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

Disney on Ice: Magic in the Stars glides into DTLA. Photo courtesy of Feld Entertainment.
Disney on Ice: Magic in the Stars glides into DTLA. Photo courtesy of Feld Entertainment.
11/30/25 - By Toby B

December brings plenty of things to do in Los Angeles with Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and New Year's Eve. Don’t miss our favorite kid-friendly events and activities in Los Angeles this month.

Top things to do in Los Angeles and unwrap this December include Wicked at the Pantages, Manhattan Beach Annual Holiday Fireworks Festival (snow and fireworks!), and an entire fleet of boat parades, including Dana Point's Boat Parade of Lights, and LA County's Annual Holiday Celebration. Elsa, Ariel, and Moana skate into the Southland with a new Disney on Ice show, and the Skirball's annual Hanukkah Festival kicks off the Festival of Lights in the most kid-friendly way. 

To end the month in style, ring in the new year at Gloria Molina Grand Park—or let the littles have their fun at the Noon Year's Eve Party at the Southern California Children's Museum. Keep reading to discover the best things to do in Los Angeles this December.

For even more fun things to do in LA this season, check out our Holiday and Christmas Activities Guide for LA Families—which includes a roundup of the Best Holiday Lights Drive-Thrus, Walk-Thrus, and Christmas Light Shows in Los Angeles, where to see The Nutcracker and other holiday shows in LA, and more. 

These are just a few of our favorite things to do in Los Angeles in December. We're adding more events to the Los Angeles Family Event Calendar every day. Keep reading for the very best things to do in Los Angeles this December, and don't forget to check back weekly for our picks for the best things to do in Los Angeles each weekend. 

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Celebrate the holiday season by seeing the Boat Parade of Lights at Dana Point. Photo courtesy of the event.
Celebrate the holiday season by seeing the Boat Parade of Lights at Dana Point. Photo courtesy of the event.

The Best Things To Do in Los Angeles with Kids in December

Holiday in the Park at LA County Parks

Multiple Locations - FREE
Starts Tuesday, December2, 2025
Multiple LA County Parks celebrate the holidays with free events on select nights this December. Angelenos can enjoy a festive night with holiday characters, snacks, arts & crafts, games, caroling, special performances, music, children's story time and more.  See the LA County Parks Facebook post for more details on times and locations!  READ MORE

Roald Dahl's The Enormous Crocodile

Culver City
Opens Friday, December 5, 2025
He’s greedy, he’s grumptious, he’s beastly! The Enormous Crocodile is weaving his way through the jungle of Los Angeles in search of delicious little fingers and squidgy podgy knees... Only the other jungle creatures can foil his secret plans and clever tricks, but they’re going to have to find a large amount of courage to stop this greedy brute. Roald Dahl’s snappy book is brought to the stage in mischievous musical, featuring toe-tapping tunes and a menagerie of puppets.  READ MORE

Sand Snowman Contest

Hermosa Beach - FREE
Saturday, December 6, 2025
Who needs snow?  In Hermosa Beach, families can make their snowmen out of sand.  READ MORE

Palisades Village Christmas Tree Lighting

Pacific Palisades - FREE
Saturday, December 6, 2025
It's truly a miracle of Christmas!  Though Palisades Village remains closed, the spirit of the holidays lives on. The community is invited to celebrate at the Palisades Village Christmas Tree Lighting. READ MORE

Lythgoe Panto: The Wonderful Winter of Oz

Thousand Oaks
Opens Friday, December 12, 2025
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

50th Annual Boat Parade of Lights at Dana Point

Dana Point - FREE
Friday - Sunday, December 12 - 14, 2025
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

Annual Holiday Concert on the Pier

Redondo Beach - FREE
Saturday, December 13, 2025
Redondo Pier celebrates the holidays with the Annual Concert on the Pier. The festivities include live holiday music, activity books, a charity toy drive, a holiday photos, and sponsor giveaways. READ MORE

Kidspace Winter Dance Party

Pasadena
Saturday, December 13, 2025
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

Marina del Rey Holiday Boat Parade: A Nightmare Before Christmas

Marina del Rey - FREE
Saturday, December 13, 2025
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

Theatricum Botanicum Holiday Family Faire

Topanga
Saturday, December 13, 2025
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

Manhattan Beach Annual Holiday Fireworks Festival

Manhattan Beach - FREE
Sunday, December 14, 2025
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

Skirball Hanukkah Family Festival

West LA
Sunday, December 14, 2025
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, 2025
CAAM hosts a zine-making workshop inspired by the holiday of Kwanzaa. READ MORE

Hanukkah Celebration (Original Farmers Market)

Mid-City - FREE
Sunday, December 14, 2025
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

Warner Brother Studio Tour - Holidays Made Here

Burbank
Starts Thursday December 18, 2025
The Warner Bros. Studio Tour is getting dressed up in its holiday finest! Guests can immerse themselves in cinematic holiday magic; this year's event gives a nod to Gilmore Girls' 25th anniversary, as the iconic back lot is transformed into Stars Hollow. And guess who's showing up? Scott Patterson, who played Luke Danes, appears daily and will record live episodes of his podcast,  “I Am All In…Again!” on December 18. Please note that there is no set schedule for these appearances. READ MORE

Los Angeles Ballet's The Nutcracker at the Dolby

Hollywood
Starts Friday, December 19, 2025
Los Angeles Ballet's production of The Nutcracker is a classic with a distinctly Southern California twist. In this production, set pieces are designed to mimic beloved landmarks and trademarks of Southern California, while the ballet stays true to Tchaikovsky's iconic score.  READ MORE

Disney on Ice: Let's Dance (Crypto.com)

DTLA
Thursday - Sunday, December 18 - 21, 2025
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

Nochebuena Christmas Spectacular

Northridge
Saturday December 20 - Monday December 22, 2025
The Soraya's annual Nochebuena celebration returns for its 10th year to celebrate the holiday traditions of Mexico. Throughout the decade, some of Mexico’s most beloved stars have joined the celebration, a tradition continued in 2025 with Mexican actress and multi-nominated Grammy and Latin Grammy vocalist Ximena Sariñana READ MORE

66th Annual LA County Holiday Celebration

DTLA - FREE
Wednesday, December 24, 2025
Choirs, music ensembles, and dance companies from the many neighborhoods and cultures of LA celebrate the season during this free, three-hour extravaganza. READ MORE

EquestFest

Burbank
Monday, December 29, 2025
Burbank's famous Equestrian Center hosts the many equestrians participating in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade, at an annual show highlighting the horses' parade performances. READ MORE

Noon Year’s Eve Party - Southern California Children's Museum

Pasadena
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
Kids can ring in 2026 long before bedtime at Southern California Children's Museum.  Kiddos can get in the spirit of NYE prep by decorating a festive hat at the hat decorating station to wear for the big moment. Then everyone gathers for the countdown to Noon which comes with a confetti release! Guests toast to the new year with sparkling cider, and celebrate all the adventures to come. READ MORE

Gloria Molina Grand Park's New Year's Eve LA

DTLA - FREE
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
Angelenos can welcome 2026 at the West Coast’s largest free New Year’s Eve event. Enjoy live entertainment on two stages, food trucks, a snack alley, and activities for the whole family. The experience is capped off with the park’s signature countdown-to-midnight light show projected onto iconic City Hall, celebrating 2026, the city of Los Angeles, and our rich diversity. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Bank of America Performing Arts Center - Scherr Forum Theatre
Kidspace Children's Museum
The California African American Museum
Southern California Children's Museum