Swap the mainland mall crowds for twinkle lights on the bay. From Thanksgiving dinner to a New Year's Day plunge in the Pacific, Catalina Island packs the holiday season into one walkable, festive little town. Here's everything happening on the island this year, so you can plan one getaway or several.
Thanksgiving on the Island
Leave the dishes to someone else this year. On Thursday, November 26, five island restaurants are serving Thanksgiving dinner, from harborside buffets to a classic prix fixe. Tables fill quickly, so book ahead where reservations are offered.
- Avalon Grille: smoked turkey with cornbread stuffing and pumpkin crunch tart, served a la carte or as a three-course prix fixe for $75. The regular menu is also available.
- Steve's Steakhouse: a traditional turkey dinner and seasonal specials from 3 to 8 pm, plus the regular menu.
- The M Restaurant: sage-butter roasted turkey with all the fixings and a holiday pie selection, $58 per person and $20 for kids 3 to 12. Reserve on OpenTable.
- El Galleon: serving from 11 am, with a traditional turkey dinner and a limited regular menu.
- Harbor Reef Restaurant: a family-style Thanksgiving buffet in Two Harbors, with turkey, honey baked ham and all the trimmings. Reservations are required; call 310-510-4215. Getting there from Avalon? Take the Cyclone.
Black Friday to Travel Tuesday Deals
The best gift might be the trip itself. From Black Friday, November 27, through Travel Tuesday, December 1, various hotels are offering specials on island stays. Book a winter escape now, or wrap one up for someone on your list. Browse current offers on our hotel specials page.
Shopping on Black Friday? Catalina's Adventure HQ is hosting an evening Black Friday Sale with island gifts, hot chocolate and bubbly.
Holiday Classics at the Avalon Theatre
Watch your favorite holiday movies under the famous murals of the Avalon Theatre inside the historic Casino. Holiday classics start Thanksgiving weekend and run every weekend through December. Grab popcorn and make it a family tradition.
Thanksgiving Weekend
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
Friday, November 27, 6:00 pm - Home Alone (1990)
Friday, November 27, 8:00 pm - Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)
Saturday, November 28, 6:00 pm - Elf (2003)
Saturday, November 28, 8:00 pm
December 4 and 5
- Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
6:00 pm - National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)
7:45 pm
December 11 and 12
- The Polar Express (2004)
6:00 pm - White Christmas (1954)
7:45 pm
December 18 and 19
- The Santa Clause (1994)
6:00 pm - It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
7:45 pm
December 26 and 27
- While You Were Sleeping (1995)
7:45 pm
Get tickets and the full schedule at The Avalon Theatre.
December on Catalina
First Fridays at the Museum: Holiday Sip & Shop, December 4
Kick off the season at the Catalina Museum for Art & History from 5 to 7 pm. The museum store takes 25% off everything for this evening only, with complimentary beverages plus free admission to the galleries. Event details
Shop Catalina Holiday Kick-Off & Tree Lighting, December 5
Avalon's biggest holiday tradition returns for its 33rd year. Opening day runs from noon to 8 pm with carolers, Santa's arrival and the lighting of the community Christmas tree on the Wrigley Stage, plus extra savings at participating shops. Pick up a free Shop Catalina Discount Card at the Visitor Center through December 12 and use it through December 24. Get the full schedule on the Shop Catalina page, or read our ten reasons to come.
Two more ways to celebrate that day, both hosted by Catalina Divers Supply:
- Underwater Photos with Santa: snorkelers and divers can strike a pose with Santa beneath the waves.
- Cookie Decorating Contest: free and family friendly, 4 to 8 pm at their Casino Building location. They bring the cookies, you bring the talent.
Holiday Concert with the LMU Choir, December 12
The Loyola Marymount University Choir returns to the Catalina Museum for Art & History for a free concert from 6 to 7:30 pm. Come early to explore the galleries first. Event details
Audubon Christmas Bird Count, December 20
Join Catalina Island Conservancy staff and naturalists for a day in the island's wildlands, counting birds for the National Audubon Society's long-running citizen science program. Event details
Want more time with the island's birds? The Eco Tour: Birding Catalina's Wildlands is a four-hour guided excursion by open-air vehicle into parts of the island few visitors see. Watch for bald eagles, acorn woodpeckers and overwintering ducks among Catalina's 318 recorded bird species.
New Year's Eve Gala in the Casino Ballroom, December 31
Cheers to 53 years. Catalina's New Year's Eve Gala fills the iconic Casino Ballroom with evening gowns, tuxedos, champagne, dining and dancing on Thursday, December 31. It's one of the most glamorous ways to welcome the new year anywhere in Southern California. Event details and tickets and packages
Polar Bear Swim & Plunge, January 1
Start 2027 with a splash. The City of Avalon and Catalina Swim Club host a roughly one-mile Polar Bear Swim for intermediate and advanced swimmers at 7:30 am at Casino Dive Park, followed by a family-friendly Polar Bear Plunge at 11:30 am at Middle Beach. Event details
Plan Your Holiday Getaway
Whether you come for a single festive day or stay the whole season, Catalina is ready to celebrate. See every holiday happening on our Christmas & Holiday Events page, find your room on our places to stay page, and start planning your Catalina Christmas.
Catalina Holiday FAQ
Where can I eat Thanksgiving dinner on Catalina Island?
On Thursday, November 26, Thanksgiving dinner is served at Avalon Grille, Steve's Steakhouse, The M Restaurant and El Galleon in Avalon, and at Harbor Reef Restaurant in Two Harbors. Avalon Grille and The M accept reservations, and Harbor Reef requires them.
When is the Catalina Christmas tree lighting?
The community tree lighting is part of the Shop Catalina Holiday Kick-Off on Saturday, December 5, in Avalon. Festivities run from noon to 8 pm, with carolers roving downtown all day. Santa arrives and the tree on the Wrigley Stage is lit around 4:30 to 5 pm, as it gets dark.
Does the Avalon Theatre show Christmas movies?
Yes. The Avalon Theatre in the historic Catalina Casino screens holiday classics on weekends from Thanksgiving weekend through December 27, including Elf, Home Alone, The Polar Express and It's a Wonderful Life.
Is there a New Year's Eve celebration on Catalina Island?
Yes. The New Year's Eve Gala takes place on Thursday, December 31, in the Casino Ballroom, with dinner, dancing and champagne. The event often sells out, so book early.
What is the Catalina Polar Bear Plunge?
On New Year's Day, the City of Avalon and Catalina Swim Club host a Polar Bear Swim of about one mile at 7:30 am at Casino Dive Park for intermediate and advanced swimmers, and a family-friendly Polar Bear Plunge at 11:30 am at Middle Beach.
