Hoppin' Good Guide to Disney Festival of Holidays 2025 & 2026

Disneyland Resort is one of the most festive places on earth with all of the lights, Christmas trees, holiday foods, characters in costume, music and holiday entertainment. But Christmas is not the only holiday celebrated at this time of year! Other holidays celebrated during this season include Hanukkah, Diwali, Kwanzaa, Navidad and Three Kings Day. Disney Festival of Holidays is a multicultural celebration that brings together different holidays and traditions — along with American Christmas traditions — from Nov. 14, 2025, to Jan. 7, 2026, at Disney California Adventure Park. (And starting Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2026!) We love getting to add new dimensions to our celebrating and learning to appreciate other ways that people celebrate. It's a small world, after all. Plus, this holiday season, some elements of the Disneyland 70th Anniversary are still hoppening across the resort!

Hop To

• Overview
• Decorations
• Characters
• Entertainment
• Festival Food
• Tips

FAQs

• When is Festival of Holidays? Disney Festival of Holidays runs Nov. 14, 2025, to Jan. 7, 2026, at Disney California Adventure Park. In 2026, Festival of Holidays kicks off on Wednesday, Nov. 18.
• What cultures are represented? The multicultural event celebrates Christmas, Hanukkah, Diwali, Kwanzaa, Navidad and Three Kings Day with special entertainment, decor, ride overlays, holiday merchandise and holiday foods/beverages.
• Is World of Color - Season of Light running in 2025? This year, World of Color Happiness! runs for the Disneyland 70th instead of the holiday show,
• Is everything included in my park ticket? Yes, all of the holiday entertainment and decor are included in your park ticket. Food costs extra. You can save on Disneyland theme park tickets when you purchase multi-day tickets through Undercover Tourist.
• Is there a Sip and Savor Pass? Yes, you can save money on select food and nonalcoholic beverages with a 6-coupon Sip and Savor Pass.

Our Hoppin' Guide to Disneyland Festival of Holidays 2025

The Festival of Holidays at Disneyland Resort is the name of the holiday celebration that takes place inside Disney California Adventure Park. The celebration spreads throughout the park. It includes festival booths with many tastes of traditional foods, usually with a twist, to delight any foodies. There are also themed and sparkling beverages for toasting the season. There are some new entertainment additions this year that we are toadally looking forward to!

You’ll be mesmerized by beautiful lights throughout the park at night, a Christmas tree in Carthay Circle and festive décor both day and night. In fact, once the sun goes down, the lights turn on and make the park even more beautiful.

You'll need a few days to get through all the entertainment and foods you want to see. (Not to mention getting on rides and meeting characters.) This park is hoppin' for the holidays!

What we love the most about this celebration is that Disney California Adventure takes the holiday season and opens it up to include people who celebrate different holidays outside of Christmas and even different ways of celebrating Christmas. This gives all park guests a chance to see their own holidays get some attention. Plus it's toadally fun to learn about other traditions.

Kids can do free crafts and learn about different holidays. We love free souvenirs! Kids of any age can:

• Go on a Santa-inspired scavenger hunt at Redwood Creek Challenge Trail
• Write a letter to Santa on Buena Vista Street
• Color a Disney Jr. festival activity placemat from Smokejumpers Grill, Paradise Gardens Grill or Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta.
• Do crafts during Three Kings Day!

You’ll hear music played from various traditions and experience live musical acts that represent different cultures. Now with many more acts! You'll also get a healthy dose of American Christmas fun with Holiday Drummers, visits with Santa Claus through Dec. 24, characters wearing their Christmas best and delicious holiday treats. Cars Land is festively lit and decorated. Be sure to hop by to wish Mater in his Santa hat a Merry Christmas! Can you spot the Cars Land Christmas movie posters when you walk through?

When is Disneyland Festival of Holidays 2025?

The Festival of Holidays usually takes place at the same time as the Holidays at Disneyland, from early to mid-November until early January. This year, the Festival of Holidays is from Nov. 14, 2025, through Jan. 7, 2026. Be sure to check the park hours before you make your theme park reservation. The park can close early for a private event.

Three Kings' Day

Three Kings' Day in Paradise Gardens brings some special decorations, crafts and traditions to celebrate Epiphany, or the twelfth day of Christmas. This holiday of honoring three wise men is celebrated worldwide, but in Central and South America, it's known as El Dia de los Reyes Magos. You can enjoy traditional decor, and photo-ops and learn more about the holiday when you visit. Luckily, we don't have to travel far to experience it because Disney Festival of Holidays brings it to us! Three Kings' Day usually falls at the end of the festival. Three Kings' Day is Jan. 6, 2026.

Decorations During Disneyland Festival of Holidays 2025

As you enter Disney California Adventure, you’ll pass under the Festival of Holidays sign. The park is decorated with greens, bows, poinsettias, lights, signage, toy soldiers and the 50-foot-tall Christmas tree in Carthay Circle. At night, the park is aglow in colorful lights. You cannot help but feel swept away to a winter wonderland.

Plus, where else can you find Christmas trees made out of hubcaps, traffic cones, tires and license plates than Radiator Springs? You can also enjoy ride overlays in Cars Land such as Luigi's Joy to the Whirl and Mater's Jingle Jamboree.

Characters During Disneyland Festival of Holidays 2025

Many characters are dressed to impress in their holiday best. All of the traditional Disney favorites — Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald and Daisy — are dressed for the season in their vintage holiday wear in Carthay Circle.

Mirabel and family members of "Encanto" are in the Casita in Paradise Gardens Park.

Look for Disney characters in their vintage, holiday, winter wear around Carthay Circle. Find Daisy, Clara Cluck or Max in Hollywood Land.

Don't froget to catch (naughty) Santa Deadpool's show nearby.

Chip 'n' Dale usually greet guests outside the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail. Inside is where you can meet the big man himself — Santa Claus! — with his elves. After Christmas Eve, Santa must hop in his sleigh to deliver presents. When you meet Santa, you can get a free candy cane! We have a post on all the places to meet Santa at Disneyland this holiday season.

Carl, Dug and Russell can be found outside The Little Mermaid, closer to the Redwood Creek area.

When you go to meet Santa, also keep an eye out for Chip 'n' Dale. Be sure to pick up a map to do fun activities in Redwood Creek (such as rubber duck races — "quack quack!").

You’ll see Mickey and Minnie, along with the Three Caballeros in the Disney ¡Viva Navidad! Street Party in their Latin American festival clothes. You can meet them in Paradise Gardens. Goofy is dressed up there too! The Three Caballeros rotate in with Mickey and Minnie and then Goofy, so you never know which character(s) you will actually meet when you hop in line. Mirabel and other members of the family Madrigal are out greeting guests. The Cars in Cars Land are dressed for the holidays too. If you love character spotting, catch Mickey's Happy Holidays cavalcade. Many Disney and Pixar characters dance around in their Santa hats and garlands.

Keep an eye out for rare characters. The characters can change each year, so you never know who you'll see!

Ride Overlays at Disneyland Festival of Holidays 2025

Two rides will take you for a spin during the holiday season. Both can be found in Cars Land. Luigi’s Joy to the Whirl and Mater’s Jingle Jamboree have holiday music and lighting. The rides are more dramatic at night.

Most of the songs are related to Christmas, but if you wait around Mater’s Jingle Jamboree long enough, you’ll hear Mater’s take on the Dreidel Song (“Oh tractor, tractor, tractor, I love to watch ‘em spin; and when they get all tired, they stop and then I win!").

Merchandise for Disneyland Festival of Holidays 2025

You can find exclusive Festival of Holidays merchandise at locations nestled among the Festival Booths. There are also plenty of Disneyland Resort holiday souvenirs and clothing in many of the Disney California Adventure shops and in Disneyland Park, as well.

We have hoppy news for our Jewish friends. There's some Hanukkah merchandise and a Hanukkah photo sign and magic shot near each park entrance this year.

Do you want a free holiday pin? You can buy a special Disneyland gift card in the park that comes with a free pin. You just have to add at least $125 to the gift card. There are four different pin designs.

Entertainment During Disneyland Festival of Holidays 2025

The musical entertainment, cavalcades, shows and street parties are sure to keep you hoppin’. In Carthay Circle, catch the tree lighting every day at 4:50 p.m. There’s a ton of musical entertainment and a fun character experience, Mickey’s Happy Holidays.

Mickey's Happy Holidays

Mickey and his Disney and Pixar friends dress up for the holidays and dance their way through the festival with the Holiday Toy Drummers. Starting out near The Little Mermaid, they head to Hollywood Land. It’s a fun way to see a lot of characters at once.

This cavalcade runs three times a day. Check the Disneyland app for show times. The show does some small dance numbers along the way. I don't know about you, but seeing Mr. Incredible in a Santa hat makes me feel jolly. You don't need to invest much time to catch it, which we love.

Disney ¡Viva Navidad! (Mainly Saturdays and Sundays)

Disney ¡Viva Navidad! is a colorful street party with lively dancers in colorful costumes, musicians, characters and 12-foot-tall mojiganga puppets of Santa and Mrs. Claus. The shows run from early afternoon into the evening and take place between Silly Symphony swings and Goofy’s Sky School, but some viewing areas are better than others.

If you want to be right in front of the Three Caballeros float, then hop in place across from the middle entrance to Paradise Gardens about halfway between Jumping Jellyfish and Silly Symphony Swings. Stand across the street from the Paradise Gardens middle entrance to be near the central float. You should see tape on the ground for the side viewing areas that have energetic dancers.

Disney ¡Viva Navidad! takes place only select days — Saturdays and Sundays.

“Mirabel’s Gifts of the Season” (Monday through Friday)

A daytime show hoppens outside the entrance to Paradise Gardens Park. Watch Mirabel from “Encanto” and her friends and family rejoice in the spirit of the holidays, during their very own Fiesta de Navidad celebration. Enjoy singing along to the beloved songs from the film in this heartfelt musical presentation. You'll see Mirabel, her friends, her sisters and Bruno in this show you'll want to sing and dance along to.

In between shows, you can meet Mirabel or other members of her family in Paradise Gardens Park.

“A Musical Christmas with Mariachi Alegría de Disneyland & Miguel!” (Monday through Friday Evenings)

Head to Buena Vista Street at night to listen to heartfelt stories and timeless songs in an enchanting celebration of the holidays. Mariachi Alegría de Disneyland, accompanied by graceful dancers, delivers intimate, bilingual performances of beloved Christmas songs. The celebration closes with a special appearance by Miguel from “Coco” for a beautiful rendition of “Silent Night.”

Arrive early. Watch facing the fountain with your back to Hollywood Land for the best angle. This new addition to the park is one you won't want to miss this season!

The Story Time with Deadpool Holiday Special

Deadpool is back for more hilarious holiday humor. You can listen to his seasonal stories near Avengers Campus. Wolverine may also stop by. Get in place early for these popular story times.

Holiday Toy Drummers

Whatever you do, make sure to catch the Holiday Toy Drummers. These living wooden soldiers are delightfully energetic and fun. Their location is near the obelisk/entrance to Pixar Pier! They also accompany Mickey's Happy Holidays.

Musical Entertainment

Musical acts celebrate a variety of cultures. Acts may take place on the Paradise Gardens Bandstand, Hollywood Lounge Stage and Hollywood Backlot Stage. No return of the main stage in front of Paradise Bay nor the Sonoma Terrace Stage this year. Immerse yourself in a range of genres including mariachi, jazz, klezmer, Latin pop, fusion, reggae, polka and more. You can see the full schedule and all the acts and dates at the Festival of Holidays Bands page.

There are new cultural performing groups and returning favorites. The lineup varies each day (note the bands below). Each act performs only select dates this year at these stages:

• Paradise Garden Park near World of Color viewing: Yamila Guerra Cuban Latin Band, Calve Dura, Anibal Seminario & Peruvian Jazz Collective, Son Habana, Adelaide Pilar, Wayu Band, Mari's World and The Hive.
• Hollywood Backlot Stage The Light Within, Malaya Filipino American Dance Arts, Karmagraphy, Hālau Hula Kealiʻi O Nālani & Daniel Ho, Le Ballet Dembaya, Caludia de la Cruz Flamenco, Afro Peruvian, Tupua, Nazara and In Tlanextli Tlacopan Aztec Dancers.
• Hollywood Lounge Stage: Mostly Kosher, Festmeister Hans Und Die Sauerkrauts, Hot October, Joy, Tina and the Sounds of Celebration!, Baba the Storyteller, The Misletoes, The Ladies of R&B and Soul and Kealiʻi O Nālani & Daniel Ho.

World of Color – Season of Light (Is not returning in 2025; instead guests will see World of Color Happiness)

Finally, put a magical finale on your night with World of Color. The show will put you in an electrifying Christmas spirit for sure. You can typically join the virtual queue for the viewing area at noon each day. There is one show on nights when the park closes at 9 p.m. The second show hoppens only when the park closes at 10. The second show is less crowded (and you can view it after the fireworks if park hopping).

The World of Color dining packages give you vouchers for a reserved viewing area. And the World of Color Dessert Party offers the only seated option for viewing the show while you enjoy treats and beverages. The dessert party is about $94 per guest and includes a wide selection of desserts and cheeses, alcoholic beverages for adults ages 21 and older, unlimited non-alcoholic drinks and reserved seating in the World of Color preferred viewing area at Paradise Gardens Park. Guests attending the dessert party can check in at Redwood Creek Challenge Trail. You can learn more about getting a good view of Disneyland World of Color and reserving World of Color dining packages through Disneyland Dining Reservations.

If you have a MagicBand+, bring your wrist into view. The band lights up and interacts with the show!

Food and Dining During Disneyland Festival of Holidays 2025

You’d better put on your stretchy pants because there are so many yummy holiday treats and foods throughout the park at the Festival Booths and restaurants. We have a detailed list of Disney California Adventure Festival of Holidays 2025 foods in our guide to the yummiest holiday treats and foods at Disneyland.

First of all, the Festival Booths are open for tasty bites of seasonal favorites and creative twists on tradition. There are many nonalcoholic and alcoholic mixed drinks, beers, wines and bubbly drinks for making the seasons bright. Add a Mickey Jingle Bell glow cube to make your spirits even brighter! Get the Sip and Savor Pass, which allows you to try six different foods or nonalcoholic drinks for a flat fee of $49 ($46 for Magic Key holders). Or, you can also buy items individually. If you have special dietary needs, the tasting passport will help you locate vegetarian, plant-based, kid-friendly and gluten-friendly choices.

Paradise Garden Grill has tasty flavors from Latin America, and most restaurants have seasonal special menu items available. A few other restaurants and food carts accept the Sip and Savor Pass for seasonal items too!

Then there are the yummy holiday treats throughout the park in addition to the festival marketplaces. They're everywhere! At Trolley Treats, you have your festive caramel apples, churro marshmallow wands, pumpkin spice churro toffee, cookies, crispy treats, fudge, cupcakes and cake pops.

Fresh Candy Canes

On select days after Thanksgiving, you can line up early to purchase a hand-pulled candy cane, made that day! Cast members only make a certain number of candy canes each day, so you need to arrive before park opening and get a wristband at Trolley Treats. Hop over to our post on Disneyland candy canes for dates and tips to get one of these special treats.

Treats at the Disneyland Hotels

The lobby of Disney's Grand Californian Hotel has a cookie cart. It has delicious Mickey gingerbread and other beautiful treats and drinks. We always hop by for cookies and cider we can enjoy in front of the fireplace. we have a whole post on all the holiday dining and treats at the Disneyland hotels and Downtown Disney.

Tips for Disneyland Festival of Holidays 2025

Here are a few tips for visiting the Festival of Holidays at Disney California Adventure:

• Check the park hours and showtimes for must-see shows before your visit.
• Arrive early (by park opening) to maximize your time.
• If you are staying at a Disneyland Resort hotel, take advantage of Early Entry to ride a lot of rides in the morning. The parks take turns hosting Early Entry.
• Grab a Festival Guide for all the details on booth locations and entertainment.
• Pick up a Sip and Savor Pass. You can get them with six tastings.
• You can find the Festival booth menus in the Disneyland app or the guide.
• Get some PhotoPass Photos with some magic shots for hoppy holiday surprises (including special holiday Magic Shots for Navidad, Christmas and Hanukkah near each park entrance).
• When ordering at the festival booths, order any item you want from the shortest line, even if it’s from a different booth. Then take your receipt to the pick-up window. We love skipping lines! Hold onto that receipt though!
• Use Mobile Order at quick-service restaurants to skip long food lines. You cannot use Sip and Savor Pass for eligible items with mobile order.
• Hop into Cars Land at night to enjoy the holiday lights and ride overlays.
• Get a Disney Jr. holiday activity placemat and crayons from select restaurants. We frogs love free stuff!
• Meet classic and new Disney characters in Pacific Gardens Park, including Mirabel and and friends from "Encanto."

What are you most excited about at Disneyland Festival of Holidays? If you are looking for multiday tickets so you can enjoy Festival of Holidays and more holiday time fun at Disneyland Park, your favorite froggy friends can help you save money with discount Disneyland Resort tickets. Tickets purchased from Undercover Tourist come with Dining Dollars credits you can apply to the purchase of a Disney gift card. That means you'll have more money to try tasty foods and treats and holiday presents! Ribbit, ribbit!

Related: Guide to the Hoppiest Holidays at Disneyland

Related: Our Guide to the Yummiest Holiday Treats and Foods at Disneyland Resort

Hoppy planning!