Here’s What’s Ho Ho Happening this 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 34 Wintertastic Things to do in December in Los Angeles, separated by week, plus specific holiday events happening daily all month long toward the end.
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December 1st to 7th
Sunday, December 1st, is The Hollywood Christmas Parade, beginning at 5 p.m. It’s been a star-studded tradition since 1928, featuring celebrities, marching bands, and floats – but it also does great work for Toys for Tots. Tickets are still available for $120, but there will also be free viewing screens along the boulevard and a televised event on The CW, among other networks.
December 1st also marks the start of Waiting for Godot at The Geffen Playhouse, starring Rainn Wilson and Aasif Mandvi. Discounted tickets are available here through December 15th for as low as $62.
Monday, December 2nd, at 5:00 p.m., is the L.A. County Tree Lighting Ceremony presented by The Music Center at the Jerry Moss Plaza in DTLA. The event is FREE and features live music, art-making activities, and complimentary hot chocolate. Also, be sure to check out the Pink Sphere Tree and Menorah at Gloria Molina Park, which turns on their lights the same night.
Monday, December 2nd, is also Handel’s Mess-Cider Sing-Along with Pacific Opera Project at Benny Boy Brewing at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are only $25 a person and include one drink to pair with your pipes. This event is 21-and-over only.
From December 5th to the 7th, Michelin-starred Camphor will be popping up at Lumière Brasserie, The Fairmont Century Plaza, for a special $65 steak prix-fixe. Think perfect frites, crisp salad, and a freshly baked baguette with butter to pair with your steak. Make your reservations via Resy for lunch and dinner.
Visit RUNWAY Playa Vista on December 6th, 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. Other dates include the 13th and 20th, from 6 to 8 p.m.
December 8th to 14th
Sunday, December 8th, is a screening of Love Actually at 8:15 p.m., presented by the Rooftop Cinema Club in DTLA. This is one of MANY Holiday films they have on the schedule as part of their Fireside Films series, which includes a portable heater to keep you warm in the frigid Los Angeles air. Tickets begin at $30 and also include a warm, non-alcoholic drink.
Sunday, December 8th, is also the Manhattan Beach Holiday Fireworks presented by Sketchers. While the fireworks begin at 7 p.m., there are activities beginning at 3 p.m., including a Snow Park with sled runs! It’s sure to be fine (and free) holiday fun. Use the code FIREWORKS on sushiroku.com and take advantage of 20% off Sushi Boxes from Sushi Roku Manhattan Beach.
Tuesday, December 10th, until Sunday, January 5th, is the much-anticipated run of Once Upon a Mattress with Sutton Foster at The Music Center’s Ahmanson Theatre. Get tickets for as low as $32 here.
Also, on Tuesday, December 10th, The Milky Way Restaurant is throwing a one-night-only dinner with best-selling author Joan Nathan (The Queen of American-Jewish Cooking) and Executive Chef Phil Kastel at 6:30 p.m. Guests will enjoy a taste of her best recipes along with conversation and the option to add on a copy of her newest book, A Sweet Year. Reserve on Resy.
From December 12th to the 14th, Michelin-starred Camphor will be popping up at Lumière Brasserie, The Fairmont Century Plaza, for a special $65 steak prix-fixe. Think perfect frites, crisp salad, and a freshly baked baguette with butter to pair with your steak. Make your reservations via Resy for lunch and dinner.
Friday, December 13th, is the 2nd Annual Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree Celebration at The Original Farmers Market from 6 to 9 p.m. The FREE event features a Photo Booth, Live Performances, Free Hot Chocolate, and Gift Wrapping by the Salvation Army.
Saturday, December 14th, is the 31st Annual King Harbor Holiday Boat Parade, featuring a regatta of tropical 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.
Not to be outdone, December 14th is also the annual Holiday Boat Parade for Marina del Rey, which runs from 6 to 8 p.m.The light show begins at 5:45 p.m. The nearby Marina Del Rey Hotel offers a front-row seat with cocktails. Get all the details on their website.
Beginning December 14th, it’s Nutcracker Season! Get tickets to The Nutcracker Ballet, presented by the Long Beach Ballet, for performances until December 22nd.
Also, December 14th is the 16th 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 includes one free drink, specialty pricing on the second round, and no cover charges. The event runs from 4 p.m. to midnight. It’s the easiest charity work you’ll do all year 🙂
December 15th to the 21st
Sunday, December 15th, 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 they are FREE for members. Expect Performances, Latkes, and Community. While there, don’t miss the Diane Von Furstenberg Retrospective on display through August 31st, 2025.
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 on December 16th 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.
Thursday, December 19th, is a one-night-only preview dinner for KOAST at Kali Restaurant. This is Chef Meehan’s forthcoming Nordic-Japanese-inspired restaurant that is set to open in 2025. The experience is $125 and can be reserved on OpenTable.
Thursday, December 19th until December 22nd, is Disney on Ice Magic in the Stars at the Crypto.com Arena. Tickets are 35% off now until the end of CYBER WEEK with the code G7VE35 and can be purchased with this link.
December 22nd to the 28th
On December 24th, it’s The 65th 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 is a day for family and friends, but there’s always food to consider. The 24 Meals of Christmas from 2023 should give you some good ideas to start with. Stay tuned for updates as the month rolls on if you’re reading this on December 1st.
December 25th is also the first night of Hanukkah, which runs until January 1st. 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 29th to the 31st
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. It takes place from 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. beginning on December 31st, 2024. Food trucks will be on-site, and alcohol will not. This is a family-friendly event that includes games and activities from PlayLA.
Also happening on December 31st are events like the 1 Hotel West Hollywood New Year’s Eve Party on Harriet’s Rooftop, a party at Bootsy Bellows, and a celebration at Yamashiro.
If you’ve got little ones, Pinstripes at Westfield Topanga is hosting a Noon Years Eve Party with a Balloon “ball drop”, Mocktails, and FREE Kids Meals! The event runs from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and costs $10 a child. RSVP here. You’re free to make bowling reservations for after the event.
Let’s Get Lit!
Here’s where you can enjoy a city all lit up at night all month long:
- 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 5th. Tickets are available here.
- L.A. Zoo Lights features light-up animals at night while the real animals sleep tight. Enjoy it until January 5th. Discounted tickets are available here for select nights.
- Holiday Road is back for the 5th year at King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas. Expect larger-than-life installations, Santa and Mrs. Claus, and holiday bars. The event runs from now until December 28th.
Holidays on Ice
These holiday rinks are sure to keep you on your toes:
- 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 January 10th, 2025. 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 20th. Tickets are $24.05 and can be purchased on-site or pre-purchased online to secure your time.
- Pershing Square Holiday Ice Skating Rink is open in DTLA from now until January 12th. Tickets are $20, and time slots can be pre-purchased beginning at 11:30 a.m.
Festive Feels
Westfield Century City has transformed into a winter wonderland with a Holiday Village Market, Santa’s North Pole Adventure, and Blitzen’s Bar. Guests can enjoy this daily and make reservations to see Santa with this link until December 24th.
If you’re in the Glendale area, be sure to stop by The Americana at Brand for Photos with Santa until December 24th. There’s also Nightly SnowFall at 7 and 8 p.m. until December 31st.
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 3rd, 2025.
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 to sledding and cost just $30 for kids.
