5-kid-friendly-holiday-activities-for-the-whole-family-to-enjoy
The holidays are here! Whether you’re making crafts, baking delicious treats or visiting Santa, there are lots of activities both children and parents are sure to enjoy. Here is a list of local events and crafty activities that are perfect for this festive time of year.
Irvine Park Railroad's 18th Annual Christmas Train
Home to Santa’s Village, ice fishing and, of course, the famous Christmas Train, Irvine Regional Park is a hub for festive, kid-friendly activities. Irvine Park Railroad’s 18th Annual Christmas Train departs from a train station decorated with festive lights and takes children on a trip to the North Pole. While at Santa’s Village, children can get meet and even get their photo taken with none other than Santa himself! Other holiday activities on the grounds include a moon bounce, cookie decorating and carnival games. The Christmas Train is open seven days a week through December 23rd, weekdays from 4-8pm and weekends from 10am-8pm.
1 Irvine Park Road
Orange, CA 92869
(714) 997-3968
Create DIY Snow Globes
Just because we live in sunny Southern California doesn’t mean we can’t have a little snow for the holidays! Creating snow globes is a fun and easy way to celebrate the season. Simply gather your materials – a mason jar, glycerin, glitter, water, hot glue or superglue and plastic figurines for the center of your snow globe – and start crafting! Parents can take on the job of gluing the plastic centerpiece to the lid of the mason jar. Then fill the jar with water and/or glycerin and glitter. Twist the lid and then seal it with glue. Now shake up your new snow globe to recreate your favorite holiday scene.
Winter Wonderland at Irvine Civic Center
On Sunday, December 4, 2016, from 3-8pm the Irvine Civic Center will transform into a center for kid-friendly holiday activities. In honor of the winter season, The City of Irvine is hosting a day of seasonal fun, including games, crafts and plenty of hot chocolate with free admission. Joyful Jingles, a holiday concert, will headline the community event, and Santa Claus will also make an appearance. Be sure to stay for an unforgettable finale as “snow” falls on the Irvine Civic Center.
Irvine Civic Center
1 Civic Center Plaza
Irvine, CA 92606
(949) 724-6000
Part of the fun of holiday festivities is whipping up delicious treats in the kitchen. Gingerbread cookies are a signature holiday dessert that are as fun to make as they are to eat! Children can have fun decorating the cookies with icing, sprinkles, gumdrops and other edible confections. If you’re looking for something a little different, try these chilly coconut snowmen, made from scoops of vanilla ice cream rolled in sweet shredded coconut.
Festival Ballet Theatre: The Nutcracker
When The Nutcracker arrives in theaters, you know it’s officially the holiday season! With famous ensembles like “The Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy,” this splendid Christmas ballet is a timeless classic. From December 12 through December 24, 2016, Festival Ballet will be performing this dazzling show at the Irvine Barclay Theatre. Showcasing stunning costumes, eye-catching set design and choreography by world-renown dancers, this ensemble will be one to remember.
Irvine Barclay Theatre
4242 Campus Drive
Irvine, CA 92612
(949) 854-4646
