Christmas & Winter Holiday Weekend in Big Bear

If your winter holiday season really needs something special, Big Bear in Southern California is the best choice. This warm mountain town during Christmas & the Winter Holiday Weekend in Big Bear is a place of holiday cheer that is nothing less than a fairy tale. Enjoy playful snow, family-friendly festive activities and even catch Santa and Mrs. Clause before they retreat to the North Pole. Take a walk in The Village and see the sparkling lights, or just sit by the fire inside your Big Bear cabin rental, or feel the wonder of Christmas morning in the mountains, whatever way you spend your Christmas holiday in Big Bear Lake, definitely, the memories will be created that last a lifetime. It is the season to make your lodging reservations and have a mountain holiday full of festivities.

A small, decorated Christmas tree with red and white ornaments stands in the middle of a snowy forest at Big Bear

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Christmas Holiday in Big Bear

Big Bear is besides the most magical places in Southern California, and Christmas is not an exception. The Christmas winter holiday is the time when huge pine trees and mountain scenery with their beautiful white snow create a wonderful winter wonderland to catch the attention of visitors. Only a few locations in Southern California allow visitors to have a white Christmas experience, but Big Bear is one of them. Just picture yourself in a tree-hidden cabin on Christmas morning as the snow is falling quietly and the fireplace is roaring inside. It’s a holiday moment that you can’t have somewhere else. It is not only the stunning views that attract visitors to Big Bear, but also the variety of winter activities which are offered for the entertainment of all ages during the Christmas holiday weekend.

Holiday Events

Big Bear is the place to be for Christmas week – the events will be the highlight of your holiday season! There are various celebrations and Christmas activities for all ages, and at these events, you will feel the Christmas mood even in the mountains.

Snowy Big Bear village street glowing with colorful Christmas lights and decorated trees at night.

The Festival of Lights at Big Bear Lake is the place to experience the beautiful winter illumination.

Aerial view of Big bear zoo at night with a large Christmas tree of lights.

Celebrate the season in Big Bear with Wild Lights at the Alpine Zoo, a festive, family-friendly light experience.

Floodlit ski slope at night at Big Bear Mountain Resort with groomed snow and pine trees in the background.

Night skiing in Big Bear Lake turns out to be one of the most thrilling and enchanting winter activities.

Christmas & Winter Holiday in Big Bear Activities to Explore

FUN BIG BEAR WINTER ACTIVITIES AND BUSINESSES TO CHECK OUT!

Big Bear Snow Play is indeed the winter attraction that everyone adores. It has many snow tubing slides and children's areas. It opens up during the week of Christmas and is a wonderful site for both children and adults to enjoy sliding and snow playing.

A woman and two children joyfully riding a snow tube at Big Bear Lake, surrounded by snowy hills and trees.
The Alpine Slide, which has been a classic Big Bear attraction, almost offers fun for the whole family all year round. The children and family-friendly winter activities through the snowy play areas make it a preferred location for families with kids who come to vacation during the Christmas weekend.
 
 
Snow Tubing at Alpine Slide in Big Bear with woman in orange coat going down a snow hill
With Action Zipline Tours, you will not only witness the stunning view of Big Bear from above but also zipline through the forest. Tourists can glide on the zipline over the picturesque winter forest and mountains during the holiday season and enjoy the living untouched winter nature around them.
Two girls ziplining through a pine forest in Big Bear, California, enjoying a thrilling adventure high above the ground.

Big Bear offers a number of indoor axe throwing places for people to have fun in the winter season. Axe throwing is an excellent activity to enjoy during the winters and an amazing opportunity for family, friends, couples, and all others willing to try a new and unusual experience.

A young woman standing and pointing at an axe that is stuck in a wooden target in a Big Bear axe-throwing facility.

The Bear Mountain Ski Resort has the chance for skiing and snowboarding for individuals with different skills, together with amazing parks and other winter activities for all skill levels. It is actually a very clear and compelling choice for the winter sports lovers who are visiting Big Bear for the Christmas holidays to come to this resort at least once.

Two snowboarders stand at the top of a snowy slope in Big Bear Lake, ready to descend the hill.

The Big Bear Discovery Center is truly a paradise for all those nature lovers who are ready to adapt to the area’s natural state. Winter season allows the visitors to get knowledgeable about the trails, view the exhibits and utilize the outdoor activities planning resources.

A bronze bear statue stands prominently on a large rock under clear blue skies. The Discovery Center building is visible in the background amidst trees and foliage.

Bowling Barn is an indoor venue that caters to your entertainment of all sorts and making it the main highlight of your leisure time, which comprises bowling lanes, arcade games and food options. A nice place for families or groups that want to have a fun day and enjoy each other’s company.

Colorful glow bowling lanes with score screens at The Bowling Barn

GetBoards Ride Shop is the place where you can find everything related to snowboarding and skating including the best of gear, clothes, and accessories. Winter gear is ready for the customers to check out or they can grab the necessary things before going to the mountains.

A child in a purple jacket and orange pants skis on a snowy slope at Big Bear.

Goldsmith’s Board House offers a carefully curated selection of men's and women's snowboard apparel and accessories that reflect the relaxed lifestyle of the surrounding area, making it an excellent choice for those looking for a unique shopping experience while on vacation!

An outdoor wooden sign for "Goldsmith's Boardhouse Ski & Board Sales & Rentals" in Big Bear, with a small sign below it that says, "It's a Girl!"

By helicopter Big bear, you can see the beauty of Big bear from an absolutely new perspective. The sightseeing helicopter rides offer you marvelous and breathtaking sights of the white-topped peaks, the wide green woods, and the lovely Lake from a bird's eye view.

Yellow helicopter parked on tarmac, marked for tours, with forested mountains behind it, located in Big Bear.
The Mountain Room Escapes open up during the whole winter season giving an almost real escape room experience that is both alluring and immersive. The indoor activity is an ideal choice for families and groups looking for fun and challenging moments during the Christmas holiday weekend.
A dark, foggy forest with a rustic cabin is the setting for the "Mountain Room Escapes" attraction in Big Bear.

Why Spend Christmas in Big Bear

Big Bear is a place like no other if you want to have a truly exclusive Christmas holiday experience. A newer holiday, Christmas brings into the small cozy town sleigh rides, family-friendly activities, and various games of snowball along with the beautiful snow-covered mountains and winter-style cabin living. The Village is all set for you to enjoy, with its sparkling lights, your cabin in the midst of a winter wonderland, plus sharing Christmas day with the legendary couple, Santa, and Mrs. Claus before departing for the North pole.  Big Bear Christmas is none like anyone and not anyone can walk through all the snow making snowmen, drinking hot chocolate by the fireplace, and getting lost in the beautiful winter landscape. For our professional team, it’s only one thing to do—help you plan your wonderful holiday so that you will have the best time.

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Pet Friendly Rentals in big bear man on beach with dog
Luxury Rentals in Big Bear collection image of high-end kitchen
Lakefront Rentals in Big Bear a high-end living room with lakefront view
Big Bear Cabins with Hot Tub outside

December 21, 2025 Updated 2:44 PM