Christmas Events for Kids in Simi Valley (2026)

Christmas Events for Kids
Written by Kelsey Cecil

5 min read

The Simi Valley area has 4 Christmas events for kids we could confirm for the 2026 season, from Wild Lights in Moorpark on November 25 to Christmas on the Farm in Moorpark, which runs through December 24. 1 of them is 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

  • 4 kids’ Christmas events confirmed in Simi Valley for 2026, in Simi Valley and Moorpark
  • First: Wild Lights, Moorpark, November 25. Runs latest: Christmas on the Farm, Moorpark, through December 24
  • Free: Winter Art Marketplace
  • Checked on each host’s own page; each listing links straight to it

Christmas events for kids in Simi Valley

2 confirmed events for kids in Simi Valley, soonest first.

Santa visit

An American Christmas with Santa visits

  • When: Fri November 27 (10:30 am to 4 pm), Sat November 28 (10:30 am to 4 pm), Sun November 29 (10:30 am to 4 pm), Fri December 4 (10:30 am to 3 pm), Sun December 6 (10:30 am to 4 pm), Fri December 11 (10:30 am to 4 pm), Sat December 12 (10:30 am to 4 pm), Sun December 13 (10:30 am to 4 pm), Thu December 17 (10:30 am to 4 pm), Fri December 18 (10:30 am to 4 pm), Sat December 19 (10:30 am to 4 pm), Sun December 20 (10:30 am to 4 pm), Mon December 21 (10:30 am to 4 pm), Tue December 22 (10:30 am to 4 pm), Wed December 23 (10:30 am to 4 pm) and Thu December 24 (10:30 am to 2:30 pm), 2026
  • Where: Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, Simi Valley
  • Cost: Included with museum admission
  • Ages: All ages
Details, tips and host

An American Christmas is the Reagan Library's yearly holiday exhibit, on view Nov 14 through Jan 3. The museum is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day, and the exhibit is included with museum admission.

Santa is on hand from 10:30 am on Nov 27, 28 and 29, Dec 4, 6, 11, 12 and 13, daily Dec 17 to 23, and Dec 24. Families can take a holiday card or family photo with him. Check ReaganLibrary.com/Trees for updates.

Parent tip: Buy tickets online ahead of your visit. Santa leaves at 4 pm on most days, 3 pm on Dec 4 and 2:30 pm on Dec 24.

Host
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum (opens in a new tab)
Address
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, 40 Presidential Dr, Simi Valley, CA 93065
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum (opens in a new tab)

Holiday craftsFree

Winter Art Marketplace

  • When: Saturday, December 5, 2026, 10 am to 4 pm
  • Where: Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, Simi Valley
  • Cost: Free
  • Ages: All ages
Details, tips and host

The Winter Art Marketplace runs Saturday, Dec 5 from 10 am to 4 pm at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center. Admission is free, and local artists and makers sell their work.

The tourism board listing notes letters to Santa and a community art project, which gives kids something to do while grown-ups browse.

Parent tip: Check the Cultural Arts Center for the full activity schedule.

Host
Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center (opens in a new tab)
Address
Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, 3050 E Los Angeles Ave, Simi Valley, CA 93065
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center (opens in a new tab)

Look inside the book

Story time with Santa in Simi Valley? 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.

Christmas events for kids in Moorpark

2 confirmed events for kids in Moorpark, soonest first.

Holiday lights

Wild Lights

  • When: Wed November 25, Fri November 27, Sat November 28, Fri December 4, Sat December 5, Fri December 11, Sat December 12, Fri December 18, Sat December 19, Sun December 20, Mon December 21, Tue December 22 and Wed December 23, 2026, 6 to 8:30 pm
  • Where: The Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College, Moorpark
  • Cost: $14 ages 3 to 12, $17 adults, under 3 free
  • Ages: All ages, under 3 free
Details, tips and host

Wild Lights is a self-guided evening walk through light installations at the Teaching Zoo, with sparkling animal shapes, interactive displays, music, seasonal treats and spots for family photos. Plan on about 45 minutes. The page notes this is not an animal-centered event.

Santa is there for free photos on Nov 28 and Dec 5, 12 and 19, from 6 to 7:30 pm, first come, first served, so bring your own camera or phone. On Dec 12 and 20 a sugar cookie decorating kit is sold for $12 while supplies last.

Parent tip: The cookies are not made in a peanut-free facility. A same-night Wild Lights ticket is needed for the cookie kit.

Host
The Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College (opens in a new tab)
Address
The Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College, 7075 Campus Rd, Moorpark, CA 93021 (near Simi Valley)
Sign-up
Recommended
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom The Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College (opens in a new tab)

Santa visit

Christmas on the Farm

  • When: Friday, November 27, 2026 to Thursday, December 24, 2026 (daily, closes at noon Dec 24), 9 am to 5 pm
  • Where: Underwood Family Farms, Moorpark
  • Cost: $12 weekdays, $16 weekends and Nov 27, under 2 free
  • Ages: All ages, under 2 free
Details, tips and host

Underwood Family Farms turns its Moorpark property into a holiday stop from Nov 27 through Dec 24. General admission includes tractor-drawn wagon rides, the Animal Center, holiday photo spots, combine and harvester slides, a holiday store and letters for Santa.

Santa visits are included with admission on weekends and Nov 27, from 11 am to 4 pm through Dec 20, and families take their own photos. Weekend extras include duck racing, elf training, cookie toss and draft horse sleigh rides. The holiday train, gem mining, goat experiences and crafts cost extra.

Parent tip: Weekend tickets are sold online, and weekday tickets are paid at the gate only. Dogs are not allowed on the farm.

Host
Underwood Family Farms (opens in a new tab)
Address
Underwood Family Farms, 3370 Sunset Valley Rd, Moorpark, CA 93021 (near Simi Valley)
Sign-up
Recommended
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom Underwood Family Farms (opens in a new tab)

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.

Simi Valley Christmas events for kids at a glance

Kids’ Christmas events
4 confirmed for 2026
Cities
Simi Valley and Moorpark
Season
November 25 to December 24, 2026
Free events
1
Kinds of events
Santa visit, holiday lights and holiday crafts
Last checked
See every event on a December calendar

Plan your December

When each Simi Valley Christmas event for kids happens

The first is Wild Lights in Moorpark on November 25; the last runs to December 24. 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, Long Beach, Oakland, Anaheim, Irvine, Stockton, Modesto, Santa Barbara, Oxnard, Santa Rosa, Palm Springs, Fontana, 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 Simi Valley

In Simi Valley, Christmas travels back in time. A tree lighting at the Town Center sits just a short drive from an adobe built around 1810, and the Reagan Library fills a hall with 26 trees that each stand for a decade of American history.

How Simi Valley celebrates

Simi Valley's Christmas season begins with the Town Center tree lighting, which is listed for its 22nd annual edition on November 14, 2026. It brings dance performances, a jazz band, falling snow and the arrival of Santa to the center court. Strathearn Historical Park hosts a free holiday open house with Santa and Mrs. Claus, decorated historic homes and old engines. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library adds An American Christmas, a yearly exhibit of themed trees. Nearby Moorpark adds farm and zoo celebrations.

Christmas last year in Simi Valley

The 21st annual Tree Lighting Celebration took place on Saturday, November 22, 2025, from 4 to 9 pm at the Simi Valley Town Center, with local dance groups, a jazz band and Santa reading 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. On December 7 the Historical Society's free open house ran from 11 am to 2 pm across the park's 6 and a half acres. The Reagan Library's exhibit ran from November 10, 2025 to January 4, 2026 with 26 trees. On December 13, a neighborhood light loop on Auburn Lane held a Santa night from 6:15 to 9:15 pm with cocoa and carolers.

Fun facts about Christmas in Simi Valley

The Reagan Library's 26 trees are each decorated for a different decade, from the 1770s to today. One tree has a Wright brothers model plane, and another has an eight-track tape. At Strathearn Historical Park, the Simi Adobe was built around 1810 under Spanish rule, and visitors have been able to ride in a restored 1915 Ford touring car. Kids can twist twine into a rope wreath with antique rope-making tools. The Historical Society says the park feels like a holiday card scene, with old homes, old engines and bell ringers.

Trains and Christmas near Simi Valley

Fillmore Historical Museum centers on a restored 1887 Southern Pacific depot, beside a 1919 ranch bunkhouse. Fillmore & Western Railway once ran excursion and movie trains on county-owned track, and the museum page covers that history. Farther south in Griffith Park, Travel Town Museum has free outdoor railroad cars and a miniature train, and holiday light rides run at nearby Griffith Park & Southern Railroad after Thanksgiving.

Traditions today

  • Simi Valley Town Center tree lighting: A mid November celebration with dancers, a jazz band, snow and Santa, now in its 22nd year.
  • An American Christmas at the Reagan Library: Twenty six trees decorated for different decades of American history, with Santa visiting on select days.
  • Holiday open house at Strathearn Historical Park: A free morning of decorated historic homes, old engines, bell ringers and photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus.
  • Christmas on the Farm in Moorpark: Wagon rides, Santa visits on weekends and letters to Santa at Underwood Family Farms, from November 27 to December 24 in 2026.
  • Wild Lights at the Teaching Zoo: A walk past glowing animal figures at Moorpark College on select evenings from November 25 to December 23 in 2026.
  • Auburn Lane Santa Night: A neighborhood light loop with music, cocoa, carolers and Santa, held in mid December.

A fact for kids

At the Reagan Library, 26 Christmas trees each show a different decade, and one of them has a model of the Wright brothers' plane hanging on it.

Questions about Christmas in Simi Valley

Who is Santa in Simi Valley and where can kids meet him?

Kids can meet Santa at the Town Center tree lighting, at the Reagan Library on select days, and at Strathearn Historical Park, where Santa and Mrs. Claus pose for photos in the Old St. Rose Church. Underwood Family Farms in Moorpark also has Santa on weekends. Our Simi Valley Christmas events guide on this page lists current dates.

When does Simi Valley light its Christmas tree?

The Town Center tree lighting is held in mid or late November. The 21st annual celebration was on Saturday, November 22, 2025, and the 22nd annual is listed for Saturday, November 14, 2026, from 4 to 9 pm. Check our Simi Valley Christmas events guide on this page for the latest details before you go.

What happens at the Simi Valley Town Center tree lighting?

It is a family evening with local dance performances, a jazz band, Santa's arrival and snow in the center court. In 2025, Santa also read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. The Moorpark Jazz Band and host Bridget Brady were listed for the 2026 edition. Check ahead for details on Santa photos.

What is An American Christmas at the Reagan Library?

It is the Reagan Library's yearly Christmas exhibit with 26 trees, each decorated for a different decade from the 1770s onward. Examples include a Wright brothers plane, a first telephone and, on the 1970s tree, an eight-track tape. The 2026 run is November 14 to January 3, with Santa visiting on select days.

Why do the trees at the Reagan Library look different from each other?

Each tree shows a different decade of American history, so no two match. The earliest tree holds copies of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, and the 1980s tree carries Cabbage Patch dolls, a Rubik's Cube and early personal computers. It works well as a history game for school-age kids.

What is Strathearn Historical Park?

It is a 6 and a half acre historic park in Simi Valley run by the Simi Valley Historical Society. It includes a Colony House built in 1888, the Simi Adobe built around 1810 and a two-story Strathearn family home built in 1892. Its free holiday open house decorates the old homes for visitors each December.

How old is the Simi Adobe?

The Simi Adobe was built around 1810, when this part of California was under Spanish rule. It stands at Strathearn Historical Park and is one of the buildings that is decorated and open for free tours during the holiday open house. Kids can compare it with the 1888 Colony House and the 1892 family home nearby.

What can kids do at the Strathearn holiday open house?

In 2025, kids could get face painting, pose with Santa and Mrs. Claus, look at old engines and a Model T, and twist twine into rope to make a keepsake rope wreath for a small donation. A restored 1915 Ford touring car gave rides during the open house. The event was free.

What is Christmas on the Farm in Moorpark?

It is a month-long holiday program at Underwood Family Farms, 3370 Sunset Valley Road in Moorpark, running November 27 to December 24 in 2026. Admission includes wagon rides, an animal center, photo spots and letters for Santa, and Santa visits on weekends. Some activities, such as the holiday train, cost extra.

Can I see Christmas lights at a zoo near Simi Valley?

Yes. Wild Lights at the Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College is a self-guided walk of about 45 minutes past glowing animal figures and winter scenes. In 2026 it runs on select evenings from November 25 to December 23, 6 to 8:30 pm. Children under 3 are free, and Santa takes free photos on four nights.

Does Simi Valley have a neighborhood Christmas lights street?

Yes. In 2025, the Auburn Lane loop held a Santa Night on Saturday, December 13, from 6:15 to 9:15 pm, with music, cocoa, carolers and Santa. The night supported a toy drive for James Storehouse Charities. Dates change each year, so look at our Simi Valley Christmas events guide on this page for what is planned.

Does Simi Valley get snow at Christmas?

Not usually. Simi Valley is in Southern California, where snow in town is rare, so the snow you see at events is made by machines. The Town Center tree lighting features falling snow, and SnowFest, held on November 1 in 2026, brings in sledding hills and snow play areas for kids.

What is SnowFest in Simi Valley?

SnowFest is a snow play day that was listed for Sunday, November 1, 2026, from 10 am to 3 pm. It has sledding, snow play areas, kids' attractions, a vendor expo and food vendors, according to Visit Simi Valley. Check Visit Simi Valley for next year's date before planning a visit.

How can I explain Santa's visits to a toddler?

Keep it simple: Santa is a friendly visitor who stops in to say hello, listen to wishes and pose for photos. Several Simi Valley spots, such as the Reagan Library and the Strathearn open house, are calm places to practice. Photo rules differ from place to place, so check ahead.

Where can I write a letter to Santa near Simi Valley?

Underwood Family Farms in Moorpark includes letters for Santa with admission. The Winter Art Marketplace at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center on Saturday, December 5, 2026, also lists letters to Santa, along with a community art project. The marketplace admission is free, and it runs from 10 am to 4 pm.

What Hanukkah events are in Simi Valley?

The Reagan Library's Menorah Lighting is listed for Thursday, December 10, 2026, at 5 pm, with kids' crafts, live music and doughnuts. The Reagan Library exhibit also shows hand-crafted menorahs that were given to President Reagan while he was in office.

Are there train museums near Simi Valley?

Yes. Fillmore Historical Museum is built around a restored 1887 Southern Pacific depot, and Fillmore & Western Railway once ran excursion trains nearby. In Los Angeles, Travel Town Museum has free outdoor railroad cars and a miniature train. Visit our museum pages on Rally Takes the Train for details and hours.

Is there a railroad museum with a Christmas feel near Simi Valley?

Griffith Park & Southern Railroad in Los Angeles runs a miniature train that has been going since 1948, and its holiday light rides start after Thanksgiving. Travel Town Museum, also in Griffith Park, is free to visit. Confirm hours and ride times before you drive, because schedules can change.

How can I turn a Simi Valley train museum visit into a holiday outing?

Pair a weekday stop at Fillmore Historical Museum, open Wednesday through Saturday, with a look at the old depot, then head to Moorpark for a farm or zoo lights evening. Travel Town Museum in Griffith Park is free and open Tuesday to Sunday. Check our Simi Valley Christmas events guide on this page for dates.

Why do Simi Valley families drive to Moorpark for Christmas?

Moorpark is next door, and two of the area's big kid-friendly holiday programs are there. Underwood Family Farms hosts Christmas on the Farm, and the Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College hosts Wild Lights. Both have 2026 dates listed, and our Simi Valley Christmas events guide on this page collects them with other nearby events.

Sources

  1. Simi Valley Tree Lighting Ceremony and Other Holiday Events, Visit Simi Valley
  2. The Simi Scoop, Nov 20th to 23rd, The Simi Scoop
  3. Holiday Open House, Simi Valley Historical Society
  4. The Simi Scoop, Dec 11th to 14th, The Simi Scoop
  5. Special Exhibit: An American Christmas, Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
  6. Christmas on the Farm 2026, Underwood Family Farms
  7. Wild Lights, The Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College
  8. 22nd Annual Tree Lighting Celebration at the Simi Valley Town Center, Conejo Valley Guide
  9. Rally Takes the Train museum pages, Rally Takes the Train
  10. An American Christmas, Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum

Simi Valley Christmas events for kids: questions parents ask

What are the best Christmas events for kids in Simi Valley this year?

We confirmed 4 for the 2026 season, and 1 of them are free. Good places to start: Christmas on the Farm in Moorpark (Nov 27 to Dec 24), Wild Lights in Moorpark (Nov 25 to Dec 23) and Winter Art Marketplace (Dec 5). Every event on this page has the times, the cost and a link to the host.

Are there free Christmas events for kids in Simi Valley?

Yes, 1 of the 4. Some free events still need a reservation, so check the listing before you go.

Where can kids meet Santa in Simi Valley?

3 events here include a visit with Santa. Popular picks are An American Christmas with Santa visits (Nov 27 to Dec 24). Bring your own camera; most visits allow photos.

Is anything on for kids in Simi Valley on Christmas Eve or after Christmas?

Yes, two events run on Christmas Eve or later. An American Christmas with Santa visits runs through Dec 24 and Christmas on the Farm in Moorpark runs through Dec 24.

Do we need tickets or reservations?

For 3 of the 4 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 Simi Valley?

Yes, but they have their own guide. Santa trains and holiday train rides are listed in our Simi Valley 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
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