Christmas in the Country

The Magical Holiday Light Drive Thru Experience

In 2020, Elks Recreation hosted the first annual Christmas in the Country. In true Team Santa Maria spirit and working together with the City of Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department we were overjoyed to create an all new holiday tradition on the Central Coast.

Visitors embark on a magical holiday light drive-through experience at the Elks Event Center with displays presented by local businesses and families.

Along with Christmas in the Country, we introduced Stuff the Stocking to bring awareness to pediatric cancer. While in line for the event, elves walk around with stockings for money donations. All proceeds go to the Golden Circle of Champions (GCOC) program that is devoted to raising awareness of childhood cancer and provides financial support to families enduring childhood cancer.

Did your children write to Santa about their wishes this year? We can help deliver the letter to him when you drop it in our special mailbox as you enter the “Christmas in the Country” magical holiday light drive thru experience at the Elks Event Center. We will make sure they get to the big guy himself! We even hear Santa will be taking time to respond to each letter so make sure you have a return address on your envelope!

2023, Here We Come!

Christmas in the Country will return this year in 2023!

The event will open on Friday, November 24^th and will run on all Fridays and Saturdays of December at the Elks Event Center, located at 4040 S Highway 101 in Santa Maria. We will also be open on Christmas Eve!

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates on when tickets will be available for purchase.

If you are interested in sponsoring a display at Christmas in the Country, please fill out this form.

If you would like to be a volunteer, please fill out this form.

We look forward to celebrating the holidays with you in 2023.

Ticket Purchasing Instructions

There are two ways to enjoy Christmas in the Country. One is by the traditional "Single Car Entry" where you pay per car load of people. Or you can take a wagon ride through the winter wonderland as part of our "VIP Christmas Experience" which is a cost per person.

1) Pick if you'd like to experience the SINGLE CAR ENTRY or the VIP CHRISTMAS EXPERIENCE.
2) Click on the date in the calendar to confirm.
3) Click on the time you would like to attend. If there are no tickets available for that time, please select a different time.
4) Follow with the processing information.

** There is a $5 processing fee for each ticket sold.

** There are no refunds or exchanges for different dates or times once the tickets are purchased.

***Please no vehicles over 9.5 feet tall, no buses, no limo buses, and no motorhomes.

**** VIP Guests must be able to transfer to wagon by climbing small steps. Proper outdoor attire should be worn for the excursion.