What should I expect from The Elf on the Shelf’s Magical Holiday Journey in Los Angeles?

Get swept away by the Christmas Spirit as you immerse yourself in an original story brought to you by the creators of The Elf on the Shelf.


At The Elf on the Shelf’s Magical Holiday Journey, you will walk and trolley through an outdoor enchanted elf-sized world with holiday surprises around every bend. Meet some of your favorite Scout Elves from last year as you embark on a quest to save Christmas, experience larger-than-life scenic and light installations and unforgettable yuletide entertainment.


This year you can also stroll through our brand-new outdoor Christmas Village where you can sweeten the season with holiday treats and gifts! Plus, lace up your skates and take a spin on our open-air ice rink. Don’t miss the chance to start a new, fun-filled holiday tradition with your family and friends!

Is the experience the same as last year?

Our Holiday Journey is back – and this time you can get out of your car to enjoy it! While Scout Elf Tiny Tinkerman will be at it again this year, guests will walk and trolley through the experience and enjoy additional scenic worlds and performances. Guests will also be able to enjoy a brand-new outdoor Christmas Village and ice-skating rink.

Will Santa be there?

The Scout Elves have reported that Santa and his sleigh are somewhere at the Fairplex! It’s up to humans to generate Christmas Spirit and help him find his magical sleigh bells so he can appear and thank you personally for helping him make it back home.

How long is the experience?

The timed-entry Magical Holiday Journey is approximately 45 minutes. Please come early with your Christmas Spirit and stay late to enjoy the Christmas Village, go ice skating and enjoy the holiday merriment.

What ages is the event appropriate for?

The Elf on the Shelf’s Magical Holiday Journey is appropriate for ALL ages.

Does it hurt to shrink down to elf size?

Does it hurt when snow falls on your nose? Absolutely not!

Will I return to human size before the journey’s end?

As long as Santa receives enough Christmas Spirit to fly again, of course!

Is photography allowed?

Yes, personal photography is allowed and there will be many elf-tacular photo moments worth documenting. Feel free to dress festively! There can never be too much Christmas Spirit!

What are the ingredients of Christmas Spirit?

Faith, Hope, and Love.

Will there be strobe lights?

There will be moments of flashing and moving lights. Please plan to take precautions if this might cause you discomfort or disorientation.

Will there be food and beverages available to purchase?

Yes! Our Christmas Village will have snacks, drinks, food trucks, and all the hot chocolate you could ever want!

Am I allowed to bring my own food?

No, you may not bring outside food to the event.

Is there such a thing as too much hot chocolate?

Never!

Will there be merchandise available to purchase?

Yes! Merchandise will be available for purchase in our new Christmas Village.

Will there be parking on-site?

Yes, there is parking at the Fairplex just in front of the entrance at the experience. The Fairplex charges $15 for parking.

Where is the event located?

The Fairplex

LA County Fairgrounds

1101 W. McKinley Ave.

Pomona, CA 91768

Is the experience wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the walking path is flat and we have an accessible trolley for any of our guests with special accommodation needs.

What do I do if I have additional questions about accessibility/special accommodations?

Please email us at [email protected] or call us at our Call Center at (213) 267-8786.

Do I need to be familiar with The Elf on the Shelf to enjoy the experience?

No. The Elf on the Shelf’s Magical Holiday Journey is fun for everyone, but The Elf on the Shelf fans might just recognize some familiar Elf faces, so keep your eyes peeled!

Do I need to arrive before the start of my scheduled session?

We recommend that you arrive at least 15 minutes before the start of your session. If you arrive early, you can wait in our festive outdoor Christmas Village with a mug of hot cocoa.

At the start of your time slot, you can join the line to enter the Magical Holiday Journey.

What happens if I don’t show up at my designated time?

We will do our best to accommodate you if you show up outside of your designated window, but we cannot guarantee it.

What should I bring with me?

Festive attire, a mask, and Christmas Spirit!

I purchased an item with my ticket. How will I receive it?

If you purchased the light up necklace with your ticket, our front of house Santa’s Helpers will give you the necklace when they scan your ticket. If you purchased the Scout Elf Tiny Tinkerman with your ticket, our front of house Santa’s Helpers will give you a Scout Elf Tiny Tinkerman card to present at the merchandise area to collect your Scout Elf Tiny Tinkerman.

Can I bring my pet?

We love pets, including our beloved Elf Pets, but for this experience they need to remain at home — with the exception of registered service animals.

What happens if it rains?

The experience happens rain or shine, but in the event of weather please bring an umbrella. Our magical trollies are covered!

Will there be bathrooms on site?

Restrooms will be available for use at the start and at the end of the experience. Please be aware that you must wear a mask in order to use the restrooms. Our restrooms will be cleaned on a continual basis and will strictly adhere to health and safety recommendations to keep you safe.

Can I use a stroller during the experience?

Strollers are allowed to be used during the walking section of the experience. Children must be removed from his or her stroller while riding on the trolley. Strollers must also be folded up while on the trolley, stored either in the space next to your family or in a designated area of the trolley.


Strollers larger than 31”x52” (79x132cm) and wagons are not permitted. Stroller wagons are also not permitted.


Do not leave personal belongings in an unattended stroller.

Where can I get tickets?

You can purchase tickets through our website here.

Can I buy tickets on-site at the Fairplex?

We recommend buying tickets in advance due to the event’s limited capacity. If you come to the event without a pre-purchased order, we may not be able to accommodate you.  Please note that we only accept credit cards for tickets on site.  We do not accept cash.

What are the different ticket options?

Individual tickets range from $19.95 to $49.95. Prices range according to show dates and all dates offer a child and adult price.Children aged 2 and under do not need a ticket.

Tickets are sold for designated time slots every 15 minutes, which indicate when you can enter the walking and trolley pathways. Ticket buyers can arrive early or stay late to enjoy the Christmas Village and ice-skating rink (ice skating rink is an extra charge).

We also offer a VIP upgrade option (more details below).

Does every individual need a ticket?

Yes, everyone 3 and over needs a ticket to enter.

What is your refund/exchange policy?

Tickets are non-refundable. We will make best efforts to accommodate exchanges in certain circumstances, but only at times when inventory allows.

Do I need to print my ticket?

We recommend printing your tickets. However, we are also able to scan your tickets from your smartphone.

When do tickets go on sale?

Tickets on sale Tuesday, September 21^st.

I never got my confirmation e-mail or I can’t find my tickets. Help!

Call us at (213) 267-8786 or please send us an e-mail at [email protected] and we will resend them to you. You can also print out your tickets at our on-site box office!

What’s included in a VIP Upgrade?

A VIP upgrade/pass includes:



ONE photo with Santa for your group (max up to 8 guests total). ONE Santa photo includes a print-out in ONE commemorative frame as well as ONE digital copy.


Dedicated entry lane into the experience (ONE car total)


ONE VIP parking spot that is close to the entrance (it does not cover the cost of parking, it is $15, which is paid to the Fairplex)
If you are arriving in multiple cars, only ONE car be given the VIP pass to park in the ONE VIP spot. Other cars can park in general parking and meet up at the front gate to go through the VIP check-in together. If every car wants to park in VIP they will all need to buy their own separate VIP upgrade to show the parking attendants.


ONE free hot chocolate for each person in your group (max up to 8 guests total)
Please note, the upgrade DOES NOT admit any guests, it upgrades the tickets you have purchased for your group (max per group is 8 guests)


Everyone in your group will still need an Adult/Child ticket in addition to the one VIP upgrade/pass.

Does everyone need their own VIP Upgrade?

Each person in your group needs and Adult or Child's ticket and then you only need 1 VIP pass for your party

What if all the VIP Upgrades are sold out at the time I want to attend the show?

VIP upgrades are limited. Please select another time and/or date to check VIP upgrade availability.

Can I buy just the VIP Upgrade for my family?

No. Everyone in your group needs a general admission Adult or Child ticket and then add 1 VIP pass that will apply to everyone in your group.

Is Ice Skating Included in the price of admission? What does it cost?

Ice skating is not included in the price of admission, but can be purchased on-site.

Entrance to the rink is $13 for adults and $8 for toddlers. Skate rental is an additional $7.

What are the hours of the ice rink?

The ice rink opens at 5:00 PM, and closes at 9:45 PM.

What happens in case of inclement weather?

In the case of rainy conditions, the rink may be closed for safety. The Elf on the Shelf’s Magical Holiday Journey will go on rain or shine, but please check on-site signage for rink closure information.

Can I bring my own skates?

Yes you can, however there is still an admission charge to ice skate.

Does the ice rink take credit cards?

Yes, we accept Visa, MasterCard, Discovery and AMEX.

Do you have skates in all sizes?

Yes! We have over 350 pairs of ice skates in all sizes (9j-12j, 1-15 adult; adult sizes run small), including some with double-blades for younger children to learn on.

How long can I skate for?

Tickets are purchased for a specific skate session. Each session is for 45 minutes.

How is the Ice Rink Resurfaced?

The ice is resurfaced every 45 minutes with a Zamboni Model 100.

Are there any requirements to be able to ice skate?

Yes. Everyone is required to acknowledge and agree to the waiver language on the admission sticker before entering the rink area.

Can children skate alone?

Yes, but adults must sign the waiver for each child.

There is a mention of a toy drive as part of the experience. Do I need to bring a toy?

Bringing a toy is optional, but if you do bring a toy, it would certainly help build more Christmas Spirit! If you prefer to make a monetary donation in lieu of bringing a toy, there is an option during ticket purchase to make a donation. The funds will benefit our charity partner Toys for Tots.

Where do the toys go?

The toys will be donated to Toys for Tots.

Do toys need to be wrapped?

All toys will need to be sealed in their original packaging, but they should not be gift-wrapped.

Is The Elf on the Shelf’s Magical Holiday Journey COVID-safe?

Yes. We put the safety of our staff and guests first. We have designed the event to accommodate measures that mitigate the risk of spreading COVID-19 and we comply with all local requirements. The majority of the experience takes place outdoors on foot and in our open-air trollies. Masks are required for a short indoor section and while riding on the trolley.

Are masks required?

Masks are required for all indoor areas, including bathrooms and a brief indoor section of the experience. Masks are also required on the trolley portion of the experience.

How late are you open?

We are open until 10pm, but access to the event closes at 8:45pm.