Tustin's holiday season opens on Monday, Nov. 16, at 9 a.m., when registration opens for the City's Breakfast with Santa. Only residents of the city's two ZIP codes can book at that point. Everyone else can start a day later.
Santa makes three public stops in Tustin over nine days in December. Neither of the first two lists a registration step, and The District's is free. The third takes pre-registration, costs money, and comes with a head start for residents. To plan the season, start with that one booking and fit the rest around it.
Monday morning is the deadline that matters
The City's Breakfast with Santa is on Saturday, Dec. 12, at the Community Center at The Market Place, 2961 El Camino Real. According to the City of Tustin's event notice, you have to register in advance. Registration opens in this order:
- Monday, Nov. 16, at 9:00 a.m. Priority registration for Tustin residents in the 92780 and 92782 ZIP codes.
- Tuesday, Nov. 17, at 11:00 a.m. Registration for non-residents.
Registration runs through the City's online recreation catalog. If you live in 92780 or 92782, you have 26 hours before the booking opens to non-residents. That's the most useful thing to know about the event, because the two admission times are the only spots available.
What the morning includes, and who it's set up for
The City offers two admission times, 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. It says splitting the crowd helps keep the morning safe and enjoyable. Here's what tickets cost:
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Adults | $30 |
| Children ages 2 to 10 | $20 |
| Children under 2 | Free |
For a household with two adults and two kids between 2 and 10, that comes to $100 before anyone sits down. The morning includes breakfast, photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, crafts, a book fair, and a live DJ.
The City also says plainly that a live DJ and amplified sound can be a lot for some guests. It plans to have noise-canceling headphones, flexible seating, a quiet calming area, and staff help available as needed. If your family needs a calmer setup, that may be the deciding detail. Pick the admission time that suits your kids, because the planned accommodations are listed for the event in general, not for one admission time. For questions, the City's listed number is 714.573.3326.
Thanksgiving has an earlier deadline too
Before December, the season's first big gathering is on Thanksgiving morning, and it also works better if you take care of something ahead of time. The Orange County Rescue Mission's 13th Annual Turkey Trot OC 5K is on Thursday, Nov. 26, at 1 Hope Drive in Tustin Legacy. The race page says entry fees support the Mission's work toward "ending homelessness, one life at a time."
Here's how Thanksgiving morning runs:
- 6:30 a.m. Pre-race refreshments
- 8:00 a.m. 5K run/walk starts
- After the race Expo and awards
You can pick up packets on race morning from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. The shorter morning line is at early pickup on Monday, Nov. 23, and Tuesday, Nov. 24, from 3:30 to 6:00 p.m. at 1 Hope Drive. One person can pick up packets for other registered runners. If your household is hosting dinner on Thursday, getting the packets that Monday or Tuesday is one less thing to do before 8 a.m.
The race rules are family-friendly. Leashed dogs that behave well can walk or run the course. Children 5 and under, including kids in strollers, can join without registering, but T-shirts and medals go only to registered participants while supplies last. The race goes on rain or shine.
The other two Santa visits are on back-to-back days
Once the breakfast is booked and Thanksgiving is done, Tustin's two other holiday celebrations fall on one weekend, at opposite ends of the city.
Friday, Dec. 4, in Old Town. The City's calendar entry lists the Christmas Tree Lighting for 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. at Main & El Camino Real. The City's announcement mentions selfies with Santa, stage performances, vendor shopping, face painting, and food trucks. It's an evening event on a school night, and the food trucks mean dinner can happen there.
Saturday, Dec. 5, at The District at Tustin Legacy. The District's Holiday Celebration runs from noon to 2:00 p.m. in the AMC Courtyard. It's free for families and includes Santa photos, crafts, music, and a holiday train. It's a daytime event for kids, about 18 hours after the Old Town lights go on.
Put together, those days give a family three chances at a Santa photo in nine days: Friday night in Old Town, Saturday afternoon at The District, and the following Saturday morning at the breakfast. With two other photo chances on Dec. 4 and 5, neither with a listed ticket price, the $100 breakfast becomes a choice about the morning itself, like the book fair, the crafts, and a sit-down meal with Santa and Mrs. Claus. You don't need it to get a picture.
The noon-to-2 window at The District is right at lunchtime. The District's homepage currently lists Beirut Grill, More Yogurt, Mr BBQ Jr, and Tsurukawa Udon as now open, so lunch can be part of the outing. The same page lists Array 36, Jabal Coffee House, Niku Sushi, Pho N Mor, and Tang Tang Karaoke Bar as coming soon.
Old Town on Thursday evenings
The Tustin Chamber of Commerce calendar lists the Sunset Market on Thursday, Nov. 19, from 5:00 to 8:30 p.m. at El Camino Real and Third Street in Old Town. Its description mentions a farmers market, local vendors, live music, food trucks, and a beer and wine garden. The Chamber lists the market again for Thursday, Dec. 17, with the same hours and location. The same description calls it a third-Thursday event from May through September, so check the Chamber's page before going in the winter. If it's on, Nov. 19 comes three days after breakfast registration opens and a week before the Turkey Trot.
Tustin's season, in date order
| Date | Event | Where | Cost | Do this ahead of time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon., Nov. 16, 9 a.m. | Breakfast with Santa resident registration opens | Online | n/a | Have a 92780 or 92782 address ready |
| Tue., Nov. 17, 11 a.m. | Breakfast with Santa non-resident registration opens | Online | n/a | Book an admission time |
| Thu., Nov. 19, 5 p.m. | Sunset Market, per Chamber calendar | El Camino Real & Third St. | Not listed | Check the Chamber page |
| Mon.–Tue., Nov. 23–24, 3:30–6 p.m. | Turkey Trot packet pickup | 1 Hope Drive | Included with registration | Pick up packets for your group |
| Thu., Nov. 26, 8 a.m. | Turkey Trot OC 5K | 1 Hope Drive | Registration required for ages 6 and up | Refreshments at 6:30 a.m. |
| Fri., Dec. 4, 6–8:30 p.m. | Christmas Tree Lighting | Main & El Camino Real | Not listed | None listed |
| Sat., Dec. 5, noon–2 p.m. | The District Holiday Celebration | AMC Courtyard, The District | Free | None listed |
| Sat., Dec. 12, 9 or 10 a.m. | Breakfast with Santa | Community Center at The Market Place | $30 adults, $20 ages 2–10, free under 2 | Registered by now |
| Thu., Dec. 17, 5 p.m. | Sunset Market, per Chamber calendar | El Camino Real & Third St. | Not listed | Check the Chamber page |
The Nov. 23–24 packet pickup just shortens your Thanksgiving morning. Monday, Nov. 16, at 9 a.m. is the only date on the table where a Tustin address gets you in line first, for an event that admits guests only at 9:00 and 10:00 a.m.
Barbara Ann and Brad Kerr have followed Tustin through four decades of tree lightings and Thanksgiving mornings. If the season has you thinking about what your home might be worth in the new year, BK Platinum Properties can prepare a complimentary home valuation on your schedule, whether that's before the tree lighting or after the last Santa photo.
