47 Things to Do in December in Los Angeles
It’s officially the holiday season, and the city of angels is quickly transforming into the city of lights. No matter how you celebrate, avoiding the holiday spirit is impossible – so you might as well let it move you. Here are 46 things to do in December in Los Angeles, separated by week, plus specific events happening daily all month long toward the end.
*This piece contains affiliate links that help keep the holiday lights on at EatDrinkLA – at no extra cost to you. Thank you for considering.
December 1st to 3rd
Visit RUNWAY Playa Vista on December 1st, where they’ll be serving up cups of holiday cheer with their Cocoa & Carols event. It’s free to attend, and cocoa is available while supplies last.
Also, on Friday, December 1st, the Bay Area franchise Starbird is celebrating their newest location on Fairfax by giving away FREE Crispy Chicken Sandwiches. Be among the first 150 guests to arrive at 10:30 a.m. to receive one.
December 1st through the 30th is LOVE ACTUALLY LIVE at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills. Two specialty cocktails will be available before the show crafted by celebrity mixologists, such as The Love Actually with mezcal and prickly pear. Enjoy show tickets for 30% off with this link – which means more money for cocktails.
December 2nd at 10 a.m. is the premiere of All the Gin Joints by Director David Kornfield, profiling the iconic Venice restaurant Casablanca and its rich 60-year history. Reserve your tickets through the Culver City Film Festival website, which runs until December 7th.
Also, in film news, The Secret Movie Club of Los Angeles is doing a double feature of Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window and David Lynch’s Blue Velvet (inspired by the Hitchcock classic) on 35 mm at The Million Dollar Theater in DTLA on December 2nd. Tickets begin at $14, and showtime is 6 p.m.
Fred Segal Studio City is having a party on December 2nd from 1 to 4 p.m. at The Shops at Sportsmen’s Lodge. Goodies include Free Hot Toddies and Cocoa from female-owned Lodestar Whiskey, Free Manicures from UNDN Laqr, and even Free Ear Piercings if the mood strikes you.
December 2nd is also a steal of a deal at Red Chickz, where they are debuting the Honey Butter Chicken Sandwich at both locations and offering it for just $5 (regularly $13) in honor of their third restaurant opening in San Diego.
Sunday, December 3rd, is the 1st Annual Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree at The Original Farmers Market from 2 to 7 p.m. The FREE event features a Photo Opp with a Live Reindeer, Music Performances, a Dog Adoption from Love & Leashes, a Churro pop-up at El Granjero Cantina, Crafts, and FREE Candy from Dylan’s Candy Bar for whoever donates a toy for the Salvation Army – who will also be wrapping gifts there.
December 3rd and 4th is the Food as Art series at The Aster in Hollywood with chef Jaime Pesaque of Mayta restaurant in Peru. Tickets for the 5-course pairing are $125 on Resy.
There’s a new exhibition at The Broad Art Museum in DTLA titled Desire, Knowledge, and Hope (with Smog) showcasing works by Los Angeles-based artists from the collection. Many are on view for the first time, so even if you’ve been before, it’s time to go again! Tickets are free and new spots open up daily as well as the last Wednesday of every month at 10 a.m.
December 4th to 10th
On December 4th, Spago in Beverly Hills is celebrating 40 years with some revamped cocktails, delicious bites, and music to support the Maui Food Bank. Tickets are available here, and the event runs from 6 to 10 p.m.
December 6th is the beginning of Squid Games: The Trials right here in Los Angeles. Timed tickets are available through the end of the month for a 70-minute experiential series of six games where you earn points just like the popular Netflix series of the same name. Tickets begin at $39 or are discounted right here.
December 7th is a screening of Elf at 7:30 p.m. on the I|O Rooftop in Hollywood. The screening is FREE and includes complimentary popcorn and reserved seating. Holiday Cocktails and Food are available for purchase from the Gingerbread Bar. Reserve your spot here for trivia, cinema, and rocking good time.
December 7th is also the first night of Hanukkah, which runs until December 15th. Menorah lightings are happening all over the city that day, including the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, beginning at 4:30 p.m. each night.
December 8th through the 10th, Netflix is wrapping your gifts at dedicated “wrap and relax stations” at the Palisades Village the Americana at Brand. The wrapping is FREE, and you get Festive Family Photo Opps with your favorite characters.
December 9th is the 30th Annual King Harbor Holiday Boat Parade, featuring a regatta of holiday cheer beginning at 5:30 p.m. A trophy for best decorations will be awarded at 8 p.m. Enjoy the parade from the nearby Portofino Hotel & Marina in Redondo Beach.
Also happening in Hermosa Beach on the same day, New Zealand-style ice cream truck Creamy Boys Ice Cream is opening a brick-and-mortar. They will open at 1136 Hermosa Ave, Hermosa Beach, with real fruit ice cream made by Kiwis on December 9th.
Not to be outdone, Marina del Rey is also having its annual Holiday Boat Parade on December 9th from 6 to 8 p.m. with Fireworks at 5:55 p.m. Get yourself a front-row seat plus Happy Hour and Outdoor Heaters at the Marina Del Rey Hotel beginning at 5:30 p.m. Admission is FREE, and reservations can be made here.
December 10th is the Hanukkah Festival at The Skirball Cultural Center in West L.A. The event runs from Noon to 5:30 p.m., and tickets begin at $18 but are FREE for members. Expect Performances, Latkes, and Community.
December 11th to the 17th
December 13th is a screening of Office Christmas Party at 7:30 p.m. on the I|O Rooftop in Hollywood. The screening is FREE and includes complimentary popcorn and reserved seating. Holiday Cocktails and Food are available for purchase from the Gingerbread Bar. Reserve your spot here for trivia, cinema, and a spirited good time.
Visit RUNWAY Playa Vista on December 15th, where they’ll be serving up cups of holiday cheer with their Cocoa & Carols event. The event is free, and cocoa is available while supplies last.
It’s a Salsa Navidad on December 15th when the Spanish Harlem Orchestra comes to Santa Monica at 7:30 p.m. at the Eli and Edythe Broad Stage at the Santa Monica Performing Arts Center. Ticketholders can also enjoy a mini salsa dancing lesson at 5:30 p.m. before the show. Tickets are available here.
December 16th is the start of The Holiday Spectacular at the Pasadena Playhouse, which will run until December 23rd. Get tickets for just $20 with this link.
Also on December 16th, it’s Nutcracker Season! Get Discounted tickets to The Nutcracker Ballet presented by the Long Beach Balle,t for performances until December 24th.
Saturday, December 16th, is also the 15th Annual SANTA Monica Pub Crawl, which benefits the Westside Food Bank! Crawlers will enjoy Food and Drink Specials at such establishments as Jameson’s Irish Pub, Barney’s Beanery, and the Brittania Pub. Your $20 Ticket also includes one free drink and no cover charges. The event runs from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. It’s the easiest charity work you’ll do all year 🙂
Lastly, Yuletide Cinemaland is on with an outdoor screening of Home Alone. Tickets include access to food trucks, holiday cocktails, singalongs, and even Victorian home tours. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. at the Heritage Square Museum in Pasadena. The event is family-friendly if you want it to be, or you can enjoy a special 21 and over area.
December 18th to the 24th
Head to Downtown Los Angeles to sing Carols with the Los Angeles Master Chorale during Carols on the Plaza. It’s a free 30-minute concert taking place on December 18th at 6 p.m. at the Jerry Moss Plaza. No reservations are required, and it’s a great way to experience one of the best choirs in the country for a lot less money.
Get ho-ho happy when you enjoy Christmas Classics under the stars, thanks to Yuletide Cinemaland. Tickets include access to food trucks, holiday cocktails, singalongs, and even Victorian home tours. December 18th is Tim Burton night, and doors open at 5:30 p.m. at the Heritage Square Museum in Pasadena. The event is family-friendly.
December 19th‘s Yuletide Cinemaland is The Holiday, and all the details are the same as above, except this event is 21 and over.
December 21st is a screening of Christmas Vacation at 7:30 p.m. on the I|O Rooftop in Hollywood. The screening is FREE and includes complimentary popcorn and reserved seating. Holiday Cocktails and Food are available for purchase from the Gingerbread Bar. Reserve your spot here for trivia, cinema, and holiday mayhem.
December 23rd at 8 p.m. is Arturo Sandoval’s Swinging Holiday, presented by the LA Phil. at the Walt Disney Concert Hall.
Make a new Christmas Eve tradition with The Secret Movie Club of Los Angeles by viewing It’s a Wonderful Life on 35 mm. The screening will take place at The Million Dollar Theater in DTLA at 11 a.m. on December 24th. Tickets begin at $14.
Also, on December 24th, it’s The 63rd Annual L.A. County Holiday Celebration from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Dorothy Chandler Pavillion. Admission is FREE, but an RSVP is appreciated. You can also stream it at home on PBS SoCal.
December 25th to the 31st
December 25th is a day for family and friends, but there’s always food to consider. The 24 Meals of Christmas from 2022 should give you some good ideas to start with. Stay tuned to the blog for 2023 additions if you’re reading this in November.
December 28th is a screening of About Fate at 7:30 p.m. on the I|O Rooftop in Hollywood. The screening is FREE and includes complimentary popcorn and reserved seating. Holiday Cocktails and Food are available for purchase from the Gingerbread Bar. Reserve your spot here for trivia, cinema, and romance.
December 31st is New Year’s Eve, and Gloria Molina Grand Park’s NYELA is one of the West Coast’s biggest FREE New Year’s Eve Events. Artists include a lineup of all female DJS, including DJ Sizzle, Bianca Maieli, and ERICALANDIA, among others. The event takes place from 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. on December 31st, 2023. Food trucks will be on-site, and alcohol will not. This is a family-friendly event that includes games and activities from PlayLA.
Precede your December 31st festivities with a night out at Santuari Restaurant in Toluca Lake. They are offering a 4-course prix fixe dinner for $125 from 5 to 9 p.m. Menu highlights include a glass of Bubbles to begin; House Porchetta with romesco, pickled veggies, and a parmesan crouton; Red King Crab with caviar, beurre blanc, and white chocolate; Entrée choices including Lamb Chops and Duck Cassoulet; and a Dessert course of Petits Fours & Bon Bons. Make your reservations here.
Let’s Get Lit!
Here’s where you can enjoy a city all lit up at night all month long:
- Lightscape at the L.A. Arboretum in Arcadia features a complete garden takeover going on now until January 2nd. Each section is timed perfectly with music for an uplifting, immersive experience that all ages will enjoy. Purchase here and save almost $15 per ticket.
- Enchanted at Descanso Gardens in La Cañada, Flintridge offers a nightly light-up of the botanical gardens and a chance to feel what it’s like to walk a forest at night. The lights are accompanied by an ethereal, meditative soundtrack that you can enjoy on Spotify on the car ride home. The event runs from now until January 7th. Tickets are available here.
- L.A. Zoo Lights features light-up animals at night while the real animals sleep tight. Enjoy it until January 7th. Discounted tickets are available here for select nights.
- Holiday Road is back for the 4th year in a row at King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas. Expect larger-than-life installations, Santa and Mrs. Claus, and a film activation from the new Eddie Murphy movie Candy Cane Lane. The event runs from now until December 27th.
Holidays on Ice
These holiday rinks are sure to keep you on your toes:
- Skate by the sea at the 4th annual Ice Rink at Paséa Hotel & Spa from December 14th until January 1st in Huntington Beach. Add on a Firepit Experience with holiday cocktails to make it a very merry evening. Tickets can be found here and are $35 for 90 minutes.
- The L.A. Kings Holiday Ice Event features the largest outdoor skating rink in Los Angeles located at L.A. Live in DTLA. Dates are now through December 31st. Reserve your skate here for evening skate sessions beginning at 5 p.m. most days. Tickets are $25 and under.
- Ice at Santa Monica takes place near the Third Street Promenade at 5th Street and Arizona and is open DAILY from 11:30 a.m. until 9 p.m. It’s on now until January 15th. Tickets are just $20 and can be purchased on-site or pre-purchased online to secure your time.
- Pershing Square Holiday Ice Skating Rink is open now until January 7th in DTLA. Tickets are $20 and time slots can be pre-purchased beginning at 11:30 a.m.
Ride a Holiday Train
Perfect for kids, the Holiday Light Festival Train Ride is a ten-minute train ride in Griffith Park, offering just the right amount of fun for $7. Lines open at 5 p.m. and can get long – so I recommend purchasing tickets online and getting the priority pass if you can for just a few dollars more (those are selling out fast). There are also timed tickets available. This event can be enjoyed until January 5th, 2024.
Enjoy Real Snow
Take advantage of one of the things that makes Los Angeles so great: the ability to be in snow and sand all in one day. Mountain High Resorts is just an hour and a half from downtown Los Angeles in Wrightwood, California. No stay is required, and you can sign up for Snow Play Day activities that range from tubing and sledding to just a chair lift.
