Over the (Jungle) River and Through the (Zoo's) Woods at California Theme Parks

Dreaming of a white Christmas? Then get the heck out of Southern California. But if you want some holiday hoopla along with some theme park fun, you've come to the right place. California parks are arranged alphabetically.

Disneyland Resort
Holiday Events

• Anaheim, CA
• 2008 dates: Nov. 21 to Jan. 4
• Included with admission
• Disneyland Resort Holiday Season Photo Gallery

Nobody decks its halls quite like Disney. From the enormous Christmas tree at the head of Disneyland's Main Street USA to the miles of garland and twinkling lights, the fantasy world becomes even more beguiling during the holidays.

Special features at Disneyland include:

• A Christmas Fantasy parade
• Believe...In Holiday Magic- The nightly fireworks show concludes with a SoCal "snowfall."
• it's a small world holiday (sic)- The cloying dolls celebrate their multi-culti holiday traditions in a makeover of the classic attraction.
• Haunted Mansion Holiday- The retrofitted Haunted Mansion introduces "A Nightmare Before Christmas' " Jack Skellington to the ghostly mix.
• Santa's Reindeer Round-Up- A meet-and-greet area with a certain jolly V.I.P. and his trusty transpo-team (sorry, no actual flying reindeer).

Disney's California Adventure park also gets in on the holly-jolly fun with Santa's Beach Blast. Kris Kringle dons some shades and goes into party mode, California style, with surf music, limbo contests, and something called a Sand Castle Wreath Toss.

The holiday season may be a bit brighter this year at Disneyland, because the resort will still be presenting the Year of a Million Dreams. Disney cast members are awarding, through random giveaways, unique "dream" experiences to guests, such as a night's stay at the the Disneyland Dream Suite.

Gilroy Gardens
Holiday Lights

• Gilroy (near San Francisco), CA
• 2008 dates: Dec. 5 to 7, 12 to 14, 19 to 23, and 26-28.
• Separate ticketed event.

The park will adorn many of its distinctive trees and gardens with thousands of twinkling lights. Other features include a skating rink, holiday-themed rides, crafts-making, a holiday buffet, and (of course) a tete-a-tete with Santa in his workshop.

Knott's Berry Farm
Knott's Merry Farm

• Buena Park (next to Anaheim), CA
• 2008 dates: Thanksgiving Day to Christmas Eve
• Included with admission. On weekdays, Knott's offers a special reduced rate for admission only to its Christmas Crafts Village.
• Knott's Merry Farm Photo Gallery

Knott's doesn't go nearly as crazy transforming its park into Knott's Merry Farm for the holidays as it does with its Knott's Scary Farm Halloween makeover, but it does offer plenty of fun, including a Spirit of the Season parade, an enormous Christmas tree, a Christmas Crafts Village with artisans plying their trades, "Snoopy's Cool Christmas", an ice show with the Peanuts gang, the shows, "A Christmas Carol" and "A Gift of the Magi," and Elf Mountain, a transformed Timber Mountain Log Ride.

Legoland
Holiday Block Party and Kids' New Year's Eve

• Carlsbad (near San Diego), CA
• 2008 dates: Dec. 20 to Dec. 31
• Included with admission

Legoland lights its unique Christmas tree made entirely of Lego bricks. It also offer audiences with the "real" St. Nick, lots of holiday decorations. entertainment, and nightly fireworks shows. On Dec. 31, the park celebrates its Kids' New Year's Eve with a kid-focused dance party, live music, and a "midnight" (actually 6 p.m. to accommodate sleepy young 'uns) Brick Drop (modeled after the Times Square ball drop with fireworks to welcome 2009.

San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park
Festival of Lights

• Escondido (near San Diego), CA
• 2008 dates: Dec. 13 to 23, 26 to 30, Jan. 2 and 3
• Included with admission

The zoo's Wild Animal Park goes wild for the holidays with more than 100,000 lights and animated displays. The park's hours are from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and the lights twinkle on at 5 p.m. Other special features include a snow hill for sledding (remember, this is Southern California!), holiday crafts, carolers, storytellers, choirs, visits with Santa, and dancers. Guests can also commune with exotic animals during a Journey into Africa tour.

SeaWorld San Diego
SeaWorld Holiday Celebration

• San Diego), CA
• 2008 dates: Nov. 28-30, weekends from Dec. 6 to 14, daily Dec. 20 to 31
• Included with admission

Shamu gets his (her?) own holiday-themed nightly show. The sea lions join in the holiday fun as well. Plus the park, including its landmark Skytower, gets decked out with holiday lights. There will also be carolers and close-up animal visits.

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
Holiday in the Park

• Vallejo (near San Francisco), CA
• 2008 dates: Nov. 28-30, Dec. 6, 7, 13, 14, 20-23, 26-31, Jan. 1-4.
• $44.99 at the gate. $24.99 if purchased in advance. Admission is included for both 2008 and 2009 season pass holders.
• Save money and time. Buy discounted advance tickets online, direct from Six Flags.

In addition to an enormous Christmas tree, tons of lights, and loads of decorations, Discovery Kingdom will offer sledding on Snow Hill, a holiday parade, carolers, and dancers. There will be holiday-themed shows with Shouka the killer whale and the park's sea lions and dolphins. There will be a decked-out Winter Wonderland, a Christmas Tree Forest, a Toyland, and a Candy Cane Lane. Of course, Santa will be on hand. Most of the park's coasters and kiddie rides will be open during Holiday in the Park.