The Temecula area has 4 Christmas events for kids we could confirm for the 2026 season, from Santa's Arrival in Temecula on November 27 to Santa Visits in Old Town in Temecula, which runs through December 20. 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 Temecula for 2026, in Temecula
- First: Santa's Arrival, Temecula, November 27. Runs latest: Santa Visits in Old Town, Temecula, through December 20
- Every event here charges admission or a ticket; check each host
- Checked on each host’s own page; each listing links straight to it
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Christmas events for kids in Temecula
4 confirmed events for kids in Temecula, soonest first.
Santa visit
Santa's Arrival
- When: Friday, November 27, 2026, 6 to 9 pm
- Where: Pennypickle's Workshop, Temecula
- Cost: See host page
- Ages: All ages
Details, tips and host
Santa arrives in Old Town Temecula on the evening of Friday, November 27, at Pennypickle's Workshop on Main Street. The city lists the event from 6 to 9 pm and uses it to open the holiday season in Old Town.
It also starts Santa's weekend visits, which run Saturdays from 10 am to 1 pm and Sundays from 1 to 4 pm. The city's holiday page does not list a price, so check it before you go.
Parent tip: Old Town parking fills up on event nights, so arrive early.
- Host
- City of Temecula (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Pennypickle's Workshop, 42081 Main St, Temecula, CA 92590
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Santa visit
Santa Visits in Old Town
- When: Saturday, November 28, 2026 to Sunday, December 20, 2026 (Saturdays 10 am to 1 pm, Sundays 1 to 4 pm)
- Where: Pennypickle's Workshop, Temecula
- Cost: See host page
- Ages: All ages
Details, tips and host
Santa is on hand in Old Town Temecula every weekend from November 28 through December 20. Saturday visits run from 10 am to 1 pm and Sunday visits from 1 to 4 pm, based at Pennypickle's Workshop on Main Street.
It is a relaxed way to see Santa without a big crowd event, and Old Town's shops and cafes are close by. The city does not list a price on its holiday page.
Parent tip: Weekday visits are not offered, so plan around the weekend windows.
- Host
- City of Temecula (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Pennypickle's Workshop, 42081 Main St, Temecula, CA 92590
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Tree lighting
Christmas Tree Lighting
- When: Monday, November 30, 2026, 7 to 8:30 pm
- Where: Temecula Duck Pond and Veterans Memorial, Temecula
- Cost: See host page
- Ages: All ages
Details, tips and host
The City of Temecula lights its Christmas tree at the Temecula Duck Pond and Veterans Memorial on Monday evening, November 30, from 7 to 8:30 pm. The ceremony includes festive music, refreshments and a visit from Santa Claus.
The Duck Pond is a familiar spot for local families, with open space for little ones to move around while waiting for the countdown. The city's page does not list a price.
Parent tip: It is a school night, so bring jackets and plan an early bedtime.
- Host
- City of Temecula (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Temecula Duck Pond and Veterans Memorial, 28250 Ynez Rd, Temecula, CA 92591
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Holiday parade
Santa's Electric Light Parade
- When: Friday, December 4, 2026, 7 pm
- Where: Old Town Temecula, Temecula
- Cost: See host page
- Ages: All ages
Details, tips and host
Santa's Electric Light Parade rolls through Temecula on Friday evening, December 4, starting at 7 pm. The route begins at Jefferson Avenue and Del Rio Road and heads south into Old Town Temecula.
It is one of the city's main holiday evenings, so families usually claim a spot along the route ahead of the start. Route and road closure details are on the city's parade page, and no price is listed.
Parent tip: Check the city's parade page for the route and road closures before you leave home.
- Host
- City of Temecula (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Old Town Temecula, Main St, Temecula, CA 92590
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Look inside the book
Story time with Santa in Temecula? 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.
Rally Takes the Train
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Grandmommy and Papa are at the last stop. Get the full hand-painted book, $16.99 on Amazon.
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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.
Temecula Christmas events for kids at a glance
- Kids’ Christmas events
- 4 confirmed for 2026
- Cities
- Temecula
- Season
- November 27 to December 20, 2026
- Free events
- 0
- Kinds of events
- Santa visit, tree lighting and holiday parade
- Last checked
See every event on a December calendar
Plan your December
When each Temecula Christmas event for kids happens
The first is Santa's Arrival in Temecula on November 27; 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.
- Santa's ArrivalTemecula · Nov 27
- Santa Visits in Old TownTemecula · Nov 28 to Dec 20
- Christmas Tree LightingTemecula · Nov 30
- Santa's Electric Light ParadeTemecula · Dec 4
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, Simi Valley, Victorville, Indio, Chico, Santa Clarita, Escondido, Oceanside, Salinas, Santa Maria, Hesperia and Redding. 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.
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 Amazon2026 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 Temecula
In Temecula, Santa arrives in Old Town the Friday after Thanksgiving. A few days later the city lights its tree at the Duck Pond, and nearly 100 glowing entries roll down to Old Town in the Electric Light Parade.
How Temecula celebrates
Christmas in Temecula is run largely by the city itself, and it centers on Old Town. Santa's Electric Light Parade is the city's long-running holiday tradition, hosted by the Community Services Department with dozens of local schools, businesses, nonprofits and performers, and generations of families have watched it from Jefferson Avenue. Santa arrives at Pennypickle's Workshop, visits on weekends, and then helps light the tree at the Temecula Duck Pond. A Holiday Home Decorating Display map also invites neighbors to add their houses to a citywide tour of lights.
Christmas last year in Temecula
The city's 2025 season, all free to attend, began on Friday, November 28, when Santa arrived at Pennypickle's Workshop at 42081 Main Street. He returned Saturday mornings and Sunday afternoons through December 21. The tree lighting followed on December 1 at the Duck Pond, and Santa's Electric Light Parade stepped off on December 5 with nearly 100 illuminated entries, including floats, vehicles and groups. Families also joined a Holiday Bike Ride on December 13 in Harveston and counted down at the New Year's Eve Grape Drop.
Fun facts about Christmas in Temecula
In 2024 the tree lighting drew one of the largest crowds ever, according to the mayor, and the tree was decorated with 2,500 lights, with help from the city's Public Works Parks Department. The parade starts at Jefferson Avenue and Del Rio Road and runs south into Old Town, and organizers tell families to bring chairs and blankets. At the library, a free puppet show called Holiday Hijinks sent Santa to Halloweentown in 2025. The year ends with a Grape Drop, complete with an animated grape drone show.
Trains and Christmas near Temecula
Temecula kids who love trains have good options in the region. The Southern California Railway Museum in Perris is the West's largest collection of locomotives, streetcars and rail artifacts, with free admission and parking Tuesday to Sunday. In Old Poway Park, the Poway-Midland Railroad runs a 1907 Baldwin steam locomotive and a 1906 San Francisco cable car on short rides. In Balboa Park, the San Diego Model Railroad Museum has a Toy Train Gallery where kids push a button to run a train.
- Southern California Railway Museum: The West's largest collection of locomotives and streetcars, with free admission and weekend train and trolley rides.
- Poway-Midland Railroad: A volunteer-run railroad in Old Poway Park with a 1907 steam locomotive and a 1906 San Francisco cable car.
- San Diego Model Railroad Museum: Indoor model layouts of California railroads and a Toy Train Gallery where kids push a button to run a train.
Traditions today
- Santa's Arrival at Pennypickle's Workshop: Santa arrives in Old Town the Friday after Thanksgiving, then visits on Saturday mornings and Sunday afternoons into December.
- Christmas Tree Lighting at the Duck Pond: The city lights its tree with music, treats and a visit from Santa, and a record crowd came in 2024.
- Santa's Electric Light Parade: Nearly 100 illuminated entries roll from Jefferson Avenue and Del Rio Road south into Old Town each December.
- Holiday Home Decorating Display: Neighbors add their decorated homes to a city map so families can drive around and see the lights.
- Holiday Bike Ride: A family-friendly evening ride through Harveston, hosted with Bike Temecula Valley.
- New Year's Eve Grape Drop: A Civic Center Quad party with an East Coast countdown and an animated grape drone show.
A fact for kids
In Temecula, Santa has his own spot in Old Town at Pennypickle's Workshop. Last year he visited on Saturday mornings and Sunday afternoons, and nearly 100 glowing floats and vehicles paraded to see him.
Questions about Christmas in Temecula
What is Santa's Electric Light Parade in Temecula?
It is Temecula's long-running holiday parade, held on a December evening in Old Town. It is hosted by the city's Community Services Department, with dozens of local schools, businesses, nonprofits and performers. In 2025 nearly 100 illuminated entries, including floats, vehicles and groups, took part, and Santa Claus is the centerpiece.
When is the Temecula Christmas parade?
It happened on Friday, December 5 in 2025, with a 7 pm start. The route begins at Jefferson Avenue and Del Rio Road and runs south into Old Town. See our Temecula Christmas events guide on this page for this year's exact date.
How many people go to Temecula's parade?
The city does not give a crowd count, but one local guide says the parade draws thousands each year. Families arrive early along Jefferson Avenue and bundle up, and organizers recommend bringing chairs and blankets. Nearly 100 entries took part in 2025, which means a lot to watch.
Where should families stand to watch the parade?
Viewing spots line Jefferson Avenue, and the route ends in a lit-up Old Town. Families tend to arrive early to claim a space, and the city suggests bringing chairs and blankets. Route details are on the city's parade page, which also lists any road closures.
Where does Santa arrive in Temecula?
Santa arrives at Pennypickle's Workshop at 42081 Main Street in Old Town. In 2025 that happened on Friday, November 28, from 6 to 9 pm. After that he returns on Saturdays from 10 am to 1 pm and Sundays from 1 to 4 pm through the weekend before Christmas.
How long does Santa stay in Old Town Temecula?
In 2025 Santa arrived on November 28 and was in Old Town on Saturday mornings and Sunday afternoons through December 21. He also visited the Duck Pond tree lighting on December 1, and Santa is the centerpiece of the December 5 Electric Light Parade. Our Temecula Christmas events guide on this page lists the current schedule.
When is the Temecula Christmas tree lighting?
In 2025 the city lit its tree on Monday, December 1, from 7 to 8:30 pm at the Temecula Duck Pond on Ynez Road. The evening had live entertainment, holiday treats, a Santa visit and the lighting itself. Dates change by year, so check the city's holiday page for the current schedule.
How big is the Temecula tree lighting crowd?
It was a record in 2024. In that year the mayor said it drew one of the largest crowds ever, with more people than in recent memory, and hundreds of residents attended the Duck Pond ceremony. The tree carried 2,500 lights, and city parks staff helped to decorate it.
Who decorates the Temecula tree?
The city's Public Works Parks Department helped decorate the tree in 2024, when it was strung with 2,500 lights at the Temecula Duck Pond. The tree lighting is a city-run evening with music, treats and a visit from Santa, so it is a good chance for kids to see how a community prepares for the holidays.
What is the Holiday Home Decorating Display?
It is a citywide map of decorated homes. Neighbors apply to add their address, and the map goes online in early December, so families can plan their own light-viewing drive. In 2025 entries were due December 7. Check the city's holiday page for the current application dates.
Are Temecula's holiday events free?
The city described its 2025 holiday events as free to attend or join, including Santa's Arrival, the tree lighting, the parade and the Holiday Bike Ride. Prices can change, so confirm on the city's holiday page. Our Temecula Christmas events guide on this page also notes costs for other local events.
What is the Holiday Bike Ride in Temecula?
It is a family-friendly evening ride hosted by Bike Temecula Valley and the city. In 2025 riders met at Harveston Community Park on Saturday, December 13, at 6:30 pm, and the ride started at 7 pm through the Harveston neighborhood. Pre-registration was encouraged for the ride.
What is the New Year's Eve Grape Drop in Temecula?
It is the city's family-friendly New Year's Eve party at the Civic Center Quad on Main Street. In 2025 it ran from 6 to 10 pm with live music, food vendors and activities, and an East Coast countdown at 9 pm featured an animated grape drone show.
Does the library have Christmas shows for kids?
Yes. In December 2025 the Ronald H. Roberts Temecula Public Library hosted Noteworthy Puppets Presents Holiday Hijinks on December 17, a free puppet show where Santa ends up in Halloweentown, open to all ages. The library's programs are sponsored by the Friends of the Temecula Libraries.
How can I explain the light parade to a toddler?
Tell them that decorated trucks and floats light up like Christmas trees and drive through Old Town while Santa waves. Practice waving and shouting hello at home. Bring chairs and blankets so they can cuddle up, and bring ear protection if your toddler is sensitive to noise.
Is the Temecula parade good for young kids?
Yes, the city describes it as a cherished community celebration, and families arrive early, bundle up and settle into chairs. It starts at 7 pm, which can be late for the youngest children, so plan a nap earlier and bring blankets. Our Temecula Christmas events guide on this page has tips.
Where can kids see Christmas lights in Temecula?
Old Town lights up for the parade, the Duck Pond hosts the tree, and the city's Holiday Home Decorating Display map points to decorated homes across Temecula. Many events are free. Our Temecula Christmas events guide on this page lists current displays and dates for the season.
Is there a Christmas market in Temecula?
Our sources for this page focus on city-run events, such as the tree lighting, parade and Santa's weekend visits in Old Town. We did not verify a Christmas market with its own history, so see our Temecula Christmas events guide on this page for what is happening this season.
Where can kids see trains near Temecula?
The Southern California Railway Museum in Perris has the West's largest collection of locomotives, streetcars and rail artifacts, with free admission and parking Tuesday to Sunday and weekend rides. The Poway-Midland Railroad in Old Poway Park runs a 1907 steam locomotive on short rides.
Is there a model train museum near Temecula?
Yes. The San Diego Model Railroad Museum in Balboa Park has big indoor layouts of California railroads in O, HO and N scales. Its Toy Train Gallery lets kids push a button to run a train. It is open Wednesday to Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm.
Sources
- Temecula unveils 2025 holiday events: parade, tree lighting, Santa and more, Patch
- Temecula's tree lighting draws record crowds, Patch
- City of Temecula announces 2025 Santa's Electric Light Parade winners, Valley News
- Temecula's Electric Light Parade, City Lifestyle
- Celebrate the season at Temecula's holiday events, Visit Temecula Valley
- Ronald H. Roberts Temecula Public Library December programs, City of Temecula
- Southern California Railway Museum, Rally Takes the Train
- Poway-Midland Railroad, Rally Takes the Train
- San Diego Model Railroad Museum, Rally Takes the Train
Temecula Christmas events for kids: questions parents ask
What are the best Christmas events for kids in Temecula this year?
We confirmed 4 for the 2026 season. Good places to start: Christmas Tree Lighting (Nov 30), Santa's Electric Light Parade (Dec 4) and Santa's Arrival (Nov 27). Every event on this page has the times, the cost and a link to the host.
Where can kids meet Santa in Temecula?
4 events here include a visit with Santa. Popular picks are Santa Visits in Old Town (Nov 28 to Dec 20). Bring your own camera; most visits allow photos.
Do we need tickets or reservations?
For 4 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 Temecula?
Yes, but they have their own guide. Santa trains and holiday train rides are listed in our Temecula 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.