Unlike the winter in fixed mindsets, things are different here in Southern California. Even in December, Los Angeles remains sunny and warm. While it doesn’t offer the winter wonderland like East Coast cities, the holiday spirit here is incredibly rich. In fact, there are many fun things to do for Christmas in Los Angeles.

Whether you’re planning a trip to Los Angeles or looking for local fun, Christmas events in Los Angeles offer a wide variety of experiences, from dazzling light shows at the zoo to thrilling ice skating rinks. Our ultimate list caters to diverse needs, helping you through the holiday season.

Here is your 2025 guide to the best holiday events Los Angeles has on the calendar.

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Table of Contents

Christmas Lights Displays in Los Angeles
Must-Visit Los Angeles Christmas Markets
Classic Christmas Activities Los Angeles
Theme Park Holiday Event in Los Angeles
Tips for Spending Christmas in Los Angeles

Christmas Lights Displays in Los Angeles

Christmas lights Los Angeles are luxurious and spectacular. As soon as Thanksgiving ends, these festive lights come on, and here are some top spots to view the light displays.

1. Enchanted Forest of Light  

This isn’t your average lights display. Enchanted at Descanso Gardens is an artistic masterpiece. It focuses on large-scale, interactive lighting installations that play with the natural beauty of the botanical gardens. You won’t see Santa Claus or reindeer here. Instead, you walk through swirling fields of tulips made of light and ancient oak trees illuminated in shifting colors.

It is a walking experience, about one mile long, so wear comfortable shoes. The “Symphony of Oaks” is a crowd favorite, where the lights on the trees actually react to the sounds and steps of the visitors. It is perfect for a date night or a peaceful evening away from the loud holiday hustle.

📆Event Date: November 17, 2025 – January 4, 2026

📍Location: Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Dr, La Cañada Flintridge, CA

2. L.A. Zoo Lights

L.A. Zoo Lights is perfect for families and one of the best things to do in LA for Christmas. The “Animals Aglow” theme features massive lanterns representing the zoo’s wildlife, from glowing tigers to radiant reptiles. You can walk through the “Twinkle Tunnel,” it’s a sparkling tunnel, perfect for taking photos. It’s a high energy environment and distinct from the quiet serenity of Descanso Gardens.

📆Event Date: November 13, 2025 – January 11, 2026

📍Location: Los Angeles Zoo, 5333 Zoo Dr, Los Angeles, CA

3. Holiday Road

Holiday Road is like walking through a Christmas movie set. You’ll see larger-than-life installations of nutcrackers, elves, and the North Pole. Unlike other Los Angeles Christmas events, this one feels more like a party exclusively for Christmas. In addition to the usual activities, there’s face painting, a food area and a holiday bar.

📆Event Date: November 28, 2025–December 27, 2025

📍Location: King Gillette Ranch, 26800 Mulholland Hwy, Calabasas, CA

4. Candy Cane Lane Woodland Hills

This is a public street, so visiting is free. It’s a neighborhood where residents take great pride in their decorations. For decades, homeowners in this pocket of Woodland Hills have covered their houses in elaborate displays. We are talking animatronic Santas, fake snow blowing from rooftops, and lights synchronized to music. However, traffic can be a nightmare. We suggest parking a few blocks away and walking.

📆Event Date: The first Saturday in December – The first Saturday in January

📍Location: Intersection of Lubao and Oxnard Streets, Woodland Hills, CA

5. Christmas Tree Lane

This is a huge outdoor Christmas light display with a long history in Los Angeles. From Woodbury Avenue to Altadena Drive, the route spans nearly a mile. Thousands of lights adorn the thousands of cypress trees lining both sides, and the best way to enjoy the display is by driving slowly along Santa Rosa Avenue.

📆Event Date: December 3, 2025 – December25, 2025

📍Location: Santa Rosa Avenue, Altadena, CA

6. Enchant Christmas LA

Enchant Christmas is often billed as the world’s largest Christmas light maze. The event centers around a massive light maze where you must search for hidden items. Beyond the maze, you’ll find an ice rink, shopping areas, and decorations bathed in light.

📆Event Date: November 24, 2025- December 28, 2025

📍Location: Santa Anita Park, 285 W Huntington Dr, Arcadia, CA 91007

Must-Visit Los Angeles Christmas Markets

If you’re looking to do some holiday shopping, don’t rush straight to the mall just yet. Los Angeles has several Christmas markets offering a unique atmosphere, along with festive merchandise and delicious food, making them some of the best places to visit during the holiday season.

7. Los Angeles Christmas Market

The Christmas market at ROW DTLA is the most popular, replicating the ambiance of a European-style Christmas market. Numerous beautifully decorated stalls offer a variety of goods and food. Activities typically include meeting Santa Claus and photo opportunities.

📆Event Date: November 29, 2025–December 24, 2025

📍Location: ROW DTLA, 777 S Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA

8. Smorgasburg Holiday Market

December brings festive cheer to the neighborhood. The Smorgasburg Holiday Market takes place every Sunday throughout December. Primarily a food market, so come with an empty stomach. Dozens of local vendors will offer holiday-themed treats, from festive doughnuts to special holiday burgers.

Of course, there will also be photo ops with Santa, pop-up shops, and holiday stall specials.

📆Event Date:November 30, 2025 – December 21, 2025

📍Location: ROW DTLA, 777 S Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA

9. Santa Monica Place

Located at the end of the Third Street Promenade, the open-air design lets you shop under the stars. During the holidays, they install a massive Christmas tree and host live music performances. The location is unbeatable because you are steps away from the beach. You can buy presents and then walk to the Santa Monica Pier to watch the sunset.

📆Event Date: November 17, 2025 – December 24, 2025

📍Location: 395 Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica, CA

10. Sawdust Art Festival

Although it belongs to Orange County, it remains one of Los Angeles’ most popular flea markets. A variety of activities are offered here, including puppet shows, meet-and-greets with Santa Claus, and hands-on craft workshops. Visitors arriving in the evening can also enjoy the vibrant scenery illuminated by lights. It feels like a bohemian Christmas village.

📆Event Date: November 21, 2025 – December 21, 2025

📍Location: 935 Laguna Canyon Rd，Laguna Beach，CA 92651

Classic Christmas Activities Los Angeles

If you’re looking for the most authentic Christmas activities in Los Angeles, these events are the most renowned and attract the largest crowds of locals.

11. The Hollywood Christmas Parade

The parade is the most iconic event in Los Angeles’ festival calendar, having been held since 1928. The Hollywood Christmas Parade shuts down the most famous streets in Tinseltown. You’ll see marching bands, giant balloons, equestrian units, and plenty of celebrities waving from convertibles.

📆Event Date: November 30, 2025

📍Location: Hollywood Blvd & Sunset Blvd route, Hollywood, CA

12. Holiday Ice Rink Pershing Square 

Outdoor skating isn’t just for cold weather cities, Pershing Square in Downtown LA sets up a rink right in the middle of the skyscrapers, let everyone skate in 60 °F weather. During this period, there will also be various themed nights and events, such as DJ Spotlight and Classical Sundays.

They play pop holiday hits, and the vibe is very energetic. Since it’s downtown, you can easily grab dinner at a nearby restaurant after your session.

📆Event Date: November 20, 2025 – January 11, 2026

📍Location: 532 S Olive St, Los Angeles, CA

13. Ice at Santa Monica

If you prefer ocean breezes over skyscrapers, head west. Ice at Santa Monica takes over a corner of downtown Santa Monica near the Promenade. It is a smaller rink than Pershing Square, but the location is prime. There are also plenty of themed nights and events, such as Disney+ and Hulu nights every Tuesday, Classical Sundays on Sundays, and New Year’s Eve countdown events.

They offer skate rentals and cabanas if you want to host a little party. It is very popular with teenagers and families.

📆Event Date: November 7, 2025–January 19, 2026

📍Location: 1324 5th St, Santa Monica, CA

14. Christmas at The Grove

The Grove is an outdoor shopping complex, but during the holidays, it turns into a spectacle. They install one of the tallest Christmas trees in the state, often taller than the one at Rockefeller Center. Twice a night, they pump “snow” ,which made of soap bubbles into the air while holiday music plays. It sounds cheesy, but it is actually quite magical. You might even spot Santa flying his sleigh over the crowd. It is crowded, but it is the epicenter of Christmas in Los angeles events.

📆Event Date: December 24-25, 2025

📍Location: 189 The Grove Dr, Los Angeles, CA

15. Marina del Rey Holiday Boat Parade

At the Marina del Rey Holiday Boat Parade, you’ll watch dozens of yachts and vessels glide past the docks, each adorned with festive lights. Each year features a different decorative theme, making it a true visual feast. Plus, a brief light show kicks things off before the parade begins.

📆Event Date: December 13, 2025

📍Location: Burton Chace Park, 13650 Mindanao Wy, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292

Theme Park Holiday Event in Los Angeles

While not quite as numerous as Orlando’s theme parks, Los Angeles has two of the best. These big budget theme parks take Christmas celebrations to new heights.

16. Universal Studios Hollywood

Universal Studios Hollywood goes hard for the holidays. The main attraction is “Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.” Hogsmeade is decorated beautifully, and at night, they project a light show onto Hogwarts castle accompanied by the movie score.  Down on the lower lot, or near the main plaza, you can experience “Grinchmas.” You can meet the Grinch, his dog Max, and see the twisted Who-ville tree.

🎡Christmas Activities: Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Grinchmas, Holidays at SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, Holiday cuisine.

📍Event Date: November 24, 2025–January 4, 2026

17. Disneyland Resort

Disneyland Resort is the king of holiday decor. Holiday decorations will be displayed throughout the park, and each day will feature the A Christmas Fantasy Parade, complete with floats, characters, and Christmas-themed gingerbread men and reindeer. But the highlight is the “Haunted Mansion Holiday,” where the classic ride gets taken over by Jack Skellington from The Nightmare Before Christmas.

🎡Christmas Activities: “it’s a small world” Holiday, A Christmas Fantasy Parade, Believe…In Holiday Magic and Christmas cuisine.

📍Event Date: November 14, 2025 – January 7, 2026

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Tips for Spending Christmas in Los Angeles

To fully enjoy Christmas in Los Angeles events, you need a plan. Here’s what you need to know.

Local Transportation

Los Angeles is extremely spread out, and while public transportation is available, some locations remain difficult to reach. For most such activities, you’ll need a car. Ride-hailing apps like Uber and Lyft are widely available, but they can become expensive during holiday peak periods.

Pro Tip: If you are driving to an event like the Hollywood Parade or The Grove, pre-book parking if possible. Traffic in December is heavier than usual because of holiday shoppers. You can also download ParkMobile in advance to plan your parking spot.

Weather Forecast

• Daytime: usually ranges from 60°F to 70°F (15°C – 21°C).
• Nighttime: drops to 45°F to 50°F (7°C – 10°C).
• What to Pack: Once the sun sets, the evenings can get a bit chilly. Bring a jacket or sweatshirt, especially if you plan to spend a long time at Christmas events after dark.

FAQ

Is LA fun during Christmas?

Absolutely. While it lacks snow, the energy is incredibly high. The combination of beach days and festive nights makes it unique. Plus, with a wealth of Christmas activities, you can participate in something different every day during the holiday season.

What is the most Christmassy town in California?

Solvang, California, is often regarded as one of the most Christmassy towns in California. Each year, it transforms into a European-style Christmas village, complete with European architecture, windmills, and festive decorations.

Where is Enchant Christmas in Los Angeles?

Enchant Christmas 2025 at Santa Anita Park runs from November 21, 2025, through December 28. In addition to the large maze, there will also be an ice rink, a market, and a festive light show.