Lights, Trees, and More: Find Holiday Activities in Bellflower
Sun, mild temperatures, friendly faces, a variety of events, holiday cheer—what’s not to love about holiday activities in Bellflower and the surrounding area?
The holiday season might be the best time of year to live in Southern California, with a mix of perfect weather and holiday fun. You can enjoy outdoor activities without freezing, and if you prefer the cold, snow and winter sports are within driving distance. So grab your favorite wintertime beverage and keep reading so you can make a list of holiday activities in Bellflower and beyond to hit this holiday season.
Watch a Christmas Tree Lighting
Cities and towns around Bellflower kick off the holiday season in early December with a traditional Christmas tree lighting in the town square or city plaza—along with a festive party.
La Palma: This will be one of the first cities in the area to light a tree in 2023 on December 6. The Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony is at Central Park Amphitheater, so gather your friends and family to start the holidays with performances from local schools and a community carol sing-a-long. If singing isn’t your style, you can write a letter to Santa, create some crafts, or visit with Santa, Mrs. Claus, and the elves.
The party is from 4 to 5:30 p.m., followed by the tree lighting. And don’t worry: If it’s raining on December 6, the party will just be moved to December 13—same time, same place.
Bellflower: Looking for weekend holiday activities in Bellflower? This city is starting the holiday season off right with a citywide tree lighting celebration at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, December 3. Grab friends and family and head to Friendship Square in downtown Bellflower for holiday crafts, refreshments, carolers, Santa Claus, and even sledding on real snow! The sledding activity is free, and the city will provide the sleds.
Lakewood: Like Bellflower, Lakewood is hosting a Christmas tree lighting on December 1. This city’s event is from 4:30 to 8 p.m., with sing-a-longs, Dickens carolers, snow, food trucks, face painting, holiday photo ops, free carnival games, Santa, and, of course, the lighting of the 24-foot tree in Civic Center Plaza!
Buena Park: There’s another tree lighting happening on December 1 in Buena Park, at City Hall Plaza. Along with the traditional tree lighting, the event features festivities and a visit from Santa. Watch the event page for the time and more details about the event.
Check Out Lights and Decorations
There’s nothing like loading up the car and sipping a hot beverage while you cruise around the area looking for the best holiday lights and decorations.
Bellflower: Every year, Bellflower looks for the best and brightest decorations with its Holiday Home Decorating Contest. The judging happens the week of December 6, and all the winning homes will have a sign. So take a drive around Bellflower and hunt for all the best-decorated houses!
Brea: The holiday decorations never disappoint in the Eagle Hills neighborhood. You can find the festive neighborhood by entering on East Birch and South Starflower Streets or on East Lambert Road and Sunflower Street. About 100 homes put out their best holiday lights and decor, so you’ll have plenty to see. In this area, which you can walk or drive, you’ll find lights, live music, decorations, and even live nativity scenes. And make sure you don’t miss Primrose Street!
Buena Park: Another great spot to drive through is the 8400 block of Santa Berta Way—the cross streets are Crescent and Western.
Pick Out Your Tree
If you celebrate the season with a Christmas tree, then check out the special tree lots that open around the area during the holiday season.
Christmas Tree Village: This seasonal tree shop in La Palma has trees and more. You’ll find fresh fir trees grown in Oregon, preservatives to keep your tree fresh through the season, stands, and more.
Deluca Farm: Locally owned, this family-run tree lot in San Pedro makes shopping for a tree fun. In addition to fun activities for kids, the lot hosts a Christmas tree lighting with Santa, food trucks, vendors, and more. Watch the lot’s Facebook page for details.
Peltzer Pines: This 50-year-old Christmas tree institution, with Brea and Silverado Canyon locations, isn’t a lot with cut trees. It’s an actual tree farm! The trees are growing there, so you pick your living tree and someone cuts it down for you. Or, if you want, you can experience the magic of cutting your own Christmas tree! Tree varieties include Leyland cypress and Monterey pine trees.
Do Some Seasonal Shopping
Shopping and the holiday season go hand in hand. Besides deals on Amazon and at your local mall and shopping center, there are special holiday boutiques where you’ll find one-of-a-kind items.
Promenade at Downey: Promenade at Downey is a 77-acre retail power center located in Downey, California. It is a perfect location for Christmas shopping, as it offers a unique blend of specialty retailers and restaurants. The mall features a variety of stores, including Walmart, Cinemark Multicinema, Burlington, ULTA Beauty, Five Below, TJ Maxx, and HomeGoods. The mall is open seven days a week and is open most of the day. Promenade at Downey is a great place to find gifts for your loved ones this holiday season.
Sugar Plum Christmas Arts & Crafts Festival: The Sugar Plum Festival is full of seasonal arts and crafts as well as gifts, accessories, jewelry, collectibles, and more! The festival will only run November 29–December 2, so don’t miss it! Come and see the amazing talents and creations of the local community at this beautiful holiday festival!
Check Out a Holiday Event
’Tis the season for holiday activities in Bellflower and beyond. Check out these festive happenings.
Knott’s Merry Farm: This year’s Christmas celebration lasts through January 7 at Knott’s Berry Farm. The entire park transforms into a winter wonderland with jumbo snowflakes, twinkling lights, garland, and more. If you’re looking for entertainment, there’s the Home for the Holidays musical revue and the ice skating show, Merry Christmas, Snoopy! If you get hungry, you’ll find specialty food items that are only available during the holiday season. There’s also a nightly tree lighting ceremony, light show in Camp Snoopy, Santa’s Christmas Cabin, Christmas Crafts Village, and more.
Candy Caneland & Craft Faire: Delighting people for over 50 years, this festival has something for everyone. There will be snow slides, craft booths, food, snow play, raffles, games, Santa, and more! The event is scheduled for Saturday, December 9, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Ehlers Events Center.
Cruise at the Beach: For a holiday activity that’s a little different, check out Cruise at the Beach Christmas Car and Bike Show in Redondo Beach. In addition to cars, the event features a Santa booth and activities for kids, live music, a raffle, and a toy and charity drive. The car show is from 12 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, December 9.
Remember to Be Safe
Don’t forget about safety while you’re enjoying all the holiday activities in Bellflower and around the area. Candles can set the holiday mood, but they also can be dangerous. According to the National Fire Protection Association, candles start 20 home candle fires each day, and the peak day for those fires is Christmas. If you decide to light a candle to get into the holiday spirit, please do so responsibly: Remember to keep them at least 12 inches from anything flammable, and never leave them unattended.
Remember safety when you’re decorating and enjoying your Christmas tree. When you’re stringing the lights, don’t use a string that has a broken or worn cord, never light candles on the tree, and only use lights that are listed by a qualified testing lab. Also, turn them off before you leave or go to bed.
There’s a long list of holiday activities in Bellflower and the surrounding area, so it’s the perfect time to get out and explore everything the area has to offer. You’ll discover Christmas tree lightings, the ideal place to find a Christmas tree, seasonal markets, and special holiday events. From everyone at Northwind Apartments, we hope you have a safe, fun, and magical holiday season!
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