Visit Oxnard Gets in the Festive Spirit, From Downtown to the Harbor

This holiday season, the vibrant city of Oxnard, Calif. extends a warm welcome to both locals and visitors to enjoy an array of seasonal delights and time-honored holiday traditions. The celebratory season include family-friendly festivities such as the lighting of the tallest Christmas tree in Ventura County, enchanting events in the historic Heritage Square and Downtown Oxnard, festive nautical celebrations in the Channel Islands Harbor, interactive activities at The Collection, and a walk down the renowned Christmas Tree Lane.

Local holiday highlights include:

History and Tradition in Downtown Oxnard and Heritage Square

Christmas Tree Lane continues its decades-long tradition with its famed lineup of festively lit and decorated houses along Oxnard’s F & G Streets between 5th Street and Palm in the National Historic District. Decorations will be on display from Dec. 10-26 from 6:00-10:00pm every night. Take a stroll or drive down the street, or hop aboard the double decker Oxnard Holly Trolley to tour this and Oxnard’s other holiday attractions. The guided Holly Trolley tours run from Dec. 12 to 14, along with complimentary refreshments.

Enjoy small bites from local restaurants, sip on local wine or beer and tour the holiday décor with the “Sip, Taste & Tour of Christmas Tree Lane” event taking place on Dec. 16 (at 6:00pm, 6:45pm, 7:30pm, and 8:15pm).

Admire the beautifully decorated Victorian Homes in Oxnard’s historic Heritage Square, with Heritage Square Holiday Tours on Saturdays from 11:00am – 2:00pm, with no reservation required. Online reservations are required for Sunday through Friday tours. Check out the 14th Annual Gingerbread House Exhibit, on display at Heritage Square Hall from Dec. 9 to Jan. 6

See the tallest Christmas tree in Ventura County (at 110 feet high!) and Plaza Park’s historic pagoda light up for the holiday season at the annual Downtown Oxnard Tree Lighting, taking place Nov. 30 from 5:00 - 9:00pm in Plaza Park.

Indulge at the 16th annual Oxnard Tamale Festival on Dec. 2 from 9:00am – 6:00pm in Oxnard’s Plaza Park. Choose from 13 booths selling tamales representing a variety of regions in Mexico, shop arts & crafts vendors, and enjoy entertainment starting at noon from Radio Lazer, which this year is bringing about a dozen acts to the festival stage. Kids can take photos with Santa, who will be at the festival for the first time ever, and enjoy free activities in the Kids Zone.

Enjoy festive marching bands, local school groups, themed floats, a visit from Santa and more at the annual Oxnard Christmas Parade on Dec. 2, from 10:00am – noon.

Bright Lights at the Channel Islands Harbor

The Channel Islands Harbor’s 57th annual Parade of Lights, themed “Santa’s Workshop Creates a Spark of Love,” will take place this year on Dec. 9 from 7:00-9:00pm. Boats will be decked out based on their favorite holiday tunes. Early birds can also catch holiday arts, crafts and activities that morning.

Join the Santa to the Sea half marathon on Dec. 10, which starts at the Santa Claus statue along the 101 freeway and ends at the beach. Participants can also run a quarter marathon, 5k or 1k Kids Fun Run (holiday costumed encouraged), and proceeds go to a toy drive.

Watch the Parade of Lights from the only tall ship in the Central Coast to be permanently docked. The Mystic Whaler will host a ticketed Parade of Lights viewing party from 7:00-9:00pm, $50 for adults and $35 for kids 12 and under.

Celebrate the holidays aboard Scarlett Belle's Riverboat Holiday Lights Cruise on Dec. 12 and 19. Enjoy the harbor holiday lights, complimentary cocoa and cookies and discounted holiday-themed cocktails for adults. Cruise times are 5:30pm and 7:00pm.

Seasonal Events and Experiences at The Collection

The Collection at RiverPark kicked off the season with its Tree Lighting Celebration on Nov. 15, which included holiday entertainment from Holly Jolly Band Music Freqs with singer Lynnzee Fraye, a dance performance by Hip Hop Mindset, an extravagant tree lighting and a spectacular firework show, with special guest Santa Claus!

Additional experiences include Photos with Santa from Nov. 17 – Dec. 24 (closed Thanksgiving); a Gingerbread Scavenger Hunt on Dec. 2 from 11:00am – 1:00pm; Santa Paws Pet Photo Nights on Nov. 21, 28, and Dec. 5, 12, 19 from 5:00 – 8:00pm and more.

Visit Oxnard’s 12 Days of Giveaways

Each December, Visit Oxnard spreads holiday cheer with its annual "12 Days of Giveaways" contest. This year, the contest runs from December 4-19.
Each day, Visit Oxnard will feature the giveaway items on Facebook and Instagram. Last year's prizes included overnight stays at The Hampton Inn and Homewood Suites, Island Packers excursions and adventures with Channel Islands Parasail. Gift cards were also up for grabs from The Collection at RiverPark including the Red Door Escape Room as well as other Oxnard restaurants and attractions including Waterside, Wheel Fun Rentals and The Raven Tavern.

For more information about 2023 holiday events and attractions in Oxnard, visit https://visitoxnard.com/oxnard-holidays.