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Our Awesome Guide to the Holidays at LEGOLAND California 2026

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Where can you meet LEGO Gingerbread man, LEGO Santa and see a 30-foot LEGO Christmas tree with snowfall? Holidays at LEGOLAND California! Your little brick builders will get into the holiday spirit with entertainment, dance parties, special building opportunities, crafts and more at a theme park designed just for kids ages 2 to 12. We are toadally excited to celebrate the holidays at Legoland California in 2026. It's an early holiday gift we cannot pass up! Plus, there's a whole new world to discover and it's out of this world! LEGO Galaxy opened in 2026!

FAQs

  • Are all the holiday festivities included with park admission? Yes, and you can save up to $118 on LEGOLAND California tickets when you login (or sign up) to an Undercover Tourist account to reveal special savings before selecting your ticket!
  • Are the holiday festivities every day? The holiday entertainment takes place on select days of the holiday season, usually between Nov. 21, 2026, and Jan. 3, 2027.
  • Can I meet holiday LEGO characters? You can meet LEGO Nutcracker, Gingerbread Man, Toy Soldier, Snowman, Elves and Santa!
  • Are there fireworks? Santa's Christmas Magic Fireworks usually take place on Dec. 5, 12 and Dec. 19-31, 2026. Dates subject to change.

Our Awesome Guide to the Holidays at LEGOLAND California - Gingerbread LEGO and Mrs. Claus

Overview of the Holidays at LEGOLAND California

If your Christmas-loving tadpoles have LEGOs on their holiday wish lists, then you can give them the best of both worlds by celebrating the holidays at LEGOLAND California. From mid-November through early January, the park is decorated for the holidays. You can enjoy special entertainment, seasonal treats and snowfall in sunny Southern California. Plus you can meet holiday LEGO characters, including an all-new LEGO nutcracker. You can still hop on rides and build with LEGOs as well. The water park is closed for the season, but the SEA LIFE Aquarium is open.

Holidays at LEGOLAND California Dates and Tickets

The holiday event takes place on select weekends Nov. 21, 2026, through Jan. 3, 2027! The celebration takes place these dates:

  • Nov. 21-29, 2026.
  • Dec. 5-6 and 12-13.
  • Dec. 19-31.
  • Jan. 1-3.

Fireworks take place December 6, 13, 19-31, 2026

You'll want to check the park operating hours for each date.

Our Awesome Guide to the Holidays at LEGOLAND California - LEGO Christmas Tree

If you’ll be visiting over New Year's, don’t miss the Kid’s New Year’s Eve Party with rides, a New Year’s countdown, an early fireworks display and live music to bring in the new year with a tadpole-friendly bedtime in mind. It's included with your daily ticket.

You’ll choose the date(s) you want to visit before you purchase. All guests need to have a dated ticket or a reservation to visit LEGOLAND California. You may want to make a trip of it and stay at the LEGOLAND Hotel or Castle Hotel which also offer holiday décor and fun.

Holiday Décor LEGO Style

Our Awesome Guide to the Holidays at LEGOLAND California - Kids pose in gift boxes near a Lego tree

Hop over to Fun Town to see the 35-foot LEGO Christmas tree and other décor. This is also the place to meet LEGO Santa. The tree has over 400 LEGO ornaments. It lights up and twinkles to the holiday tunes at the Holiday Light Show with falling snow! Head here once it's dark before making your way to the Jingle Jamboree. The rest of the park has holiday décor LEGO-style! Be sure to take a picture with the full-size LEGO Santa and sleigh as well as the live LEGO Santa character.

Keep an eye out for photo-ops. Near the park entrance, you can take photos in large gift boxes.

Miniland Holiday Fun

LEGOLAND CA Christmas - Girl decorating tree

In Miniland, the tadpoles had so much fun looking for all the mini Santas. Some of Santa's predicaments are quite comical. Those reindeer are always jumping in to save the day.

Make some of your own holiday décor to take home or add to the park. On the Miniland Lawn, your tadpoles will jump for:

  • Building a LEGO ornament to hang on a tree
  • Coloring an ornament to hang on the Christmas trees (or to take home as a souvenir)
  • Writing a letter to Santa and mailing it in the North Pole Mail Box

Special Holiday Entertainment

The best part about visiting during the holidays is the special entertainment in the park. Here is the link to the Holiday Guide. You can enjoy special shows, snowfall and holiday activities.

This year's entertainment includes:

  • Once Upon a Brickmas — Bagsy and Sweeps re-tell the story the Wizard and the first snow of Winter Hill
  • The Brass Band Holiday Bash — Head to Imagination zone to sing along with the band's final show of the day.
  • Nutcracker's Marching Band — Clap to the beat of the all-new LEGO Nutcracker and the brass band.
  • Santa's Christmas Magic Fireworks — Dec. 5, 12 and Dec. 29-31.

Meeting Characters and LEGO Santa During Holidays at LEGOLAND California

Take photos with LEGO characters at meet and greets including holiday characters such as the new Nutcracker, Gingerbread Man, Toy Soldier, Snowman, Elves and the big guy, Santa! Keep in mind that other LEGO characters may be out and about, as well. Our tadpoles always love meeting LEGO characters in LEGO Movie World. The LEGOLAND characters are ready for holiday hugs, pictures and selfies. Get some holiday shopping in at The Big Shop.

Holiday-Themed Food and Seasonal Treats

Our Awesome Guide to the Holidays at LEGOLAND California - Crispy treat, peppermint shake and caramel apple

You can expect to find yummy holiday treats around the park. Look for signage at restaurants for special holiday offerings.

Tips to Build on Your LEGOLAND Holiday Fun

Holidays at LEGOLAND CA - Miniland Building

Follow these tips for celebrating the holidays at LEGOLAND California:

  • Buy dated tickets or reserve early. Log in (or sign up) to your Undercover Tourist account before heading to the LEGOLAND ticketing page to reveal special savings (up to $118) on LEGOLAND tickets.
  • Choose a date to visit with the most holiday festivities hoppening.
  • Arrive early.
  • Dress in layers as cool mornings can turn to sunny afternoons and then become chilly evenings.
  • Download the LEGOLAND California app to find showtimes and other important information.
  • Consider getting Fastrack to skip the rides if visiting over weekends or during a busy holiday time. We used it on our last visit and managed our selections through the LEGOLAND app. It helped us maximize time and make sure we hit all our must-do rides and save enough time to experience all of the entertainment, as well.
  • Keep your camera ready for photo-ops.
  • Follow our suggestions for a Touring Plan based on your tadpoles' ages.
  • Check out the LEGO Movie World and new Ferrari Build & Race while you're there.
  • Stay until the end of the night for a fun holiday show, so you'll leave the party with all the festive feels.

Are you excited to celebrate the Holidays at LEGOLAND California? Be sure to get your LEGOLAND California Resort tickets and LEGOLAND Hotel reservations early so you can secure your dates! Login to your Undercover Tourist account before selecting your ticket to unwrap special savings. We also have other suggestions for where to stay in San Diego and things to do with kids during your visit. 

Related: LEGOLAND California Tips for an Awesome Trip

Hoppy planning!

Written and reviewed by the Undercover Tourist Content Team
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Comments

Jul 29, 2023 at 7:43 p.m.
marcia paddock Says...

planning a vacation

Reply
Jul 31, 2023 at 8:11 a.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Have fun, Marcia! We're here if you have any questions!

Hoppy planning!

Mommy Frog

Reply

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