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!
1313 Disneyland Dr., Anaheim, CA 92802
Phone Number: (714) 781-4636
November 11, 2022 – January 8, 2023
Schedule:
Daily | 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 were 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. For more information, please visit their website.
L.A. Arboretum
301 North Baldwin Ave., Arcadia, CA 91007
Phone Number: (626) 821-3222
November 11, 2022 – January 8, 2023
Schedule:
Daily | 5:30 PM – 10:00 PM
Lightscape is an internationally acclaimed extravaganza of light, art, and music that transforms the Arboretum into an illuminated night experience. Wander along stunning new installations on an expanded trail that includes the magnificent Winter Cathedral. Lightscape is truly memorable and a family-friendly walking event in Los Angeles that is perfect for holiday entertaining and gatherings.
Uplit trees and over a dozen illuminated Christmas installations dot the roughly mile-long pathway at the second edition of Lightscape at the Los Angeles County Arboretum during the holiday season. Whether or not the cost of admission is worth it will primarily come down to just how badly you want to pose for photos inside the cathedral-like light tunnel. For more information, please visit their website.
3rd St. Promenade, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Phone Number: (310) 393-8355
November 16 – December 26, 2022
Schedule:
Daily | 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Downtown Santa Monica brings the holidays to the Third Street Promenade with the return of Winterlit, transforming the downtown district into an immersive, festive experience. Tens of thousands of colorful lights, decor, and garland will deck the Third Street Promenade, 2nd and 4th Streets, convenient illuminating shopping and relaxing outdoor dining experiences.
The annual tree lighting will be held Thursday, December 1st, 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. For more information, please visit their website.
The Bloc
700 S. Flower St., Los Angeles, CA 90017
Phone Number: (213) 454-4926
November 17, 2022 – January 1, 2023
Schedule:
Daily | 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 that includes 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. For more information, please visit their website.
241 North Cañon Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Phone Number: (310) 248-1015
November 17, 2022 – January 1, 2023
Schedule:
Daily | 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Experience stunning sparkling light sculptures at Beverly Cañon Gardens, located near The Maybourne Beverly Hills. The Glowing Gardens is made from scribbles sculptures in Beverly Cañon Gardens, which are full of graceful ribbons of light that spring forth from the central fountain and nearby plazas. Visitors are enchanted by colors and animation moving along the cursive forms reminiscent of artful brushstrokes, droplets of water, shooting stars, or golden embers rising from a fireplace.
Beverly Drive typically gets covered in white lights, and a willow tree decked out in gold decor. A familiar form extends the light ribbon motif to create a glowing heart. Guests step inside the sculpture, embraced by the love of the community and the season for a unique photo op. For more information, please visit their website.
189 The Grove Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90036
Phone Number: (323) 900-8080
November 18 – December 24, 2022
Schedule:
Daily | 10:00 AM – 10:00 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. For more information, please visit their website.
Los Angeles Zoo
5333 Zoo Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90027
Phone Number: (323) 644-4200
November 18, 2022 – January 22, 2023
Schedule:
Daily | 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
(Closed most Mondays and Tuesdays plus Thanksgiving Day, December 24 & 25)
The L.A. Zoo is staying open after dark most nights through January during this delightful new take on its light-up holiday tradition. Explore an immersive landscape filled with spectacular lantern sculptures of animals among blooming flowers, towering trees, and more for a wildlife-centered experience that’s as inspiring as it is breathtaking. Though Zoo Lights has eschewed almost all overtly Christmassy elements, it hasn’t ditched interactive spectacle.
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 trail of pink cherry blossom lights. For more information, please visit their website.
Descanso Gardens
1418 Descanso Dr., La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011
Phone Number: (818) 949-4200
November 20, 2022 – January 8, 2023
Schedule:
Daily | 5:30 PM – 10:00 PM
(Closed on Nov. 24, Dec. 24 & 25)
Discovery and wonder will again inhabit the illuminated installations in Descanso Gardens’ holiday tradition. The Enchanted Forest of Light is an interactive nighttime experience unlike anything else in Los Angeles, featuring a one-mile walk through unique Christmas lighting experiences. 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.
Popular returning favorites include an entire town of magical “stained glass” creations built in the Rose Garden by contemporary sculptor Tom Fruin, sparkling geometric installations from HYBYCOZO on the Main Lawn, 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. For more information, please visit their website.
O.C. Fair & Event Center
88 Fair Dr., Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Phone Number: (714) 708-1500
November 25, 2022 – January 1, 2023
Schedule:
Thursday – Sunday | 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Southern California’s largest winter festival returns to The O.C. Fair & Event Center for 26 days and nights of attractions, live entertainment, and fun. After a stint as a drive-through lights show dubbed Night of Lights O.C., this Christmas-themed event is back under its original name. The Costa Mesa event includes a North Pole walkthrough, illuminated mini-golf, bounce houses, a holiday market, tons of lights, skating, tubing, and bumper cars, all of the ice variety.
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. For more information, please visit their website.
13650 Mindanao Way, Marina del Rey, CA 90292
Phone Number: (310) 306-9900
December 1-31, 2022
Schedule:
Daily | 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 this year on New Year’s Eve. 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. For more information, please visit their website.
Pacific Ave & Windward Ave., 1501 Main St., #205, Venice, CA 90291
Phone Number: (310) 822-425
December 3, 2022
Schedule:
Saturday | 6:15 PM – 10:00 PM
The historic Venice Sign will light up for the Holidays again this year. 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 Venice Sign, a federally registered trademark of the Venice Chamber of Commerce and Venice’s most iconic symbol, attracts thousands of tourists to Venice.
Spanning across Windward Avenue at Pacific, the sign is a modern-day replica of the one initially installed in 1905 by the legendary Abbot Kinney. It is a defining symbol of Venice, past and present. It is a historical landmark in Los Angeles, and Fat Sals present this year’s holiday events. For more information, please visit their website.
Upper Hastings Ranch Neighborhood
Hastings Ranch Dr. and Sierra Madre Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91107
Phone Number: (626) 744-7311
December 10-31, 2022
Schedule:
Daily | 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Drive through the neighborhood to enjoy a festival of lights and parkway displays. This tradition began in 1951 when a few Ranch families decorated their driveways with luminaria (paper bags with candles) to guide Santa Claus. It continued when a homeowner created the first wooden parkway display, and the competition was on. The last day to vote for the UHRA Residents’ Choice Award will be December 14th at the Mini Village.
There will also be a UHRA Snoopy Parade and delivery of awards on December 16th with carolers on Pine Bluff. The event will end on New Year’s eve with Tournament of Roses Bandfest presented by Remo. Join the community to see the themed streets and creative decorations. For more information, please visit their website.
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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