By Randazzo Real Estate
December on the Palos Verdes Peninsula fills the calendar with tree lightings, holiday parades, and the start of whale season along the coast. Rancho Palos Verdes, Palos Verdes Estates, and Rolling Hills Estates each add their own traditions, and together they make the season one of our favorite times to live and work here. If you are new to the area or thinking about moving, Palos Verdes Peninsula holiday events are a great way to get to know the communities that make up this coastal area. Here is our guide to the traditions worth putting on your calendar.
Key Takeaways
- Palos Verdes Peninsula holiday events span Rancho Palos Verdes, Palos Verdes Estates, and Rolling Hills Estates.
- Rancho Palos Verdes and Palos Verdes Estates each host an annual tree lighting in December.
- The Peninsula Holiday Parade of Lights has traveled through Rolling Hills Estates for more than 25 years.
- December 1 marks the start of the gray whale census at Point Vicente.
Tree Lightings in Rancho Palos Verdes and Palos Verdes Estates
The season on the Peninsula usually starts with a tree lighting. In Rancho Palos Verdes, the city hosts its annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at the Ken Dyda Civic Center on Hawthorne Boulevard, and in recent years it has expanded into a series of winter events.
Recent celebrations have included snow play and sledding, a holiday pop-up shop, music, and food trucks, with themed evenings spread across the weeks that follow. In Palos Verdes Estates, you can catch the city's tree lighting at Malaga Cove Plaza, an evening of music, hot chocolate, and cookie decorating.
What to Expect at Peninsula Tree Lightings
- Snow play and sledding at the Ken Dyda Civic Center in Rancho Palos Verdes
- A holiday pop-up shop, food trucks, and live music
- Hot chocolate and cookie decorating at Malaga Cove Plaza in Palos Verdes Estates
- Letters to Santa and an evening of music in the plaza
The Peninsula Holiday Parade of Lights in Rolling Hills Estates
On the first Saturday evening in December, the City of Rolling Hills Estates hosts the Palos Verdes Peninsula Holiday Parade of Lights. For more than 25 years, the parade has made its way through the commercial district along Silver Spur Road, and it remains one of the signature nights of the season on the Peninsula.
The route travels along Silver Spur Road and Deep Valley Drive, then through the Promenade on the Peninsula to Norris Center Drive. In mid-December, you can also watch Santa tour Palos Verdes Estates with a police and fire escort, starting in Lunada Bay and ending at the Civic Center.
Parade Highlights to Look For
- Lighted floats from local businesses and community groups
- Marching bands, youth groups, and equestrian units from across the Peninsula
- Santa Claus making an appearance in the Rolling Hills Estates parade
- The Palos Verdes Estates Santa Parade winding from Lunada Bay to the Civic Center
Holiday Lights at South Coast Botanic Garden
For a quieter evening, South Coast Botanic Garden on Crenshaw Boulevard has become a holiday light destination. The 87-acre garden has hosted seasonal night walks in recent years, most recently Astra Lumina, which follows a roughly one-mile path through the grounds.
These experiences use light, sound, and projection to transform the garden after dark, and a visit typically takes about 45 to 60 minutes. We often recommend checking the seasonal schedule if you want a holiday outing that feels a little different from the traditional tree lighting or parade.
Tips for a Night at the Garden
- Check the garden's calendar each fall, since the holiday light show can change from year to year
- Buy tickets ahead of time, since holiday evenings are popular
- Plan for about an hour on the walking path
- Wear comfortable shoes for the one-mile route
Winter Whale Watching at Point Vicente
One of the Peninsula's most distinctive seasonal traditions happens along the coast. Every December 1, the American Cetacean Society Los Angeles chapter begins its Gray Whale Census at the Point Vicente Interpretive Center in Rancho Palos Verdes, a count that has run on the Peninsula since 1984.
The Pacific gray whale migration passes the Peninsula from December through mid-May, and the center sits 138 feet above the water with wide views of the coastline. Admission is free, so you can easily fit a visit in between holiday plans.
How to Enjoy Whale Season
- Visit the Point Vicente Interpretive Center to learn about the gray whale migration
- Bring binoculars for spotting whales from the bluffs
- Stop by during daylight hours, when the census team is counting
- Pair your visit with time along the Palos Verdes Drive West coastline
FAQs
When do Palos Verdes Peninsula holiday events usually take place?
Most events happen in early to mid-December. The Peninsula Holiday Parade of Lights falls on the first Saturday of the month, and the Rancho Palos Verdes and Palos Verdes Estates tree lightings typically follow within the next week or so.
Are Palos Verdes Peninsula holiday events free to attend?
Many are. Palos Verdes Estates describes its tree lighting and Santa Parade as free and open to the community, and admission to the Point Vicente Interpretive Center is free, while the holiday light walk at South Coast Botanic Garden requires a ticket.
Where is the best place to see whales during the holidays?
The Point Vicente Interpretive Center in Rancho Palos Verdes is one of the top spots, since the gray whale migration passes the Peninsula from December through mid-May. The center's bluff-top setting gives you a wide view of the water.
Contact Randazzo Real Estate About Life on the Palos Verdes Peninsula
The holidays are a great time to experience what life on the Palos Verdes Peninsula has to offer. From Malaga Cove Plaza to the bluffs at Point Vicente, the different communities and coastal settings give the season a distinctly local character.
If you are thinking about buying or selling on the Peninsula, reach out to us at
Randazzo Real Estate. We can help you explore the local real estate market and find the community and property that fit the way you want to live, during the holidays and throughout the year.
