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Christmas with kids in Watsonville
In Watsonville, Santa arrives on a fire engine with the siren going. Whether he is lighting the tree at City Plaza or rolling through neighborhoods, the Grinch has been known to tag along.
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The story of Christmas in Watsonville
How Watsonville celebrates
Watsonville's Christmas traditions have a fire engine at the center. At the annual tree lighting, Santa arrives down Main Street on an early-day fire engine with the siren sounding, then lights a live 28-foot tree at City Plaza after a countdown. In December the city's Parks & Community Services Department and the Watsonville Firefighter's Association send Santa and Mrs. Claus on a free multi-day tour of schools, parks, businesses and neighborhoods. A 2021 report called it the city's second annual Santa Tour.
Christmas last year in Watsonville
We could not open a city report on Watsonville's 2025 events, but a November 2025 holiday roundup points to what families could do around town. Sparky's Holiday Lights returned to the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds as a drive-through show on weekends between Thanksgiving and Christmas, with new characters each year. Gizdich Ranch sold pies and apple slush daily, and Annieglass listed holiday workshops such as DIY glass ornaments. Many other roundup picks were in nearby Santa Cruz and Monterey.
Fun facts about Christmas in Watsonville
The 2021 Santa Tour planned 26 stops over three days, and a Grinch with a handful of elves performed a dance skit and high-fived children. At the 2021 tree lighting, at least 150 people watched as Santa lit the tree and then wrestled with the Grinch, who got a wrapped present. The year before, the ceremony had been held virtually. Mayor Jimmy Dutra called the in-person return really special for the community.
Trains and Christmas near Watsonville
The Santa Cruz County Railroad Historical Society shares county rail history through three operating model railroad exhibits at the annual County Fair, and it is listed in Freedom near Watsonville. Farther up the coast, Roaring Camp Railroads in Felton runs geared steam engines through the redwoods, and a 2025 listing described a December Holiday Lights Train with live music, warm cider and photos with Santa and elves.
- Santa Cruz County Railroad Historical Society: A local society with three operating model railroad exhibits at the County Fair.
- Roaring Camp Railroads: Geared steam engines from the 1890s climb through redwoods, with a recreated 1880s logging town.
Traditions today
- Tree lighting at City Plaza: Santa lights a live tree downtown after arriving by fire engine.
- Watsonville Santa Tour: Santa and Mrs. Claus visit schools, parks and neighborhoods on an open-top fire engine.
- Sparky's Holiday Lights: A drive-through light show at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds.
- Gizdich Ranch treats: Pies, picnic lunches and apple slush for a holiday outing.
- Holiday workshops at Annieglass: Seasonal workshops such as DIY glass ornaments.
A fact for kids
In Watsonville, Santa rides a fire engine and the Grinch sometimes tags along. In 2021 the Grinch even wrestled Santa at the tree lighting and got a wrapped present.
Questions about Christmas in Watsonville
How does Watsonville celebrate Christmas?
Watsonville celebrates with a downtown tree lighting at City Plaza, a free Santa Tour on a fire engine, and nearby drive-through lights. The tree lighting and tour are city traditions run with the fire department. Details in this page come from recent reports, so check our Watsonville Christmas events guide on this page for this season.
Where is the Watsonville tree lighting held?
In 2021 the ceremony took place at Watsonville City Plaza, at the front of the city's downtown park. Santa lit a live 28-foot tree and the surrounding bushes and props after a countdown. The local paper described it as an annual ceremony.
How many people came to the 2021 tree lighting?
At least 150 people gathered as the sun went down, including dozens of families, according to the local paper. The ceremony came after a virtual event in 2020, so Mayor Jimmy Dutra called it really special to bring the community together in person again. Crowds can vary by year.
How does Santa arrive in Watsonville?
Santa arrives on an early-day fire engine. At the 2021 tree lighting he rode down Main Street with the siren sounding before lighting the tree. Santa and Mrs. Claus also ride an open-top fire engine on the Watsonville Santa Tour in December.
What is the Watsonville Santa Tour?
It is a free tour in which Santa and Mrs. Claus roll through town on an open-top fire engine and visit children. In 2021 it ran for three days and planned 26 stops at schools, parks, businesses and neighborhoods. The city's Parks & Community Services Department organizes it with the Watsonville Firefighter's Association.
When did the Watsonville Santa Tour start?
A November 2021 local report called that year's tour the city's second annual Santa Tour, which suggests it began in 2020. We did not open a page confirming the first year, so treat 2020 as likely rather than certain, and check the city's website for the current tour.
Did the Grinch visit Watsonville?
Yes. In 2021 a Grinch and a handful of elves joined the Santa Tour, performing a choreographed dance skit and high-fiving children. The Grinch also wrestled with Santa at the 2021 tree lighting, received a wrapped present and posed for photos with families.
Is the Watsonville Santa Tour free?
In 2021 the city described the visits as free, with Santa and Mrs. Claus coming to kids at schools, parks and neighborhoods by fire engine. Routes and schedules are posted by the city each year, so check the city's website or watsonvillerec.com. Our Watsonville Christmas events guide on this page lists confirmed plans when available.
How do I find the Santa Tour route?
The city has posted a route map and schedule on its website, and the local paper pointed readers to watsonvillerec.com for the map. Because the tour changes stops each year, check the current map before heading out. Fire engine tours visit parks and neighborhoods, so keep an ear out for the siren.
Is there a drive-through Christmas light show near Watsonville?
Sparky's Holiday Lights at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in Watsonville is a drive-through show. A 2025 listing said it ran Friday through Sunday between Thanksgiving and Christmas, plus December 22 to 24, with tickets per vehicle. The show has new characters each year. Our Watsonville Christmas events guide on this page lists 2026 details.
What happened in Watsonville at Christmas in 2025?
A November 2025 holiday roundup listed Sparky's Holiday Lights at the county fairgrounds, apple slush and pies at Gizdich Ranch, and holiday workshops at Annieglass such as DIY glass ornaments. Many other listed events were in Santa Cruz, Aptos or Monterey rather than in Watsonville itself.
Can kids make ornaments in Watsonville?
Annieglass on Harvest Drive lists a seasonal workshop calendar with holiday workshops such as DIY glass ornaments and succulent projects, according to a 2025 holiday roundup. Check with the studio for ages and dates. Dates and ages vary by workshop.
Where can families get Christmas treats in Watsonville?
Gizdich Ranch on Peckham Road is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. according to a 2025 listing, and it sells picnic box lunches, apple slush and pies. A fresh pie is a tasty way to end a holiday outing.
Who organizes the Santa Tour and tree lighting in Watsonville?
The city of Watsonville Parks & Community Services Department organizes the Santa Tour with help from the Watsonville Firefighter's Association, and the fire department supplies the fire engine. The tree lighting is a city event at City Plaza. Our Watsonville Christmas events guide on this page lists confirmed plans for this season.
How can I explain a fire engine Santa to a toddler?
Tell them Santa borrows the city's fire engine because it is big, bright and has a siren, which helps him find all the kids quickly. In Watsonville he waves from an open-top engine, and the fire department helps run the tour, so kids may see real firefighters too.
Is Watsonville's tree real?
The 2021 tree lit by Santa was a live 28-foot tree, according to the local newspaper. Santa lit it along with surrounding bushes and props after a countdown. Trees can change from year to year, so check our Watsonville Christmas events guide on this page for this season.
Is there a Christmas train near Watsonville?
Roaring Camp Railroads in Felton runs a Holiday Lights Train in December, a 60-minute ride with live music, warm cider and photos with Santa and elves, according to a 2025 listing. It is a ride rather than a museum, so check the railroad's page for dates and tickets.
Is there a railroad museum near Watsonville?
The Santa Cruz County Railroad Historical Society is listed in Freedom near Watsonville and shares local rail history through three operating model railroad exhibits at the county fair. It posts no regular museum hours, so check before going. Roaring Camp Railroads in Felton is a steam railroad farther up the coast.
What is Roaring Camp Railroads?
Roaring Camp Railroads in Felton runs geared steam engines through the redwoods, according to our museum guide. A 2025 listing described a December Holiday Lights Train with live music, warm cider and photos with Santa and elves. It is farther up the coast from Watsonville, so check the railroad's page for dates and tickets.
What stands out about Christmas in Watsonville?
Watsonville mixes small-town traditions with farm-country treats. Santa arrives by fire engine, the tree lighting happens in City Plaza, and Gizdich Ranch sells pies and apple slush. A Grinch joined Santa on both the tour and the tree lighting in 2021.
Sources
- Watsonville Santa Tour wraps up Friday, Pajaronian
- Tree lighting ceremony kicks off city's winter festivities, Pajaronian
- 12 days of cheer in Watsonville, Patch
- Roaring Camp Railroads, Rally Takes the Train
- Santa Cruz County Railroad Historical Society, Rally Takes the Train