Celebrate the 2023 Holidays in Huntington Beach, CA!
The holidays are back, and Huntington Beach, CA, is alive with the holiday spirit. Our city may be best known for its waves and surfing, but there’s plenty to do on the land once the temperature dips down.
At Surf House, we want you to make the most of the city we love to call home. That’s why we’ve assembled this list of the best ways to celebrate the 2023 holidays in Huntington Beach, CA! You’ll find activities, shows and performances, shopping destinations, and opportunities to share, with a quick reminder on how to play it safe.
Activities
Huntington Beach Turkey Wobble: Thanksgiving is coming up fast, and so is a recent Huntington Beach tradition: the Huntington Beach Turkey Wobble! Held Thanksgiving morning, the race is the perfect way to work up your appetite for all the delights that await at home. This year, you’ll have your choice of wobbling 1K, 5K, or 10K, with various start times throughout the morning. The route will take you past the water, by the pier, and down Main Street.
As we go into the season of giving, it’s only appropriate that the Turkey Wobble raise money for charity. The proceeds from this event will help provide clean water to developing countries around the world. Price of entry ranges from $20 (for children 12 and under) to $30–$40 (everyone else). Strollers are also welcome, so the entire family really can participate!
Holiday Cookie Crawl: Cookies aren’t just for Santa Claus. On December 16, head on over to Pacific City for a delicious time! From 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., the shopping center is holding its Cookie Crawl event, during which retailers and restaurants will have free cookies for guests to enjoy. Just look for the “stop here” sign indicating that a business is participating in the event. Register ahead of time to get a bag to carry all your delicious cookies.
Christmas Eve Breakfast @ The Beach: Whether you’re a long-time resident or new in town, now’s the perfect time to take part in a Huntington Beach tradition over 30 years in the making: Christmas Eve Breakfast at Hurricanes Bar & Grill. On December 24 at 8 a.m., stop by for free scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, potatoes, and a buttermilk biscuit—all for free! While you eat, take in one of the six NFL games playing on the big-screen TVs. It’s the perfect start to the last day before Christmas!
Shows and Performances
A Christmas Carol: Just minutes away, the Long Beach Playhouse is “one of the oldest continually running Community Theaters in the western United States.” That means that when you see one of their shows, everything—from the acting and costumes to the sets and lights—is the work of real members of the Long Beach and surrounding community. Join the annual tradition by catching A Christmas Carol, the local take on the timeless classic. The show runs December 9–23, so bring the whole family to watch Scrooge’s unforgettable night.
Disney on Ice presents Encanto and Frozen: The Honda Center in nearby Anaheim is once again hosting Disney on Ice, running December 14–18. The latest installment in Disney’s series of ice-skating extravaganzas features songs and characters from two of Disney’s most popular films of the last four years. If your kids aren’t already singing those films’ songs nonstop, they sure will be on the car ride home!
Shopping
Swedish Christmas Fair: Eager to get going on your Christmas experience? We know the feeling! So it’s a good thing that the Swedish Women’s Education Association’s annual Swedish Christmas Fair is on Sunday, November 19. The fair features Swedish food, crafts, and more. There are two sessions, and admission costs $5 per person, but children under eight years of age get in free!
A VanTastic Christmas: Who doesn’t love a vintage car show? Or a pop-up market? A VanTastic Christmas—taking place at Inretrospect on December 9, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.—is both of those things. Come for the car show—in which vintage vans will dress up all in their holiday best—and peruse the market for the perfect meal or gift, with tons of food vendors and stands to fill a morning and leave you wanting more.
Old World Christmas Market: Nothing beats a Christmas market, and this one runs every day for an entire month, from November 25 to December 24, opening at 9 a.m. at Old World Village in Huntington Beach. It’s the perfect place to spend a day, filling your belly with something warm while looking for the perfect gift or decoration in the many stands lining the paths. Many stands will even feature European imports, making it ripe with rare finds. You’ll also get to enjoy live music, so make sure to come by at least once. Given how long it runs, we won’t blame you for becoming a regular!
Huntington Beach Thirteenth Countdown to Christmas: Looking for the perfect ornaments to add to the tree this year? Look no further than the Huntington Beach Thirteenth Countdown to Christmas at Timeless Treasures Boutique. This unique shopping experience runs every day, December 7–17, and is the perfect place to find quality, handmade items, including seasonal decor and accessories, gourmet food, candy, clothing, jewelry, and more! That window is smaller than two weeks, so make sure to mark your calendar and check out the vendors while you can.
Opportunities to Share
Light a Light of Love: The Waymakers Huntington Beach Youth Center is an emergency crisis intervention program focused on family reunification and ending the cycle of homelessness among youth ages 11–17. Now’s the perfect time to get involved in this worthy cause by sponsoring a snowflake. These electrical manifestations of the holiday spirit will be lit in a special ceremony on December 3 in Downtown Huntington Beach on Main Street and Pier Plaza. The evening will also include a children’s parade and live entertainment, and all of the evening’s proceeds will be donated to the Youth Center.
All For A Good Claus: Pacific City and the Fire Department of Huntington Beach are once again taking part in the Spark of Love Toy Drive. On December 16, 2 to 4 p.m., you can bring donations to Pacific City, where children can board a real fire truck, have a meet-and-greet with Santa Claus, and enjoy a holiday performance by the Orange County Song & Dance Company.
Santa Claus WITH a Cause: Looking to get your blood pumping as the weather gets cooler? Santa Claus WITH a Cause is the perfect opportunity to do that while also giving back to the community. Taking place in nearby Huntington Beach on December 16, this 5K/10K race donates all of its proceeds “to gift those who otherwise would not experience a Christmas and sincerely need staple goods to survive.” Runners are invited to put on their ugliest Christmas sweaters, join in the run, then stick around for a post-race get-together while enjoying hot chocolate, entering a raffle, and knowing that they’ve helped a good cause.
Safe Celebration
As you get into the spirit of the season, remember to exercise caution. After all, a small oversight can quickly turn the happiest time of the year into the saddest: Every year, around 7,400 fires are started by household candles. When using candles in your home, place them in safe locations, never leave them unattended, and always put them out before going to bed.
This time of year sees another influx of fire hazards enter our homes: Christmas trees. Keep your tree performing at its best by watering it regularly, and make sure to turn off the lights whenever you step out of the house or turn in for the night.
With so much to do and see, the 2023 holidays in Huntington Beach, CA, won’t be time we’ll soon forget. Fill your days with these activities, shows and performances, shopping destinations, and opportunities to share, and you’re sure to have a time that’s merry and bright. From all of us here at Surf House, happy holidays!
