With gorgeous weather and endless entertainment options, the holidays in Los Angeles are like no other city. From classic holiday music concerts to dazzling light displays and outdoor ice skating, read our guide and learn about some of the best Los Angeles holiday events and activities.
This year, the eight days of Hanukkah take place from Dec. 25, 2024 – Jan. 2, 2025, meaning they’ll also coincide with some of LA’s biggest Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Let us know what you are planning for the holiday.
Whether it's a beachfront ice rink, an alpine rink filled with Santa's helpers or a winter wonderland in the heart of the city, this is where you should go ice skating around L.A. this season!
2) Take an enchanting walk through enchanting light displays at Astra Lumina
South Coast Botanic Garden’s Astra Lumina is back for its third year and tickets are already selling fast. Embark on an enchanting night walk with magical projections, astral music, and otherworldly installations to stimulate the senses. Pick up a coffee liqueur martini and wander the grounds for one of LA’s most dazzling seasonal experiences.
📍Location: South Coast Botanic Garden, 26300 Crenshaw Blvd, Palos Verdes Estates, CA 90274
🎄When: Open now, Thursday-Sunday
The Original Farmers Market will host a charming lineup of holiday events this season. Their Hanukkah event will bring some fun all-ages events to the Market Plaza, including performances by J Los Angeles, Lego menorah building, arts and crafts, and sing-alongs. They’ll also host a menorah lighting on January 1st.
The one-The one mile-long trail of illuminated installations, Enchanted: Forest of Light in Descanso Garden, will be returning this year. One of the most beloved Christmas events with charming artistic displays, promises to be brighter and more magical than ever.
📍Location: 1418 Descanso Dr, La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011
🎄When: November 17, 2024 to January 5, 2025
Big Bear is SoCal’s favorite alpine lake getaway with lovely activities to enjoy every single season. The twenty-two miles of shoreline bear endless tranquil beaches, docks, and lookout points to take in the views. Hit the slopes at Bear Mountain or Snow Summit ski resorts in the winter, see autumnal foliage and go shopping around the adorable Big Bear Lake Village in the fall, enjoy camping and swimming during the summer months, or go for a hike in the spring. We’re unbelievably lucky to have this scenic oasis just two hours from Los Angeles.
🔎 Known for: Hiking, stargazing, skiing, lake activities
🚗 By car: 2 hours from DTLA without traffic
Driving up to Lake Arrowhead can be quite an adventure, especially if it starts snowing on your way up the mountain (make sure to bring tire chains, as they are required during snowfall). Once you arrive, you’ll find yourself in a classic winter wonderland that feels straight out of a movie.
The mountainside is dotted with cozy log cabins, and the picturesque lake sits at the heart of the town. When the temperature drops, there are plenty of spots for skiing and tubing, making it one of the top places with snow near Los Angeles.
🚗 Distance from DTLA: Approximately 80 miles
⛰️ Elevation: 5,174 feet
📆 Snow season: Late November to early March
7) Catch a snowfall at Downtown Disney
The most magical place on Earth becomes even more enchanting during the holiday season, giving us in SoCal a chance to experience a “white Christmas.” While we do have snow nearby, it’s rare to see it around Los Angeles, so this is a perfect chance to enjoy it without the need to travel! The “snowfalls” start November 15, 2024, and continue through January 6, 2025, from 6-10 pm.
📍Location: Downtown Disney District, Anaheim, CA 92802
🎄When: November 29, 2024 through January 6, 2025, from 6-10pm
8) Enjoy latkes, sufganiyot, and other traditional Jewish foods at a local restaurant
One of the best parts of the holiday season is all the delicious seasonal food available across LA’s restaurant scene. Where do you like to get your Hanukkah treats in Los Angeles? From latkes to challah, you can pick up all sorts of traditional foods if you know where to go.
• Canter’s Deli – This Jewish-style deli dates back almost a century in LA and is known for amazing pastrami, corned beef, matzo ball soup, challah, lox and bagels, latkes, and brisket.
• Charlie’s Kosher Delicatessen – Charlie’s is an old-school kosher restaurant in LA with classic mouthwatering dishes including kashe varnishkes, latkes, kugels, knishes, borscht, and much more.
• Langer’s Delicatessen – People think of Langer’s as a local authority on pastrami, especially in the form of their #19 sandwich. While sandwiches are the name of the game here, you’ll find all sorts of Jewish treats to indulge in this Hanukkah.
• Mensch Bakery – This kosher bakery in Hancock Park offers an amazing selection of specialty sufganiyot, challah, and over-the-top donuts.
• Schwartz Bakery – As the oldest kosher bakery in LA, Schwartz has spent decades crafting delicious mandel bread, hamentashen, and challah, all of which come in a ton of different flavors.
• Fred’s Bakery and Deli – Fred’s sells a fine array of carefully-crafted challah, sufganiyot, rugalach, and more baked goods that are often vegan-friendly.
The Skirball Cultural Center is a Jewish educational institution north of LA with exhibition spaces for its collection of 25,000 Jewish ceremonial art pieces and ritual objects. This December, they’ll host a lovely Hanukkah festival complete with music, storytelling, delicious traditional food including latkes and jelly donuts, arts and crafts, a screening of the award-winning short film Blewish, and a community candle lighting at sunset.
📅 Date: Dec. 15, 2024 (12-5pm)
📍 Location: Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90049
🕎 Learn more: Skirball Cultural Center
If the holidays were made for anything, they were made to indulge in all your favorite treats. While some days are still warm enough to wear shorts at this time of year in L.A., you can still give in to the seasonal tradition of sipping delectable chocolate treats.
Happy Holidays! Let's spread the cheer!
Best!
Basya
