About
Each holiday season, Discovery Cube OC dresses its galleries as a gingerbread village — the program known in recent years as Gingerbread Wonderland, part of the museum’s “Holidays at the Cube.” The experience threads holiday fun through the museum’s signature hands-on science: a holiday sing-along, a Runaway Sleigh virtual ride, an indoor toboggan-style slide, candy- and gingerbread-themed building and engineering activities, pastry-chef gingerbread demonstrations, and a cottage where families can visit Santa. The specific activities and demonstrations change from year to year, and some — like Santa’s cottage visits and the pastry-chef demos — run only on select dates. As an entirely indoor attraction just off the 5 in Santa Ana, it makes an easy weather-proof anchor for a holiday day out.
Event Tips
- It’s entirely indoors — a reliable rainy- or cold-day pick when outdoor lights events aren’t an option.
- Santa’s cottage visits and the pastry-chef gingerbread demos run on select dates and times only, so check the current schedule before choosing your day.
- Weekday or early-in-the-day visits tend to dodge the busiest holiday crowds.
- Want to pair it with free Santa Ana holiday fun? The downtown Plaza Navideña tree lighting and the Floral Park Walk of Lights are both free.
Frequently Asked Questions
At a Glance
When
Across December and into early January each holiday season, during regular museum hours.
Cost
Ticketed / Paid
Included with general admission or membership — there’s no separate ticket for the holiday experience. Buy admission in advance online, especially on busy holiday dates; members typically pay less.
Event Type
Museum / Exhibit, Family Festival
Location
Discovery Cube Orange County is one of the county’s best-known family attractions, located at 2500 N Main Street in Santa Ana, just north of downtown near the Santa Ana Zoo and Santiago Park. It’s instantly recognizable for its architecture — a ten-story cube tilted on one corner, standing right beside the I-5 freeway, a local landmark drivers know on sight. Inside, it’s a hands-on STEM museum built around interactive exhibits for kids, which is the backdrop the holiday program takes over each season.
