Holiday Weekend Guide
Christmas Weekend in Santa Clarita: Dec 24-27, 2026
Christmas Eve lands on Thursday, December 24, and Christmas Day on Friday, December 25, which makes this the most asked-about weekend of the year in the SCV: where to eat, what is open, and what to do with the family when the presents are unwrapped. Here is the honest local plan for December 24-27, from Sam Silver, your 23-year SCV insider.
December 24-27, 2026 Sam Silver 6 min read
Christmas Eve is Thursday, December 24, Christmas Day is Friday, December 25, and the weekend proper runs Saturday the 26th and Sunday the 27th. The SCV settles into its quietest rhythm of the year on the 25th, then slowly wakes back up: the Old Town Newhall Farmers Market runs Saturday morning, the College of the Canyons market on Sunday, and Holiday in the Park keeps its winter wonderland burning at Six Flags Magic Mountain straight through January 3. If your family is looking for candlelight services, a Christmas Eve dinner, a Christmas Day movie, or a good stretch of trail with the winter sun low over the hills, this guide has the honest local rundown. As always, please confirm times and hours with each venue before you go.
December 24-27 in Santa Clarita, Day by Day
Christmas Eve: Dinners, Candlelight Services, and the Last Lights of the Night
Christmas Eve in the SCV is a two-act night. The first act is dinner: Le Chêne on Sierra Highway in Castaic hosts an annual Christmas Eve dinner, and valley favorites like Salt Creek Grille, Bella Cucina, and Buca di Beppo have historically run holiday menus on the 24th. The second act is the candlelight service, and the valley has beautiful ones: Church of the Canyons on Sand Canyon Road holds an evening candlelight service, Elevate Church runs Christmas Eve services with a live Nativity, Christ Lutheran offers a family service and a late candlelit service, and Valley Lights Church in Saugus has a traditional evening service. Reserve your dinner now, and arrive early for standing-room services.
After services, the neighborhood light displays are at their peak, and Holiday in the Park runs at Six Flags for families who want the lights among the coasters on the most magical night of the year. Check the park calendar for Christmas Eve hours, and bring blankets for the light strolling either way.
Christmas Day: Movies, Dinners Out, and the Quiet Outdoors
Christmas Day is the SCV's quietest day, and it is easier than people expect. Regal Edwards Valencia on Town Center Drive and Regal Edwards Canyon Country on Soledad Canyon Road are both typically open on Christmas Day with full showtimes; buy tickets ahead because holiday matinees sell out. If you would rather eat out, a solid set of local restaurants have historically stayed open on the 25th: The Old Town Junction, Backwoods Inn, Sierra Grill House, Rattler's Bar B Que, Garcia Bros Cafe, Chi Chi's Pizza, Wolf Creek Restaurant & Brewing Co., Stonefire Grill, and One Bite Dumpling all show up on the "open Christmas Day" lists, with hours varying every year. Confirm before you drive.
For the outdoors crowd, a Christmas morning stroll is a real SCV tradition: Placerita Canyon State Park and William S. Hart Park are free, wide-open escapes, and the hidden hiking trails guide has winter-friendly loops near home. The sun drops early, so start hikes by mid-morning.
December 26: Farmers Market, Post-Christmas Shopping, and the Rinks
The day after Christmas is when the valley stretches and gets moving again. The Old Town Newhall Farmers Market runs Saturday morning with produce, local makers, and the first post-holiday socializing of the season, and Valencia Town Center is the place for returns and post-Christmas deals. The holiday shopping guide has the local-gift map, and Old Town's shops and tasting rooms are a gentler alternative to the mall crowds.
For family energy, Holiday in the Park keeps its full winter lineup at Six Flags, and the public skate sessions at The Cube in Valencia are a classic holiday-week activity; the Cube winter guide has session times and skate-rental details. If you are still hosting guests, this is also the best day to make the tree-farm and light-display rounds while everyone is home.
December 27: The COC Market and the Slow Wind-Down Before New Year's
Sunday the 27th is the calm before New Year's week. The College of the Canyons Farmers Market runs its usual Sunday schedule, and it is the best place to restock the kitchen after the holiday feasts. Families use the day for the holiday giving wind-down: dropping off leftover donations, taking down indoor decor at a relaxed pace, and getting the kids out to burn off sugar at one of the valley's best parks.
The week ahead has a shape of its own: New Year's Eve plans, the final Holiday in the Park nights, and the countdown to 2027. Sam's New Year's Eve in Santa Clarita guide is already live, so you can plan the next weekend while this one winds down.
What's Open Christmas Day in Santa Clarita
The December 25 answer, quickly: the movie theaters, a dependable group of local restaurants, the city's parks and open spaces, and Six Flags if Holiday in the Park is on the day's schedule. The honest rule in the SCV is that holiday hours change every single year, so check the venue or call before you go. What stays reliably open, year after year, is the outdoors: the paseo network, the Central Park loop, West Creek Park, and the canyon trailheads all have no holiday closure, and a mid-morning walk is how most valley families clear the wrapping-paper fog.
Movies
Regal Edwards Valencia & Canyon Country
Typically open Christmas Day with full showtimes. Buy ahead; matinees sell out.
Dining
Old Town Junction, Backwoods Inn, Chi Chi's & more
A rotating set of local restaurants opens on the 25th. Always confirm hours first.
Outdoors
Parks, paseos & trailheads
City parks and open spaces stay open all day, every holiday.
Winter magic
Holiday in the Park
Runs through January 3, 2027; check the holiday schedule for the 24th-27th.
Sam's Christmas Weekend Tips
- Book your Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas Day movie tickets this week, not the week of. Both sell out fast in the SCV.
- Take the light tour before Santa packs up: the free Holiday Light Tour trolley evenings and the drive-through displays are covered in the light displays guide.
- Christmas morning hikes are the secret: Placerita and the valley trails are empty on the 25th, and the winter light on the hills is golden by 10 a.m.
- Give the week a purpose: the holiday giving guide tracks local toy drives and food banks into the season's final days, and a Christmas-week drop-off is always appreciated.
Keep the Season Going
Holiday in the Park 2026
Two million lights among the coasters through January 3, with Sam's best nights to go.
New Year's Eve in SCV
Countdown-night plans across the valley, ready to book while the holidays wind down.
Ice Skating at The Cube
Public sessions, skate rentals, and holiday shows at the valley's three-sheet rink.
Enjoy the Holidays, From Your Local Insider
I have called the SCV home for 23 years, and the holidays are when this valley is at its warmest. Whether you are new to town or a lifelong local, I hope this guide makes your Christmas weekend easy. If 2027 brings a move, I would be honored to help you find your place in it.
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This guide is offered as a community resource and is not intended as a solicitation if you are currently working with another real estate broker. All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed and should be independently verified.