Experience the magic of the holiday season in Los Angeles, where the city dazzles with festive events and activities for all ages. The Hollywood Christmas Parade lights up Hollywood Boulevard with celebrity-studded floats and marching bands, creating a joyous spectacle in the heart of Tinseltown.
Marvel at the whimsical LA Zoo Lights, where glowing animal sculptures and twinkling displays transform the zoo into a nocturnal wonderland. For a touch of classic culture, the Los Angeles Ballet's Nutcracker Ballet transports audiences to a fairy tale realm of enchanting choreography and dazzling costumes.
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The Top Christmas Events in Los Angeles
- Hollywood Christmas Parade
- LA Zoo Lights
- The Nutcracker Ballet by Los Angeles Ballet
- Noche de las Velitas
- Griffith Park Holiday Light Festival
Los Angeles Holiday Light Displays
LA Zoo Lights
What to Expect:
Animal-themed light displays in a zoo setting
Description:
The Los Angeles Zoo illuminates after dark with a menagerie of glowing animal sculptures and twinkling light displays. Visitors stroll through immersive installations that blend wildlife education with holiday cheer. Animated light shows bring the zoo's inhabitants to life in unexpected ways. You can sip on hot cocoa while exploring the transformed nocturnal landscape. The event began in 2014 as a way to attract visitors during the zoo's typically slower winter months. LED technology allows for vibrant, energy-efficient displays that dazzle without disturbing the real animals' habitats.
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Griffith Park Holiday Light Festival
What to Expect:
Drive-through light display in iconic urban park
Description:
Griffith Park's winding roads become a twinkling wonderland during the Holiday Light Festival. Visitors drive through a one-mile route filled with animated displays and illuminated scenes that showcase the park's natural beauty. Towering oak trees draped in lights create a canopy of stars overhead. You can tune your car radio to a special station for synchronized holiday music. The festival, which began in the 1990s, utilizes the park's unique topography to create a three-dimensional light experience that highlights both the urban and natural elements of this Los Angeles landmark.
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Griffith Park Holiday Light Festival
Los Angeles Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Hollywood Christmas Parade
What to Expect:
Celebrity-filled parade on Hollywood Boulevard
Description:
Hollywood Boulevard transforms into a dazzling spectacle for the annual Christmas Parade. Stars from film and television join elaborate floats, marching bands, and larger-than-life balloons in this iconic Los Angeles tradition. You can spot your favorite celebrities waving from vintage cars as they cruise down the famous street. The parade has been a staple of Hollywood's holiday season since 1928, originally conceived to boost the area's profile. The sound of cheering crowds and festive music fills the air as the procession winds its way through the heart of Tinseltown.
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The Nutcracker Ballet by Los Angeles Ballet
What to Expect:
Locally produced, world-class performance of the classic ballet
Description:
The Los Angeles Ballet brings Tchaikovsky's beloved holiday tale to life with grace and precision. Dancers pirouette and leap across the stage, transporting audiences to a world of sugar plum fairies and toy soldiers. The production showcases the company's commitment to both classical technique and innovative choreography. You can marvel at the intricate costumes and set designs that bring 19th-century Germany to Southern California. Founded in 2004, the Los Angeles Ballet has become a cornerstone of the city's cultural scene, nurturing local talent and bringing world-class performances to diverse communities.
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The Nutcracker Ballet by Los Angeles Ballet
Los Angeles Other Holiday Activities
Noche de las Velitas
What to Expect:
Colombian candle-lighting tradition celebrated in Los Angeles
Description:
Olvera Street comes alive with the warm glow of thousands of candles during Noche de las Velitas, a Colombian tradition honoring the Immaculate Conception. The historic district fills with the soft flicker of candlelight as families and friends gather to place luminarias along walkways and windowsills. The aroma of traditional Colombian foods wafts through the air. You can participate by lighting a candle and making a wish for the coming year. This celebration, brought to Los Angeles by Colombian immigrants, showcases the city's rich cultural diversity and the enduring traditions that connect communities across borders.
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Nearby Events
Enchanted: Forest of Light (La Cañada Flintridge)
What to Expect:
Interactive light installations in a botanical garden
Description:
Descanso Gardens transforms into a luminous playground after sunset with its Enchanted Forest of Light. Visitors meander through a mile-long path featuring innovative light installations that respond to touch and movement. Ancient oak trees glow with ever-changing hues, while geometric sculptures pulse with light. You can create your own light show by interacting with various displays. The event highlights the garden's diverse plant collections, which have been cultivated since 1953 when newspaper magnate E. Manchester Boddy donated the property to Los Angeles County.
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ICE at Santa Monica (Santa Monica)
What to Expect:
Beachside ice skating rink
Description:
Santa Monica's seaside ambiance collides with winter traditions at ICE, an 8,000-square-foot outdoor ice skating rink. Palm trees sway above as skaters glide across the smooth surface, creating a uniquely Californian winter scene. The cool ocean breeze mingles with the crisp air rising from the ice. You can take a spin on the rink and then warm up with a hot beverage while watching the sunset over the Pacific. The rink, which first appeared in 2006, has become a beloved local tradition, bringing a touch of winter to the perpetually sunny beach town.
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Holiday Boat Parade (Marina del Rey)
What to Expect:
Decorated boats parading through marina waters
Description:
The waters of Marina del Rey come alive with twinkling lights and festive cheer during the annual Holiday Boat Parade. Vessels of all sizes, from small dinghies to luxury yachts, cruise through the harbor adorned with elaborate light displays and decorations. The reflections of the lights dance on the water's surface, creating a mesmerizing spectacle. You can watch from the shore as boats compete for prizes in various categories. This nautical tradition dates back to 1963, showcasing the vibrant boating community of Los Angeles and its creative spirit.
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Queen Mary Christmas (Long Beach)
What to Expect:
Holiday celebrations aboard a historic ocean liner
Description:
The legendary Queen Mary ocean liner docks in Long Beach and transforms into a floating winter wonderland. Visitors explore the ship's decks and salons, each adorned with unique holiday themes that blend vintage charm with modern flair. The grand ballroom hosts performances that harken back to the ship's glamorous past. You can enjoy a traditional English tea service while admiring the Art Deco interiors. Launched in 1936, the Queen Mary has a rich history, having served as both a luxury liner and a World War II troopship before becoming a permanent attraction in Southern California.
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Disneyland Christmas Fantasy Parade (Anaheim)
What to Expect:
Disney characters in holiday-themed parade
Description:
Beloved Disney characters don their holiday best for the Christmas Fantasy Parade at Disneyland. Elaborately decorated floats roll down Main Street, U.S.A., featuring scenes from classic Disney films with a festive twist. Toy soldiers march in perfect formation, while snowflakes gently fall, creating a wintry atmosphere in sunny Anaheim. You can wave to Mickey and Minnie as they glide by in their holiday attire. The parade has been a park tradition since 1995, evolving each year to incorporate new characters and technological enhancements that bring Disney magic to life.
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Disneyland Christmas Fantasy Parade
Christmas Tree Lane Lighting Ceremony (Altadena)
What to Expect:
Mile-long avenue of illuminated cedar trees
Description:
Altadena's Santa Rosa Avenue transforms into Christmas Tree Lane, a breathtaking display of illuminated deodar cedar trees stretching for a mile. The annual lighting ceremony kicks off the season with a community celebration that has been a tradition since 1920. Thousands of lights twinkle among the branches of these majestic trees, some over 100 feet tall. You can stroll beneath the canopy of lights, experiencing a piece of living history. The lane is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and represents one of the oldest large-scale Christmas lighting spectacles in the country.
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Christmas Tree Lane Lighting Ceremony
Knott's Merry Farm (Buena Park)
What to Expect:
Old West-themed holiday celebrations
Description:
Knott's Berry Farm embraces the holiday spirit with a distinctly Western twist during its Merry Farm transformation. The Ghost Town area buzzes with activity as craftsmen demonstrate traditional skills like glassblowing and candle making. Live performances blend frontier charm with holiday cheer, from snow shows to Peanuts character meet-and-greets. You can indulge in seasonal treats like boysenberry pie, a nod to the park's agricultural roots. Founded in 1920 as a berry farm, Knott's has evolved into a beloved theme park that honors its heritage while delivering modern entertainment during the holiday season.