December 2025 events calendar for Los Angeles

This popular Santa Monica Hanukkah-inspired dinner series, which pairs a visiting chef with a local chef for a one-night-only special menu, is back for the fourth year—but this time around, it’s bittersweet. Birdie G’s, one of the city’s best restaurants, will be closing for good on December 20, so these eight dinners are some of the very last chances you’ll have to dine at the Rustic Canyon Family-helmed spot, and some nights are already completely booked out. This year, Birdie G’s guest chefs will include Vespertine and Destroyer’s Jordan Kahn; Quarter Sheets’ Aaron Lindell and pastry chef Hannah Ziskin; and Bar le Cote’s Brad Mathews. In addition to specials, an abbreviated regular menu will also be served. Note the event runs on December 1 to 4, then again December 8 to 11—meaning you’ll need to go on a weekday to enjoy these special-edition dinners.

The annual L.A. Kings ice skating rink presented by Coca-Cola once again returns to L.A. Live. Skate around the dazzling Christmas tree that stands in the middle of the outdoor rink, and take in an LED holiday light show on the huge screens around the plaza. Choose from four nightly skating sessions. Note: General admission tickets, which include skate rental, are only sold on-site, and can’t be purchased online ahead of time.

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Explore the Autry into the evening at the Griffith Park museum’s Thursday-night series that spotlights the city’s emerging and established artists, musicians, poets and writers. Programming ranges from free salsa lessons to DJ sets to old-timey radio plays. The museum galleries stay open late, too, plus drinks and food trucks are also on offer.

For the Record, the live production company known for transforming film soundtracks into immersive live musicals, used to pop up in Beverly Hills each holiday season for Love Actually Live. Now, it’s celebrating the season with a show made up of over 25 beloved songs from different holiday soundtracks, premiering inside FTR’s new permanent home: CineVita, the world’s largest Spiegeltent, in Inglewood. New Kids on the Block’s Joey McIntyre will host a night of numbers from films including Home Alone, Elf, White Christmas and, yes, Love Actually—all performed by a professional cast of singers, dancers and musicians. Pair your festive nostalgia with themed cocktails and seasonal treats.

Organized by New York’s Museum of Modern Art and presented by the Hammer Museum, the MoMA Contenders series presents 10 influential, innovative films made in the past year. Most screenings are accompanied by a post-screening discussion with some of the creatives involved in the project. This year’s picks include Frankenstein, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, A House of Dynamite, It Was Just an Accident, Sinners (with special guests writer-director Ryan Coogler and actress Wunmi Moskau), Nouvelle Vague, Jay Kelly, The Mastermind, Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere (with director Scott Cooper) and One Battle After Another, presented in 70mm. More special guests will be announced soon.

For timeless Christmas gifts with a side of preppy style, Ralph Lauren is popping up at 8495 Melrose Avenue with an immersive installation that will combine the brand’s signature style with some holiday magic. Stop by to step into the world of Ralph Lauren, with vintage holiday sweaters and denim for sale, plus complimentary embroidery and hand-painting customization. The one-stop holiday shop also includes a coffee truck with festive beverages and even a Christmas tree farm, with evergreens straight from Oregon (proceeds benefit the brand’s cancer prevention center). Kids can keep entertained with live music from a children’s choir, face painting and more. 

You’ll want to sleep with the lights on after seeing this terrifying theatrical take on the hit Parnormal Activity movie franchise at the Ahmanson Theatre. The R-rated play is making its world premiere, featuring a new story and illusions by the Tony-winning designer who dreamed up the impressive special effects in Harry Potter & the Cursed Child.

Spoil your furry best friend and the animal lovers in your life at this free market at the Wallis Annenberg PetSpace. The posh Playa Vista shelter will be peddling purr-fectly pet-friendly accessories and treats from more than a dozen vendors. Enjoy complimentary cookies, hot cocoa and coffee while you shop, and don’t forget to snap a pet portrait with Santa.

The American Contemporary Ballet returns this holiday season with its fantastical take on the tale from author E.T.A. Hoffmann. Experience the seasonal classic on a snow-shrouded stage set within an immersive space in DTLA’s Bank of America Plaza. The 75-minute production includes an ensemble of live musicians performing Tchaikovsky’s iconic score, as well as an artist reception following the show. The sweet-surprise-filled show sells out every year, so grab your tickets early.

The Queen of Christmas—well, her likeness anyway—has taken over the Skybar at Mondrian this holiday season, filling the swanky poolside bar with lots of “All I want for Christmas” spirit. Sure to be a hit with both Carey fans and Christmas lovers of all candy-cane stripes, the pop-up winter wonderland boasts wall-to-wall holiday décor inspired by the singer, interactive photo ops, album backdrop re-creations, festive food, holiday cocktails and, of course, lots of merch. And forget letters to Santa—here you’ll find a dedicated “Letters to Mariah Carey” station, and “All I Want for Christmas Is You” will be played every 30 minutes. Your ticket gets you a welcome cocktail and 90-minute access to the immersive experience.

Don something festive and head over to Royce Hall to hear the angels sing—the Angel City Chorale, that is. The America’s Got Talent semifinalists will sing a host of holiday classics at their annual holiday concert. The 150-member group, known for its mishmash of classical, pop, world, contemporary and gospel genres, will perform silver-screen-worthy soundtrack arrangements at the holiday-film-themed show. Also promised are photo ops, carol sing-alongs and some surprises. If you can’t make it, the Sunday concert will also be livestreamed.

A performing-arts staple of Los Angeles for over 40 years now, the 200-strong GMCLA brings festive cheer in its annual holiday musical extravaganza while raising awareness for important LGBTQ+ issues. This year, the chorus returns to the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills performs a “Holiday Legends”–themed show, performing iconic songs from the season, from choral classics to pop Christmas anthems to Hanukkah favorites. Chorus member Salina EsTitties, of RuPaul’s Drag Race, will make a special guest appearance.

Be one of the first people to see the new edition of the L.A. Times’ annual 101 Best Restaurants guide at this reveal party at the Hollywood Palladium. Enjoy unlimited bites and drinks from dozens of the city’s top restaurants and bars inside the Palladium’s ballroom. Highlights from this year’s lineup of participants (which also means they are on the guide in some fashion) include Baroo, Bridgetown Roti, Camélia, Daisy Margarita Bar, Darling, Dunsmoor, Holbox and Restaurant Ki. VIP entry begains at 7:15pm, while GA ticketholders can enter at 8pm.

Westlake Village re-creates a traditional European Christmas market with Holidays in the Village, where you’ll find artisan vendors selling gift-worthy goods, as well as bakers, chocolatiers, carolers and more. You can shop into the evening, when the stalls come alive with holiday lights. Refuel with a freshly baked croissant or Aebleskiver paired with a mug of Glühwein, hot cocoa or Kinderpunsch. It’s also family-friendly: At last year’s event, kids got to mingle with Kris Kringle and the Grinch, take train and Ferris wheel rides, and hunt down teddy bears in a scavenger hunt. 

Step inside a Christmas tree made of lights during the return of this illuminated installation at Downtown shopping center the Bloc. Sparkle DTLA will light up the night with 18 million different hues through the end of the year, and every night you can catch its displays dance to synchronized holiday music on the hour (5–9pm). The festivities kick off December 7 with live music, photos with Santa and the Grinch, plus some surprises.

You’ve walked, donated and volunteered, all in the name of charity. Now here’s your chance to drink for those in need. Gather your friends and join other do-gooders at the annual SANTA Monica (see what they did there?) Pub Crawl. An admittance fee benefiting the Westside Food Bank allows you to participate in one of two routes around Santa Monica—although the VIP route hopper ticket gives you the best bang for your buck. Don your ugliest Christmas sweater or a Santa hat—there’s a prize for the best holiday spirit costume—and enjoy single-digit-dollar food and drink deals at some of the city’s best spots, including the Victorian and Jameson’s Irish Pub (both stops on the Main Street Route) and indoor mini golf spot Holey Moley on Third Street Promenade. Sign up online and collect a wristband on the day of the event, then crawl from spot to spot on foot. End your night at the official after-party at 1212. Plus, in celebration of Santa Monica’s 150th birthday this year, there will also be a block barty on the Promenade in the new “Entertainment Zone,” complete with live entertainment, DJs, beer gardens and wintry pop-up bars.

Melrose Trading Post is a favorite among flea-market shoppers year-round, but every Sunday in December, it’ll offer a merry twist. More than 260 local artists, makers and vintage vendors will be selling gift-worthy goods alongside live music and family-friendly holiday activities. Take your picture in the Rock ’n’ Roll Santa photo booth, get creative at an artist-led gift-making workshop, and catch performances by the Grand Arts Jazz Carolers and Little Women Ballet. And if a puppy’s on your Christmas wish list, you can adopt one on-site on December 28. Admission to MTP is usually $8, but you can get in for free December 7 and 14 if you bring a new, unwrapped toy for the Mágico Toy Drive; members of IATSE, SAG/AFTRA and Actors’ Equity unions get complimentary admission all month long.

Take your Christmas movie binge-watching up a notch and reserve a seat to one of the upcoming special screenings of Home Alone at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and DTLA Voices will bring the classic to life by performing John Williams’s score live to picture, conducted by David Newman. 

Pasadena’s South Lake Avenue transforms for the holidays during this beloved free celebration that attracts thousands of visitors each year. You’ll find free photos with Santa at Macy’s (401 S Lake Ave), a holiday artisan market and cookie decorating at the Commons (140 S Lake Ave) and ornament making at Pasarroyo (251 S Lake Ave). Businesses along the street—from Erewhon to Pie ‘N Burger to Sanrio—will be offering special promotions, and starting at 1pm, three local bands will provide a diverse soundtrack of live music while you shop. Carolers in costume will also be roaming the avenue, as well as holiday characters including Olaf, the Grinch, Frosty the Snowman and Snoopy.

If you’re on the hunt for artistic gifts but don’t know your way around a lump of clay, you’re in luck. BIPOC-owned pottery studio POT is back with its eighth annual holiday market, with giftable handcrafted wares from over 50 local vendors. There’s more than just ceramics for sale, though—you’ll also find books, plants, home essentials, accessories, clothing and more. And the best part: POT has provided an exclusive code for Time Out readers to use for complimentary entry to the market (which is normally $9). Enter “TimeOutHoliday” at checkout for a free ticket that will also give you access to free beer from Boomtown Brewery, kids’ activities, ornament making, snacks, coffee and more. Note: POT had to close its Echo Park studio earlier this year, so you’ll find all the action at its Jefferson Boulevard location.

Located just blocks from the ocean, Ice in downtown Santa Monica brings a bit of winter to the comfortable coastal city. The 8,000-square-foot outdoor rink runs daily from November to mid-January on the corner of Fifth Street and Arizona Avenue (less than a 10-minute walk from the E Line). Tickets for an hourlong slot ($24) include skate rentals, and you can book private parties and fire pits if you’re looking for something a bit more premium. Look out for cozy treats for sale, plus special events like classical Sunday afternoons and a sparkly shindig for Taylor Swift’s birthday (Dec 13).

Not to be confused with Enchanted Forest of Light at Descanso Gardens, this newcomer to L.A.’s Christmas-lights scene is also located in the San Gabriel Valley—Santa Anita Park, to be precise—and claims to be the largest Christmas-lights maze in the world. In addition to its lit-up labyrinth with a 100-foot tree of lights as its centerpiece, the one-stop holiday extravaganza also boasts ice skating, an ice slide, a Ferris wheel, mini golf, a shopping village, visits with Santa and festive treats and drinks. 

Stroll across the grounds of King Gillette Ranch as the Santa Monica Mountains hideaway is illuminated during Holiday Road, which returns with a nearly mile-long walking trail. The event, which comes from the same team as Night of the Jack, includes thousands of lights, festive decor like a small Christmas village, larger-than-life holiday displays and lit-up archways. Look out for Santa and Mrs. Claus, and fill up at food trucks and a holiday bar while you’re there. Prices start at $29 and go up depending on the day and time you visit.

Broadway star and Tony, Grammy and Emmy Award Ben Platt may not have reprised his starring role in Dear Evan Hansen for its L.A. run, but the singer-actor will be gracing the Ahmanson stage after all this holiday season, performing his own hits along with classic showtunes—joined by star-studded special guests—during a two-week residency at the theater.

Follow Kara as she drifts from New York to globetrotting lands with a hot-chocolate-filled Nutcracker in Debbie Allen Dance Academy’s reimagining of the classic ballet, made famous in the Netflix documentary Dance Dreams. Now in its 15th year, the production trades Tchaikovsky for Arturo Sandoval and Mariah Carey. 

If you’re making a list and checking it twice, consider Craft Contemporary’s annual holiday marketplace for unique handmade gifts and an opportunity to buy directly from the emerging and established L.A. makers behind them, chosen for their top-notch design and craftsmanship. If you want dibs on the most in-demand options, check out the ticketed preview on Friday evening, with refreshments, music and gift bags. Otherwise, stop by the museum over the weekend to check out the latest exhibitions and shop. There are even some workshops where you can tap into your own craftiness: Make 3-D paper snowflakes on Saturday or finger puppets on Sunday—both free—or craft your own holiday centerpiece using greens and florals (12:30pm, $65).

This serene entry into the holiday-lights-at-botanic-gardens category finds the native-plant-focused California Botanic Garden lit up with twinkling strands and luminarias—lanterns made from candles in paper bags. Illuminated pathways lead to live music stages, which will be hosting three performances each night, ranging from jazz to Native American flute music. A food truck, sweet treats and hot drinks will also be on offer each night. New this year are expanded pathways and, on the first weekend only, a Night Market where you can buy plants and crafts from nature-focused vendors.

Holiday light shows are popping up all over the city, but a free light installation is always welcome. Grand Illuminations—which features a custom 25-foot-tall LED light tree and dynamic display Lumiverse—returns for the second year on December 3 with a lighting ceremony, live music, a holiday market and refreshments from noon–7pm. The stars are the Electric Dandelions, 28-foot-tall kinetic sculptures that look like fireworks in action, which were designed by L.A.-based art collective Liquid PXL and debuted at Burning Man in 2016, popping up in the U.K., East Coast and various festivals before arriving at the Yard at Cal Plaza. The lights will stay on all holiday season, through January 4, till 10pm nightly.

The beloved Bob Baker Marionette Theater is back with its annual holiday production, which dates back to 1969. This year, the puppet-filled play is returning to the Sierra Madre Playhouse. From just after Thanksgiving through the beginning of the year, you can see the charming take on the classic ballet, with its large-scale marionettes and intricate sets, on most weekends and, closer to Christmas, select weekdays. 

One of the best small-business shopping events in the country, the biannual Unique Los Angeles features clothes, accessories, wellness products, art pieces and artisanal foods from over 75 local brands. Rub elbows with the different designers and artists showcasing their work, take free holiday portraits in the Oh Snap! photo booth, and visit the DIY Den to make your own gift charms and ornaments. Unique Los Angeles is the perfect place to find, well, unique gifts for those on your list. Ticket proceeds will go to their new nonprofit, Unique World, which provides mentorship and grants to small businesses, artists and creatives.

Long Beach Ballet’s The Nutcracker is one of the only area productions of the holiday classic that includes not only a live full orchestra, but also a horse, a flying sleigh, magical special effects and pyrotechnics, making it a SoCal fan favorite. Sure, the story may be the same, but this production pulls out all the stops to entertain audiences year after year—including for six performances this December, when it will celebrate its 43rd anniversary.

Modern-day living got you down? Travel back to the Victorian era with this holiday celebration at the Arboretum, taking place over three consecutive weekends. The front lawn of the 1880s Queen Anne Cottage, which you can step inside during a walk-through tour, will host visits with Santa, Victorian dancers and carolers, themed refreshments and a marketplace. Grab a hot cocoa or hot toddy and browse goods from local makers and artists.

If you’re shopping in Orange County and dreaming of a white Christmas, the open-air Irvine Spectrum Center has your answer. Located in Giant Wheel Court by Nordstrom, this Anaheim Ducks–sponsored rink offers an opportune time out from a busy shopping day. Following each 90-minute skating session, the rink is closed for resurfacing, so you’ll never have to skate on slush. Head to the adjacent Ferris wheel during the half-hour the rink is closed for nonstop fun. Tickets—$27 with skate rental, $24 if you bring your own—are available at the rink, but if you want “jump the line” tickets, you can buy them online ahead of time for $50.

Watch a slate of classics from the past couple of decades on one of the prettiest rooftops in Hollywood at this outdoor screenings series. All movies are piped in over sets of provided wireless headphones. Though the summer season has ended, the series is returning for four holiday screenings of The Muppet Christmas Carol, Elf, Love Actually and It’s a Wonderful Life leading up to Christmas. Before showtime, make sure to hit up the bar or the on-site kitchen, Oasis, which will be serving up wagyu burgers and classic film concessions.

The outdoor Topanga theater is already pretty magical, but on December 13 it’ll turn into a winter wonderland, with carolers and singing madrigals roaming the grounds, holiday storytelling, an artisan market selling gifts and crafts, festive food and drink, and photo ops with Santa and Mrs. Claus. After the fair, there’s a live radio play performance of It’s a Wonderful Life starring Pamela Adlon, Beau Bridges, Wendie Malick, Joe Mantegna and Missi Pyle at 5pm—you can buy a ticket as a $25 add-on.

Even the grumpiest of list-makers at yuletide has to include a production of Charles Dickens’s beloved tale of becoming a better person. Each holiday season, Geoff Elliott and Julia Rodriguez-Elliott direct this merry and music-filled production, starring Elliott and his fellow resident artists of A Noise Within theater company—all ranking among L.A.’s best classical actors—staged in ANW’s spacious theater with perfect sight lines from every seat, even for the kids.

Calling all vintage lovers! Shop one-of-a-kind pieces from over 50 of the top local and national vintage retailers and private dealers at this pop-up market. A Current Affair is a major source for stylists, designers and anyone in search of everything from perfectly worn-in jeans to rare and collectible designer pieces. Shop an array of vintage clothing, accessories and jewelry dating all the way back to the Victorian era at the pop-up market’s West Hollywood Design District location.

The ground floor of Vintage Land will be decked out for the holidays December 13 and 14. The home of Los Feliz Flea will host a vintage market and artisan pop-ups by over 100 vendors, where you can find unique, handcrafted items perfect for gift-giving. Grab a hot cocoa or coffee to keep warm, and shop the day away amid live holiday music. Admission and parking are both free, and the market is pet-friendly. And if you need a break from shopping, you can test your gaming skills at Vintage Land’s pickleball court.

Strike the harp and join the chorus with the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s annual Holiday Sing-Along at Walt Disney Concert Hall. The family-friendly seasonal program offers two performances hosted by Melissa Peterman with performances from a choir, a jazz combo and the venue’s massive pipe organ. Lyric sheets for the holiday classics will be provided, just in case you forget how many fa-la-la-la-las are in “Deck the Halls.” Show up early for complimentary cocoa and crafts for kids at 10:30am.

If you’ll follow wherever Gilmore Girls leads, then you’re going to need to embark on the Warner Bros. Studio Tour this holiday season. For the final couple weeks of the year, the Burbank backlot is again supplementing its regular tour with the “Holidays Made Here” addition, which decks out the Stars Hollow section in festive decor, including the gazebo and Luke’s Diner, where you can sip coffee or cocoa from “Luke” actor Scott Patterson’s own brand—oh, and did we mention Patterson himself will be appearing in person each afternoon? In honor of the show’s 25th anniversary this year, the studio has further kicked things up a notch with new re-created sets, merch, a food passport add-on option and a nightly holiday light show. Holidays Made Here runs as part of all studio tours from December 18, 2025, to January 4, 2026. There’s also an event-only ticket option this year; while it’s the same price ($76), it means you can hang out in Stars Hollow all day.

Feel as though you’ve escaped to a small-town fishing village during the 63rd annual Marina del Rey Holiday Boat Parade. Bring a blanket and gather at Fisherman’s Village or Burton Chace Park to watch as dozens of boats glide through the marina with holiday lights and decorations. This year’s “A Nightmare Before Christmas” theme promises pirate vibes. A competition will determine the best of the bunch, with categories like best theme, best animation, best band, best lights and more. The festivities begin at 5:45pm with a light show (no fireworks this year), and the two-hour boat parade starts at 6pm, rain or shine.

Strike the electrified, amped-up harp and join the chorus: The KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas lineup is here. Don’t let its dainty Christmas name fool you—the annual concert is most definitely a plugged-in affair, featuring some of the year’s top mainstream, alt-rock radio staples taking the stage at the Kia Forum. This year’s nostalgic lineup is made up of bands that’ll take you back to middle school: The All-American Rejects, Evanescence, Rise Against, Social Distortion, Third Eye Blind and Yellowcard, plus newcomers Wet Leg and the Paradox.

This Christmas-themed Costa Mesa event has been turning Orange County into a veritable winter wonderland for 11 years now. Expect a Forest of Lights walk-through, snow play, ice tubing and photo ops, visits with Santa and a new falling snow area and themed entertainment zones with live music. Upgrade your experience with carnival rides, ice skating, bounce houses, “polar putt-putt” golf and fireside igloos. Hot cocoa and seasonal treats will help keep things cozy. 

It’s always Christmas at this charmingly kitsch amusement park outside of Lake Arrowhead. But it’s extra Christmassy toward the end of the year at Santa’s Village—especially if you’re lucky enough to get some fresh mountain snowfall. Swing by from November 13 to January 4 for lighting displays, a train ride, a magical nighttime walk through the forest, seasonal snacks, breakfast with Santa and tea with Mrs. Claus (those require a separate ticket) and ice skating.

Perhaps the Los Angeles area’s most iconic flea market, this event around the exterior of the Rose Bowl is staggeringly colossal—but what else would you expect from a 90,000-seat stadium? The sheer size and scale of this flea market means that it encompasses multitudes: new and old, hand-crafted and salvaged, the cheap and the costly. On the second Sunday of each month, an odd mix of vendors populates the loop around the stadium: for every eye-catching artwork, there’s a ratty $5 T-shirt, and for each elegant craft there’s a competing “as seen on TV” demo. But you may have more luck in the rows and rows of old furniture, albums and vintage clothes and accessories that fill the adjacent parking lot.

Bob Baker Marionette Theater’s year-end production, formerly known as Holiday on Strings, has been reimagined as a holiday special complete with puppets in party clothes singing carols. Head to the troupe’s Highland Park location for the hour-long show, which follows host Demitrius Nova Twinklestar III on a tour of BBMT’s holiday traditions: You’ll see sledding slopes, caroling penguins, Santa’s workshop and more. For a sensory-friendly version, book tickets to the 4:30pm show on Saturday, December 20.

Not to be confused with A Noise Within’s annual production of A Christmas Carol—though the talents involved are equally stellar—here we have the chance to see the story up close, from the POV of Dickens himself. Now in its 22nd year, this show finds David Melville displaying his classically trained, beautifully polished craft to bring the famous writer to life as he tells his classic tale of Christmastime redemption—and spars with his young American assistant—in the intimacy of Independent Shakespeare Co.’s indoor theater space.

Join the Los Angeles Master Chorale for some your favorite holiday carols in concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall. Sixty-two singers, led by conductor Grant Gershon, will belt out classics from around the globe (plus traditional fixtures like “Jingle Bells,” “Angels We Have Heard on High” and “The Twelve Days of Christmas”) to get you in the festive spirit. The Disney Hall’s famed pipe organ will also make an appearance—and you never know when Santa might show up.

L.A. doesn’t typically seem like much of a winter wonderland, until, that is, you create an ice skating rink right in the midst of Downtown skyscrapers. Come glide around and pretend there’s snow on the ground at Pershing Square’s outdoor holiday skating rink. Skate rentals are included in admission, though lockers and skating aids cost a few dollars extra.

Relive your childhood theatergoing experiences this Christmas with Uncle Drosselmeyer, Clara and her beloved Nutcracker at the L.A. Ballet. The timeless show—which gets a SoCal-setting twist here—will travel all over L.A. for the holiday season, bringing classic pirouettes and Mouse King battles to UCLA, as well as 12 performances at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, where the show will be backed by the troupe’s live orchestra.

Street Food Cinema has put together a series of outdoor holiday screenings in the closest thing to a Dickensian town square in L.A.: Heritage Square. In between Victorian home tours, piano sing-alongs, strolls through a light tunnel and sips on hot chocolate and mulled wine, you can catch screenings—many of them double features—of flicks like Elf, Home Alone, A Christmas Story, The Muppet Christmas Carol and more. Just make sure to bundle up in your best Christmas sweater.

Feeling like you and your four-legged friend are attached at the hip? Spend even more quality time together during this dog-friendly series at Palos Verdes’ South Coast Botanic Garden. One Sunday a month, you can roam the gardens’ 87 acres with your fur baby. Nearly all of the paths are open to pups, except for the rose garden and a couple of other small areas. You’ll find plenty of water stations set up across the grounds, as well as an optional obedience class for purchase. You—the human—will need a reservation, while your best friend—the pup—will need to remain on their leash at all times, including in the parking lot.

American Ballet Theatre is returning to Orange County with its production of The Nutcracker for the 10th year running. The show will feature larger-than-life scenery, a Christmas tree, over 100 performers, and sets and costumes designed by Tony Award winner Richard Hudson (the visionary behind the sets of the stage version of The Lion King). The Pacific Symphony will perform Tchaikovsky’s score live.

Mexican folk dance company Ballet Folklórico de Los Ángeles is taking the Soraya stage in Northridge once again for the 10th anniversary of this mariachi-infused holiday show, which celebrates the different regions of Mexico. The four music- and dance-filled shows will also feature the talents of Mexican actress and Grammy-nominated Ximena Sariñana.

If the words “Disney” and “sing-along” normally make you think of mini-vans and Frozen, rethink your word associations and head to the Walt Disney Concert Hall for the annual Messiah Sing-Along. The event allows the 2,200-member audience to sing their hearts out and try to hit the high notes alongside the Los Angeles Master Chorale, conducted by artistic director Grant Gershon. Songs will be performed by the professional orchestra and a quartet of professional soloists—the audience fills in as the chorus. Show up early and warm up at the free Carols on the Plaza, a holiday sing-along on Jerry Moss Plaza at 6pm.

Ah, the joys of Christmas in a Mediterranean climate, where boat owners can deck out their ships in holiday lights and set sail without the impediment of icy weather. For the 117th (!) year, the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade lets them do just that as over 100 decorated yachts and ships parade around a 14-mile circuit in the Newport Harbor. You can see the parade for free during each of the five nights from any bay-facing point along the harbor (Marina Park, which also hosts a holiday market, is the go-to spot), but there are also reserved seats, dining packages and cruises available for purchase, if you want to get out on the water yourself. And to top it off, there’ll be fireworks on opening night and drone shows—visible from both ends of the harbor—nightly from December 17 to 21.

The summer screening series heads indoors during the winter for its annual holiday party. This December, the historic Los Angeles Theatre Downtown will be transformed into a multi-story winter wonderland for a special screening of Elf. Expect photo ops, live music, DJ sets and a free photo booth where you can pose with Santa. Come dressed in your festive finest.

Saved your shopping till the literal week of Christmas? Don’t worry: A favorite of in-the-know shoppers, MAUM Market is returning to ROW DTLA on December 20. The market champions AAPI artists, creatives and entrepreneurs, and the result is a mindfully curated shopping experience. Find accessories, art, kids’ toys, beauty and wellness goodies, ceramics, stationery, clothing, jewelry, home wares and treats at the family-friendly and pet-friendly fair. While entry is usually $5, this time around it’s free.

Tanaka Farms opens up its Irvine fields for this after-dark wagon ride and walk-through. Hikari—which means “light” or “shine” in Japanese—has set up light displays including a long trail of lanterns, plus some festive theming that’s overtaken the farm’s scarecrows, corn maze, tractors and trees. You’ll be able to explore the lantern field by both tractor and foot, and afterward you can peruse a petting zoo, games, crafts and photo ops with Santa. While you’re there, you’ll also find the farm’s produce stand, a holiday market and a Christmas tree lot. You’ll need to purchase a parking pass on weekends, as well as tickets for each person any day of the week; the prices fluctuate depending on the date, so opt for a weekday for the lowest price.

Riverside’s stunningly beautiful Mission Inn is bathed in over 10 million twinkly lights during the annual Festival of Lights, which has lit up the city for 33 years now. The free, six-week-long holiday tradition runs from late November to early January and typically features more than 400 festive, animated figures. Having been voted the “Best Public Lights Display” by USA Today, the festival attracts over 500,000 visitors each year. The spectacle will kick off with a Switch On Ceremony on November 22, followed by live music from Matt Mauser and the Tijuana Dogs, and there’ll be holiday-themed kiddie rides outside the hotel all season long.

Ring in the New Year with confetti, pyro and thousands of your closest friends at Countdown. John Summit, Above & Beyond, Pryda, Madeon and a couple dozen other dance acts top this year-end fest, which moves from San Bernardino to Downtown L.A. this year.

Anonymous feminist art collective the Guerrilla Girls—whose members gained notoriety for donning gorilla masks and fighting the patriarchy—is coming up on its 40th anniversary, and the Getty Center is marking the occasion with a behind-the-scenes look at the group. See photography, protest art and the group’s famed posters—sporting statistics, bold visuals and satirical humor—that showcase the tactics the members used to demand recognition for women and artists of color. The Guerrilla Girls have even created a newly commissioned work for the exhibition. And you can add your own mark on the “graffitti wall” installation, giving visitors a creative outlet for their complaints about the world today. 

Robert Therrien’s Under the Table has long been one of the most popular pieces in the Broad’s collection (you know the one—the giant table and chairs that you ask your friend to snap a photo of as you stand underneath). Well now the museum is hosting the largest-ever solo exhibition of the artist’s work, displaying more than 120 pieces, including many that have never been shown in museums before. Expect more huge housewares and striking works, plus some intimate drawings and surprises from the late L.A.-based artist. The specially ticketed show will fill the first-floor galleries through April 5, 2026.

Dealing with a difficult subject head-on, the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA’s new show, “Monuments”—co-presented by the museum and nonprofit the Brick (formerly LAXART)—juxtaposes both intact and vandalized Confederate monuments with contemporary artwork. The show looks at the recent wave of monument removals from a historic perspective and encourages discourse about challenging topics amid an ongoing national debate about the role of these statues and what they represent. Tickets for the special exhibition are $18, though if you book far enough ahead of time, you can take advantage of free admission on the first Friday of every month.

Don’t go in the water, but do go to the Academy Museum to see the largest exhibition ever dedicated to Steven Spielberg’s original summer blockbuster, Jaws—which is celebrating its 50th anniversary. The museum was already home to the last surviving model shark from filming, but now you can go behind the scenes and see some 200 original objects from the film across multiple galleries. Some highlights: a re-creation of the Orca fishing boat, the dorsal fin used both in Jaws and its sequels, costumes worn by the central trio and a room full of vintage film posters and merch promoting the film. There are interactive elements, too: You can have your own Chief Brody dolly-zoom moment (and see the lens used to film the famous shot), play the iconic John Williams two-note score and control a replica of the mechanical shark.

Right on the heels of the release of his new film, Mickey 17, director Bong Joon Ho steps into the spotlight at the Academy Museum’s latest “Director’s Spotlight” exhibition (past subjects have included Spike Lee and Agnès Varda). The first-ever museum show dedicated to the Oscar-winning South Korean filmmaker will trace Ho’s career, creative process and cinematic influences. See over 100 storyboards, research materials, posters, concept art, creature models, props and on-set photos from the director’s archive and personal collection. On opening day, March 23, catch screenings of Okja (2pm) and Parasite (7:30pm) in the David Geffen Theater—Ho himself will be there in person.

Japan House Los Angeles is bringing an exhibition of shokuhin sampuru—hyper-realistic food replicas that have crossed over from marketing tool to art form (think Is It Cake? but cultural)—to Los Angeles for the first time. See mouthwatering faux food representing each of Japan’s 47 prefectures, from coffee house parfaits to izakaya skewers, as well as Chinese and Western cuisine, and try your own hand at food presentation by filling a bentō box yourself.

On the 50th anniversary of the Norton Simon Museum, look back to when Simon took over management of the Pasadena Art Museum in 1975, then ahead to the museum’s exciting future at this retrospective exhibition. See rare photos from the museum’s archives, and learn about the history of its major acquisitions, exhibitions, building and gardens—which are currently undergoing a transformation.

More than 50 works on display at the Autry showcase how indigenous artists have crafted visions of alternative futures in the face of enduring colonial trauma. The bottom-floor exhibition opens with a semicircle of high fashion, including remarkable crow attire from Cannupa Hanska Luger, which is paired with video footage from his accompanying performance piece. Star Wars plays a surprisingly large role in the vibrant show, including Andy Everson’s Northwest Coast-inspired take on stormtrooper helmets.

The Getty Villa reopens to the public five and a half months after its Palisades Fire closure with this international loan exhibition dedicated to the Greek Mycenaean civilization and the kingdom of Pylos, which Homer immortalized in the Iliad and Odyssey. It’s the first major museum show in North America devoted to the Late Bronze Age Mycenaeans. See treasures excavators unearthed from Messenia, the Palace of Nestor and burial sites including the tomb of the Griffin Warrior (1450 BCE)—think clay tablets, gold cups, ornate weapons and tiny signets and sealstones adorned with awe-inspiring amounts of detail. 

The Natural History Museum’s taxidermy dioramas turn a century old this year, and to celebrate the museum is reviving an entire hall of displays that’ve been dark for decades. Expect some fresh approaches to these assembled snapshots of the wilderness, including alebrijes made of recycled materials, a crystalline depiction of pollution and a tech-driven display of the L.A. River.

The California Science Center is inviting kids to get in the game with a new 17,000-square-foot exhibition about the power of play and the human body in motion. Besides teaching about the science behind sports, it also offers interactive challenges and video coaching from a team of Los Angeles-based mentor athletes including dancer Debbie Allen, the Dodgers’ World Series hero Freddie Freeman, Olympic medalist softball player Rachel Garcia and more. And for the first time ever, the center has commissioned public art—all by local artists—to complement the exhibition, including a Dodgers mural by Gustavo Zermeño Jr. The free exhibition will run at the Science Center through the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.