Rally is researching the season
Christmas with kids in Santa Clarita
In Santa Clarita, the holiday season starts on Main Street in Old Town Newhall, where a library lawn turns into a snowy winter scene for one November evening. Real snow, tens of thousands of lights and a tree lighting mark the start of the season.
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Light Up Main Street
When: Sat, Nov 21, 4 to 8 pm
Where: Main Street, Old Town Newhall (Main Stage at the Old Town Newhall Library), Santa Clarita
Cost: See event page
The story of Christmas in Santa Clarita
How Santa Clarita celebrates
Santa Clarita's biggest Christmas tradition is Light Up Main Street, the city's kickoff to the holidays in Old Town Newhall. The city and local papers call it an annual tradition, and it centers on a Christmas tree in front of the Old Town Newhall Library branch. Families come for live music, food trucks, photos with Santa and a Christmas tree lighting. Earlier years also featured golden luminaria bags that neighbors lit in memory of loved ones. Valencia Town Center adds its own tradition with a free Santa's Arrival Celebration at Santa's Holiday Home.
Christmas last year in Santa Clarita
Light Up Main Street 2025 took place on Saturday, November 15, from 4 to 8 p.m. The city brought in 20 tons of real snow for snow angels, and tens of thousands of twinkling lights lit Main Street. The tree lighting happened at 5:30 p.m., and nine groups performed on the Main Stage, from school carolers to the Santa Clarita Master Chorale. Kids visited Santa, wrote letters to the North Pole, played carnival games and bounced on a Polar Playground. A Chill Zone gave children with sensory sensitivities a quiet place, and adoptable and therapy dogs dressed up for Santa Paws.
Fun facts about Christmas in Santa Clarita
Southern California rarely sees snow, so Santa Clarita trucks it in: Light Up Main Street uses about 20 tons of real snow so kids can make snow angels. The event also has an Elves' Crafts Corner where children make snow globes, photo frames and stocking crafts. After the tree lighting, families can walk to the Veterans Historical Plaza to see a holiday tree that honors veterans and active-duty military. In an earlier year, the library tree stood 23 feet tall and neighbors bought luminaria bags to light up Main Street.
Trains and Christmas near Santa Clarita
Families who want a train outing can head west, where the Fillmore Historical Museum centers on a restored 1887 Southern Pacific depot, and the Fillmore & Western Railway history page tells the story of the excursion and movie trains that once ran there. Travel Town Museum in Griffith Park is free and lets kids see historic railroad cars up close, with a miniature train circling the grounds.
- Fillmore Historical Museum: A restored 1887 Southern Pacific depot with a ranch bunkhouse and a Craftsman home, opened by volunteers Wednesday through Saturday.
- Fillmore & Western Railway: A history page about the heritage railway that ran excursion and movie trains between Santa Paula and Piru.
- Travel Town Museum: A free outdoor railroad museum in Griffith Park with historic cars and a miniature train that circles the grounds.
Traditions today
- Light Up Main Street: The city's annual holiday kickoff in Old Town Newhall, with a tree lighting, live music, food trucks and real snow.
- Snow angels in 20 tons of real snow: Kids in a warm part of California get to play in snow that the city trucks in for the evening.
- Letters to Santa: Children write a wish letter to send to the North Pole and can have a photo taken with Santa.
- Santa Paws: Adoptable dogs and therapy dogs wear holiday outfits so families can take photos with them.
- Veterans holiday tree: A tree at the Veterans Historical Plaza honors veterans and active-duty military, a short walk from the tree lighting.
- Santa's Holiday Home at Valencia Town Center: A free Santa's Arrival Celebration has offered face painting, balloon twisting, coloring and hot chocolate.
A fact for kids
Santa Clarita does not get much snow, so every year the city brings in 20 tons of real snow for kids to make snow angels on Main Street.
Questions about Christmas in Santa Clarita
What is the biggest Christmas tradition in Santa Clarita?
Light Up Main Street in Old Town Newhall is the city's biggest holiday kickoff. The city calls it an annual tradition, and it brings a tree lighting, tens of thousands of lights, live music, food trucks, photos with Santa and a snow play area to Main Street on a Saturday evening in November.
When is Light Up Main Street held?
It is held on a Saturday in mid to late November. In 2025 it took place on November 15, from 4 to 8 p.m., and the 2026 event is listed for Saturday, November 21, from 4 to 8 p.m. with the tree lighting around 5:30 p.m. See our Santa Clarita Christmas events guide on this page for details.
Where is the Christmas tree in Old Town Newhall?
The tree stands in front of the Santa Clarita Public Library Old Town Newhall Branch at 24500 Main Street, where the Main Stage is also set up. Families gather there for the tree lighting during Light Up Main Street, and the library lawn becomes the center of the evening's music and performances.
Does it really snow in Santa Clarita at Christmas?
Not naturally. Southern California rarely sees snow, so the city brings in about 20 tons of real snow for Light Up Main Street. Kids can make snow angels and play in it for the evening, which gives children in Southern California a snowy Christmas moment without a drive to the mountains.
What happened at Light Up Main Street last year?
On November 15, 2025, families enjoyed snow angels in 20 tons of snow, a tree lighting at 5:30 p.m., nine Main Stage performances, Santa visits, Candy Cane Carnival games, s'mores fire pits and a Polar Playground. There was also a Makers Marketplace, food trucks and a holiday tree honoring veterans.
Who performs at the Light Up Main Street tree lighting?
Local groups take the Main Stage. In 2025 the lineup included the Castaic Union School District Carolers, Innovative Show Choir, Canyon Theatre Guild, Mission Opera, Include Everyone Project, Hart High School Show Choir, Vibe Performing Arts and the Santa Clarita Master Chorale. It makes the evening feel like a community concert.
Is there a quiet space for kids who get overwhelmed by crowds?
Yes. Light Up Main Street includes a Chill Zone, a quiet, sensory-friendly space for guests with sensory sensitivities. If your child likes lights and music but needs a break from crowds, you can step away there. The event is busy, so planning a break in advance helps.
What is Santa Paws?
Santa Paws is a photo activity at Light Up Main Street where kids and families can take pictures with therapy dogs and rescue dogs dressed in holiday outfits. In 2025 the adoptable dogs came from the Castaic Animal Care Center. It is a gentle option for children who love animals more than crowds.
What can kids make at the Elves' Crafts Corner?
At the Elves' Crafts Corner, children can make snow globes, photo frames or stocking crafts. It sits alongside the other family activities at Light Up Main Street, including Frosty's Fair carnival games and letters to Santa. It is a nice way to bring home something handmade from the evening.
How can I explain the Santa letter tradition to a toddler?
Tell your child that Santa likes to hear what they are hoping for, so at Light Up Main Street kids can write a wish letter and send it to the North Pole. For little ones, drawing a picture works well. Talk about kind wishes too, such as for family or friends.
Is there a veterans tree in Santa Clarita?
Yes. After the tree lighting, guests can visit the Veterans Historical Plaza at 24275 N. Walnut St. to see a holiday tree that honors veterans and active-duty military. It is a quiet part of the evening that gives families a chance to talk about service and thanking people who serve.
What are luminaria bags?
Luminaria bags are paper bags with a light inside. In an earlier year of the Old Town Newhall holiday kickoff, golden luminaria bags cost $15, or $10 with a canned food item, and volunteers lined Main Street with bags honoring loved ones. Proceeds went to the American Cancer Society. Check the current event page to see whether they return.
Does Santa visit Valencia Town Center?
Yes. Valencia Town Center has Santa's Holiday Home on the first floor near H&M, and in an earlier year it hosted a free Santa's Arrival Celebration from 1 to 3 p.m. with photo booths, face painting, balloon twisting, coloring, hot chocolate and a North Pole letter station. See our Santa Clarita Christmas events guide on this page.
Where can kids see a big Christmas tree in Santa Clarita?
The best known tree is the one in front of the Old Town Newhall Library, lit during Light Up Main Street. In an earlier year it stood 23 feet tall. Our Santa Clarita Christmas events guide on this page lists this season's confirmed dates and times for the tree lighting.
Is there a Christmas parade or tree lighting in Santa Clarita this year?
The main community tree lighting is part of Light Up Main Street in Old Town Newhall, listed for Saturday, November 21, 2026, from 4 to 8 p.m. For other holiday dates, check our Santa Clarita Christmas events guide on this page, which only lists events we have confirmed for this season.
Is Light Up Main Street good for toddlers?
It can be. Little ones enjoy the lights, snow and Santa, and the Polar Playground has inflatable slides and bounce houses. The event is busy and runs from 4 to 8 p.m., so it helps to plan your visit around your child's nap and meal times. The Chill Zone offers a quiet break.
How did Santa Clarita get its holiday traditions?
Many of Santa Clarita's traditions center on community events in Old Town Newhall, where the city and local groups host the yearly tree lighting. We could not confirm the first year of Light Up Main Street, but the city now describes it as an annual tradition.
Where can kids see trains near Santa Clarita?
Train fans can visit the Fillmore Historical Museum, a restored 1887 Southern Pacific depot in Fillmore, or read about the Fillmore & Western Railway, which ran excursion and movie trains. Travel Town Museum in Griffith Park is free, with historic railroad cars and a miniature train. Check hours before you go.
Is Travel Town worth a visit with young children?
Yes, especially for kids who love trains. Travel Town Museum in Griffith Park is an outdoor railroad museum with historic railroad cars, a Fred Harvey exhibit and picnic tables. A miniature train circles the grounds, parking is always free, and it is open Tuesday to Sunday, so it works well as a day trip.
Why is Christmas in Santa Clarita different from other cities?
Santa Clarita celebrates with a Main Street gathering in Old Town Newhall, in a part of California that rarely sees snow. Its signature moment is a tree lighting surrounded by snow that is brought in by the truckload, with student choirs, local theater groups and rescue dogs in holiday outfits, all gathered at the town's old downtown library.
Sources
- Holiday Magic Returns to Old Town Newhall for Light Up Main Street, City of Santa Clarita
- Light Up Main Street returns Saturday, The Signal
- Santa Clarita kicks off the holiday season in Old Town Newhall, SCVNews
- Light Up Main Street, Old Town Newhall
- Unwrap the Magic with a Visit to Santa, Visit Santa Clarita
- Fillmore Historical Museum, Rally Takes the Train
- Fillmore & Western Railway, Rally Takes the Train
- Travel Town Museum, Rally Takes the Train