trails

LET the festive fun begin, with this year’s Christmas attractions bigger and brighter than ever.

Dazzling light and music trails, marvellous markets, winter wonderlands, super Santa steam trains, pantos and ice rinks have popped up all over the UK.

Trisha Harbord picks out a selection of events to make Christmas go with a ho, ho, ho.

LIGHT UP YOUR LIFE

ASHRIDGE HOUSE

SEE a stunning light trail from the air.

A 115ft observation wheel is at the heart of 20 spectacular displays at Ashridge House Illuminated this winter.

The sparkling one-mile trail winds through the estate’s beautiful gardens in Berkhamsted, Herts, with a super-festive food village.

WAIL OF A TIME

I drove Irish Route 66 with deserted golden beaches and pirate-like islands

TEMPTED?

Tiny ‘Bali of Europe’ town with stunning beaches, €3 cocktails and £20 flights

The big bonus is if the weather is bad, you can swap tickets for another day.

GO: November 27-January 1. Adult £23.50, child £14.40.

See ashridgehouse.org.uk.

LONGLEAT SAFARI PARK

WALLACE & Gromit are getting in on the fun at Longleat’s Festival of Light.

The characters will be shining bright along with Shaun the Sheep in his Mossy Bottom Farm.

Follow the lantern trail at the Wiltshire safari park to walk under a 50ft Tower Bridge, travel through Stonehenge and visit Blackpool seaside resort.

GO: Until January 11. Adult from £39.95, child from £20.95. Under-threes go free.

See longleat.co.uk.

GULLIVER’S WORLD RESORT

WANDER through a mile-long Land of Lights trail at Gulliver’s World resorts.

The theme parks, in Warrington, Cheshire, Milton Keynes and Rotherham, Yorks, have been transformed into 12 dream worlds, including a Jurassic zone, filled with glowing lanterns and installations.

Santa’s enchanted elevator will take you on a virtual flight to the North Pole.

GO: Until January 31. Adult from £39, and from £9 for child.

See gulliversworldresort.co.uk.

TWYCROSS ZOO

MARVEL at the Gruffalo lanterns experience.

The beloved book character is included in spectacular displays, featuring ten wild habitats from eight continents at Twycross Zoo, Leicestershire.

Lanterns Of The Wild has more than 2,000 lanterns in rainforests and oceans depicting thousands of animals and plants including elephants, monkeys and penguins.

GO: Until February 22. Adult from £19, child £13.95.

See twycrosszoo.org.

KENWOOD HOUSE

TINKERBELL will be scattering her fairy dust along a Peter Pan-themed trail this Christmas.

Dazzling lighting and atmospheric sound recreate the favourite children’s story at London’s Kenwood House.

You’ll be transported through the Lost Boys’ secret hideout, Captain Hook’s ship and the Darling family home with a feast of treats along the way.

GO: Until January 3. Adult from £20, child £12.

See neverlandatkenwood.co.uk.

SILVERSTONE

F1 fans will be racing to get to Silverstone for the return of its Lap Of Lights experience.

After a four-year hiatus, the festive display is back, with 7,000 LED panels and 35 lasers, transforming the British racetrack into a glittering wonderland.

Visitors can drive their own car around the track, before heading to the ice rink or chomping on some mince pies at the food and drink garage.

GO: From December 12 until January 3, £50 per car.

See silverstone.co.uk.

ICE AND EASY

PRESTON

PRESTON On Ice, a huge new rink has opened in the Lancashire town.

It sits under the 105-year-old market canopy with space for confident skaters and beginners.

There’s a ski chalet-style bar and live music at weekends.

GO: Until January 4. Adult from £12, child £10.

See prestononice.co.uk.

TORQUAY

THE English Riviera has a new ice rink among the Bay Of Lights celebrations.

Under a sparkling canopy in the heart of Torquay, there are hour-long sessions including parent and toddler slots.

Enjoy food and drinks and the Christmas market and illumination trail.

GO: November 28 until January 2. Adult £12.58, child £9.43, family £37.73.

See englishriviera.co.uk.

LONDON

SKATE in the shadow of one of London’s most iconic buildings, Somerset House, with Virgin Atlantic Holidays.

A massive rink with lights and DJs spinning the decks has taken over the gallery’s courtyard.

There’s a 40ft tree, food, drink and a pop-up boutique with proceeds going to charity.

GO: Until January 11. Adult from £15, children £10.

See somersethouse.org.uk.

BRIGHTON

GO green at Brighton’s Royal Pavilion.

The ice rink, in front of the 1787 palace, is powered by renewable energy.

Penguin skate aids are available and there’s a bar and cafe.

The city also has a light trail and drone show.

GO: Until January 4. Adult from £15, child £12.

See royalpavilionicerink.co.uk.

FULL STEAM AHEAD

NORTH YORKSHIRE MOORS

STEAM along on a new Santa Express interactive adventure.

The ride on North Yorkshire Moors Railway, from Pickering, will be packed with games, songs and, of course, elves and the man himself handing out treats.

GO: Various dates until December 24, £29.50pp.

See nymr.co.uk/santa.

VICTORIA STATION

RIDE through the heart of London with Santa and his merry elves.

They’ll sing carols and tell stories in decorated 1950s or ’60s-themed carriages, with a snack and drink for kids and mince pies for grown-ups.

The steam train departs on a 90-minute round trip from Victoria Station.

GO: Four departures available on December 20 and 22, from £55pp.

See steamdreams.co.uk.

BURY BOLTON STREET

A MAGICAL talking tree, brass band and a carol-singing choir of polar bears.

That’s the scene at Bury Bolton Street station before hopping on East Lancashire Railway’s Santa Specials.

The 80-minute round trip includes mince pies and chocolate, kids’ activity books and gifts from Santa.

GO: Various dates until December 24, from £23pp.

See eastlancsrailway.org.uk.

KEIGHLEY & WORTH VALLEY

ENJOY a showstopping performance of a Christmas Carol at Keighley & Worth Valley Railway stations.

Families will find themselves in Scrooge’s candlelit office, in the grip of Marley’s ghost and watching the drama unfold on a five-mile steam train ride from Oxenhope or Haworth, West Yorks.

GO: Various dates and times until December 18. Adult £35, child £30.

See kwvr.co.uk.

SACKFUL OF TREATS

BLENHEIM PALACE

FOLLOW the Yellow Brick Road on a magical adventure inspired by the Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

The story — the highlight of Christmas at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire — is played out in the state rooms.

In the gardens, browse market stalls and walk the amazing light trail with huge sculptures and fountains.

Also, tuck into afternoon tea, go skating or on fairground rides.

GO: Until January 3. Prices vary, but for Palace of Oz, adult from £41, child £24. Under-twos go free.

For more information, see blenheimpalace.com.

SOUTHAMPTON MARKETS

SOUTHAMPTON is going Christmas crazy.

The main market in Above Bar Street has more than 20 wooden chalets packed with gifts, festive food, hot chocolate and mulled wine.

There’s a Ferris wheel and a new 200ft Star Flyer ride, fairground, light show, shops’ snow window trail, ice rink, Santa visits and shows including a panto.

GO: Market until January 4, free.

See visitsouthampton.co.uk/christmas.

KIELDER FOREST

ROAM around England’s largest forest to find Father Christmas and Mrs Claus in their twinkling hideout.

Kielder Winter Wonderland in Northumberland has fun for all the family.

Sing and dance with Mr and Mrs Beaver, meet the reindeer, birds of prey and snowy owl, enjoy a theatre show, help elves in their workshop or take a break in the bar and kitchen.

GO: Until December 23, £38.50pp, under-twos £5.

For more information, check out kielderwinterwonderland.com.

NATIONAL TRUST PROPERTIES

YOU can always rely on National Trust properties to provide all the wonder at Christmas.

There are markets, winter fairs, craft workshops, choir concerts, illuminations and Santa visits.

Dunham Massey in Greater Manchester, Blickling Hall, Norfolk, and Standen House in West Sussex, are among those holding fun events.

Go to the NT site for full details.

GO: Until early January, various prices.

See nationaltrust.org.uk.

CHESTER MARKETS

THERE’S a pressie for everyone at Chester Christmas Market.

Local producers, craftsfolk and artisans are among 80 stallholders in the Town Hall square selling gin, jewellery, candles, pottery, clothing and cosmetics.

The city also has a grotto and panto and the cathedral is aglow with nearly a hundred decorated trees.

GO: Market until December 22, free. See visitcheshire.com.

EDINBURGH MARKET & FUNFAIR

IT’S the most wonderful time of the year in Edinburgh.

The market, with Scottish and European crafts, fills East Princes Street Gardens.

There’s a funfair, undercover ice rink and light displays on the castle walls.

And a torchlight procession through the old town on December 29 kicks off Hogmanay.

jungle rumble

I’m A Celeb star Ruby Wax’s secret feud with TV rival who ‘stole her career’

XMAS SPIRIT

Town goes wild celebrating ‘Xmas for alcoholics’ as girls faceplant in street

GO: Until January 4, market free.

See visitscotland.com.

Last Tuesday, I asked my friend Mish if they’d like to skip our gym trip and instead drive into Angeles National Forest for a chance to view the northern lights.

We decided, for our health, to go to the gym. We arrived around 7:15 p.m., only to realize our gym was closing early because of Veterans Day. Divine intervention or dumb luck? Either way, we left, got our cameras and snacks and headed up Angeles Crest Highway.

We stepped out of the car about 8:45 p.m., and I started shouting a flurry of joyful expletives. The pink glow of the northern lights was visible to the naked eye, shining near Mt. Gleason.

The northern lights as seen from near Angeles Forest Highway on Veterans Day.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

This was my second time viewing the northern lights from the San Gabriel Mountains. Last May, my buddies and I were out celebrating a friend’s sobriety anniversary when my pal Machiko texted me that — somehow! — the northern lights were visible in dark places around L.A. We quickly left Chinatown and headed onto Angeles Crest Highway.

At first, around 10:50 p.m., we could only see a faint pink glow and only by using our phone cameras. By 11:30 p.m., we’d found a darker place in the forest to park, and our cameras picked up quite the light show.

From there, I quickly became enamored, similar to eclipse chasers, with how I could see the northern lights whenever possible from Southern California.

Below you’ll find my tips on how to do just that. I want you, dear Wilder, to witness the sheer awe that comes with realizing there is so much about our universe we remain blissfully unaware of — until suddenly it’s a brilliant burning pink right before us.

If you’re reading this and getting major FOMO, have no fear! We will likely have another opportunity to see the aurora near L.A. soon enough.

The northern lights illuminate the sky of the North Bay as seen from China Camp Beach in San Rafael last May.

(Tayfun Coskun / Anadolu via Getty Images)

The sun plays a major role in why we have auroras, and it turns out we’re in a season when the sun might be sending more our way.

I spoke to Delores Knipp, research professor in the Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder, who explained to me that the sun has an 11-year “solar cycle.”

The sun reached its solar maximum period last year, and as NASA noted last year, “The solar cycle is a natural cycle the Sun goes through as it transitions between low and high magnetic activity. Roughly every 11 years, at the height of the solar cycle, the Sun’s magnetic poles flip — on Earth, that’d be like the North and South poles swapping places every decade — and the Sun transitions from being calm to an active and stormy state.”

Knipp said the sun now goes through a kind of relaxing period, during which the interactions of certain solar particles can create the most geomagnetic storms over a three- to four-year period. Good news? “We are about one year in,” Knipp said.

Why is that relevant to us? Because the aurora is “one manifestation of geomagnetic activity or geomagnetic storms,” according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. And as I will explain below, the stronger the storm, the more likely it is that those of us in Southern California can see the aurora!

If you want to understand more about why auroras happen, consider checking out this presentation by Knipp, where she talks more about the science behind them — including historic auroras that really freaked out the public.

OK, let’s dive in. Here’s how I became an amateur aurora chaser, and you can too!

Mish, a friend of The Wild, sets up their camera near Angeles Forest Highway to capture the aurora visible from near L.A. on Veterans Day.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

1. Sign up for alerts

You can sign up for free updates from the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center to view its forecasts for upcoming geomagnetic storms and how intense they’re expected to be. (A simpler option is to view the predicted aurora viewline.)

2. Learn the data points

The first time a space weather alert lands in your inbox, you might have flashbacks to a high school science class where you sat puzzled, wondering if you could still graduate if you failed this class because science had always been your weakest subject. (Maybe that was just me.)

Regardless, in the NOAA Geomagnetic Forecast, you’ll notice a data table with the “Kp index forecast,” which is the planetary K-index and is used to measure the magnitude of geomagnetic storms. Generally to be visible near L.A., the K-index needs to be at 8 or 9.

As Knipp explained to me, “When Kp goes up to 6, 7 and beyond, what that means is the auroral zone tends to extend from its quiet regions around the northern part of Norway and northern part of Canada. It can extend all the way to mid-latitudes … and in our case, the edge of it [on Nov. 11] might have been in the northern tier of the United States. Those of us who are kind of standing off to the equator-ward side can look up into the sky and still see the disturbances that are moving along the [Earth’s magnetic] field lines. And those disturbances are created by particles that are crashing into our atmosphere as they move along the field lines.”

You might also notice in NOAA’s alert a G-scale, ranging from G1 to G5. This is the rating used to gauge a geomagnetic storm’s potential effects on satellites, spacecraft and the power grid, among other things. Meanwhile, the K-index is more of an intensity rating scale.

I start to pay attention when I see forecasts mentioning a possible G3 storm. I keep an eye out as the forecast grows more detailed about whether the storm is expected to intensify and become a G4 storm. And I watch the K-index to see whether an 8 is expected.

Last week, at around 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., the Space Weather Prediction Center emailed alerts noting that the agency expected a three-hour window from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. PST where the K-index could reach 8. Lucky for my friend Mish and me, that’s when we arrived in the forest and found a place beyond the clouds to view the aurora.

3. Find a dark place with a northern view

You must drive beyond L.A.’s light-polluted skies to view the aurora.

There are many different websites dedicated to mapping light pollution. Last week, I found a north-facing turnout off Angeles Forest Highway that, per Dark Sky Map, was close to the “bright suburban sky” range on the Bortle scale, which stargazers and astrophotographers sometimes use to discern where to view celestial bodies.

Photographer Patrick Coyne posted to Instagram a video from Mormon Rock(s), about 12 miles east of Wrightwood in the San Bernardino National Forest, capturing a stunning pink aurora. Photographer Jason Anderson, whom I randomly met in the middle of the woods a few months ago, was among the luckiest, filming a deep red scene in Joshua Tree National Park.

Above the clouds and facing north, the lights from the aurora borealis were visible last May along Highway 2 in Angeles National Forest.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

4. Bring a camera, tripod and patience

I have a mobile phone (iPhone 15 Plus) that allows me, when in night mode, to adjust the shutter speed to 10 seconds. This essentially means the camera will take in as much light as possible within that 10-second time frame. The main image for this edition of The Wild was taken with my personal iPhone.

Mish brought their camera and tripod — while I used my iPhone and Canon DSLR — to photograph the aurora. We spent about an hour observing the aurora, and it seemed to pulse in intensity. Twice, it appeared brighter to the naked eye before becoming visible only on our cameras. By 10 p.m., the aurora had disappeared.

We headed back to L.A. hyper and eager for the next time the aurora was visible, with a goal to set up shop in the desert or some other dark corner of Southern California. Staring at the night sky has a way of inspiring you to dream bigger.

3 things to do

A young cyclist works on a bicycle at the CicLAvia Melrose event last year.

(Kirk Tsonos)

1. Watch for “Stranger Things” on a ride through L.A.
From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Netflix and CicLAvia will host “Stranger Things 5 One Last Ride,” a special 4-mile open streets event where fans can bike, skate or walk down a car-free stretch of Melrose Avenue in celebration of the show’s final season. The free event will feature Melrose reimagined as Hawkins, the fictional town where the show is based, with photo ops, animations, live entertainment and more. Learn more at ciclavia.org.

2. Witness the warblers of Wilmington
Latino Outdoors Los Angeles and Communities for a Better Environment will host a community bird walk from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday in Wilmington. Guests will tour local resilience centers and walk through Banning Park. Register and sign a waiver at eventbrite.com.

3. Hike and help others near Pasadena
Nobody Hikes in L.A. and Walking Pasadena with host their 10th Will Hike for Food hike at 8:30 a.m. Friday along the Gabrielino trail near Pasadena. Hikers are encouraged to bring nonperishable food items to donate to Friends in Deed’s food pantry in Pasadena. Money will also be accepted for the organization, which provides food, hosts a winter shelter and builds relationships with unhoused people to ease them into housing and other services. Learn more at walkingpasadena.com.

The must-read

A family poses in early October near the west entrance sign of Joshua Tree National Park during the 43-day government shutdown. The park remained open to visitors despite the shutdown.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

If you visited Yosemite or Death Valley national parks during the 43-day government shutdown, you may have experienced more order than you expected. Trash cans were cleared. Bathrooms were cleaned. That’s because, as Times staff writers Lila Seidman and Alex Wigglesworth report, employees who greet visitors and those who work in maintenance and sanitation, law enforcement and emergency functions were kept on during the shutdown, a marked difference from the 2018-19 shutdown. A Death Valley ranger, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of losing his job, said resource damage was rampant then at numerous parks because the guidance “was, like, shutter your doors, skeleton crew, leave the park open.” Continuing to fund visitor services kept up a facade that all was well, but the government’s choice there speaks to a long-simmering fight over our national parks: whether to prioritize the guest experience or conservation more. During the longest shutdown in U.S. history, almost 9,300 of the park service’s total 14,500-member staff, or roughly 64%, were furloughed, many of whom work on their park’s conservation, research and education teams. For example, a firefighter at Joshua Tree National Park said there were once 30 people on the team that protects endangered desert tortoises and Joshua trees, monitors air quality and restores areas after a fire. During the shutdown, none were working regularly. There was one bright spot though: Officials deemed the feeding and monitoring of the area’s pupfish, a chubby little guppy (and one of the world’s rarest fish), essential during the shutdown, a ranger said, because they’re “this star animal of the park.”

Happy adventuring,

P.S.

The Wild is dark next week for Thanksgiving and will return Dec. 4. If you’d like to take a hike, I’d recommend my Wild article from last Thanksgiving outlining treks that make me feel grateful to live here. Or especially if you’re estranged from your family and not going to attend a Thanksgiving meal, consider soothing your soul with a waterfall hike (as long as weather allows). It’ll likely be less crowded at trailheads considering those out celebrating the holiday. Regardless of what you do, may you experience something outside that fills you with goodness and wonder!

For more insider tips on Southern California’s beaches, trails and parks, check out past editions of The Wild. And to view this newsletter in your browser, click here.

I stood atop a lookout point in the heart of Los Angeles County watching the sunset paint downtown L.A. a deep orange.

I was amazed to be alone in the outdoors just before 5 p.m. in America’s second-largest city. I took in more of the panoramic view before me. I could see Mt. Baldy turning a hazy pink as the sun coated the rest of the San Gabriel Mountains in a scarlet hue. I spotted thick clouds moving in over the South Bay. It’d be foggy later.

I’d usually need to travel to Griffith Park or Debs Park for similar views, but that evening’s location was the lesser-known Elephant Hill Open Space, a rolling landscape in El Sereno that local activists hope becomes L.A.’s next great park. But that’s only if they can save it in time.

Mt. Baldy is visible in the distance from a hiking trail in Elephant Hill Open Space in El Sereno.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

Elephant Hill Open Space is a 110-acre plot of undeveloped land in El Sereno that residents have advocated, for more than 20 years, to be developed into a public park like nearby Debs Park or Ascot Hills with hiking trails, benches and overlook points.

For years, local activists have beat back developers who wanted to build luxury homes, tried to curb illegal dumping and attempted to persuade off-road enthusiasts who have (illegally) carved deep scars into the hillsides to recreate elsewhere.

Their final challenge, though, if the entire 110 acres is to be saved from development, is persuading about 200 different land owners to sell their parcels of Elephant Hill to a public agency — and at fair market rate.

Newly installed steps near the Elephant Hill test plot lead hikers toward panoramic views of L.A. County.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

About 25 acres are owned by government agencies. Mountains Recreation & Conservation Authority, a local government agency focused on protecting open spaces, manages 8.37 acres at Elephant Hill and is in the process of buying another 2.4 acres. The city of L.A. owns about 15 acres after buying around 20 acres in a 2009 settlement with a developer who wanted to build luxury homes on the hillsides. (The city later sold five acres to MRCA.)

In recent years, MRCA has received about $4.2 million, including $2 million last month from the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, to research and buy more land, build a 0.75-mile trail to bring in more hikers, and install gates and boulders to prevent illegal off-roading.

Sarah Kevorkian, deputy chief of wildfire resilience at MRCA, said her agency is required by law to buy land at fair market rate, making it hard to compete in a “cutthroat” market with private developers who can offer landowners more money.

“The number of individual landowners is an added layer of complexity, and I don’t think that exists in other places, not like this,” Kevorkian said.

A view looking east from Elephant Hill’s new hiking trail.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

Still, she remains optimistic, regularly checking land sales websites to see whether any Elephant Hill owners have posted their properties. Community members are quick to call her if they see a “for sale” sign go up.

“I immediately will call,” Kevorkian said. “I called this one person, and they said, ‘Yeah, we have an offer, we’re going with it.’ … I said, ‘If anything changes, call me back.’ They didn’t, but I just had a feeling.”

The land was next to the hiking trail that MRCA was installing. It’d be such a perfect parcel to snag.

Kevorkian called the property owner back a few weeks later, and they told her the deal had fallen through. “It was such an awesome win,” she said.

Mt. Wilson is visible from the Elephant Hill Open Space in El Sereno.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

And anyone who visits can easily see why.

I first visited Elephant Hill a few weeks ago with Elva Yañez and Hugo Garcia, co-founders of Save Elephant Hill. They started their efforts in late 2003 to try to fight off private developers. Both live within walking distance of the open space.

We started our hike on the western side of Elephant Hill, with an aim of seeing the beginnings of Elephant Hill’s first official hiking trail, which MRCA expects to complete next year with way-finding signage, boulders and more.

We headed up the steep terrain, quickly passing the latest disputed development — a truck garden that’s drawn the ire of Save Elephant Hill and other conservation groups for its owner’s choice to chop down protected native trees, as reported by L.A. Taco.

A tree canopy provides shade over the hiking trail in Elephant Hill Open Space in El Sereno.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

We took the trail’s switchbacks and then paused to catch our breaths in the shade of hollyleaf cherry, black walnuts and other trees creating a dense canopy. There, the hills blocked the noise from the roads and city. It’d be the perfect place for a picnic table, bench or both.

Next, we walked down newly installed steps to reach the Elephant Hill test plot, a lush experimental restoration garden where volunteers have planted hundreds of native flowers and shrubs and close to 100 trees. The land looks grateful.

Bees buzzed around the sugar bush and coyote brush. Unlike other parts of the park that remain overwhelmed with invasive mustard, trees of heaven and castor bean, this area is thriving with drought-tolerant and, in some cases, fire-resistant native plants.

A native sunflower in the test plot garden, from left, a shaded path in Elephant Hill, and a white-crowned sparrow perched in the test plot garden.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

Yañez said during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, she and Garcia realized they needed to expand their list of allies for Elephant Hill. “We’re not naturalists. We’re not traditional environmentalists. We’re not native plant people,” she said. “We realized at a certain point that we have to activate this space. We have to get people on it to start building that support.”

Joey Farewell, an estate planner who lives nearby and manages the test plot, said, with Yañez and MRCA’s blessing, the test plot volunteers installed the garden in fall 2022 and have seen it thrive, largely without watering outside of what’s needed to first establish new growth.

The test plot started as 3,000 square feet and has expanded to 10,000 square feet of native plant, said Jennifer Toy, director of nonprofit Test Plot, which has 16 experimental gardens around L.A. At Elephant Hill, volunteers have cleared about 20,000 square feet of invasive species, she said.

“It’s not a huge area, but each year we think about” what they can do next, Toy said. “It’s a work in progress.”

And it’s a powerful proof of concept of what Elephant Hill could look like with investment.

Farewell, who is the conservation co-chair of the L.A. and Santa Monica Mountains chapter of the California Native Plants Society, said most people don’t realize what a dynamic landscape Elephant Hill is, including its water features.

“My kids would play by the brook” after heavy rains, Farewell said. “You could reach your hand into one of the springs that fed the stream and feel the water bubbling out of the ground.”

The view of downtown L.A. from a high point at the Elephant Hill Open Space in El Sereno.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

Yañez wants more local children to have similar experiences. Elephant Hill sits among a neighborhood plagued by environmental racism, she said. Green space isn’t readily available, but with the development of Elephant Hill into a park, it could be.

Yañez said she understands the need for more housing in L.A., but Elephant Hill has repeatedly proven an unsafe option. In the late 1980s, townhouses in a nearby development started falling into the ground, causing major structural damage. Around 2006, a developer was using a backhoe to build a fence around his property when the heavy machinery fell deep into a spring. Neighbors referred to it as a “sinkhole.”

“When you look at the big picture of climate change and lack of access to park space in communities like El Sereno, it’s kind of a no-brainer — and it’s very difficult to build here. In fact, it’s not safe,” Yañez said. “All the factors come together and make a pretty strong case on their own for conservation. Plus, I think the community deserves access to open space on these hillsides.”

3 things to do

Volunteers repair habitat in the Bolsa Chica Conservancy in Huntington Beach.

(Erika Moe / Amigos de Bolsa Chica)

1. Address messy nests in Huntington Beach
Amigos de Bolsa Chica needs volunteers from 8:15 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday to restore nest habitat for the threatened western snowy plover and endangered California least tern. Participants will remove invasive and overgrown plants in an area of the reserve off-limits to the public. Register at amigosdebolsachica.org.

2. Craft s’mores ’round the campfire in Culver City
The Nature Nexus Institute will host a fall harvest event from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook featuring a campfire and drum circle. Guests can also take guided nature strolls, listen to storytelling and make s’mores around a campfire. Register at docs.google.com.

3. Nurture native plants in the Hollywood Hills
The Citizens for Los Angeles Wildlife needs volunteers from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday for a habitat restoration project in the Hollywood Hills. Participants will weed and water young native wildflowers, trees and shrubs, and install humane protection from deer and gophers. Register at clawonline.org.

The must-read

A sign stands in the middle of the fire-ravaged remains of the ranch house at Will Rogers State Historic Park in Pacific Palisades. The park reopened Saturday.

(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Hikers rejoice! Will Rogers State Historic Park reopened Saturday after being closed for 10 months following the devastating Palisades fire in January. Times staff writer Hailey Branson-Potts reported that 4.2 miles of the park’s trails are now open while 4.8 miles remain closed. Unfortunately, the segment of the Backbone Trail — a 67-mile trek from Point Mugu State Park to Will Rogers — that runs through the park will remain closed because the fire destroyed the Chicken Ridge Bridge. The Rivas Canyon Trail and Rustic Canyon Trail will also remain closed. The looping trail to Inspiration Point will be partially open, although parks officials might sometimes close it for trail work.

I am glad, slowly but surely, we’re getting to return to some of our favorite places closed by fire.

Happy adventuring,

P.S.

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s — no, it’s a bird! It appears that a bald eagle was spotted flying over the Audubon Center at Debs Park last Thursday. “Could it be?!” the Audobon Center posted on Instagram. The answer is yes, it really could have been! On the citizen science app iNaturalist, users have reported almost 1,000 bald eagle observations in L.A. County, including one over Debs Park in 2017 and others in nearby Glassell Park and Pasadena. Perhaps the Steve Miller Band was correct about our national bird’s flight pattern: “I want to fly like an eagle / To the sea.” May your spirit carry you through this week, friends!

For more insider tips on Southern California’s beaches, trails and parks, check out past editions of The Wild. And to view this newsletter in your browser, click here.

Scores of locals were uprooted from their households following clashes between the Wazalendo militia and the Twirwaneho group in several villages of the Fizi and Mwenga territories in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The Fizi Civil Society, a coalition of human rights organisations in the DRC, on Wednesday, November 12, reported that the displaced individuals mainly come from the villages of Tuwetuwe, Kitasha, Ngezi, Bilalo-Mbili, and Point Zero.

The group noted that these areas have been the hardest hit by the ongoing fighting, which has worsened the humanitarian crisis in the region. Many fled between November 4 and 7, 2025. At least 552 households, comprising approximately 3,452 people, have been forced to leave their villages, according to Fizi Civil Society. 

“These clashes have today brought about negative consequences on the material and humanitarian lives of the population, such as the massive displacement of the population, theft of cattle, burning and destruction of houses of the population,” said Alimasi Jacques, the leader of the Fizi Civil Society. “The village of Ngezi has been completely devastated by the belligerents. The health centre in the village of Tuwetuwe, in the Itombwe health zone within the Mikenge health area, was completely dispossessed of its important materials, including drugs and beds.”

While the Twirwaneho, a deadly militia group linked to M23 rebels, claims to be defending its community in South Kivu, the Wazalendo group, a government-backed coalition of local militias, opposes them. Their clashes, rooted in ethnic and political tensions, have displaced thousands and worsened insecurity in eastern DRC.

Since November 4, 2025, fighting in the region has intensified, with armed groups escalating assaults against one another. The civil society group said it has called for a ceasefire and the establishment of a humanitarian corridor.

“It is a pressing necessity and indispensable for saving human lives and upholding human rights and international humanitarian law. The parties concerned in the armed conflict in the region have a big role to play in facilitating this procedure so that humanitarian organisations can access all these zones conveniently,” Alimasi said.

Many displaced persons were found in and around the villages of Bikyaka Forest, Anunga River Forest, as well as in Kanguli, Bilende, Mulima, Abala, and other villages in Point Zero and Itombwe. Local officials said displaced persons are currently being sheltered by families, in schools, and in churches across Busumba, Mpati, Rugogwe, Kalengera, and Kibarizo. These civilians face extremely difficult conditions, having fled with only what they could carry.

The village of Kivuye, located in the Bashali area of Masisi territory in North Kivu, has been completely deserted. One section of the village is under rebel control, while the other is held by Wazalendo forces. Since Thursday, clashes between M23/AFC rebels and Wazalendo militias have paralysed socio-economic activities, forcing villagers to abandon their homes.

The Fizi Civil Society had previously highlighted a troubling humanitarian situation, including malnutrition among pregnant women and children, alongside widespread violence and human rights abuses, all of which continue to affect civilians.

I knew I’d chosen the right spot to hike as I drove past the yellow-leaved bigleaf maple trees near the trailhead.

I was in search of fall foliage near Los Angeles, and after a bit of research, I’d taken a chance by heading over to Big Santa Anita Canyon in Angeles National Forest to see if I’d get lucky.

I am now here to help you, hopefully, find the same good fortune on your autumnal adventures.

The idea that L.A. and its surrounding mountains feature trees with fall foliage can be hard to grasp for those who’ve been misled into believing that 1) L.A. is a desert (it’s not), and 2) The area doesn’t have seasons (it does!).

“L.A. was once wetlands fed by the cobweb streams and marshes of the L.A. River. It had oak woodlands and grassland valleys,” wrote Times columnist Patt Morrison. “Then, at least a thousand years ago, Native Americans were burning land to flush game and to make more oak trees grow to make more acorns to eat. It’s the last hundred-plus years that made the native landscape unrecognizable.”

Thankfully, it remains possible to observe the seasonal changes of our native trees in the wild lands around L.A. County. Below, you’ll find three hikes where you’ll see some level of fall foliage.

The leave of a bigleaf maple changing from bright green to brilliant yellow in Big Santa Anita Canyon in Angeles National Forest.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

Before I dive into those hikes, though, I wanted to teach you how to find autumnal colors near you. My hope is that you can use this information to find off-the-beaten paths near you where the loudest thing is the pop of fall colors (rather than cursed Bluetooth speakers). Here’s how your local outdoors reporter finds hikes with fall color.

• Know your native plants: There are multiple native trees, shrubs and plants that evolve as the weather cools to produce orange, red, yellow and copper colors. Those include California sycamores (orange-yellow leaves), bigleaf maple (bright yellow), Southern California black walnut (yellow), valley oak (orange, yellow, brown), poison oak (red), California buckwheat (rusty red) and more.
• Find where the wild things grow: After identifying the native trees and plants that could (hopefully!) produce colorful leaves, you can log onto iNaturalist, a citizen science app and website, and search for them in a hiking area near you. For example, I searched bigleaf maple and noticed a few documented near the Lower Stunt High Trail. Might there be a bit of fall foliage there?
• Look for water sources: Water makes for happy trees. It’s a near guarantee that if you head to one of our still-flowing local rivers or streams — like a hike along the 28(ish)-mile Gabrielino Trail where it runs parallel to the Arroyo Seco or West Fork of the San Gabriel River — you’ll find fall foliage. (This includes hiking from near NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab near Pasadena to the Brown Mountain Dam or from Red Box to the Valley Forge trail camp.)
• Set your expectations: As the fine folks at California Fall Color point out, it’s hard to predict when fall colors will pop. It depends on several factors, including the amount of daytime sunlight, nighttime temperatures and annual rainfall. That said, if you visit a trail, and it’s still quite green, consider returning a week later to see what you find. Nature is, lucky for us, a perpetual surprise!

I hope you use this knowledge to find fall foliage close to you that’s off the beaten path. That said, the three spots below are worth considering too and require no homework as I’m here to do that for you too.

A hiker heads up the fire road at Big Santa Anita Canyon in Angeles National Forest.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

1. Winter Creek Trail at Big Santa Anita Canyon

Distance: 5.2-mile loop trail
Elevation gain: About 1,230 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Dogs allowed? Yes
Accessible alternative: Chantry Flat Picnic Area for leaf peeping

Upon parking at the Chantry Flat parking area — which is admittedly a challenge on the weekend — you’ll have multiple hiking options to venture through Big Santa Anita Canyon. Note: If you forget to buy an Adventure Pass, you can usually snag one at the Adams Pack Station, which is open Tuesday through Sunday.

I chose to take the Winter Creek Trail because it leads you through dense vegetation, and I hoped this would increase my chances of noticing leaf changes. My dog, Maggie May, and I headed north down the fire road near the restrooms and then turned after about 900 feet onto the Upper Winter Creek trailhead. As we zigzagged along this single-track route down the hillside, I looked down into the canyon and quickly spotted pops of yellow — at least nine bigleaf maples changing with the season!

(Photos by Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

I passed California bay laurel, rubbing their leaves to smell their spicy, pungent aroma, and noticed a branch with exactly one yellow leaf. The tree was considering changing with the season. Rusty red buckwheat, red poison oak and yellowish beige California brickellbush also grew along the trail. Rather than doing the entire Winter Creek trail, Maggie and I were racing daylight and turned around where the trail meets back with the fire road for just under a 2-mile adventure. The moon was rising over a ridgeline of the San Gabriel Mountains as we left.

Hiker Christina Best pauses amid the fall foliage along the Icehouse Canyon Trail on a First Descents monthly meetup in the Angeles National Forest in 2019.

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

2. Icehouse Canyon to Icehouse Saddle

Distance: 6.6 miles out-and-back, or 7 miles if looping around on Chapman Trail
Elevation gain: About 2,600 feet
Difficulty: Hard
Dogs allowed? Yes
Accessible alternative: San Antonio Falls Trail. It’s wide and mostly paved, but steep.

The Icehouse Canyon Trail to Icehouse Saddle is a pristine route that takes hikers past the crystal-clear creek and up to Icehouse Saddle, where you’ll be surrounded by pine forest and have sweeping views of the Antelope Valley and Mojave Desert.

You’ll pass bigleaf maple, incense cedar, canyon live oak and more. The parking lot, which you’ll need an Adventure Pass to use, often fills up by 8 a.m. on the weekend, so it’s best to arrive early or try to visit on a weekday.

The higher you climb, the more likely you’ll encounter snow this time of year. If you don’t plan to pack crampons, please turn around once you reach snow.

Western sycamore trees like these grow in the aptly named Sycamore Canyon in Point Mugu State Park.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

3. Sycamore Canyon Trail in Point Mugu State Park

Distance: About 6 miles
Elevation gain: About 200 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Dogs allowed? No
Accessible alternative: The trail is mostly wide and flat, making it easier to navigate.

The aptly named Sycamore Canyon Trail is a fire road hike that takes you through the lush Point Mugu State Park. You’ll immediately see the limbs of large sycamore trees stretching over and around the trail. If conditions are right, they should be among the trees featuring fall foliage.

The trail also features Southern California black walnut, black sage, the fragrant California sagebrush and several other aromatic delights. Regardless of what you see, it’s a treat to be among pristine coastal sage scrub and other native habitat. And if the mood strikes, the beach is nearby. That sounds like a true Southern California fall day.

One of a handful of introspective signs at Big Santa Anita Canyon.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

I hope you spot gorgeous fall colors on your adventures this weekend.

If you do, please feel free to reply to this email (if you’re a newsletter subscriber) with a humble brag with your photos. I love hearing from you!

3 things to do

A desert tortoise shuffles about the Desert Tortoise Research Natural Area in California City, CA.

(Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)

1. Celebrate desert tortoises in Palm Desert
The Mojave Desert Land Trust will be on hand from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Living Desert Zoo & Gardens in Palm Desert to celebrate Desert Tortoise Day. The organization will host tortoise-themed activities, including a scavenger hunt and a meet-and-greet with Mojave Maxine, a tortoise who lives at the zoo. Learn more at livingdesert.org.

2. Take trash out of wetlands near Marina and Playa del Rey
Volunteers are needed from 9:30 a.m. to noon Saturday at both north and south Ballona Creek to pull trash from these important wetland habitats. Participants must wear close-toed shoes. Register for either location at ballonafriends.org.

3. Tend the land with new friends in L.A.
Coyotl + Macehualli will host a volunteer day of weeding, planting and mulching from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday along a hillside in El Sereno. The exact coordinates will be provided to participants. Learn more at the group’s Instagram page.

The must-read

Adrian Boone, a Muir Woods National Monument Park Guide, teaches children about the forest at the Ross Preschool.

(Paul Kuroda / For The Times)

Park rangers are among government workers furloughed while the United States experiences its longest government shutdown. Times staff writer Jenny Gold wrote about how, in an effort to provide some income to these rangers, the San Francisco Bay Area-based Grasshopper Kids is paying out-of-work rangers to educate children at area schools. Riley Morris, who works as a seasonal interpretive ranger at Muir Woods, said they wondered whether the children sitting inside classrooms or school auditoriums would still be interested in learning about redwoods without the “magic” of sitting in a park among the towering giants. “But it’s just been so cool seeing that when all of that is taken out of the equation, these kids are still just so totally glued to like the information that I’m sharing with them,” Morris said. “You can just tell they’re almost vibrating with excitement.”

Happy adventuring,

P.S.

Do you have a nature lover on your holiday gift list? (Hi, Mom!) If so, check out this curated list of outdoors-themed gifts that Times staff writer Deborah Vankin and I wrote together for this year’s L.A. Times Holiday Gift Guide. I loved trying out the Six Moon Designs hiking umbrella, which I am eager to take on desert hikes this winter and spring. The Nomadix Bandana Towel is almost always either around my neck or in my pocket on every Wild hike. And the moment I finish writing this newsletter, I’m going to go find my North Face mules, which I also included on the list. They’re perfect for chilly evenings on the couch — or by a campfire. And as a bonus, read our list from last year’s Gift Guide, which doesn’t have a single repeated item. Boundless ideas for your boundless adventurers!

For more insider tips on Southern California’s beaches, trails and parks, check out past editions of The Wild. And to view this newsletter in your browser, click here.

CHRISTMAS is just six weeks away, and with that, many festive events and experiences are opening.

But sometimes meeting Santa or heading to a light trail can set you back quite a bit of money – especially when you add on the inevitable hot chocolate your child screams for when they get cold.

With Christmas already stretching our pockets, finding something to do with the family that doesn’t require you to get out your debit card is hard.

So we’ve rounded up some of the free events across the UK you can head to this Christmas, from pop-up performances to lantern parades.

Santa’s Grottoes and Meet & Greets

In Leeds, at Kirkgate Market, families get the chance to meet Santa for free on December 6, 13, 20, 22 and 23 between 12pm and 3pm.

At the Cadbury House Christmas Fayre on December 3, families can meet Santa in his grotto between 5pm and 7pm.

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The Fayre will also have an array of stalls.

At Willow Brook Centre in Bradley Stoke, near Bristol, families can head to a Christmas Jamboree for free on November 28.

The event will have a Santa meet and greet, as well as a free bouncy castle, Rodeo Rudolf, obstacle course, slide and bungee run.

Visitors will also be able to meet the Grinch, and Glinda and Elphaba from Wicked.

For a slightly different Santa meet and greet, head to Hamleys toy store.

Over the Christmas period, visitors can share hugs and high fives every day at either 1pm or 2:30pm, with Santa Hamley Bear outside the Regent Street store in London.

Light trails

South Bank Winter Light Trail in London features numerous artworks by different artists that glow in the dark night.

The event takes place from November 6 to January 18, 2026.

In Liverpool, you could head to the Royal Albert Dock which features giant light-up figurines and a fairytale carousel.

Over in Sheffield, Light Up Sheffield features three of the city’s most iconic landmarks lit up – Sheffield Cathedral, Sheffield Central Library and Pounds Park.

The event will take place across 10 nights from December 5 to 14.

Light Up Wakefield will take place in Wakefield city centre from November 21 to 23.

On November 21, visitors can head to the Cathedral Precinct to enjoy live music and entertainment before the switch on event at 5:30pm.

Just after Christmas is Christmas Dubs in Clifton Village, near Bristol.

Taking place on December 26, visitors can see a number of Volkswagens light up Clifton Village, as they are decked out in lights.

In Torquay in Devon, visitors can head out on the Bay of Lights illuminated trail from November 28 to January 2, 2026.

Across the event, Torquay waterfront will become illuminated with a light trail stretching 1.5 miles.

In Devon, Lanterns, Lights and Luminations in Brixham will take place from November 21 to 22.

The popular event features a lantern parade, firework display, live music, street entertainment and a market.

Markets

A lot of markets across the UK are free to enter, but once inside you usually do spend money – whether that be on food and drink or attractions.

However, if you take some snacks with you and skip the attractions you can get into the festive spirit without spending a penny.

For example, you could head to one of Liverpool’s most loved buildings, the Bombed Out Church, for their weekend Makers Market.

From 10am to 4pm on various dates throughout November and December, you can wander around stalls selling fresh bakes and pretty creations.

In London, you could head to the Chelsea Winter Village where there is street food, artisan markets, firepits, traditional fairground rides, and an aprés ski bar.

The event is set within the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, so even if you don’t want to spend any money, it is a pretty market to see and take in the free choir performances.

Festive treasure hunts and other trails

In London, visitors can head off on the Snowman Trail, which is a free outdoor sculpture trail inspired by Raymond Brigg’s The Snowman.

Each sculpture has been decorated by artists and then place close to the city’s landmarks.

There will also be a Snoopy Trail around Fleet Street.

Light switch ons

Up and down the country there are thousands of Christmas light switch-ons taking place in November and December – and most of which are free to attend.

This includes the Christmas Light Switch On in Oldham, just outside Manchester.

Taking place on November 15, the event will feature the turning on of the Christmas lights, a visit from Santa, as well as Bluey and Bingo from the hit TV show and fireworks.

For a slightly different ‘switch on’ event, head to Tavistock in Devon on December 5, for a Victorian Christmas lights switch on, with people in Dickensian costumes and vintage entertainment.

In Richmond, the Christmas lights will be switched on, on November 27 and visitors can expect entertainment with the Wickedly Witches, Candy Cane Stilt Walkers and Giant Nutcracker.

Store events

Ikea stores across the country also offer a number of free events so it is worth checking out the events page for your local store.

For example, at Ikea Greenwich children can write a letter to Santa and post it in a special post box between November 10 and December 23.

At Ikea Southampton, families can even have breakfast with Santa if they are an Ikea family member – which is free to sign up to.

The same goes for Hamleys with events at the Regent Street store including Box of Christmas Mischief, a festive game show (November 6 to December 24) and Twinkle Jingle Town Parade where Hamleys elves dance their way through the store (November 6 to December 5).

If your kids love to read or you want them to explore more stories, Waterstones offers loads of events up and down the country, including regular free storytelling sessions.

Over the festive period, there are even more events such as Epsom Christmas Evening with local authors and illustrators and late night Christmas shopping nights, with free mince pies and mulled wine.

Other events

Inside Sheffield Cathedral, visitors can explore 40 Christmas trees decorated by different local charities.

A similar event will also take place at Selby Abbey – the Christmas Tree Festival, which will take place from November 28 to January 5, 2026, will feature 30 trees decorated by locals.

On November 21, when Wakefield’s Christmas lights are switched on, there will be a lantern parade through the city at 6pm.

At Windmill Hill City Farm, near Bristol – a free family farm attraction with a play area and animals – the cafe will be hosting free screenings of much-loved children’s films every weekday from 3:45pm.

In Devon, Candlelit Dartmouth is from November 28 to 30.

Visitors can see a procession of hundreds of handmade paper lanterns through the town as well as Father Christmas’ boat gliding across the River Dart.

For fans of Charles Dickens, the UK is home to some Victorian and Dickensian-themed events including a Victorian evening in Newton Abbot, Devon on December 3.

The high street will be transformed into a Dickensian Christmas Shopping scene with performers and a chance to meet Santa.

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For more ideas of things to do around the festive season, the UK’s biggest Christmas event is returning with 150 rides and attractions… and new FREE Santa’s grotto.

Plus, the prettiest Christmas markets in Britain – with hotel stays from £37.

A day out at a theme park isn’t just a summer activity. Many parks will be open for Christmas-themed fun, and you’ll find fun, festive activities to suit all ages

Looking for a festive day out for all the family? Many theme parks will be opening their doors for the Christmas season with a range of activities for all the family. In addition to themed days out, some parks will also be offering special short breaks, with extras such as Santa visits and evening entertainment and even the chance to enjoy a festive-themed sleepover at the on-park hotels. Here’s a round-up of some of the most popular theme parks in the UK and what they’ll be offering this November and December.

Alton Towers – Magical Days Out

From £18 per person

In the run up to Christmas and the New Year, Alton Towers offers Magical Days Out starting at just £18 per person. While it’s a cheaper way to visit the park, it’s worth noting that only CBeebies Land and Mutiny Bay are open, plus a couple of the bigger rides, so you don’t expect all the usual thrill rides to be available.

However, the park is set to be decked out in festive decorations, and visitors can enjoy Christmas-themed shows such as Hey Duggee Live: The Christmas Badge!, which is bound to be a hit with the younger members of the family.

Families can also book a Santa Sleepover at one of the park’s on-site hotels, starting at £91 per person. This includes a one-day theme park ticket, a visit to Santa’s grotto, a traditional pantomime, and a festive dinner and entertainment for the whole family. Booking the Santa Sleepover also gives you access to the on-site waterpark and crazy golf.

Find out more on Alton Towers’ official website.

Gulliver’s – Christmas and Land of Lights

From £27 per person

Three of Gulliver’s theme parks will be offering Christmas events: Rotherham, Milton Keynes, and Warrington, with a selection of Christmas rides and attractions open during this time. What’s available over the festive period varies by park, and some of the activities on offer include festive breakfasts, Santa’s grottos, Christmas shows, Elf workshops, and more, with a variety of packages available.

Each park will also have a Land of Lights attraction – a spectacular light trail that opens during the winter. Tickets for this attraction are sold separately and start at £13.75 per person.

For more information and dates visit Gulliver’s website.

Drayton Manor – Christmas Wonderland

From £20 per person

Drayton Manor say they’ve unwrapped their “biggest and most magical Christmas plans ever”. The Midland-based park, which is best-known for being the home of Thomas Land, will open on selected dates from November 22 to December 31 with most of the park’s rides open.

There will also be a range of themed attractions for family days out. Fans of Elf on the Shelf can enjoy Elftoria, with the cheeky creatures taking over the park and adding a mischievous touch to your day. Children can even take part in pranking workshops and enjoy a live elf show.

Kids can visit the Castle Grotto, which will include a story-time experience with Mrs Claus and a visit to the man in red, while Thomas Land will be decked out in seasonal decorations and have festive family shows. In the evening, families can board the Twinkling Express, a gentle journey surrounded by Christmas light trails.

Find out more about Christmas at Drayton Manor here.

Paultons Park – Celebration of Christmas

From £20 per person

Paultons, perhaps most famous for being the home of Peppa Pig World, will be turning their park into a Christmas wonderland. On selected dates through December, visitors can visit Peppa and friends in their festive clothing, enjoy Santa’s Christmas Wish show, or enjoy festive-themed menus in the park’s cafes.

If you prefer thrill rides, the Tornado Springs are will be also be open as well as selected rides in Lost Kingdom and Critter Creek.

Book or find out more about Christmas at Paultons here.

Chessington – Christmas Village

From £32 per person

Chessington’s Christmas village ticket will include a selection of the park’s rides, as well as access to the zoo and SEA LIFE centre. Visitors will be able to enjoy a Christmassy silent disco, wander through a snowy trail, and see the elves making toys in their workshop. Of course, there’s also a visit to Santa to give him your Christmas list.

Visitors can stay for longer by booking the on-site Safari or Azteca Resort Hotel, and there’s even a range of VIP experiences that can be added onto your package to create unique Christmas memories. Book an elf wake up call, with a small pre-Christmas gift for the kids, or take part in a reindeer encounter and see Santa’s helpers up close.

But the fun doesn’t stop once January comes round. Chessington now offer a themed Christmas Room, which will be a permanent fixture in their hotel year-round. No matter when you visit, you’ll be able to enjoy a decorated tree, Christmas crackers, hot chocolate, and even a decorated Christmas parking space. It’s perfect for the Christmas obsessive in your life.

Find out more about Christmas at Chessington and book tickets here.