Santa Clarita’s Holiday Season Arrives: Jingle Fest, Festival of Trees, Light Up Main Street, and More

First, Veterans Day: Honor Those Who Served

Before the lights go up, Santa Clarita pauses to honor its veterans. The city’s annual Veterans Day Ceremony returns Wednesday, November 11 at 11:00 a.m. at Veterans Historical Plaza, 24275 N. Walnut Street in Old Town Newhall, with remarks from the City Council, music from Hart High School’s A-Cappella Choir and Hartbeat, a Missing Man Tribute, the changing of the flags by the Knights of Columbus and Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 355, the playing of Taps, and resource tables staffed by local veterans’ organizations. Admission is free and open to all. I wrote a fuller guide to honoring those who served earlier this fall, and this ceremony is the heart of it.

Jingle Fest ’26: A Holiday Market at Central Park

On Saturday, November 14, Jingle Fest ’26 takes over Central Park at 27150 Bouquet Canyon Road from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.: more than 275 artisans and vendors, food trucks, live entertainment, and photos with Santa. Admission is free, and it is the kind of event where families can start holiday shopping, grab lunch from a local truck, and let the kids burn energy on the lawn all in one afternoon. Central Park sits right on the edge of the Saugus and Canyon Country neighborhoods, so it is an easy local outing for most of the valley.

The same weekend brings two big community events worth knowing about: the Special Olympics Southern California Fall Games Championship runs November 14 through 15 at Fountain Valley Sports Park with athletes competing in golf, soccer, softball, tennis, and volleyball, and the Santa Clarita Marathon fills the streets on Sunday, November 15. If you are a morning person, it is one of the most welcoming weekends of the year to cheer for someone else’s big moment.

Beale’s Cut: A Piece of History Is Dedicated November 18

On Wednesday, November 18 at 9:30 a.m., the City of Santa Clarita holds the dedication of Beale’s Cut at 22682 Sierra Highway at the Beale’s Cut Trailhead. Beale’s Cut is the historic 1850s wagon-road pass through the Newhall Pass, a genuine piece of the valley’s story from the days when this canyon was the route into Southern California. After years of planning, the community celebration of that history is here. Bring the family, hear the story, and see the landmark up close.

Festival of Trees: 24 Years of “Light Up the Holidays”

The 24th annual Festival of Trees, presented by the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clarita Valley, arrives Friday, November 20 through Sunday, November 22 at Valencia Town Center. Local businesses, families, and designers decorate trees and holiday displays, and the event raises money for BGCSV youth programs through auctions and ticket sales. It is one of the valley’s most established holiday traditions, part sparkly forest, part community fundraiser, and entirely family friendly. Going on a weekday evening is usually calmer; weekends bring the festive crowd.

Light Up Main Street: Old Town Newhall Glows on November 21

On Saturday, November 21 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., Light Up Main Street returns to Old Town Newhall: five blocks of holiday lights, the community Christmas tree lighting countdown at 5:30 p.m., snowfall effects, Santa, food trucks, and live entertainment. For those of us who watched Old Town rebuild after the summer’s refinery fire, this will be a meaningful evening. The businesses of Main Street have worked hard to reopen and welcome the community back, and showing up for them on the most magical night of the year is the best kind of support. Bundle up, arrive early for parking, and bring the kids for the tree lighting.

Storm Readiness: LACoFD Sandbag Distribution on November 22

Between the celebrations, Santa Clarita also gets practical. On Sunday, November 22 from noon to 3:00 p.m., the Los Angeles County Fire Department hosts a community sandbag distribution event at Central Park so residents can prep for the rainy season before the first big storms. Sandbag events are free and for residents, with crews on hand to help with filling and loading. In a fire-scarred valley, flood-season preparation is a neighborly act, and I recommend grabbing a spot early.

Holiday in the Park and What Comes Next

After Thanksgiving on November 26, the season’s signature event begins: Six Flags Magic Mountain’s Holiday in the Park runs November 27 through January 4, with the park dressed in millions of lights, seasonal shows, and holiday food throughout the grounds. For families with older kids and teens, it is the closest thing to a winter wonderland we have, and the new rides make it worth an evening even for locals who have seen it before.

Looking ahead, December brings the valley’s full holiday calendar, and I will publish the December guide in the coming weeks. If you are thinking about moving to Santa Clarita or selling a home here, the holiday season is also the best possible time to see what this community is really like: parades, fundraisers, neighbors showing up for each other, and small businesses that anchor the whole valley.

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