Santa Ana kicked off the holiday season this weekend with Plaza Navideña — the city’s Christmas festival and tree-lighting ceremony.
Held in Downtown Santa Ana’s Plaza Calle Cuatro on 4th and French streets, attendees were welcomed by Mayor Valerie Amezcua and participated in some holiday trivia as they waited for Santa Claus to arrive.
Local residents and visitors joined in celebration as Amezcua led the countdown for the tree-lighting ceremony, which featured a 30-foot natural fir tree. Families posed for Christmas photos with Santa Claus and enjoyed community performances, games, crafts and ended the night with a dance party.
Folclor Mi Mexico dancers, based in Anaheim, perform on stage during Santa Ana’s annual Plaza Navideña celebration and tree lighting, November 22, 2025, at Plaza Calle Cuatro. (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
Kids join the Santa Ana council on stage for the lighting of the Christmas tree during Santa Ana’s annual Plaza Navideña celebration and tree lighting, November 22, 2025, at Plaza Calle Cuatro. The group includes Santa Ana Mayor Valerie Amezcua, Mayor Pro Tem Benjamin Vazquez, councilmembers David Penaloza & Jessie Lopez, Police Chief Robert Rodriguez, City Manager Alvaro Nunez, Deputy City Manager Sylvia Vazquez and Anaheim City Council member Carlos Leon representing Representative Lou Correa. (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
Dancers perform on stage during Santa Ana’s annual Plaza Navideña celebration and tree lighting, November 22, 2025, at Plaza Calle Cuatro. (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Ana Mayor Valerie Amezcua and Mayor Pro Tem Benjamin Vazquez join Santa Claus and Santa Ana Zoo’s Ollie the giant-river otter on stage as they get ready to light the tree during Santa Ana’s annual Plaza Navideña celebration and tree lighting, November 22, 2025, at Plaza Calle Cuatro. (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
Ballet Folklórico Renacimiento dancers, based in Santa Ana, perform on stage during Santa Ana’s annual Plaza Navideña celebration and tree lighting, November 22, 2025, at Plaza Calle Cuatro. (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
Kaeli Carranza, 2, of Santa Ana and her sister, Katelyn Carranza visit Santa Claus under a newly lit tree during Santa Ana’s annual Plaza Navideña celebration and tree lighting, November 22, 2025, at Plaza Calle Cuatro. (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
People gather around the tree during Santa Ana’s annual Plaza Navideña celebration and tree lighting, November 22, 2025, at Plaza Calle Cuatro. (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Ana City Council as well as others gather under the just let Christmas tree during Santa Ana’s annual Plaza Navideña celebration and tree lighting, November 22, 2025, at Plaza Calle Cuatro. (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
A mural, unveiled at last week and painted by artists from Santa Ana and artists from Sahuayo, Mexico, Santa Ana’s sister city, is displayed next to the newly lit Christmas tree at Plaza Calle Cuatro in Santa Ana, November 22, 2025. (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Ana Police Service Officer Nancy Lopez hands out a flier to a passer by for their upcoming police pancake breakfast while at their booth during Santa Ana’s annual Plaza Navideña celebration and tree lighting, November 22, 2025, at Plaza Calle Cuatro. (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
Under a mural unveiled at Plaza Calle Cuatro in Santa Ana last week and painted by artists from Santa Ana and artists from Sahuayo, Mexico, Santa Ana’s sister city, kids paint Christmas ornaments at the craft tables during Santa Ana’s annual Plaza Navideña celebration and tree lighting, November 22, 2025, at Plaza Calle Cuatro. The mural was painted by artists from Santa Anna and artists from Sahuayo, Mexico, Santa Ana’s sister city. (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
Ballet Folklórico Renacimiento dancers, based in Santa Ana, perform on stage during Santa Ana’s annual Plaza Navideña celebration and tree lighting, November 22, 2025, at Plaza Calle Cuatro. (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
Five-year-old Leo Audelo of Santa Ana paints a Christmas tree ornament at the craft table during Santa Ana’s annual Plaza Navideña celebration and tree lighting, November 22, 2025, at Plaza Calle Cuatro. (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
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Folclor Mi Mexico dancers, based in Anaheim, perform on stage during Santa Ana’s annual Plaza Navideña celebration and tree lighting, November 22, 2025, at Plaza Calle Cuatro. (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
