Huntington Beach's 2026 holiday calendar has two sets of dates. One is when the events happen. The other is when the ticket prices go up. The second set runs weeks earlier than the first. This Saturday, Oct. 31, two of the city's longest-running holiday traditions raise their prices. Both events are still a month or more away.
The pattern holds for the rest of the season. Paid events reward people who buy early. Free events need only the date. Below is the 2026 season in the order you'll have to make decisions, which isn't the order the events happen.
Saturday, Oct. 31: Two Prices Change
The first deadline is for a race held on Thanksgiving morning. The Huntington Beach Turkey Wobble runs its 15th year on Thursday, Nov. 26. The entrance is at Pacific Coast Highway and Beach Boulevard. Registration for ages 14 and up has gone up in steps since summer, from $25 through July 31 to the current $45. That rate ends Oct. 31. Then it's $50 online through Nov. 22 and $55 on race day. Ages 13 and under pay $20 whether they register early or on race day.
The second deadline is for Ballet Etudes' Nutcracker. The company is celebrating its 30th year of the production and calls itself the Official Nutcracker of Huntington Beach. It performs at the Huntington Beach High School Theater. Early-bird pricing ends Oct. 31: $40 for orchestra seats and $30 for balcony. After that, tickets are $45 and $35. Recognized groups such as scouts, church groups, seniors, mom's groups and clubs can get $20 tickets by emailing the company.
Here's what the deadline means for a household of two adults and two kids:
| Event | Booked by Oct. 31 | Booked later | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey Wobble, 2 adults + 2 kids | $130 | $150 on race day | $20 |
| Ballet Etudes Nutcracker, 4 orchestra seats | $160 | $180 | $20 |
| Ballet Etudes Nutcracker, 4 balcony seats | $120 | $140 | $20 |
None of these gaps is large on its own. Together they come to $40 for the household. For the Turkey Wobble, waiting has already cost something. An adult who registered in July paid $20 less than this week's price.
Choosing a Nutcracker show is also a choice about your schedule, not just your seat. The five performances are Saturday, Dec. 5 at 2 and 7 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 6 at 2 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 13 at 2 and 7 p.m. The 2 p.m. shows include an educational presentation 30 minutes before the curtain. After every show, audience members can take photos with the characters. Parking at the theater is free.
The Turkey Wobble also uses staggered starts, so you're choosing a time slot as well as a price. 5K and 10K waves go off every 20 minutes from 7 to 9 a.m. Kids' fun runs are at 7:30 and 8:30 a.m. if children are there. Strollers start at the back of the pack, and dogs are welcome. You can park in the lot next to the start and finish or on the street. Proceeds support World Help's clean-water work. The organizers say the race has paid for 60 wells over its 15 years.
November: The Free Events Only Need the Date
Once Halloween passes, the calendar loosens. Most of November's events cost nothing to attend, so the main job is getting the dates on your calendar.
The exception comes first. On Saturday, Nov. 7,Ballet Etudes holds its Sugar Plum Fairy Tea Party at the Senior Center in Central Park, 18041 Goldenwest St. There are two seatings, noon to 2 p.m. and 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., and tickets are $55.20. It's on the same company's calendar as the Nutcracker. Families booking ballet tickets this week can plan both at once.
After that, the free events come in a run:
- Thursday, Oct. 29 through Dec. 24. Pacific City's One MORE Coat at the Coast drive puts collection boxes around the property. It starts the day this post publishes and lists no admission or tickets.
- Friday, Nov. 20. Bella Terra's tree lighting runs 4 to 7 p.m. at The Park by the Residences near Solita, and the tree is lit at 5 p.m. The listing says RSVP details are coming and shows no price.
- Saturday, Nov. 21 through Dec. 24. Santa arrives at Pacific City's Ocean Deck, between Simmzy's and Mendocino Farms, on selected dates. Visits are free and reservations are recommended. Photo packages start at $44.99. Santa's spot is closed on Thanksgiving Day.
- Tuesday, Nov. 24. The Downtown Huntington Beach Business Improvement District lists Magic on Main Street from 4 to 7 p.m. downtown.
- Thursday, Nov. 26. The Turkey Wobble, at whatever price you locked in.
Pacific City's Santa is the one free event that still rewards booking ahead. A visit costs nothing, but reservations are recommended. The $44.99 starting price only applies if you want the photo package.
Magic on Main Street needs a note of its own. An older listing for the event is still easy to find online. That listing describes the Nov. 25, 2025 event, which ran 4 to 8 p.m. with a 6 p.m. tree lighting and spilled onto 5th Street. The 2026 listing from the Downtown BID gives a 4 to 7 p.m. window and no tree-lighting time. Plan around the 2026 hours, not last year's. The event is on a Tuesday. That's also the night of Surf City Nights, which runs every week from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Main Street between Pacific Coast Highway and Orange Avenue.
December: Short Runs and Crowded Weekends
In December the timing problem reverses. In October the question was when to buy. In December it's whether a seat will still be left, because the most popular events run on very few dates.
The weekend of Dec. 5 has the most going on in one place. Ballet Etudes performs at the high school at 2 and 7 p.m. that Saturday. Festival Ballet Theatre's 30-minute narrated Nutcracker plays the Huntington Beach Central Library Theater at 6 p.m. the same evening. The narrated version comes back on Friday, Dec. 11, at 4:30 and 6 p.m. Its Eventbrite listing shows tickets at $23.18. A family with young kids can pick between the two-hour version and the half-hour one.
The next weekend belongs to the harbor. The Huntington Harbour Philharmonic Committee lists the 64th Huntington Harbour Boat Parade for Dec. 12 and 13. Start times aren't posted yet. Ballet Etudes' final two performances are Sunday, Dec. 13, so the parade's second night and the ballet's last shows fall on the same day.
Cruise of Lights: 15 sailings, total
The Cruise of Lights is the narrated boat tour through Huntington Harbour's waterways. It runs five nights, Dec. 19 through 23, with departures at 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. That's 15 sailings for the whole season. Tickets are on sale now.
| Night | Adult | Ages 2 to 12 | Two adults + two kids |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat. Dec. 19, Sun. Dec. 20, Tue. Dec. 22, Wed. Dec. 23 | $28 | $20 | $96 |
| Mon. Dec. 21, Special Value Night | $26 | $18 | $88 |
Children under 2 ride free with a paid adult ticket. The Monday night discount is small, about $8 for a family of four. The bigger factor is that it's one of only five nights, two days before Christmas Eve.
Check-in and parking are at Huntington Harbour Mall, 16889 Algonquin St. A shuttle takes passengers about five minutes to the yacht club for boarding. Placard holders can go straight to 3821 Warner Ave. If you have trouble buying tickets, the committee's Huntington Harbour office is at 714-840-7542.
The Season in Order of Decisions
| By when | What to decide | Why then |
|---|---|---|
| Sat. Oct. 31 | Turkey Wobble registration, ages 14+ | $45 becomes $50, then $55 on race day |
| Sat. Oct. 31 | Ballet Etudes Nutcracker seats | $40/$30 becomes $45/$35 |
| Before Nov. 7 | Sugar Plum Fairy Tea Party seating | Two seatings, one day |
| Before Nov. 21 | Pacific City Santa reservation | Visits are free; reservations recommended |
| Sun. Nov. 22 | Last online Turkey Wobble price | $55 on race day |
| As soon as plans are set | Cruise of Lights night | 15 sailings across Dec. 19 to 23 |
Two of these deadlines fall this weekend. The last free event on the list, Pacific City's coat drive, runs through Dec. 24.
Our team follows these same holiday dates because we live and work in Huntington Beach too. They come up whenever clients ask how a December listing or move-in will fit around the season. If the holidays have you thinking about what your home is worth, the Lily Campbell Team can put a current number on it before the calendar fills up. Start with Get My Home Value.
