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Christmas with kids in Thousand Oaks
In Thousand Oaks, Santa does not always arrive by sleigh. Every year around Thanksgiving weekend he jumps from the sky and lands at Janss Marketplace, kicking off a season of lights, stories and photos.
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Brunch With Santa
When: Sat, Dec 12, 11 am to 1 pm
Where: Thousand Oaks Inn, Thousand Oaks
Cost: Tickets start at $30
The story of Christmas in Thousand Oaks
How Thousand Oaks celebrates
Thousand Oaks starts its Christmas season with an annual surprise: Santa parachutes from the sky into Janss Marketplace on the Friday after Thanksgiving. The afternoon around the landing has face painting, kids' crafts, a story time with Mrs. Claus, live seasonal music and photos with Santa. Shopping centers play a big part in the town's holiday season. Janss has hosted Santa's Village and nightly 3D light shows, and The Lakes at Thousand Oaks has put up giant snowflakes, poinsettias and a holiday ice rink.
Christmas last year in Thousand Oaks
The 2025 Jingle Bell Jump took place on Friday, November 28, at Janss Marketplace, with the celebration running from noon to 3 p.m. and admission free. Santa's landing spot was in front of Sharky's, facing Moorpark Road, and the best viewing area was around the main fountain. After the jump, families could enjoy face painting, crafts, story time with Mrs. Claus, music and photos with Santa. Earlier years added a magic show, a DJ and a free kids' train ride from noon to 4 p.m.
Fun facts about Christmas in Thousand Oaks
Santa's parachute landing is so well known that it made the news in 2024, when a TV station reported that Santa had ditched his sleigh to skydive into town. Local guides also point families to neighborhood light displays, including Brisbaine Avenue, Shetland Place and El Dorado Drive in Thousand Oaks, and the North Ranch area. The Oaks mall opened in 1978, and the Thousand Oaks Library keeps a photo of its holiday scene from December 1982 in its local history collection.
Trains and Christmas near Thousand Oaks
Trains show up in a Thousand Oaks Christmas too. Janss Marketplace has offered free holiday train rides on weekends, and its Jingle Bell Jump day has included a free kids' train ride. For real railroad history, the Fillmore Historical Museum is a short drive north, centered on a restored 1887 Southern Pacific depot. Travel Town Museum in Griffith Park is a free outdoor railroad museum with historic railroad cars and a miniature train that circles the grounds.
- Fillmore Historical Museum: A restored 1887 Southern Pacific depot sits at the center of this small historical park, open Wednesday through Saturday.
- Travel Town Museum: A free outdoor museum with historic railroad cars and a miniature train that circles the grounds.
Traditions today
- Jingle Bell Jump at Janss Marketplace: Santa parachutes in on the Friday after Thanksgiving, followed by crafts, face painting, Mrs. Claus story time and photos.
- Mrs. Claus story time: A story time with Mrs. Claus is part of the Jingle Bell Jump afternoon.
- Santa's Cottage at The Promenade at Westlake: Families book a visit with Santa and keepsake photos, and the cottage has held special Pet Nights.
- Holiday lights at The Lakes: A shopping-center display with giant snowflakes and poinsettias, once paired with a holiday ice rink.
- Driving tours of decorated streets: Families drive past brightly lit homes on streets such as Brisbaine Avenue and in the North Ranch neighborhood.
- Brunch with Santa: A family brunch at the Thousand Oaks Inn on a December Saturday, with tickets sold through Eventbrite.
A fact for kids
In Thousand Oaks, Santa sometimes jumps out of the sky with a parachute. He lands at Janss Marketplace, and then Mrs. Claus reads stories.
Questions about Christmas in Thousand Oaks
How does Santa arrive in Thousand Oaks?
Santa parachutes from the sky and lands at Janss Marketplace during the annual Jingle Bell Jump on the Friday after Thanksgiving. In 2025 his landing spot was in front of Sharky's, facing Moorpark Road. A TV station reported on the jump in 2024, calling it Santa's choice to ditch the sleigh.
When is the Jingle Bell Jump?
The Jingle Bell Jump is held on the Friday after Thanksgiving. In 2025 it was Friday, November 28, with Santa landing at noon and the celebration running until 3 p.m. It has also been held on Friday, November 29, in an earlier year. For this season, see our Thousand Oaks Christmas events guide on this page.
Is the Jingle Bell Jump free?
Yes, the Jingle Bell Jump was free in 2025. The celebration at Janss Marketplace included face painting, kids' crafts, story time with Mrs. Claus, live seasonal music and photos with Santa. An earlier year offered a free professional photo with Santa for shoppers who spent $50 or more at Janss businesses that day.
Where is the best place to watch Santa land?
The best viewing area is around the main fountain, near Buca di Beppo and Sharky's, according to the 2025 event page. Santa's landing spot was in front of Sharky's, facing Moorpark Road. An earlier year described the landing in the Fountain Courtyard at noon, so arriving a little early gives kids a better view.
What happens after Santa lands?
After Santa lands, the afternoon continues with face painting, kids' crafts, story time with Mrs. Claus, live seasonal music and photos with Santa. In an earlier year there was also a magic show, a DJ and a free kids' train ride from noon to 4 p.m. The celebration in 2025 ran until 3 p.m.
What are Thousand Oaks' main Christmas traditions?
The best known is Santa's parachute landing at Janss Marketplace. Others include visits with Santa at the Promenade at Westlake, holiday light displays at The Lakes and Janss, and family drives past decorated streets. Brunch with Santa at the Thousand Oaks Inn is a December option too, with tickets from $30.
Is there a Santa's Cottage in Thousand Oaks?
Yes. In 2024 Santa's Cottage was at The Promenade at Westlake, 2200 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., where guests could meet Santa, share a wish list and take keepsake photos. It had a $50 minimum package, and reservations were recommended. For this year's cottage details, see our Thousand Oaks Christmas events guide on this page.
Can pets visit Santa in Thousand Oaks?
In 2024, Santa's Cottage at The Promenade at Westlake held Pet Nights from 4 to 7 p.m. on December 4, 11 and 18. Other visits were for families, with sessions lasting 10 minutes for the smaller packages. Check our Thousand Oaks Christmas events guide on this page for whether pet nights return this year.
Where can families see Christmas lights in Thousand Oaks?
A local guide has pointed families to The Lakes at Thousand Oaks, which has had giant snowflakes and poinsettias, and to Janss Marketplace, which has hosted nightly 3D light shows. Residential streets such as Brisbaine Avenue, Shetland Place and El Dorado Drive, plus North Ranch, were also recommended. Please be respectful of residents.
Does Janss Marketplace have a Santa's Village?
Janss Marketplace has hosted a Santa's Village with face painting, storytelling and photos with Santa, according to a past visitor guide. It also ran a Holiday Lights Spectacular with 3D light shows every evening. Programs change from year to year, so check our Thousand Oaks Christmas events guide on this page for this season.
Is there an ice rink in Thousand Oaks at Christmas?
A past visitor guide described a Holiday Ice Rink at The Lakes at Thousand Oaks, open through January, next to a light display of giant snowflakes and poinsettias. Rinks change by season, so confirm with the center. Our Thousand Oaks Christmas events guide on this page lists what is confirmed for this year.
Are there holiday train rides in Thousand Oaks?
Janss Marketplace has offered free holiday train rides for kids. A past visitor guide said they ran on weekends, and an earlier Jingle Bell Jump day had a free kids' train ride from noon to 4 p.m. These are small shopping-center rides, not railroad trips, so confirm details before you go.
Where can we learn about railroad history near Thousand Oaks?
The Fillmore Historical Museum in Fillmore is centered on a restored 1887 Southern Pacific depot, and volunteers open it Wednesday through Saturday. Farther away, Travel Town Museum in Griffith Park is a free outdoor railroad museum with historic railroad cars and a miniature train that circles the grounds.
Is Travel Town free?
Yes, Travel Town Museum in Griffith Park is a free outdoor railroad museum, according to our museum page. It is open Tuesday to Sunday, has historic railroad cars, a Fred Harvey exhibit and picnic tables, and a miniature train circles the grounds. Check the museum's hours before you drive over from Thousand Oaks.
When did The Oaks mall open in Thousand Oaks?
The Oaks mall opened in 1978. The Thousand Oaks Library keeps a photo of its holiday scene from December 1982 in its Conejo Through the Lens collection. That photo is a fun way to show kids how Christmas looked in town more than 40 years ago, when the mall was only a few years old.
How can I explain Santa's parachute to a young child?
Tell your child that in Thousand Oaks, Santa likes to arrive in a surprising way, so he skips the sleigh and parachutes down to Janss Marketplace. Then Mrs. Claus reads stories and kids can make crafts. Watching the sky from the fountain area makes the wait part of the fun.
Is there a Brunch with Santa in Thousand Oaks?
Yes. Brunch With Santa is listed for Saturday, December 12, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Thousand Oaks Inn, 75 W Thousand Oaks Blvd. Tickets start at $30 and are sold through Eventbrite. For more family events this season, see our Thousand Oaks Christmas events guide on this page.
Why do shopping centers matter in Thousand Oaks Christmas history?
Shopping centers are where many holiday traditions happen in Thousand Oaks. Janss Marketplace has hosted Santa's Village and 3D light shows, The Lakes has put up giant snowflakes, and the library's local history collection includes a 1982 holiday photo from The Oaks mall. Ask kids to compare those scenes with what they see today.
What makes Christmas in Thousand Oaks different from other cities?
Thousand Oaks is known for Santa arriving by parachute rather than sleigh, which even drew a TV report in 2024. The season centers on shopping-center celebrations, with Mrs. Claus story times, free crafts and photos, plus light displays and decorated streets, rather than one big downtown parade.
Where can I find Christmas events for kids in Thousand Oaks this year?
Start with our Thousand Oaks Christmas events guide on this page, which lists confirmed dates, times and prices from the hosts. This season includes Brunch With Santa at the Thousand Oaks Inn on December 12, 2026. The Jingle Bell Jump traditionally happens on the Friday after Thanksgiving at Janss Marketplace.
Sources
- Jingle Bell Jump at Janss Marketplace, Friday, November 28, 2025, Conejo Valley Guide
- Janss Mall in Thousand Oaks hosts Jingle Bell Jump on November 29, Macaroni KID Camarillo
- Santa Claus ditches sleigh, parachutes into Thousand Oaks instead, ABC7
- Visit Santa's Cottage at the Westlake Promenade, Macaroni KID Conejo Valley
- Crank Up Your Spirit with Holiday Lights in Conejo Valley, Visit Conejo Valley
- Conejo Valley Guide welcome page, Conejo Valley Guide
- Fillmore Historical Museum, Rally Takes the Train
- Travel Town Museum, Rally Takes the Train
- Brunch With Santa, Visit Conejo Valley