Photo courtesy of Surfing Santa Contest via Facebook
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Hanukkah, Boat Parades, and More Top Things To Do in Los Angeles This Weekend

Photo courtesy of the Skirball Center
Photo courtesy of the Skirball Center
12/3/25 - By Toby B

Looking for the best things to do in Los Angeles this weekend? Here are some of our favorite events and activities to add to your list this weekend

This weekend in LA we have a lot to celebrate.  Get ready to wiggle and slide at the Kidspace Winter Dance Party, a playful seasonal shindig. Street parades are so last week: this weekend we take to the water, with dazzling holiday boat parades in numerous seaside locales.  One of our favorites, the Marina del Rey Holiday Boat Parade returns this weekend themed to The Nightmare Before Christmas. And get ready for eight crazy nights, Hanukkah starts Sunday night. The annual Skirball Hanukkah Family Festival is a great place to celebrate the Festival of Lights!

Want even more fun things to do this weekend? Our Los Angeles Events Calendar is packed with great family activities every day of the week— and you can filter by age, location, or even free events!

Not on our newsletter list yet? Subscribe for free and get the best local family fun sent straight to your inbox. Already subscribed? Share it with a friend and start planning your weekend together!

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Best Things To Do This Weekend in Los Angeles

Passport to Santa

Beverly Grove
Through December 31
Passport to Santa is an interactive holiday adventure that sends children on a journey to the North Pole. Along the way, they can sign the Naughty or Nice List with Mrs. Claus, build toys in Santa’s Workshop, train with Rudolph, race in the Gingerbread Tower Challenge, test their strength in Nutcracker Kingdom, dunk the Grinch, and write wishes with the Christmas Angel. READ MORE

Disney on Ice: Let's Dance (Anaheim)

Anaheim
Thursday - Monday, December 11 - 15
It's a dance party on ice with favorite Disney characters in the latest Disney on Ice show. Moana, Anna and Elsa, Simba and Nala, Ariel, and many more move to the music in Disney on Ice: Let's Dance. READ MORE

Lythgoe Panto: The Wonderful Winter of Oz

Thousand Oaks
Starts Friday December 12
Dorothy, I don't think we're in Thousand Oaks anymore!  Lythgoe Family Productions once again ushers in the holiday season with a British Panto-style production, this year presenting an off-the-wall spin on The Wizard of Oz. Making their panto debuts are Aubrey Anderson-Emmons (Modern Family) as Dorothy, and Tamyra Gray (American Idol) as Glinda. Panto veteran John O’Hurley (Seinfeld) returns as The Wizard. READ MORE

Ventura Harbor Parade of Lights & Fireworks 2025

Ventura - FREE
Friday - Saturday, December 12 - 13
This year, Ventura Harbor ups the anti at the 49th Annual Boat Parade with an entrancing parade on the water, followed by a fireworks display!  The annual boat parade kicks off the holidays in Ventura Harbor. READ MORE

50th Annual Boat Parade of Lights at Dana Point

Dana Point - FREE
Friday - Sunday, December 12 - 14
It's time for the 50th Annual Dana Point Parade of Boats Golden Jubilee, and this year the theme is "Carol of the Boats."  READ MORE

Holiday Lights at Heritage Hill Historical Park

Lake Forest- FREE
Friday - Sunday, December 12 - 14
OC Parks' Heritage Hill Historical Park lights up for the season. Guests can take an evening stroll throughout the grounds during special evening hours, enjoying dazzling displays and photo ops. READ MORE

Kidspace Winter Dance Party

Pasadena
Saturday, December 13
Kidspace sleighs the day at the ultimate Frosty Fête, the Winter Dance Party! Kids can shake their snowflakes, play reindeer games, bust a move, and giggle their way into the holiday spirit. Snow flurries expected! The dance party starts at 11:15 am and 1:15 pm. READ MORE

Surfing Santa Competition

Dana Point - FREE
Saturday, December 13
Competitors surf the waves at Orange County's Salt Creek Beach dressed like Santa (or other holiday-inspired characters) every year on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Only in SoCal! READ MORE

Theatricum Botanicum Holiday Family Faire

Topanga
Saturday, December 13
Theatricum Botanicum transforms into a Winter Wonderland for the Holiday Family Faire, a holiday marketplace complete with festive food and drink, caroling and singing madrigals, storytelling, and Santa and Mrs. Claus. READ MORE

Marina del Rey Holiday Boat Parade: A Nightmare Before Christmas

Marina del Rey- FREE
Saturday, December 13
The Marina del Rey Boat Parade returns for its 63rd year! Prepare to be awed as spectacularly decorated boats light up Marina del Rey's main harbor. This year's theme is Nightmare Before Christmas (with pirates!).  READ MORE

Holiday Sing-Along

DTLA
Saturday, December 13
Tune up your Rudolph; Walt Disney Concert Hall wants you to sing along! READ MORE

Daisy Avenue Christmas Tree Lane Parade

Long Beach - FREE
Saturday, December 13
The Daisy Avenue Christmas Tree Lane Parade returns for year 71.  This neighborhood parade is unique in that it runs through a residential street, not a commercial district. The procession includes marching bands, musical groups, and great floats. READ MORE

EXPO Center's Annual Winter Holiday Festival

Exposition Park- FREE
Saturday, December 13
Winter's in the air at EXPO Center's annual Winter Festival. This free family-friendly event offers sledding, entertainment, community booths, games, and giveaways. READ MORE

Skirball Hanukkah Family Festival

Brentwood
Sunday, December 14
The Skirball Hanukkah Family Festival welcomes families of all backgrounds to revel in the spirit of the holiday with music, dance, and storytelling.  READ MORE

Zine Workshop: Kwanzaa

Exposition Park - FREE
Sunday, December 14
CAAM hosts a zine-making workshop inspired by the holiday of Kwanzaa. READ MORE

El Segundo Holiday Parade

El Segundo- FREE
Sunday, December 14
Santa Claus is comin' to town—actually his whole workshop is!  READ MORE

Hanukkah Celebration (Original Farmers Market)

Fairfax - FREE
Sunday, December 14
Nothing says Hanukkah like a giant menorah sculpted out of ice! The Farmers Market celebrates Hanukkah with musical performances, a sing-along, arts and crafts, and more. READ MORE

Grand Menorah Lightings in Culver City

Culver City - FREE
Sunday - Wednesday, December 14 - 17
Culver City celebrates Chanukah with the Chabad of Culver City at four consecutive menorah lightings throughout the area.  READ MORE

Manhattan Beach Annual Holiday Fireworks Festival

Manhattan Beach - FREE
Sunday, December 14
Manhattan Beach's annual fireworks extravaganza returns in 2025!  Activities throughout the day include the SKECHERS Snow Park,  Santa Claus, live musical performances, and of course, fireworks.  READ MORE
Zoo lights is back at the LA Zoo. Photo by Jamie Pham
Zoo lights is back at the LA Zoo. Photo by Jamie Pham

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22 Best Things to Do in Los Angeles December 2025 with Kids

With Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Year's, December has so much to do. READ MORE

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Free family fun in LA is budget-friendly bliss! READ MORE
The Mission Inn and Spa is over-the-top festive for the holidays. Photo courtesy Mission Inn and Spa
The Mission Inn and Spa is over-the-top festive for the holidays. Photo courtesy Mission Inn and Spa

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These holiday light shows dazzle in gardens, zoos, trains, and more! READ MORE

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Find the best gifts, trips, and holiday crafts for kids this holiday season. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Bank of America Performing Arts Center - Scherr Forum Theatre
Heritage Hill Historical Park
Kidspace Children's Museum
The California African American Museum

About the Author

Toby B

Toby is our uber-busy events editor for Mommy Poppins LA. Feel free to email Toby about events for our LA area calendar.

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