As a lifelong Angeleno, I’ve slipped on ice skates under the palm trees, watched giant light sculptures glimmer at dusk, and witnessed snowflakes drift over the beach, all terrific ways to celebrate Christmas in LA. Here, I show you how to experience holiday cheer in the heart of Los Angeles without ever leaving the sunshine behind. From downtown ice rinks to festive zoos and beachfront tree-lightings, here’s how to make the season truly magical in L.A.
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Holiday Cruising
It’s one thing to walk around the city admiring the millions of twinkling lights. But it’s a special experience to celebrate the holidays on the water.
City Cruises offers a host of special holiday-themed cruises where you can enjoy a meal and entertainment while cruising the California coast. Even better, you can do it all from the warmth of the boat’s indoor spaces – or the open-air decks if you prefer. Cruises leave from Long Beach, Marina del Rey or Newport Beach.
Here’s a taste of the holiday cruises offered this year:
- Thanksgiving Cruise: Booking the lunch cruise means you don’t have to cook or wash dishes, just enjoy your loved ones and the city sights.
- Christmas Cruises: Choose from Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinner cruises.
- New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day Cruises: Ring in the new year on the water with dinner, drinks and dancing.
SheBuysTravel Tip: The holidays are magical on the California coast so they draw a crowd. Book your holiday cruise early – they sell out fast!
Book your City Experiences holiday cruise by November 9 and use code HOLIDAY50 to get 50% off your second ticket for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s Eve sailings!
SheBuysTravel Tip: Skip the airport stress — Lyft’s On-Time Pickup Promise guarantees your scheduled ride shows up within 10 minutes of your pickup time. If it doesn’t? You’ll get Lyft Cash. You can schedule up to 90 days in advance and even lock in your rate. Use code SBT25 to save 25% off ONE scheduled ride to the airport.
Christmas in LA at the Los Angeles Zoo
L.A. Zoo Lights: Animals Aglow debuts all-new lanterns and light displays featuring the weird and wonderful world of plants and pollinators with larger-than-life birds, butterflies, insects and flowers. Runs from 6 – 10 pm, November 13, 2025, to January 11, 2026
In addition, the zoo brings back fan favorite interactive displays, a giant walk-in kaleidoscope, seasonal treats, and photo-ops throughout the park, including visits with Santa Claus (for a fee).
You can also ride the carousel and enjoy treats like churros, s’mores, and hot cocoa. Those 21 and older can enjoy beer, wine, and spiked hot cocoa available every night, and credit card bars Friday through Sunday.
Santa Monica Holiday Shopping and Festivities
Slather on sunscreen for the daytime, but bring a scarf for chilly evenings while shopping and enjoying seasonal events in Downtown Santa Monica. The beach community is decked out for the holidays starting in November 2025 with a Tree Lighting Ceremony and free photos with Santa from 6 – 8 pm. Check out Downtown Santa Monica for updates about the annual tree lighting ceremony, Hanukkah celebration and other holiday events for the 2025-2026 holiday season.
Seasonal festivities include ICE, featuring an 8,000-square-foot ice-skating rink from noon – 10 pm. November 7, 2025 to January 19, 2026. On the opening day, November 7, ice skating is free from 6 – 10 pm.
Do your holiday shopping and scoop up trendy and luxury items at Santa Monica Place.
And don’t miss the family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration at the ice skating rink from 7:30 – 10 pm December 31, 2025. $30.
Christmas in LA at the Santa Monica Pier
The pier is celebrating Holiday Cheer on the Pier with window display installations, music and performances on the Merry Go-Round Building beginning Dec. 2, 2025. Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier rings in the holidays with the lighting of the 40-foot Christmas tree of lights on December 2, 2025. The Pacific Wheel will be decked out in holiday colors December 13 – 31, 2025. It will also feature several holiday-themed icons, such as wreaths, reindeer and an 80-foot-tall snowman.
Surfing Santa photos from 4:30 – 6 pm December 5 and 12, 2025, in the Carousel building,
Enjoy watching the Ferris wheel light program live here.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Extend the celebration — and avoid a late night drive — by staying at one of these family-friendly Los Angeles hotels.
Where to Go Ice Skating in LA
Christmas in LA means swapping out flip-flops for skates at outdoor ice rinks set up for the holidays through the New Year.
Downtown on Ice
Skate under the sun and stars at the 28th Annual Downtown on Ice in Pershing Square in Los Angeles, November 20, 2025, until January 11, 2026.
The one-hour skating sessions start every 90 minutes from noon-8:30 pm. daily. For beginning skaters under 48 inches tall, the rink offers Skate Helpers: Penguin & Polar Bear Helpers that glide with the skater along the ice. Must be able to stand independently. General admission is $22 and includes skate rental.
It’s L.A.’s biggest outdoor rink, located in the heart of the city at 532 South Olive, Los Angeles. The event kicks off with on-ice performances followed by the Pershing Square Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony from 5-7 pm on November 20.
The Annual LA Kings Holiday Ice
Each year, the LA Kings Holiday Ice Rink brings outdoor ice skating to L.A. LIVE’s Xbox Plaza. Check the website for 2025 dates. More to see at L.A. Live: Charlie Brown Christmas Live on Stage at 3 and 6 pm, December 19, 2025, at The Novo.
Christmas in LA at Universal Studios Hollywood
The annual Holidays at Universal Studios Hollywood features a variety of themed activities November 29, 2024 to January 6, 2025. The special events are included in the price of theme park admission.
Christmas In The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter transforms the quaint town of Hogsmeade into an enchanting holiday village. Seasonal décor is uniquely themed to each of the individual storefronts. In addition, a dazzling light projection spectacular brings the iconic Hogwarts castle to life.
As night falls, The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle illuminates Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry with colorful imagery. There are also dimensional animations that dance across Hogwarts Castle in tandem to a musical arrangement from the Harry Potter movies. Musical performances from the a cappella Frog Choir entertain with their harmonized holiday-themed songs.
Shoppers will delight in the selection of custom-made Christmas ornaments created especially for “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.” And, of course, holiday-themed fare and hot butterbeer further complement the overall experience.
Grinchmas
A 55-foot-tall Grinchmas tree is adorned with ornaments and LED lights choreographed to music for the annual Who-lebration. Dazzling Grinchmas tree lighting ceremonies take place every evening, accompanied by a snowfall flurry. The festival features The Grinch, his faithful dog Max and a roster of Who-ville Whos.
Universal CityWalk
Universal CityWalk’s 40-foot-tall Christmas tree sparkles with 200,000 LED icicles choreographed to the lights and sounds of the season. Feel the magic of the holiday in the “5 Towers” outdoor plaza, along with a slate of free concert performances and an eclectic ensemble of talented street performers. Admission to Universal CityWalk is free, but there’s a parking fee. This event takes place from November 24, 2025, to January 6, 2026.
Los Angeles
The Original Farmers Market
Not just any market, this fun venue is a gathering place for meals, shopping and seasonal events. Celebrate the holidays with Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree: A Holiday Kick-Off from 6-9 pm on December 13, 2025. The event features live music, entertainment and a holiday photo booth.
The next day, Chanukah Celebration features exciting performances and activities from 5 – 9 pm on December 14, 2025, on the Market Plaza.
Christmas in Downtown L.A.
Holidays at The Music Center features a variety of festive events – some free – throughout December. The annual L.A. County Tree Lighting ceremony kicks off the holidays at 5 – 7 pm on December 2, 2025, at the Jerry Moss Plaza at The Music Center. Enjoy complimentary hot chocolate and cookies.
Raise your voices at the Holiday Sing-Along at 11:30 am and 2:30 pm on December 13, 2025. The event starts at 10:30 am with complimentary hot chocolate and cookies, and photos with Santa. Then sing along with the world-class Master Chorale vocalists at the Messiah Sing-Along at 7:30 pm on December 22, 2025. Both take place at the Walt Disney Concert Hall.
The 66th Annual L.A. County Holiday Celebration is the city’s largest multicultural celebration. The free event takes place from 3 – 6 pm on Christmas Eve at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. The three-hour show features numerous musical groups and nearly 500 performers, representing the diverse cultures and holiday traditions of L.A. County.
Christmas in Beverly Hills
This posh city has several holiday events.
- The annual Rodeo Drive Holiday Lighting Celebration will take place from 5 – 8 pm on Thursday, November 13, 2025. Festive fireworks will light up the sky from both ends of Rodeo Drive simultaneously in a dazzling finale, officially kicking off the holiday season. The event features Santa, live music and two wine gardens with food and beverages from local favorite 208 Rodeo. Rodeo Drive’s Holiday Lights will be on display until January 5, 2026.
- A festive light show takes place at the City’s iconic Beverly Gardens Park at the Beverly Hills Sign & Lily Pond in November and December 2025. The light displays every 15 minutes from 6 – 9:30 pm.
- The Glowing Gardens at Beverly Cañon Gardens features sparkling light sculptures in November and December 2025. The gardens are adjacent to The Maybourne Beverly Hills. For current dates and times for both light shows, visit the Beverly Hills website.
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