The best Christmas events in Los Angeles

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).

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.

Beverly Hills and the Rodeo Drive Committee host this free community event to kick off the city’s holiday season. This year’s Enchanted Holiday Dreams theme takes inspiration from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker. Watch as the famed palm-tree-dotted shopping street comes alive with twinkling lights, then stroll amid the glow and enjoy live music and entertainment, street performers, festive decor, wine gardens, food trucks and an appearance by Santa Claus. A fireworks show will complete the festivities.

Bob Baker Marionette Theater is back with its annual adaptation of Tchaikovsky’s ballet, which it’s performed since 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 production, with its large-scale marionettes and intricate sets, on most weekends and, closer to Christmas, select weekdays. 

Like a holiday edition of Fiesta Hermosa, this fifth annual weekend-long event transforms the coastal city’s downtown into a winter wonderland with an open house for local businesses, an artisanal pop-up marketplace on Pier Plaza and a Ferris wheel with ocean views. Also on the schedule: a letters-to-Santa station, family-friendly music fest and a kids creation market on Saturday, as well as a storytime tent, photos with Santa, tree lighting ceremony and community concert on Sunday. 

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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. 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.

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.

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.

Commuting through Union Station around the holidays? Make sure to take a detour into the station’s newly restored South Patio for the train station’s 10th annual tree lighting on November 20, with a musical performance by the Beverly Belles. You can also enjoy caroling, snowfall and arts and crafts—with a side of milk and cookies. Little ones can pose for photos with Santa. The holiday décor will stay up through Christmas.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This annual Christmas pop-up in the heart of Hollywood (6555 Hollywood Blvd) promises a 21+ immersive night of holiday cheer, complete with twinkling lights, snowflakes and other festive decor—think giant ornaments, craft cocktails, theme nights, live entertainment and, of course, seasonal cocktails like the Egg My Noggins and Polar Punch. You’ll need to buy a $19 ticket (which doesn’t include a drink) to get inside.

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.

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 beloved 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.

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 on December 22 and warm up at the free Carols on the Plaza, a holiday sing-along on Jerry Moss Plaza at 6pm.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

Like an Angelyne billboard on Sunset Boulevard, the Hollywood Christmas Parade is an essential part of L.A. kitsch. The nine-decade-old parade will feature floats, balloons, marching bands, equestrians and celebrities (of a sort) as they ride in a U-shaped route that begins at Hollywood and Orange and ends up at Sunset and Orange. Reserved grandstand seats can be purchased, with proceeds going to Toys for Tots, but free curbside seating is also available.

Nope, that’s not some sort of catastrophic explosion in the center of the city—that sound’s just the arrival of Christmas at the Grove. Brace yourself: L.A.’s shopping mall metropolis lights up its Christmas tree with a dazzling drone show, snowfall and a slew of special guests, including Santa himself (may we humbly suggest that you ask Santa this year for a prime spot in that mammoth parking garage). Lance Bass hosts this year’s show, with performances by Nick Carter, Dasha, Natalie Jane, Loud Luxury, Kevin Woo and Straight No Chaser. Stick around for the fireworks finale .

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.

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.

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.

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.

“Let’s hang out at the Pier” is something Santa Monica locals probably say next to never, but this monthly series is trying to change that. Every third Thursday from September to May, you’ll find everything from live music to storytelling to a classic car show on the Santa Monica Pier, all free to attend. On December 18, enjoy Holiday Cheer on the Pier and Sandy Cane Lane, festive waterfront experiences, as well as a Holiday Winter Art Mart, where local makers will be selling handcrafted gifts and seasonal treats perfect for last-minute shopping. Adding to the festive atmosphere will be holiday decor including a Santa sand sculpture and live entertainment including a show by Bob Baker Marionette Theater.