By Heather McRea | hmcrea@scng.com | Orange County Register
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Liam, Noah and Sophia Reyes enjoy a bouncy snow globe Saturday. Merrymakers celebrated the holiday spirit at Garden Grove’s annual “Winter in the Grove” event Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. Festivities included sled runs carved into 50 tons of snow, carnival games, dancer troupes and choirs–culminating with the lighting of a 24-foot tree and visit from Santa. (Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer)
Emma Gallian and Brooklyn Hudson, both 5, share some sledding thrills. Merrymakers celebrated the holiday spirit at Garden Grove’s annual “Winter in the Grove” event Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. Festivities included sled runs carved into 50 tons of snow, carnival games, dancer troupes and choirs–culminating with the lighting of a 24-foot tree and visit from Santa. (Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer)
Felix Gonzalez, 8, writes a letter to Santa Saturday. Merrymakers celebrated the holiday spirit at Garden Grove’s annual “Winter in the Grove” event Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. Festivities included sled runs carved into 50 tons of snow, carnival games, dancer troupes and choirs–culminating with the lighting of a 24-foot tree and visit from Santa. (Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer)
Aimee Gurnea, Peyton Gurnea and Melissa Clenney hold hands as they for a snow ride. Merrymakers celebrated the holiday spirit at Garden Grove’s annual “Winter in the Grove” event Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. Festivities included sled runs carved into 50 tons of snow, carnival games, dancer troupes and choirs–culminating with the lighting of a 24-foot tree and visit from Santa. (Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer)
Theodore Peach, 7, comes flying down the slopes as one of the merrymakers who celebrated the holiday spirit at Garden Grove’s annual “Winter in the Grove” event Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. Festivities included sled runs carved into 50 tons of snow, carnival games, dancer troupes and choirs–culminating with the lighting of a 24-foot tree and visit from Santa. (Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer)
Merrymakers celebrated the holiday spirit at Garden Grove’s annual “Winter in the Grove” event Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. Festivities included sled runs carved into 50 tons of snow, carnival games, dancer troupes and choirs–culminating with the lighting of a 24-foot tree and visit from Santa. (Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer)
Merrymakers celebrated the holiday spirit at Garden Grove’s annual “Winter in the Grove” event Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. Festivities included sled runs carved into 50 tons of snow, carnival games, dancer troupes and choirs–culminating with the lighting of a 24-foot tree and visit from Santa. (Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer)
Friends Sophia Nguyen and Mea Nguyen, both 8, share a sled Saturday. Merrymakers celebrated the holiday spirit at Garden Grove’s annual “Winter in the Grove” event Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. Festivities included sled runs carved into 50 tons of snow, carnival games, dancer troupes and choirs–culminating with the lighting of a 24-foot tree and visit from Santa. (Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer)
Mikayla Ngo helps her daughter, Mia Ngo, 2, send off her letter to Santa. Merrymakers celebrated the holiday spirit at Garden Grove’s annual “Winter in the Grove” event Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. Festivities included sled runs carved into 50 tons of snow, carnival games, dancer troupes and choirs–culminating with the lighting of a 24-foot tree and visit from Santa. (Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer)
Alana Suarez, 5, poses in one of the events photo scenes. Merrymakers celebrated the holiday spirit at Garden Grove’s annual “Winter in the Grove” event Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. Festivities included sled runs carved into 50 tons of snow, carnival games, dancer troupes and choirs–culminating with the lighting of a 24-foot tree and visit from Santa. (Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer)
Hanshaiym Radj, 5, of Irvine stands with Santa and Mrs. Claus during the 3rd annual Illuminate Irvine holiday celebration and tree lighting ceremony at the Great Park in Irvine on Saturday, December 6, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
SoCal Holiday Brass performs holiday classics in the Great Park Palm Court during the City of Irvine’s annual Illuminate Irvine holiday event on Saturday, December 6, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Members the Vermillion Vocalists, from UC Irvine, sing acapella holiday songs on stage in front of the newly lit Great Park Christmas Tree during the annual Illuminate Irvine holiday event on Saturday, December 6, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Ember Lake, 3, of Irvine, a member of Mrs. Cabrera’s Neighborhood Preschool, sings and dances on stage with some of her classmates during the annual Illuminate Irvine holiday event at the Great Park on Saturday, December 6, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Santa greets a group of kids as he arrives on stage to help light the Great Park Christmas Tree during the 3rd annual Illuminate Irvine holiday event on Saturday, December 6, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Members of Mrs. Cabrera’s Neighborhood Preschool sing and dance on stage during the annual Illuminate Irvine holiday event at the Great Park on Saturday, December 6, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Irvine Mayor Larry Agran, at the podium, is joined by the city’s five council members and County Supervisor Katrina Foley, right, as they get ready to officially light the Great Park Christmas Tree during the 3rd annual Illuminate Irvine on Saturday, December 6, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Members of the SOKA Arts Performers dance on stage in front of the newly lit Great Park Christmas Tree during the annual Illuminate Irvine holiday event on Saturday, December 6, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Rachel Owens of Irvine looks on while her granddaughter, Autumn Owens, 5, makes a holiday picture frame craft during the annual Illuminate Irvine holiday event at the Great Park on Saturday, December 6, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Viorhythm performs holiday classics on violins with lit-up bows on stage at the Great Park in Irvine during the 3rd annual Illuminate Irvine holiday event on Saturday, December 6, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Irvine District 4 City Council Member Mike Carroll counts down into a microphone as Santa, Mrs. Claus, and others, get ready to flip a giant switch and officially light the Great Park Christmas Tree during the 3rd annual Illuminate Irvine tree lighting ceremony on Saturday, December 6, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Park-goers visit game booths and craft stations in the Great Park Palm Court after colorful lights adorning the palm trees were lit during a lighting ceremony at the annual Illuminate Irvine holiday event on Saturday, December 6, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
A juggler on stilts performs at the Great Park in Irvine during the city’s annual Illuminate Irvine holiday event on Saturday, December 6, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Jenny Chan of Tustin takes a photo of her son, Caleb Chan, 8, with Rudolph and a pair of elves during the 3rd annual Illuminate Irvine holiday event at the Great Park on Saturday, December 6, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Winny Budiman of Irvine takes a photo of her daughter, Cora Abi, 2, in front of a Happy Holidays doghouse display during the 3rd annual Illuminate Irvine holiday celebration at the Great Park on Saturday, December 6, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive on stage to help light the Great Park Christmas Tree during the 3rd annual Illuminate Irvine on Saturday, December 6, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
SoCal Holiday Brass performs holiday classics in the Great Park Palm Court during the City of Irvine’s annual Illuminate Irvine holiday event on Saturday, December 6, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Members of the SOKA Arts Performers dance on stage in front of the newly lit Great Park Christmas Tree during the annual Illuminate Irvine holiday event on Saturday, December 6, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Santa greets a group of kids as he arrives on stage to help light the Great Park Christmas Tree during the 3rd annual Illuminate Irvine holiday event on Saturday, December 6, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Jose and Maryanne Hernandez, right, joins other seniors as the dance during The Annual Brea Senior Center Christmas Celebration in Brea, CA, on Friday, December 5, 2025. The party, hosted by The Brea Senior Center, served 450 people with a traditional holiday meal, live entertainment, and gift-card raffle prizes. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Seniors during The Annual Brea Senior Center Christmas Celebration in Brea, CA, on Friday, December 5, 2025. The party, hosted by The Brea Senior Center, served 450 people with a traditional holiday meal, live entertainment, and gift-card raffle prizes. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The band Those Guys performs during The Annual Brea Senior Center Christmas Celebration in Brea, CA, on Friday, December 5, 2025. The party, hosted by The Brea Senior Center, served 450 people with a traditional holiday meal, live entertainment, and gift-card raffle prizes. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Trini Cisneros dances during The Annual Brea Senior Center Christmas Celebration in Brea, CA, on Friday, December 5, 2025. The party, hosted by The Brea Senior Center, served 450 people with a traditional holiday meal, live entertainment, and gift-card raffle prizes. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Mary Morales dances during The Annual Brea Senior Center Christmas Celebration in Brea, CA, on Friday, December 5, 2025. The party, hosted by The Brea Senior Center, served 450 people with a traditional holiday meal, live entertainment, and gift-card raffle prizes. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Carol Innes, standing, dances with Li Rish as Janet Wylie takes a video of them during Twist and Shout at The Annual Brea Senior Center Christmas Celebration in Brea, CA, on Friday, December 5, 2025. The party, hosted by The Brea Senior Center, served 450 people with a traditional holiday meal, live entertainment, and gift-card raffle prizes. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dennis Rodriguez, from the band Those Guys, plays saxopone for Rosemary McGee and Jougliet Lucienne as he roams the audience during The Annual Brea Senior Center Christmas Celebration in Brea, CA, on Friday, December 5, 2025. The party, hosted by The Brea Senior Center, served 450 people with a traditional holiday meal, live entertainment, and gift-card raffle prizes. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Lynne Shapiro dances during The Annual Brea Senior Center Christmas Celebration in Brea, CA, on Friday, December 5, 2025. The party, hosted by The Brea Senior Center, served 450 people with a traditional holiday meal, live entertainment, and gift-card raffle prizes. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Carol Innes, standing, dances with Li Rish as Janet Wylie takes a video of them during Twist and Shout at The Annual Brea Senior Center Christmas Celebration in Brea, CA, on Friday, December 5, 2025. The party, hosted by The Brea Senior Center, served 450 people with a traditional holiday meal, live entertainment, and gift-card raffle prizes. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Liam, Noah and Sophia Reyes enjoy a bouncy snow globe Saturday.
Merrymakers celebrated the holiday spirit at Garden Grove’s annual “Winter in the Grove” event Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. Festivities included sled runs carved into 50 tons of snow, carnival games, dancer troupes and choirs–culminating with the lighting of a 24-foot tree and visit from Santa. (Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer)
ExpandHoliday cheer is spreading through Orange County.
Cities have been gathering their residents for festive celebrations; Santa Claus has been cruising the county, joining in to take photos and notes for his naughty and nice lists.
Over the weekend, snow fell in Garden Grove as families shared in the fun during Winter in the Grove. Irvine leaders threw the switch on the city’s tree and all the decorations at the Great Park, which will glow nightly through the end of the season.
And, members of the Brea Senior Center danced and sang during a raucous holiday party.
There are still lots of community events planned, check out our list here.
