A local's calendar, Temecula, Murrieta and Menifee
December in Temecula Valley
Santa's Electric Light Parade opens the season in Old Town, Murrieta lights its tree the next night, and wine country turns festive with ugly sweaters and igloo dinners. Listed day by day, with the area above each event, and the military and veteran items marked so they are easy to find.
This Month, Day by Day
0 eventsTemecula, Murrieta and wine country, with a few Camp Pendleton and Del Mar items mixed in for military families. The Menifee holiday schedule had not been posted with a 2026 date when this page was updated, and it gets added as soon as it is.
For military families: dates and deadlines this month
Thursday, December 24: last day to drop off toys and donations for the Camp Pendleton and North San Diego and Southwest Riverside County Toys for Tots campaign. The Temecula drop box is at Crossroad Church, 26090 Ynez Rd., Suite A.
Saturday, December 19, 9 am: National Wreaths Across America ceremony at Laurel Cemetery in Murrieta. Volunteers are needed to place wreaths on veterans' graves.
Sunday, December 20: Military Night at Coastal Christmas, Del Mar Fairgrounds. Free with a military ID.
April 1: application deadline for the City of Temecula Military Banner Program, which is free and gives priority to active-duty members who live in Temecula. Nothing is due in December, but it is a good one to put on the calendar now.
Old Town Temecula · Runs Through Dec 26
A Very Temecula Christmas: Window Walk
Dec 1 to Dec 26 · self-guided
A stroll past decorated storefronts in Old Town, at your own pace.
Old Town Temecula · oldtowntemecula.org
Camp Pendleton & Temecula · Deadline Dec 24
Toys for Tots: last day for toy and donation drop-off is Dec 24
Through Thursday, Dec 24
The Camp Pendleton and North San Diego and Southwest Riverside County campaign takes toys and donations through Dec 24. The Temecula drop box is at Crossroad Church, 26090 Ynez Rd., Suite A (Tue and Thu 9 am to 1 pm, Fri 9 am to noon). On the Oceanside side, the 4th LAR BN at 100 Nelson Rd. is open Mon to Fri, 9 am to 3 pm. Distribution to registered nonprofits runs Nov 23 to Dec 23, and the program is closed Dec 24 and 25.
Crossroad Church, Temecula · toysfortots.org
Wine Country · Europa Village · Runs All Month
Igloo di Vino Dining Experience
Select evenings through Dec 30 · 6 to 8 pm most nights, 5 to 9:30 pm on Dec 4, 5, 11, 12, 18 and 26
A winery dinner in a private igloo. Dates are listed on the wine country calendar, so check the night you want.
Europa Village Winery · temeculawines.org
Wine Country · Europa Village
Ugly Christmas Sweater DIY Paint and Sip
Wednesday, 5 to 7 pm
A hands-on paint-and-sip night for the ugly-sweater crowd.
Europa Village Winery · temeculawines.org
Old Town Temecula
Holiday Taste of Old Town
Thursday, 5 to 8:30 pm · tickets $45 per person
A self-guided tasting stroll through Old Town, rain or shine. Check-in is at Citrus and Moss (28459 Old Town Front St.) or Oak Grove Culinary Creations (41923 Second St.). Adults 21 and over for the beverages. Tickets are sold only through the Old Town Temecula Association.
Old Town Temecula · oldtowntemecula.org
Wine Country
Holiday Movie Night
Thursday, 6 to 9 pm · confirm the winery
A holiday movie evening at the winery. The calendar lists Ponte Winery in one place and Bottaia Winery in another, so confirm before you drive.
Ponte Winery · temeculawines.org
Murrieta · Dec 3 and Dec 17
Murrieta Market Nights
Thursdays, Dec 3 and Dec 17 · 5 to 9 pm
A downtown Murrieta market night on two Thursdays this month.
Downtown Murrieta · murrietaca.gov
Nearby · Lake Elsinore
Winterfest, Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting
Thursday, Winterfest 4 to 8:30 pm · tree lighting at 6 pm
“A Storybook Christmas” on Main Street, with Santa photos, vendors, live entertainment, snow and sled runs. It lands on the same night as the Old Town tasting and a Murrieta market night.
Downtown Main Street, Lake Elsinore · lake-elsinore.org
Old Town Temecula
Santa’s Electric Light Parade
Friday, 7 pm
Lighted floats roll south down the parade route into Old Town. It starts at Jefferson Ave. and Del Rio Rd. and runs to Front Street. The Visit Temecula Valley page shows Dec 5, but the city’s own parade page says Friday, Dec 4.
Jefferson Ave. and Del Rio Rd. to Old Town Front St. · temeculaca.gov
Old Town Temecula · Weekends Through Dec 20
Santa Visits at Pennypickle’s Workshop
Saturdays 10 am to 1 pm and Sundays 1 to 4 pm · through Dec 20
Santa holds court at Pennypickle’s Workshop on weekends until Dec 20.
Pennypickle’s Workshop, Old Town · oldtowntemecula.org
Murrieta
Donuts with Santa
Saturday, 9 to 10:30 am
Free donuts for the first 500 kids. Entry is one non-perishable food or pet item per child, and Animal Friends of the Valleys brings adoptable pets.
Town Square Park and Amphitheater, 11 Town Square · murrietaca.gov
Murrieta
Tree Lighting and Festival of Wreaths
Saturday, 5 to 7:30 pm · tree lighting at 6 pm
A community evening with lights, music and vendors around the Town Square tree.
Town Square Park and Amphitheater, 11 Town Square · murrietaca.gov
Wine Country · Akash Winery
Santa Paws and Ugly Sweater Extravaganza
Sunday, 11 am to 4 pm
A dog-friendly holiday afternoon at the winery.
Akash Winery · temeculawines.org
Temecula · Self-Guided
Holiday Home Decorating Display
Map goes online the week of Dec 7
Residents sign up their decorated homes, and the city posts a driving map. Pick a night and cruise the neighborhoods.
Around Temecula · temeculaca.gov
Old Town Temecula
Boutique Crawl: Holiday Edition
Thursday, 2 to 8 pm · confirm the day
A shopping crawl through the Old Town boutiques. The Old Town Association lists Dec 10, while the Visit Temecula Valley page says Dec 11.
Old Town Temecula · oldtowntemecula.org
Old Town Temecula
A Very Temecula Christmas: Entertainment and Family Activities
Thursday to Saturday, Dec 10 to 12 · times on the Old Town calendar
Three days of holiday entertainment and family activities in Old Town.
Old Town Temecula · oldtowntemecula.org
Old Town Temecula
Cars, Cocoa and Carolers
Friday, 4:30 to 8 pm
A car show with hot cocoa and caroling.
Old Town Temecula · oldtowntemecula.org
Temecula
Santa Under the Tree
Saturday, 1 to 4 pm
Photos and visits with Santa at the Civic Center.
Civic Center, 41000 Main St. · oldtowntemecula.org
Temecula · Harveston
Holiday Bike Ride
Saturday, 6:30 to 8:30 pm · ride starts at 7 pm
A group bike ride through the lit-up Harveston neighborhood. Registration was marked “coming soon” on the city page.
Harveston Community Park · temeculaca.gov
Wine Country · Europa Village
A Night in Norway
Thursday, 6 to 8 pm
A Scandinavian-themed holiday evening at Europa Village.
Europa Village Winery · temeculawines.org
Wine Country · Ponte Winery
Ugly Sweater Bingo
Thursday, 4 to 6 pm
Holiday bingo at the winery, ugly sweater encouraged.
Ponte Winery · temeculawines.org
Murrieta · Military & Veterans
National Wreaths Across America
Saturday, Ceremony at 9 am
The Murrieta cemetery holds its Wreaths Across America ceremony and needs volunteers to help place wreaths on veterans’ graves. Donations are collected by QR code on the event poster.
MVCD-Laurel Cemetery, 42800 Ivy St. · murrietacemetery.org
Wine Country · Peltzer Family Cellars
Rockin’ Around the Xmas Tree
Saturday, 6 to 10 pm
A holiday party night at Peltzer Family Cellars.
Peltzer Family Cellars · temeculawines.org
Worth the Drive · Del Mar · Military Night
Coastal Christmas Military Night
Sunday, Dec 20 · 4 to 9 pm
Coastal Christmas at the Del Mar Fairgrounds opens Dec 11, and Sunday, Dec 20 is Military Night, free with a military ID. Tickets for other nights are sold through the event site.
Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd. · coastalchristmasdelmar.com
Temecula · Civic Center
New Year’s Eve Grape Drop
Thursday, Early evening · grape drop at 9 pm · confirm the hours
A family-friendly early countdown with live music and food. The city lists 5:30 to 9:30 pm, and the Old Town page says 6 to 10 pm, so confirm before you go.
Civic Center Quad, 41000 Main St. · temeculaca.gov
Wine Country · Peltzer Family Cellars
Ice Rink New Year’s Eve Late Skate
Thursday, 10:30 am to 10:30 pm
Skate at the winery rink all day and into the evening on New Year’s Eve.
Peltzer Family Cellars · temeculawines.org
Heading Into January
Worth knowing before the holidays wrap.
- Dec 31New Year's Eve Grape Drop at the Civic Center Quad, and the ice rink late skate at Peltzer Family Cellars
- Apr 1Temecula Military Banner Program application deadline
Questions People Ask
The short answers.
What is there to do in Temecula Valley this December?
Santa's Electric Light Parade rolls through Old Town on Friday, December 4 at 7 pm. Murrieta has Donuts with Santa and its Tree Lighting and Festival of Wreaths on Saturday, December 5. Old Town hosts Cars, Cocoa and Carolers on December 11, and the Holiday Taste of Old Town is Thursday, December 3 for $45 per person. Wine country adds ugly sweater nights, a winery igloo dinner and a New Year's Eve ice rink skate.
When is Santa's Electric Light Parade in Temecula in 2026?
The City of Temecula lists Santa's Electric Light Parade for Friday, December 4, 2026 at 7 pm. It starts at Jefferson Avenue and Del Rio Road and runs south into Old Town. Some visitor pages show December 5, but the city's own parade page says December 4.
Are there military and veteran events or deadlines in Temecula and Murrieta in December?
Toys for Tots takes toy and donation drop-offs through Thursday, December 24, with a Temecula drop box at Crossroad Church on Ynez Road. The National Wreaths Across America ceremony is Saturday, December 19 at 9 am at Laurel Cemetery in Murrieta, and volunteers are needed to place wreaths. Coastal Christmas at the Del Mar Fairgrounds has a Military Night on Sunday, December 20, free with a military ID. The Temecula Military Banner Program takes applications until April 1.
What holiday events are happening in Temecula wine country in December?
Europa Village has an ugly sweater paint-and-sip on December 2, A Night in Norway on December 17 and Igloo di Vino dinners on select nights. Akash Winery hosts Santa Paws on December 6, Ponte Winery has Ugly Sweater Bingo on December 17, and Peltzer Family Cellars holds Rockin' Around the Xmas Tree on December 19 and an ice rink late skate on December 31. Check each winery for tickets and reservations.
Where can I celebrate New Year's Eve in Temecula?
The City of Temecula's family-friendly New Year's Eve Grape Drop is Thursday, December 31 at the Civic Center Quad, with the grape drop at 9 pm. The city lists 5:30 to 9:30 pm and the Old Town page lists 6 to 10 pm, so confirm the hours before you go. Peltzer Family Cellars also runs an ice rink late skate that day.
Know about something that belongs on this list?
If there is an event in Temecula, Murrieta or Menifee that should be here, send it over and it goes in next month's roundup.
And if part of what you love about a neighborhood is the stuff happening in it, that is usually worth talking about before you decide where to buy. Happy to set up a private home search site filtered to the areas and price range that fit, so new listings come to you instead of the other way around.
Lauren@BuyOrSellSoCal.com
Kyle@BuyOrSellSoCal.com
Buy Or Sell SoCal Homes
Dates and times come from the event organizers and do change. Check the event site before you head out, especially for anything ticketed. Calendar last updated November 8, 2026.
