Decks the Halls With These L.A. Holiday Events and Happenings

Lindsey Styrwoll

As residents enjoy sunny Los Angeles’ mild winter, the city fills our calendars with dozens of events to get into holiday spirit. Here is the rundown of all the seasonal happenings that will find you channeling your inner desire to jingle and be jolly.

KOST 103.5 Christmas Radio
Love it or hate it, KOST 103.5 switches to an all-Christmas format every year to promote maximum holiday cheer. Fire up the virtual yule log on your laptop and listen to favorite tunes on the station’s online feed, or turn your car’s dial for a reprieve as the city’s traffic slows to its maddening crawl.

SNOW! Los Angeles | Nov. 17-Dec. 23
Get the full holiday experience as Elysian Park is transformed into a Winter Wonderland! Channel your inner child on tubing lanes packed with synthetic flakes and follow up with an adult beverage in the Penguin Lodge. Don’t miss the food trucks and the hourly light shows.

L.A. Zoo Lights | Nov. 18-Jan.8
Celebrating 50 years, this L.A. tradition features a self-guided tour of the park featuring animal-themed LEDs, lasers and 3D projections. Santa and his reindeer also visit. This season includes a black light party and water show. In honor of the event’s golden anniversary, the zoo hosts a Mad Men-style 60s cocktail party on Dec. 15.

Chill at the Queen Mary | Nov. 23-Jan. 8
The historic ship’s interactive Alice in Winterland attraction is just the beginning of the festivities – the yearly event also offers ice skating, sledding, and sleigh rides.  Snap up an Elf pass upgrade to skip lines. The Alice theme continues with Magic Mushroom Martini Bar. Overnight accommodations are available at the hotel.

Broadway Christmas Wonderland at Fred Kavli Theatre  Dec. 1-Jan. 4
Can’t make it to NYC for Radio City’s famous Rockette Christmas Spectacular? Get a little taste of Broadway in Thousand Oaks!  Enjoy the high-kicking chorus numbers set to holiday favorites – the sparkling sets and costumes are not to be missed!

LA Weekly Sips & Sweets Dec. 2
Shop for holiday goodies as you imbibe craft cocktails Sample snacks from some of the city’s top bakers at the third installment of the yearly event, held at the Petersen Automotive Museum.

A Christmas Carol at A Noise Within Dec. 2-Dec. 23
Charles Dickens’ 19th-century tale of regret and redemption still rings true in these modern times.  Scrooge’s evening of spirited self-reflection has primed generations of theatergoers for the giving season. Pasadena’s repertory company, A Noise Within, presents the story’s message with style.

Artisanal LA Holiday Market Dec. 3
Support local business at Arcadia’s Artisanal LA Holiday Market. Featuring edible goods as well as hand-made gifts for the most discerning person on your shopping list. Sip some cider while watching chef-led demos or try your hand at the curated workshops offered by crafting experts.

Los Angeles Ballet: The Nutcracker Dec. 3-Dec. 24
We all grew up humming along to Tchaikovsky’s seasonal score, but the Los Angeles Ballet has given the holiday standard a make-over with new choreography by artistic directors Thordal Christensen and Colleen Neary. The show makes stops in Glendale, Hollywood, Westwood, and Redondo Beach.

A John Waters Christmas at The Comedy Store Dec. 5
Looking for a less wholesome entertainment option? John Waters (director of cult classics such as “Pink Flamingos” and “Cry Baby” will be telling dirty jokes and holiday-themed true crime stories at the Sunset Strip stalwart. Chuckling along with the Baltimore-born auteur is sure to land you on Santa’s naughty list.

Cinderella Christmas at the Pasadena Playhouse Dec. 8-Jan. 8
The thoroughly British tradition of panto – audience participation – comes to American audiences just in time for the holidays. “Cinderella Christmas,” at Pasadena Playhouse, is sure to cheer audiences of all ages with its mix of song, dance, and slapstick.

SantaCon Los Angeles  Dec. 10
Whether it’s a thinly veiled ploy to sell Santa suits or just an excellent reason to be drunk and belligerent before noon, we’re in!  The loosely-organized meetup is sure to be equal parts raucous and jolly.  Caveat: the starting point and movements of this band of merrymakers are secretive, so check Twitter for info.  And, oh yeah, don’t get arrested – no really, the elves cannot afford your bail.

Eighth Annual Santa Monica Pub Crawl Dec. 10
Need another reason to drink?  Grubhub is sponsoring this annual charity event that allows the Westside Food Bank to provide meals for those in need. Last year 6,000 participants ate and drank their way through thirty establishments raising more than $20,000. Wear your antlers and ugly Christmas sweaters and don’t forget to pre-register for your wristband to be eligible for food and beverage specials.

Street Food Cinema Presents Elf at Million Dollar Theatre Dec. 10
Yuletide Cinema is holding its third annual extravaganza at the Million Dollar Theatre in downtown LA. Pick up snacks at the Grand Central Market next door but make sure to stick to the four major Elf food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corn, and syrup.  Don’t forget to snap a few pics with “Drunk Santa” on your way out!

Echo Park Craft Fair Dec. 10-11
Founded nearly a decade ago by former neighborhood gal Beatrice Valenzuela, this yearly showcase for artists and designers has surpassed its humble beginnings as a backyard pop-up. The two-day event now fills the entirety of Silver Lake’s massive Mack Sennett studios and its surrounding block. Specialty cocktails by The Spare Room are paired with the smooth grooves of DubLab DJs.

KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas  Dec. 10-11
KROQ’s Almost Acoustic Christmas never fails to impress with its killer line-ups and this year is no exception. This year Blink 182, Green Day, Kings of Leon, Beck, and Weezer among others take the stage and though the 2-day event may be sold out you can still tune in for your chance to win, call that friend in the music biz to beg for their backstage passes, or find a limited number of tickets here.

Renegade Craft Fair Dec. 10-11
This ain’t your Grandma’s church bazaar! Super-edgy makers will be hawking their goods in Grand Park alongside purveyors of artisanal treats. Think Etsy meets eastside boutique. All the cool kids will be there, buying handmade tchotchkes for their Silver Lake studios.

Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade Dec. 14-18
Newport Beach may be less than 50 miles from Los Angeles proper, but the yachts seems a world away from the hustle and bustle of our metropolis. Escape to the affluent beach community for its 108th annual Christmas Boat Parade and sample the sweet life of the OC.  More than a million people flock to the water’s edge to watch yachts, boats, kayaks and canoes all dressed in glittering lights.

Disney On Ice: Worlds of Enchantment at Staples Center  Dec. 15-18
All your kids really want for Christmas is to see their favorite Disney characters strap on skates and glide across the ice. Come hear the Mouse House’s catalog of singalong-worthy tunes pumping through the speakers of the Staples Center. Ticket prices are surprisingly reasonable and will be worth every penny when you see their little faces beaming for Ariel and Elsa.

Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker at The Wiltern Dec. 16-17
Like they do vodka and caviar, nobody does classical ballet quite like the Russians. With stunning technique, the Moscow Ballet will be making a pass through the Southland just in time for Christmas.  Bringing a production aimed at “achieving world peace,” the program’s second act features a rose-shooting cannon and a “Dove of Peace” pas de deux.

Las Posadas at Olivera Street Dec. 16-31
Emulating a five-century tradition brought to the new world by Jesuit priests, Los Posadas is one of LA’s oldest Christmas traditions. The candlelit procession commemorates Mary and Joseph’s journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem in search of shelter. Follow the shepherds and angels as they sing carols in Spanish and English and enjoy a cup of champurrado and pan dulce when they arrive at their destination.

Cinespia presents The Shining + Holiday Party Dec. 17
Nothing says Christmas like being stranded indoors with your unravelling family during a blizzard.  Stanley Kubrick takes your deepest fears to the next level with his stunning visuals in his adaptation of “The Shining” at Broadway’s Los Angeles Theatre. This holiday event boasts a formal dress code and offers bars on every level of the opulent venue. But don’t worry, the bartenders here are real.

Los Angeles Philharmonic: Holiday Sing-Along at Walt Disney Concert Hall | Dec. 17
This holiday-themed concert is accompanied by the concert hall’s magnificent pipe organ, a choir, and a jazz combo.  Enjoy all your favorite Christmas carols in the Gehry-designed space with those you love.  The acoustics are way better than your shower.

Snowglobe Music Festival  Dec. 29-31
Need to get away after it all? Drive up to Tahoe for the Snowglobe Music Festival, headlined by Major Lazer and the Chainsmokers.  Commiserate with friends during the drive up the time you just had to spend with parents and siblings. The line-up is an EDM lover’s feast; and while you’re there you can enjoy all that snow everyone missed.