Hikari Festival of Lights
Loosely translated, hikari means lights in Japanese. Check out more than a million twinkling lights at Tanaka Farms while sipping hot cocoa and going for a wagon ride. There are also arts and crafts, games, a chance to meet Santa and live music on Friday and Saturday nights. Adults $25-$35; children $15-$25, 4:30-9 p.m., Nov. 29 through Dec. 29 (closed Dec. 24 & 25), tanakafarms.com
Holiday music
Celebrate the season with several festive concerts in December at Irvine Barclay Theatre. The Juilliard-trained sibling piano quintet, The 5 Browns, will perform Dec. 1; the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra brings its Big Band Holidays tour Dec. 5; Canadian Brass returns to Irvine on Dec. 12; and the renowned a cappella group, The King’s Singers, will travel from the United Kingdom to perform Dec. 13. thebarclay.org
Christmas Train
All aboard the Irvine Park Railroad’s annual Christmas Train for a magical holiday journey to the North Pole to meet Santa Claus. After your festive ride, explore Santa’s Village, where you can enjoy activities such as ice fishing, cookie decorating, mini diggers and much more. Irvine Regional Park, Nov. 29-Dec. 23, irvineparkrailroad.com
‘The Nutcracker’
Create holiday memories for your family by sharing the magic of Festival Ballet Theatre’s production of “The Nutcracker,” featuring colorful scenery and dazzling costumes, which make this age‑old tradition sparkle like new. Irvine Barclay Theatre, Dec. 7-8, 14-15 and 20-24, thebarclay.org
Illuminate Irvine
Gather family and friends to visit winter-wonderland-themed activities and classic holiday music, all leading up to the lighting of the Holiday Tree with thousands of twinkling lights. Be sure to stop by Holiday Market inside Hangar 244. Great Park Palm Court Arts Complex, 3 p.m. Dec. 7, cityofirvine.org
