages for current details.
What is the Murrieta Festival of Trees?
It is a free, all-ages holiday kickoff with trees decorated by local businesses, families and organizations. The 2025 version, on Dec 6 from 5 to 8 p.m., added evening entertainment, a Dessert Lane, photos with Santa and the lighting of the city's tree. Kids can wander the rows and pick favorite trees, which makes it a good first look at holiday decorating.
What is the Holiday Tree Trail in Murrieta?
The Holiday Tree Trail is a collection of sponsored trees tied to the Murrieta/Wildomar Chamber's Shop Small campaign. According to the city's Festival of Trees page, trees sponsored for the festival may go to local families or join the trail. It gives kids a simple scavenger-hunt idea: count the trees and choose the one with the best ornaments.
What is Donuts with Santa in Murrieta?
It is a morning event at Town Square Park and Amphitheater where kids meet Santa and get free donuts. In 2025 it ran Saturday, Dec 6, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Animal Friends of the Valleys also had pets for adoption. The event has been part of the city's December kickoff since at least 2022, when it also opened the holiday week.
Why does Donuts with Santa ask for food or pet items?
Admission was one non-perishable food or pet item per child in 2025, such as dog or cat food, treats or cat litter. The idea is that kids give something small and the donations help neighbors and animals. It is also an easy way to talk with little ones about giving to others, not only receiving treats and meeting Santa.
How many kids get free donuts at Donuts with Santa?
The first 500 kids got free donuts in 2025. In 2022 the number was the first 400 children, so the event has grown. Because the count is limited, families who want donuts should arrive early. Check our Murrieta Christmas events guide on this page for this year's time and the current donut limit.
What was Santa in the City in Murrieta?
Santa in the City was a new series in 2022, with evening Santa visits at five neighborhood sites from Monday to Friday, Dec 5 to 9, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The sites were Murrieta Youth Center, Vintage Reserve Park, Alderwood Clubhouse, Antelope Hills and Copper Canyon Park. It brought Santa to neighborhood parks and clubhouses.
Can kids write a letter to Santa in Murrieta?
Yes. In 2022 the city offered Letters to Santa templates starting Dec 1 and also ran a Santa Hotline at 951-461-6086. Templates give young writers a nice head start, since little ones can draw a picture or sign their name. Check the city's holiday pages before you plan, because the hotline and template dates may change each year.
Does Murrieta have a toy and food drive at Christmas?
Yes, the city has held a holiday toy and food drive, with a drive-thru donation day on Saturday, Dec 17, 2022, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Community Center on Juniper Street. It is an easy way for kids to take part, since they can pick out a toy or a can of food to hand over.
Is there a holiday home decorating contest in Murrieta?
Yes. The city listed a Holiday Home Decorating Contest as part of its 2022 holiday week. Residents decorate their homes, and neighbors enjoy the lights. If you are not entering, a short drive around the block after dark is a free way for kids to spot their favorite displays. Check the city's holiday pages for current contest rules and dates.
How big is Murrieta?
Murrieta had more than 115,000 residents and 52 parks in 2022, according to the city. Town Square hosts the big kickoff, while neighborhood parks and clubhouses hosted the Santa in the City visits in 2022, so some holiday activities were held close to home in different parts of the city.
How do I explain a tree lighting to a toddler?
Tell them the whole town gathers at Town Square Park in the evening to light the city's tree. In 2022 the lighting was at 6:30 p.m., and in 2025 it was part of the Festival of Trees from 5 to 8 p.m. Bring a jacket and snacks, and have a plan to leave early if your child gets tired.
Is the Murrieta Festival of Trees free?
Yes, the 2025 Festival of Trees was a free, all-ages event at Town Square Park and Amphitheater. Photos with Santa and the tree lighting were part of the evening, and the Dessert Lane offered treats. Check the city's listing for any costs at the Dessert Lane. See our Murrieta Christmas events guide on this page for this year's details.
Who decorates the trees at the Murrieta Festival of Trees?
Local businesses, families and organizations sponsor and decorate the trees, according to the city's 2025 listing. Business vendors have to sponsor a tree as well as rent a booth. This makes the festival a mix of homemade and professional decorating, so kids will see a variety of decorating ideas.
Are pets part of Murrieta's Christmas traditions?
Pets show up in a few ways. At Donuts with Santa in 2025, Animal Friends of the Valleys had pets available for adoption, and kids could bring dog or cat food, treats or litter instead of a cash ticket. If you are thinking about a pet gift, talk with your kids first about the responsibility.
Where can kids meet Santa in Murrieta?
The city's best-known chances are Donuts with Santa and the Festival of Trees, where photos with Santa were offered in 2025. In 2022 Santa also visited five neighborhood sites. Dates and places change each year, so check our Murrieta Christmas events guide on this page for the current list before you head out.
When does Murrieta's holiday season kick off?
Murrieta's kickoff landed on the first Saturday of December in both 2022 and 2025. In 2025 it was Dec 6, with Donuts with Santa in the morning and the Festival of Trees in the evening. In 2022 the holiday week began Saturday, Dec 3. Check our Murrieta Christmas events guide on this page for this year's dates.
What is the nearest train museum for a Murrieta family?
The Southern California Railway Museum in Perris is the nearest one from our list. It offers free admission and parking Tuesday to Sunday, with train and trolley rides on weekends, and its holiday trains sell out fast. It is a good pick if your kids like trains as much as tree lightings.
Is there a train museum with vintage rides near Murrieta?
Yes. The Pacific Southwest Railway Museum in Campo runs vintage train rides from the 1916 Campo depot and has about 90 locomotives and cars. Campo is in San Diego County, a longer drive from Murrieta, so plan a full day. Check the museum's schedule before you go.
Sources
- Festival of Trees 2025, City of Murrieta
- Donuts with Santa 2025, City of Murrieta
- Murrieta Kicks Off the Holiday with a Week of Fun, City of Murrieta
- Rally Takes the Train museum guide, Rally Takes the Train