Christmas cheer comes alive when festive events and holiday lights start rising in almost every corner of Los Angeles. Nothing can put you in a holiday mood more than the glittering lights and twinkling trees that light up your spirits and smiles. And while Los Angeles may not have the winter weather charm, they do a fantastic job of making its sunny warm weather feel like having a white Christmas. Kids are undoubtedly excited to visit their favorite spot, wander through the dazzling displays of color, light, and sound, and have a mesmerizing experience this yuletide season!
It’s been a family holiday season tradition to go to a place where the only thing to do is be amazed by your surroundings with all things merry and bright. From the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremonies to social events at popular attractions, we made a list of the best places to see dazzling holiday lights in Los Angeles with kids. So, start planning your tour route and prepare everyone for the magical experience of a lifetime!
South Coast Botanic Garden
26300 Crenshaw Blvd., Palos Verdes Estates, CA 90274
Phone Number: (424) 452-0920
November 8, 2024 – January 31, 2025
Monday – Sunday | 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
(Closed on selected days)
Astra Lumina returns to Los Angeles for an enchanted night walk at the South Coast Botanic Garden that invites visitors to discover the wonder of visiting stars. Set off across mysterious grounds to discover a celestial pathway of lustrous light, cosmic visions, and astral song. Created by the visionary minds at Moment Factory, Astra Lumina LA is the 17th experience in the Lumina Night Walk series.
Invites stargazers to set off across the garden’s celestial pathway to encounter the wonder of the stars and embrace their own human light. As the night unfolds, these luminous orbs regenerate, rise, and reunite in the night sky, to shine brighter than ever before.
Downtown Santa Monica
3rd St. Promenade, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Phone Number: (310) 393-8355
November 8, 2024 – January 20, 2025
Monday – Sunday | 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Downtown Santa Monica brings the holidays to the Third Street Promenade, transforming the downtown district into an immersive, festive experience. Tens of thousands of colorful lights, decor, and garland will deck the Third Street Promenade and 2nd and 4th Streets, providing convenient, illuminating shopping and relaxing outdoor dining experiences.
The annual tree lighting will be held Thursday, November 21st, from 6 – 8 pm, and Third Street Promenade will glow under tens of thousands of lights illuminating festive outdoor retail and dining. There will be performances by local school groups, free photos with Santa, and a snowy surprise.
Rodeo Drive
Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Phone Number: (619) 535-8705
November 14, 2024 – January 5, 2025
Monday – Sunday | 5:00 pm – 11:00 pm
The 2024 Holiday Lighting Celebration fills the streets with festive decor, food, drinks and fireworks. As a favorite holiday tradition, thousands are expected to gather on the iconic palm tree-dotted Rodeo Drive to celebrate the beginning of the holiday season in style. The street will come alive with musical guests, candy cane street sweepers, nutcracker stilts, roller skating performers, and more festive surprises.
Experience larger-than-life tree and ornament sculptures in Beverly Cañon Gardens Park nightly from 5 pm to 11 pm. You can also enjoy a festive light show at the City’s iconic Beverly Gardens Park at the Beverly Hills Sign and Lily Pond every 15 minutes nightly from 6 pm to 9:30 pm. The Rodeo Drive Holiday Lighting Celebration, ‘Rodeo Nights, Holiday Lights,’ is an iconic event that embodies the glamour and allure of Rodeo Drive.
Disneyland Anaheim
1313 Disneyland Dr., Anaheim, CA 92802
Phone Number: (714) 781-4636
November 15, 2024 – January 6, 2025
Monday – Sunday | 8:00 am – 12:00 am
Talking about holiday lights in Los Angeles this Christmas season is hard without mentioning Disneyland. Sure, the Happiest Place on Earth is already sky-high in “wow factor,” but the resort ups its merriment ante big-time over the holidays. From a wintery light projection that makes Sleeping Beauty’s castle look like it’s dripping in high-def icicles to the “It’s a Small World” facade transformed into a wall of colorful twinkling lights, Disneyland shines in a whole new way this time of year!
You’ll experience holiday joy everywhere you turn, with decor and lights strewn all over the park and the “Believe in Holiday Magic” fireworks display, ending the night with stirring music, snow showers, and a spectacular light show. The lights also dazzle at California Adventure, where the streets are similarly adorned. Experience the most magical time of year with celebrations throughout both parks.
The Grove
189 The Grove Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90036
Phone Number: (323) 900-8080
November 15 – December 25, 2024
Monday – Sunday | 10:00 am – 9:00 pm
At Christmas, The Grove pulls out all the stops, and the shopping destination transforms into a magical wonderland. Expect nightly “snow” nightly, the iconic installation of Santa and his slap with holiday music filling the air. Two of the tallest trees on the West Coast glitter with 25,000 lights and ornaments.
Immerse yourself in the season’s magic with twinkling lights, festive sights, and joyful experiences everywhere you turn. Enjoy live entertainment, the season’s first snowfall, a fireworks finale, and more alongside your local community. Discover festive holiday happenings across The Grove, The Americana at Brand, Palisades Village, The Promenade at Westlake, and beyond.
Los Angeles Zoo
5333 Zoo Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90027
Phone Number: (323) 644-4200
November 15, 2024 – January 5, 2025
Monday – Sunday | 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
(Closed most Mondays and Tuesdays plus Thanksgiving Day, December 24 & 25)
Explore an immersive landscape filled with dazzling new lantern sculptures of animals among blooming flowers, towering trees, and more for a nature-focused holiday celebration that’s as inspiring as it is breathtaking. This year’s experience features all-new seasonal wonders, including a magical Winter Wildlands with majestic pine trees, glowing ice crystals, snow-loving animals, views of the “northern lights,” and spectacular photo spots for the ultimate holiday snaps.
The event’s “Animals Aglow” edition has gone all in on oversized animal-shaped lanterns, resulting in a colorful, charming trail celebrating the zoo’s natural inhabitants. The lanterns inspired by the venue’s wild residents are plentiful and vibrant, and many come to life with playful movements. Flora also shares some of the focus, particularly along the pink cherry blossom lights trail.
The Bloc
700 S. Flower St., Los Angeles, CA 90017
Phone Number: (213) 454-4926
November 17, December 31, 2024
Monday – Sunday | 5:00 pm – 10:00 PM
Experience a magical holiday show as 18 million hues of lights illuminate the night and synchronize to festive tunes. SPARKLE DTLA at The Bloc will take you through an unforgettable nighttime journey, including one of L.A.’s largest multi-colored interactive holiday displays. Capture your perfect photo-op moments at this ultimate holiday experience.
This experience is FREE to attend and is open to all ages. Furry friends are also welcome. Capture your perfect photo-op moments in this ultimate holiday experience. Visit and enjoy the holiday season and vibes at The Bloc.
Descanso Gardens
1418 Descanso Dr., La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011
Phone Number: (818) 949-4200
November 18, 2024 – January 4, 2025
Monday – Sunday | 5:30 pm – 10:00 pm
(Closed on Nov. 28, Dec. 24 & 25)
Descanso’s Enchanted Forest of Light is an interactive nighttime holiday experience unlike many other Holiday events in Los Angeles, featuring a one-mile walk through unique lighting experiences in some of the most beloved areas of Descanso Gardens this Christmas season. Each year, the botanical garden masterfully mixes hands-on art installations with atmospheric, luminescent forests, all against a background of uplit trees and shimmery sound effects.
Don’t miss popular returning illuminated favorites, including an entire town of magical “stained glass” creations on the Main Lawn by contemporary sculptor Tom Fruin, sparkling geometric installations from HYBYCOZO in the Rose Garden, Flower Power on the Promenade, and exquisite lighting effects in the Ancient Forest. Stroll through it and marvel at the variety of large-scale light displays allowing visitors to manipulate the lights and sounds.
O.C. Fair & Event Center
88 Fair Dr., Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Phone Number: (714) 708-1500
November 22, 2024 – January 5, 2025
Monday – Sunday | 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm
(Closed on Dec. 2-4, 8-11, & 16-18)
Winter Fest OC is a celebration that brings the magic of winter to Southern California, creating an immersive experience that will leave you captivated and filled with wonder. Embrace the spirit of the season as you create unforgettable memories with loved ones, surrounded by the enchanting sights, sounds, and tastes of winter. Over a million lights, massive holiday decor, and thrilling activities await.
Journey to a magical winter wonderland with oversized holiday decor, more than a million lights, and endless opportunities for memory-making. This year’s new attraction is “North Pole Journey,” an immersive walkthrough experience that guides guests through 5 themed areas on a critical mission to meet Santa and save the holidays.
Burton Chase Park
13650 Mindanao Way, Marina del Rey, CA 90292
Phone Number: (310) 306-9900
December 1-31, 2024
Monday – Sunday | 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm
The holiday season in Marina del Rey will offer locals and visitors a festive atmosphere, including the annual Marina Lights at Burton Chace Park and the annual New Year’s Eve fireworks show. The family-friendly GLOW party returns to Burton Chace Park on New Year’s Eve this year. And, of course, the beloved Marina del Rey Holiday Boat Parade will bring joy to the waterfront.
The public is invited to walk, bike, or paddle throughout the harbor to see the boats decorated in holiday lights. Take a stroll and shop throughout Fisherman’s Village, Boardwalk Shops, Waterside Shops, and nightly twinkling holiday lights throughout December.
VENICE Sign
100 Windward Ave., Venice, CA 90291
Phone Number: (310) 822-5425
December 7, 2024
Saturday | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Join the Venice Chamber of Commerce, special guests, and your community for what has become a beloved tradition of changing the lights on the Venice Sign from white to red and green for the holidays. The 12th Annual Venice Holiday Sign Lighting Event marks the onset of the holiday season in Los Angeles, uniting the local community, businesses, and artists in a spectacular event celebration.
This year, Venice’s streets will come alive with photo opportunities with Santa, complimentary carnival games at “Windward Wonderland,” and a tantalizing array of free food and drinks at “Holiday Taste of Venice.”This West Los Angeles holiday extravaganza will also feature live performances by Grammy winners, Rock & Roll Hall of Famers, and emerging local talents.
Christmastime is all about family gatherings, gift-giving, holiday greetings, and of course, Christmas lights. Amid the holiday frenzy and the city lighting up, this is the best time to take the whole family on a fantasy tour and indulge in yuletide festivities. Our list of Christmas lights and jolly events in Los Angeles offers thrilling holiday experiences for everyone to spend the best quality time together during this beautiful time of year.
Los Angeles offers so many opportunities for kids to enjoy and have fun all year round! Check out our list of resources, or browse through our things to do in Los Angeles with kids. Still looking for more activities for kids in Los Angeles? No problem! Check out our comprehensive listing of places to go in the region and our highly recommended seasonal blog posts.
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