December in Los Angeles is a magical time when the city sparkles with festive lights, seasonal celebrations, and unforgettable holiday experiences. Invite your loved ones to participate in all these awesome events. Read on to discover the best things to do in Los Angeles this December 2025!
1 – The Most Dazzling Light Shows
Description:
The L.A. Zoo Lights: Animals Aglow invites guests to step into a dazzling world of lantern sculptures and glowing wildlife that celebrate nature’s beauty through color and creativity.
The zoo’s nighttime trail leads visitors through a holiday-themed wonderland inspired by the “weird and wonderful” world of plants and pollinators, featuring birds, butterflies, insects, and flowers.
Along the way, guests will encounter luminous scenes of Southeast Asian animals and an African landscape alive with sculptural lights representing the continent’s iconic wildlife.
Families can rediscover fan favorites such as the giant walk-in kaleidoscope, interactive light displays, and photo-ops with Santa Claus (available for an additional fee).
Warm up with s’mores, churros, and hot cocoa, beer or wine, or spiked cocoa as you ride the carousel under a canopy of twinkling lights.
Next is Enchanted Forest of Light at Descanso Gardens. The venue is turning its 150 acres into an immersive, walk-through dreamscape.
Each section of the garden glows with creative art installations: trees wrapped in jewel tones, paths lined with shifting patterns of light, and fields of “blooming” bulbs that pulse gently to music.
Visitors can stroll at their own pace through this one-mile outdoor experience, where interactive exhibits invite you to step, wave, or spin to watch light respond in real time.
Also, this season be sure to visit the Lightscape at the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanical Garden. This beautiful experience offers an awesome winter journey through illuminated nature.
Following a one mile trail, guests walk beneath towering cathedrals of light and past fire gardens, glowing sculptures, and tunnels that shimmer in sync with festive soundtracks. Don’t miss this gorgeous exhibit.
Location: various
2 – Best Holiday Decorated Neighborhoods
Description:
Every year in December, certain Los Angeles neighborhoods resemble charming Christmas villages, delighting crowds of all ages with their beautiful decorations and festive spirit. Here are our top recommendations for the best neighborhoods to visit this season, each offering its own unique atmosphere and tradition.
One of the most beloved traditions is the Upper Hastings Ranch Holiday Light Display in Pasadena, a community effort that dates back to the 1950s. Residents coordinate elaborate themes street by street. This is one of the most fun of all neighborhoods to visit!
Next is Candy Cane Lane in Woodland Hills. This event continues its decades-long reign as one of Los Angeles’ most famous festive neighborhoods.
Centered around Lubao and Oxnard Streets, this eight-block stretch bursts to life each December with animated decorations, snow machines, music, and glowing candy-themed displays.
Many residents go all out with synchronized light shows and interactive decorations, turning the area into a lively, walkable celebration.
Last but not least, is one of our favorites, Sleepy Hollow Christmas Lights Extravaganza in Torrance. This neighborhood offers one of the most spectacular residential light displays in Southern California.
Nearly every home participates,displaying incredible and creative decorations. Visitors can walk or drive through the glowing streets while sipping hot cocoa sold by local families.
Location: various
3 – Holidays at the Theme Parks
Description:
When it comes to festive celebrations, SoCal theme parks know how to outshine even the most dazzling tree. Each December, these parks transform into immersive holiday destinations filled with music, lights, and a little bit of movie magic.
At Knott’s Merry Farm in Buena Park, guests are invited until January 4th, to enjoy a cozy, storybook atmosphere. Stroll through Ghost Town as snowflakes fall every evening, browse booths in the Christmas Crafts Village, and catch live performances like “Home for the Holidays” and “A Calico Christmas Carol.”
Also enjoy all the seasonal treats including warm cinnamon sugar churros, handcrafted fudge, and peppermint hot cocoa.
At Universal Studios Hollywood, the Grinch himself takes center stage during Grinchmas Christmas. The park’s whimsical Whoville-inspired celebration fills Universal Plaza with a towering, twisted Christmas tree, mischievous Whos, and daily performances by the joyful Who-ville singers.
Guests can meet the Grinch in his fuzzy green glory, pose with Max the dog, and enjoy snow flurries falling amid festive laughter.
Across the park, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter also joins in the festivities, complete with magical snow on the rooftops of Hogsmeade and “The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle”.
It’s a perfect blend of classic Hollywood fun and pure Christmas enchantment, ideal for Angelenos who love the big-screen kind of holiday sparkle.
Our next recommendation is the one and only Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, where holiday dreams come to life! Main Street, U.S.A. glows with garlands and wreaths, Sleeping Beauty’s Castle shimmers under a blanket of lights, and snow falls nightly as the fireworks burst above.
Special ride overlays bring new magic to fan favorites; it’s a small world Holiday and Haunted Mansion Holiday are a must see attractions.
Also the Festival of Holidays at Disney California Adventure fills the air with music, cultural celebrations, and seasonal foods from around the world.
Over in Valencia, Six Flags Magic Mountain’s Holiday in the Park brings thrill rides and millions of twinkling lights together for an electric evening experience, complete with holiday music zones, festive treats, and giant size ornaments decorating the midway.
If your little ones are fans of Elmo, Big Bird, and of course the beloved Cookie Monster, consider a short family trip south to Sesame Place San Diego for A Very Furry Christmas.
This cheerful holiday event turns the park into a Sesame Street-inspired winter celebration, complete with snowy walkways, holiday shows, and meet-and-greets with furry friends dressed in their festive best.
Guests can see Cookie Monster in his Santa suit, enjoy themed rides, and even experience “Elmo’s Christmas Wish” live on stage.
This adorable, joy-filled experience is just under two hours from Los Angeles, making it the perfect weekend getaway for families looking to extend the holiday fun beyond the city.
Location: various
4 – Holiday Ice Rinks
Description:
This awesome season also brings outdoor ice rinks! The perfect place to bring your kids, from little ones beginning to learn how to use ice skates, to your older teens who are ready to show their skills.
These pop up ice rinks are now across the city, and turning shopping plazas and downtown squares into festive gathering spots.
One of the most enchanting is the Irvine Spectrum Center Ice Rink, nestled right between the magnificent Christmas tree and the iconic Ferris wheel.
Open now through early January , it’s a scene straight out of a holiday postcard, complete with twinkling lights, joyful music, and families gliding hand in hand under the stars.
On select mornings, kids can even Skate with Santa, while nearby restaurants and cafés offer cozy spots for hot chocolate or a celebratory meal after skating.
The atmosphere is both lively and family-friendly—ideal for creating that perfect Southern California holiday memory without leaving the sunshine behind.
For people who like visiting the big city, the L.A. Kings Holiday Ice Rink at L.A. LIVE brings a classic winter experience to the heart of downtown. Located right beside the glittering plaza and its towering Christmas tree, this rink is a favorite for date nights, family outings, and after-work fun.
The surrounding area comes alive with festive energy, holiday music fills the air, LED lights sparkle across the entertainment district, and the glow of the nearby skyscrapers adds a touch of urban magic.
Skating sessions typically begin in late November and continue into January, offering plenty of opportunities to join the fun.
Just steps away, you’ll find dining, movie theaters, and seasonal pop-ups, making it easy to turn your skate night into a full evening of holiday celebration.
Location: various
5 – Amazing Holiday Boat Parades
Description:
Few holiday traditions capture Southern California’s coastal charm like its dazzling boat parades. Each December, local harbors display floating festivals of light.
Expect to see fantastic yachts, sailboats, and tugboats decked in glittering decorations. Here are our recommendations.
At the L.A. Harbor Holiday Afloat Parade, taking place on Saturday, December 6, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., the Port of Los Angeles once again hosts its time-honored celebration.
This beloved San Pedro tradition features elaborately illuminated boats cruising the main channel, each creatively interpreting the annual theme.
Enjoy the show from prime viewing spots such as Banning’s Landing, California Yacht Marina, and West Harbor at the newly reimagined San Pedro waterfront.
The celebration continues the following weekend with the Marina del Rey Holiday Boat Parade, set for Saturday, December 13, at Burton Chace Park.
Now in its 63rd year, this beloved event begins with a brilliant fireworks show at 5:45 p.m., followed by the parade from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Dozens of boats light up the marina, each one themed and choreographed to music.
This year’s theme, “A Nightmare Before Christmas,” promises creative, whimsical displays that merge holiday cheer with a touch of Tim Burton-style imagination.
From San Pedro to Marina del Rey, these glittering flotillas perfectly embody the spirit of a California Christmas. Here the joy of the holidays meets the beauty of the Pacific.
So, bundle up, and let the twinkle of the lights on the water be your grand finale to a season filled with wonder, warmth, and uniquely Los Angeles-style cheer.
Location: various
Want LA’s Best Hacks Delivered to Your Inbox Free Every Week? SUBSCRIBE HERE!