SANTA’S VILLAGE IS FREE TO ENTER. NO RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED.
Bring your family and friends out to Santa’s Village where you can enjoy festive activities including Ice Fishing, Blizzard Ball and Rudolph Racers. You can decorate cookies and even create your own Christmas tree ornament at Craft Corner. Filled with thousand of sparkling Christmas lights, there are many photo opportunities throughout Santa’s Village. Food and snacks are available as well as hot chocolate and coffee. Although you must have reserved Christmas Train tickets to board the train to see Santa, you may still enjoy thousands of lights and festive decorations throughout Santa’s Village without any reservation.
SANTA’S VILLAGE (Open 7 days a week)
November 28th through December 30th
CLOSED December 24th and 25th
Weekdays 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Weekends 10:00 am – 9:00 pm
Extended hours: December 15th – 30th 10:00 am – 9:00 pm
Activity Tickets $8.00 each
Book of 15 tickets: $100.00 ($20.00 savings)
(Activity tickets cannot be used to ride the Christmas Train nor Train of Lights.)
IRVINE REGIONAL PARK ENTRANCE FEE
Weekdays $3.00 per vehicle
Weekends $5.00 per vehicle
Holidays $7.00 per vehicle
Parking FREE after 6:00 pm
Santa's Village Activity Tickets
$8 Per Ticket - or - $100 Book of 15 Tickets ($20 Savings)
Mini Digger
2 Tickets Per Ride
4 minutes of digging time - Ages 5 and up
Moon Bounce
1 Ticket Per Person
10 minutes of jump time
Cookie Decorating
1 Ticket Per Person
Ice Fishing
2 Tickets Per Person
Every player wins a prize.
Carnival Games
1 Ticket Per Person
2 Games - Every player wins a prize.
Rudolph Racers
1 Ticket Per Person
Ages 5-7
Blizzard Ball
1 Ticket Small Prize
2 Tickets Large Prize
Every player wins a prize.
Craft Corner
1 Ticket Per Person
Bank-a-ball
1 Ticket Small Prize
2 Tickets Large Prize
Every player wins a prize.
Great Food
Prices vary by item
Picture Scenes
FREE
Santa’s Village is free to enter and located at the train station. Please note that if you were unable to purchase tickets to ride the Christmas Train nor Train of Lights, you are still able to come out and enjoy these fun holiday activities.
Santa’s Village FAQs
No. There are no reservations required for Santa’s Village. Guests may purchase tickets for the activities when they arrive. Reservations are only required to ride the Christmas Train.
Yes. It is free for all guests to enter Santa’s Village. Activity tickets may be purchased when you arrive.
Santa’s Village
Santa’s Village operates from November 28th through December 30th (closed December 24th and 25th). Families can enjoy festive activities such as ice fishing, cookie decorating, mini diggers, photo opportunities, and much more. No reservations are required for Santa’s Village. Santa’s Village is located behind the train station. Tickets may be purchased to enjoy the activities in Santa’s Village upon arrival.
Christmas Train
The Christmas Train operates from November 28th through December 23rd, 2025. Guests must purchase tickets online in advance. With a reservation, guests will depart from the train station on the Christmas Train and will be dropped off at the North Pole. Children can visit with Santa and have their photo taken. Guests will then board the train again to return to Santa’s Village near the train station. Reservations are required to ride the Christmas Train and to visit with Santa. Tickets for the Christmas Train will sell out.
Train of Lights
The Train of Lights operates from December 26th through December 30th. Guests must purchase tickets online in advance. With a reservation, guests will hop aboard the train at the train station and ride through thousands of enchanting lights throughout the 1-mile loop. The Train of Lights does not make any additional stops during its route. After the ride, guests will then drop passengers back off at Santa’s Village near the train station. Reservations are required for the Train of Lights. Tickets for the Train of Lights will sell out.
Yes. Tickets that have been purchased in advance as well as books of tickets may be used for the activities in Santa’s Village. These tickets are not valid for the Christmas Train.
Yes. Christmas Train tickets must be purchased in advance to visit Santa and to take a photo with him.
Santa’s Village is located behind the train station. Entrance into Santa’s Village is located to the right of the train station building.
No. Irvine Park Railroad does not sell Christmas trees.
No. Private parties are not allowed at the Christmas Train.
For private parties, consider reserving a Party Pavilion located adjacent to the train station and Christmas Train area. Additionally, other locations inside of the park are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Picnic benches around the train station are reserved for visitors who purchase food from the snack bar.
Yes. There is a full-service snack bar located at the train station that serves both hot and cold food.
No. Professional and/or staged photography and/or videography is prohibited at the Christmas Train.
No. Dogs are not allowed inside of Santa’s Village.
Dogs are, however, allowed in other areas of Irvine Regional Park and must be kept on a 6′ leash.
Other activities At the park
while you’re here
Wheel Fun Rentals® at irvine park bike rentals
Open Daily at 10:00 am
Price depends on bike type: $12 - $42/per hour
Enjoy biking around beautiful Irvine Regional Park on our single surrey, double surrey, chopper, quad sport, or single rider bikes.
Wheel Fun Rentals at Irvine Park Paddle Boats
Open Daily at 10:00 am
Price: $22.00 per half hour
Have fun taking the paddle boats onto the lake. Older children and adults can paddle at your leisure while enjoying the great lakeside scenery.
Pony Rides
Tuesday - Sunday: 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
CLOSED MONDAYS
$8.00 per child
Irvine Park Railroad does not own or operate the pony rides. Irvine Park Railroad tickets are not valid for the pony rides. Pony ride tickets must be purchased at the pony ride ticket booth.
Orange County Zoo
Weekend: 10:00 am – 4:30 pm
Weekday: 10:00 am – 3:30 pm
$2.00 per person, ages 2 years and younger enter FREE
Visit the Orange County Zoo that over 100 animals native to Southern California call home. There is a petting zoo, too, an ideal activity for young children. The zoo is a 5-minute walk from Santa's Village.
Refund Policy: Irvine Park Railroad does not offer exchanges or refunds for Christmas Train tickets purchased. If the Christmas Train closes due to unforeseen circumstances, you will be notified by email on the date of the event. Additionally, there will be a message on our web site as well as on our Facebook page. The Christmas Train runs rain or shine.
All prices and information are subject to change without notice.
If you plan on riding the Christmas Train with family and friends, we strongly encourage you to purchase your tickets via one transaction. There is a maximum of 8 tickets per order. If you purchased the tickets as part of a group, and you will arrive at the park at different times, we recommend that you print the tickets and give them to the members of your group prior to arriving at the park.
Professional Photography: Professional and/or commercial photography (including staged photography) and/or videography is strictly prohibited.
When visiting the Christmas Train, remember to dress warmly, bring a camera, and arrive early to help avoid crowds.