Costa Mesa City Hall transforms into Snoopy House each December — a beloved PEANUTS-themed holiday tradition more than 50 years strong, with Santa photos, train rides, performances, and a wonderland of lights, all free for families.
Costa Mesa City Hall hosts the annual Snoopy House holiday display, one of Orange County’s most cherished family traditions. Built by local resident Jim Jordan more than 50 years ago, the PEANUTS-themed wonderland grew into a multi-decade neighborhood legend before being rescued by the City of Costa Mesa when it faced retirement — relocated to the City Hall grounds at 77 Fair Drive, where it has run free every December since.
Across a multi-night run in mid-December, the City Hall grounds turn into a winter wonderland: photos with Santa, holiday train rides, stage performances by local schools and community groups, twinkling light displays, a place to drop letters to Santa, and a kid-friendly festival atmosphere. The whole experience is free, with nightly hours typically starting in the early evening.
The nearby OC Fair & Event Center (at 88 Fair Drive) hosts the separate ticketed Winter Fest OC — a great option if you want a bigger paid experience after the free Snoopy House stop. Confirm this season’s confirmed dates and program at costamesaca.gov.
Yes — admission, Santa photos, train rides, and stage performances are all free. The city collects optional toy donations during the event.
Snoopy House at Costa Mesa City Hall typically runs across several nights in mid-December. Nightly hours start in the early evening. Confirm the season’s confirmed schedule at costamesaca.gov.
Free street parking is available around the Costa Mesa civic center area. On busy nights, arrive 30 minutes before the festivities start. The OC Fair & Event Center lots nearby also offer parking but may charge during their Winter Fest OC dates.
If you can — the city collects unwrapped toys at the event to support local holiday drives. Donations are entirely optional but warmly welcomed.
Snoopy House at Costa Mesa City Hall (77 Fair Drive) is the city’s free family holiday event. Winter Fest OC at the OC Fair & Event Center (88 Fair Drive, next door) is a separately ticketed extravaganza with snow zones, carnival rides, and ice tubing.
Costa Mesa City Hall is a five-story mid-century modern building at the center of the city’s 9.5-acre Civic Center at 77 Fair Drive. The campus serves as the administrative hub for the city, housing the council chambers, mayor’s office, and most city departments. Its broad front lawn faces Fair Drive and, each holiday season, hosts the city’s longstanding community light display.
Southern California’s largest winter festival at OC Fair & Event Center — a 150-foot ice-tubing slide, outdoor ice skating, snow play, 30+ carnival rides, 2 million synchronized lights, nightly tree lightings.
Brian J. Cook
The Segerstrom family’s 44-plus-year tree lighting at Town Center Park — a 96-foot white fir trimmed with 150,000 LED lights, with Pacific Symphony and Pacific Chorale performing free across from South Coast Plaza.
Brian J. Cook
Fashion Island’s nightly tree lighting experience in Newport Beach — a 90-foot tree, snowfall, music, and a choreographed light display in the Neiman Marcus–Bloomingdale’s Courtyard, every half hour through the holiday season.
Brian J. Cook
Tanaka Farms’s evening farm-to-festival of millions of holiday lights — a Light Path Tractor Ride, walking paths, a Barnyard Exhibit, live weekend music, and seasonal treats under the night sky in Irvine.
Tanaka Farms’ holiday lights have been presented in recent years as “Hikari — A Festival of Lights.”
Brian J. Cook
Southern California’s holiday lights and festive outings are pure magic — but nothing compares to Santa Claus himself stepping through your own front door. House of Kringle brings a real-bearded, professionally trained Santa to homes and gatherings across SoCal for an intimate live visit your family will treasure for years.
Check Availability
Have a date in mind? Tell us when and where, and we’ll let you know whether Santa is open. House of Kringle brings a real-bearded Santa Claus to Live Visits and Group Experiences across Los Angeles and Orange County, and December fills quickly, so the sooner you check, the better your odds of locking in your first choice.
This is a quick availability check, not a booking. Nothing is reserved and nothing is owed until we’ve confirmed your date and you’ve placed your retainer.
