Los Angeles Christmas Traditions

Great Ways to Get into the Christmas Spirit in LA

Click the header of each event for more information.

The Hollywood Christmas Parade
Every year, the Sunday after Thanksgiving, Santa accompanies floats and marching bands down Hollywood Boulevard. The parade starts at 6 pm. There are plenty of places to watch the parade for free along the street, or you can purchase grandstand seats.

Disneyland at Christmas
The theme park dresses up in its holiday finery complete with a nightly snowfall. Christmas themed characters and shows join the classic Disney family.

Grinchmas at Universal Studios Hollywood
While Santa reigns in most of LA, the Grinch and the Whos of Whoville take over Universal Studios Hollywood providing entertainment, character photo opportunities, set visits and more.

LA County Holiday Program on Christmas Eve
Every Christmas Eve, the LA County Board of Supervisors funds a 6 hour concert of local choirs, musical groups and dance companies representing the diverse cultures and neighborhoods of Los Angeles County. The program is December 24 from 3 to 9 pm. The concert is free, but seating is limited, so go early or plan to wait in line for early shifts of audience members to leave.

Christmas Boat Parades
From Marina del Rey to Newport Beach, the waters off the Southern California coast sparkle with lights as festively decorated boats parade through the night.

The Glory of Christmas at the Crystal Cathedral
This annual professional Christmas pageant tells the story of the birth of Jesus with live animals and flying angels in an amazing tower of glass in Garden Grove.

The DWP Holiday Light Festival in Griffith Park
Every year, the LA Department of Water and Power decorates a stretch of road through Griffith Park with Los Angeles landmarks made of old-fashioned Christmas lights. You can drive, walk or take a free shuttle through the corridor of lights.

Outdoor Ice Skating in LA
It began with Downtown on Ice and has now spread to venues across the LA Basin and into the Valley. New technology has allowed rinks to stay frozen despite the warm weather. Skating may start as early as late October and continue at some rinks through February.

Las Posadas on Olvera Street
Since LA was once part of Mexico and the Mexican-American population is still the majority, it is not surprising that the tradition of Las Posadas is alive and well on Olvera Street at El Pueblo Historic Site, the oldest part of LA, as well as in Mexican-American communities around the Southland. During Las Posadas, a costumed Mary and Joseph, (or alternately statues of them), accompanied by a procession of singers, musicians and community members, go from house to house looking for a room, being turned away at each stop by singing innkeepers in a call and response routine. Las Posadas is held for nine nights beginning December 16. Entertainment begins at 6:30, procession at 7:15. Info: (213) 625-5045

Reindeer Romp at the LA Zoo gives Zoo visitors young and old a chance to see live reindeer and enjoy hands-on arts and crafts. The event usually runs from Thanksgiving through the weekend after New Year's.

Bob Baker Marionette Theater Holiday Spectacular
A Los Angeles holiday tradition since 1963, Bob Baker's puppeteers put on a holiday variety show perfect for the youngest visitors.

The Nutcracker Ballet
Almost every ballet company and ballet school in the region puts on some version of the Nutcracker for the holidays. Some last a night or a weekend, others run for several weeks.

Holiday Plays and Performances
From A Christmas Carol to the LA original Bob's Holiday Office Party, holiday cheer shows up in various incarnations on stages all over Southern California with dozens of holiday-themed performances.

Christmas Caroling in LA
Although you won't find a lot of people caroling door to door, there are lots of places to listen to and sing along with your favorite Christmas and Hanukkah songs around LA.

Holiday Shopping Events and Tree Lightings
From traditional tree and menorah lighting ceremonies and visits with Santa to nightly falling snow and a Hunky Santa show with aerial acrobats, LA shopping centers put on all kinds of programs to lure you in and keep you entertained.

Continue to LA's Most Unusual Christmas Traditions.