Looking for the perfect Christmas light display in Orange County this year?
With so many holiday events popping up, it can be hard to know which ones are actually worth the drive.
I visited the brand new Dream Glow Festival at Wild Rivers Waterpark during Thanksgiving week, and it ended up being one of the most immersive holiday light experiences I’ve seen in Orange County.
You get to wander through multiple themed lands, interactive displays, and even step inside an under-the-sea infinity mirror room that kids (and honestly adults!) get obsessed with.
Whether you’re planning a family night out or a cozy date, I’ll walk you through what to expect, who this event is best for, and how to make the most of the free parking and budget-friendly tickets.
Dream Glow Festival at Wild Rivers Waterpark
The Dream Glow Festival is an evening Christmas light display event at the new Wild Rivers Waterpark in Irvine, California.
The festival runs from mid-November through the end of the year, most nights, except for Mondays, Tuesdays, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.
It’s made up of 3 themed areas, as well as themed activities, and food and drinks.
I recommend trying the themed drinks like the “cocktail of the day”.
During our visit, we had the North Pole Surprise, which is made up of House Mad Hot Apple Cider, 5-Spiced Agave, Ginger/Honey Syrup, Lemon Juice, and your choice of either Bulleit Rye Whiskey or Pussers Navy Strength Rum.
We had ours with whiskey, since it’s one we had recently tried during our road trip on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.
Click Here To Book Your Dream Glow Festival Tickets Today!
Christmas Wonderland
The Christmas Wonderland area has your traditional Christmas light displays like snowmen, Christmas trees, Santa, reindeer, penguins, ornaments, and more.
My personal favorite displays are of the snowmen!
There’s a snow machine in this area to make it look like it’s snowing around the Christmas trees and snowmen.
Realm of the Dragon
The Realm of the Dragon has some insane light displays, as well as projection images of fire-breathing dragons.
My nephews (ages 3 and 5) would absolutely love this section!
The dragon pictured below actually moves.
Under the Sea
Under the Sea is such a cute theme to have, given the festival is in a water park.
All throughout this area, you’ll see mermaids, fish, coral, clam shells, jellyfish, turtles, and more.
The “octopus alley” is also neat to walk through – it’s made up of a bunch of octopus tentacles coming up out of the ground.
The shark display is another popular area for the boys!
Themed Activities
In addition to the glow lights, there are a variety of themed activities like the glowing butterfly swings, a light-up dance floor, laser performances, and more.
Pathways between themed areas are also lit up with a variety of different light displays.
The concession stands with some foods and snacks are also in these transition areas.
They had items like hot dogs, pretzels, churros, Dippin’ Dots, hot chocolate, sodas, and more.
Click Here To Book Your Dream Glow Festival Tickets Today!
Premium Admission
If you want to splurge just a little bit, I highly recommend purchasing premium admission tickets.
The added bonus of these tickets include a front of the line entry pass, complimentary access to the infinity mirror room, and a complimentary souvenir to take home with you!
Children ages 4-12 are a bit cheaper than adults for both ticket options and Children 3 and under are always free.
Front of the Line Entry
The Dream Glow Festival has timed entry, every half hour, and during premium times, the line can get long.
Having the front of the line entry gets you in right away when you arrive around your scheduled time.
It just starts your experience off on the right foot.
Infinity Mirror Room
The infinity mirror room is a highlight of this festival!
If you’ve ever been to The Broad in DTLA, you may have experienced their famous infinity mirror room, and that is pretty much what I was expecting.
This infinity mirror room is much larger (with room for maybe 10-15 ish people at a time) and the theme is even better.
Instead of just hanging lights, this room has jellyfish and a variety of “under the sea” themed decor.
The lights also change color throughout the experience.
If you don’t purchase the premium admission ticket, this experience has an extra per person fee.
Pro-Tip: the floor is mirrored too, so maybe don’t wear a skirt!
Complimentary Souvenir
The last little perk of purchasing premium admission is that you get to take home a complimentary souvenir from a small collection.
Depending on what’s available at the time of your visit, they typically have tote bags, a hat, and glow lights.
Click Here To Book Your Dream Glow Festival Tickets Today!
More Fun Things To Do In Winter In Southern California
Check out our post on the best things to do in California in December for even more ideas.
Some of our favorite events have come and gone over the years like Malibu Lights: Winter Nights and Snow Day LA, but others have been around for over a decade and are still going strong!
Winter Fest OC
This drive-thru event is at the Orange County Fairgrounds and is as immersive as it gets.
There’s snow, food, drinks, photo ops, and of course, Santa!
LA Zoo Lights: Animals Aglow
Another great evening event for the holidays is checking out the Christmas lights at the LA Zoo.
There’s even a handful of animals that will still be out at night.
Conclusion: Dream Glow Festival at Wild Rivers Waterpark
The Dream Glow Festival is the latest, fun Christmas time activity for date night or a family night out.
Parking is free, which is pretty rare in Southern California, so taking advantage of this perk is reason enough to check it out.
Click Here To Book Your Dream Glow Festival Tickets Today!
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