Celebrate the 'Holidayz' at Great Park
Winter holiday fun is underway at Great Park featuring festive art, music, lights, interactive displays, photo backdrops, and seasonally themed events and programs.

'Tis the season for family fun and holiday cheer at Great Park. Enjoy Holidayz at the Park as the park is transformed into a winterscape of holiday-themed art, music, and lights through January 1, 2023. Visit the Palm Court Arts Complex to enjoy interactive displays and festive photo backdrops; sign up for seasonally themed programs, where kids and families can enjoy festive activities; and stay up-to-date on new ways to celebrate winter at Great Park at yourgreatpark.org/holidayz.

Additional Holidayz at the Park fun includes:

Palm Court Light Display: Holidayz at the Park features an outdoor light display in the Palm Court, inviting guests to stroll and snap photos. The holiday decorations a larger-than-life airplane, paying tribute to the park’s military roots, playfully taken over by the Grinch. Drop in to see the lights and displays through January 1, 2023, daily from dusk to 9:30 p.m. 

Holidayz Pop-Up at the Artist Studios: Snap a selfie or a family photo at the Great Park Holidayz Pop-Up. Come explore our various winter themed backdrops as the Artist Studios is transformed into a pop-up museum crafted to delight visitors of all ages. Holidayz Pop-Up is open Fridays from 5 to 9 p.m., and weekends from noon to 8 p.m. 

Pajama Party Movie Night: Curl up in your most festive, warm pajamas and enjoy a holiday themed movie on the big screen from the comfort of your car. Join us for this fun, family outing on Saturday, December 10. The movie starts at dusk, parking lot opens at 5:30 p.m. Food trucks will be available on-site, and families are also welcome to bring their own snacks. Admission is free with a non-perishable food donation and advanced registration is required. Due to limited space available, this event is open to Irvine residents only and guests must register in advance. Registration will be open on Wednesday, November 30, at yourirvine.org.  

Learn more at yourgreatpark.org/holidayz.

Winter Holiday Hours

In observance of the winter holidays, please note the following hours for Great Park:

December 24–25: General park areas open; all amenities, including Great Park Balloon, Carousel, and the Artists Studios, will be closed.

December 31: General park areas open; most amenities will be closed; Great Park Balloon and Carousel open.

January 1: General park areas open; all amenities, including Great Park Balloon, Carousel, and the Artists Studios, will be closed.

January 2: General park areas open; most amenities will be closed; Visitors Center will be open.

For a complete listing of park hours and more information, visit yourgreatpark.org.

Park Spotlight: Palm Court Arts Complex

The Palm Court Arts Complex is home to Great Park Arts

The Palm Court Arts Complex is home to the Great Park Gallery and the Great Park Artist Studios. This civic space also features Hangar 244, a 10,000-square-foot event center; a shaded outdoor performance plaza enhanced by 54 Canary Islands date palms; and Great Park’s first site-specific permanent public art installation.

Visitors will discover that the Marine Corps Air Station El Toro’s World War II-era atmosphere and architecture have been preserved by means of adaptive reuse of existing buildings, a strategy that aligns with the Park’s ecological values. The Palm Court’s re-purposed military structures now form a cultural campus supporting the development of a fresh approach to establishing an interdisciplinary, public arts program.

Exhibitions: The Great Park Gallery, Artist Studios, and Hangar 244 tie the history of the park with its future through a robust exhibition calendar. Learn more at yourgreatpark.org/arts. 

Hours: The Great Park Gallery and Hangar 244 are open Thursdays and Fridays from noon to 4 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Great Park Artist Studios is open Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Some areas of the Palm Court Arts Complex are subject to closures due to private event rentals and/or larger city-wide events.

Learn more about the Palm Courts Arts Complex here.

Community Events

Great Park is the site of many events hosted by various community groups and sports organizations. For a list of upcoming activities and more information on the hosting organization, please visit our Community Events page.

Great Park Project Development Update

A project development update was presented to the Great Park Board during its regular meeting November 22. See a copy of the report here. Find the most up-to-date development information at our Planning & Future Development webpage here.

In 2022, the City of Irvine approved the Great Park Framework Plan to guide the next phase of development. The next phase draws on extensive community input to deliver an expanding array of new opportunities to secure the park’s place among the world’s greatest metropolitan parks. Join us at an upcoming Town Hall Monday, December 12, 7-9 p.m. at Great Park Hangar 244 (8000 Great Park Blvd.) to learn more about the continued development planned for Great Park.