Your days—and especially your nights—will be merry and bright when you visit Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park this holiday season 2022! Bring the whole family out to enjoy the Gilroy Gardens Holiday lights and festive activities offered only this time of the year.
Rides
Select rides will be open and glittering in the evening hours with holiday lights. Imagine flying through the chill of the night air with a sky of stars above and the glowing colors of holiday lights flashing past you as you glide on the carousel, twist and turn on a roller coaster, or weave through the park on the vintage train. The park’s rides are transformed into an enchanting wonderland this time of year!
Entertainment
As you enter the park and cross the festively lit Sycamore Bridge, be sure to stop at the Winter Cabin to sing along to some festive tunes.
You can also sing along with the Peanuts gang at the live musical show “Charlie Brown Christmas Show” in the Lakeside Amphitheater. This show is sure to delight children and adults alike! Enjoy watching your favorite character from this eclectic, beloved group of friends.
Visit with Santa
Bring your children for a joyous visit with Santa Claus and take a picture with him as a memorable keepsake. The jolly old man will be in Santa’s Workshop every night through December 23, 2022.
Light Tunnel & Holiday Lights
One brand-new experience that’s sure to bring extra “oohs” and “ahs” is the 150-foot-long Holiday Light Tunnel, featuring an immersive light show synchronized to holiday music. Take your time strolling through, don’t forget to look up, and see how many songs you recognize.
Throughout the park, towering trees, unique Circus Trees, and gorgeous gardens are all transformed with millions of lights into a sparkling winter wonderland.
Ice Skating
Grab your family and friends, bundle up, and head out Gilroy Gardens to do some ice skating under the stars at the Creekside Ice Rink, set up just for Gilroy Gardens Holiday! Supports are available for beginners. Whether you’re doing the Salchow jump like an Olympic champion or just trying to circle the ice without falling, you’ll make unforgettable memories on ice at Gilroy Gardens.
Rates: $16 for ages 12-61, and $14 for ages 3-11 or 62+. Just $8 for all ages if you bring your own skates. (Rates are in addition to tickets for entering the park.)
Specialty Holiday Foods & Drinks
Holiday Feast
Gather the family around for a traditional holiday meal with all the trimmings! This year Gilroy Gardens is introducing all-new Holiday Feast buffet stations so you can load your plate with all your favorites—and even go back for seconds. The menu will include hand-carved, slow-roasted turkey, hand-carved honey-baked ham, a mashed potato bar—so fun!—plus cranberry rice pilaf, traditional stuffing, roasted vegetables, kid-friendly all-beef hot dogs, butternut squash salad with honey lemon Dijon dressing, Hawaiian dinner rolls, homestyle gravy, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie for dessert! The meal will include soft drinks and hot chocolate. Limited dates and availability. See here for more details: Holiday Feast
Holiday Drinks in the Park
While you stroll throughout the park, stop for a delicious holiday drink that you can only get this time of year! Warm up with white hot chocolate, peppermint hot chocolate, mulled apple cider—or the park’s signature “Warm Gingerbread Mocktail,” which tastes like Christmas in a cup with milk, molasses, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Adults can also enjoy 21+ only drinks at the Arctic Ice Bar, including beer, wine, and festive holiday cocktails like Candy Cane Martinis and White Christmas Margaritas.
For a truly unique California Christmas experience, visit Gilroy Gardens this holiday season. For days of operation and ticket pricing, visit: Gilroy Gardens Holiday.
New Year’s Eve at Gilroy Gardens
Too busy to visit before Christmas? It’s not too late to visit the park for the holidays. Plan your visit for the week after Christmas or visit on New Year’s Eve!
Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park is the best place for families to ring in the new year. The park is open on December 31, 2022, from 4pm to midnight, so you can enjoy the fun rides and gorgeous gardens all lit up at night—and then settle in to enjoy a bigger-and-better-than-ever-before fireworks show at midnight! Learn more at Visit Gilroy.com.
To experience the most holiday fun, plan a weekend getaway to Gilroy. We have holiday boutiques, a holiday parade with a tree-lighting and pictures with Santa, and many more hometown activities to enjoy with your loved ones. Check out our recent blog for more holiday activities: Holiday Fun + Gift-Getting = A Merry Season for All in Gilroy.
Book your family a comfortable, affordable stay at one of our local hotels. Check out our Events Calendar online or visit us in person at the California Welcome Center Gilroy in the Gilroy Premium Outlets, near Forever 21, to learn more about all of the fun things to do in Gilroy!
