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Christmas Weekend 2022 Best Things To Do in Los Angeles: Nutcracker, Las Posadas, Hanukkah

Have you seen Santa yet? He's pretty busy this weekend, but we know where in LA to find him. Photo courtesy of the Glendale Galleria
Have you seen Santa yet? He's pretty busy this weekend, but we know where in LA to find him. Photo courtesy of the Glendale Galleria
12/21/22 - By Toby B

Looking for the best things to do in Los Angeles Christmas weekend? Here are some events and activities to add to your list for this holiday weekend.

Merry Christmas, folks! 2022's gift to us all has been a plethora of favorite holiday activities, with light shows, Nutcrackers, and theme park celebrations everywhere you turn. A few suggestions sure to make spirits bright: Santa's Speedway - Christmas Lights Experience, a light show, snow play, and hayride extravaganza; Las Posadas, the nightly free reenactment of Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem; and the Los Angeles Ballet's stunning production of The Nutcracker in Hollywood.

Plus, we’ve got 30 Things To Do on Christmas Day, a list of restaurants that are open on Christmas, and if you haven't gotten your pictures with Santa this year, we know where you can still find him.

However you choose to celebrate, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy Kwanzaa; in short, happy holidays from all of us at Mommy Poppins!

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Las Posadas is celebrated nightly on Olvera Street. Photo courtesy of the Olvera Street Facebook page
Las Posadas is celebrated nightly on Olvera Street. Photo courtesy of the Olvera Street Facebook page

Best Things To Do Christmas Weekend in Los Angeles

Disney on Ice: Road Trip Adventures (Ontario)

Ontario - Thursday - Monday, December 22- 26
Disney is back on the ice with a Road Trip Adventure! Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and friends embark on an interactive adventure to iconic Disney destinations.  See the world from the rooftops of London with Mary Poppins and Jack and his band of dancing lamplighters, travel to the sun-soaked Motunui with Moana, set off on a safari with Simba and Pumbaa, and more.  READ MORE

Los Angeles Ballet's The Nutcracker at the Dolby

Hollywood - Friday - Monday, December 23 - 26
Los Angeles Ballet's production of The Nutcracker returns for another season, as Clara and her Nutcracker journey to the magical Land of Snow, and to the enchanted Palace of the Dolls where all of Clara's favorite companions come to life.  READ MORE

63rd Annual LA County Holiday Celebration

DTLA - Saturday, December 24
Free
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

Fiddler On the Roof Sing-Along

Multiple locations - Saturday, December 24
Without our traditions, our lives would be as shaky as ... a fiddler on the roof. With this in mind, select Laemmle Theaters offer an alternative Christmas Eve tradition: the annual Fiddler On the Roof sing-along. Costumes welcome!   READ MORE

Family Matinees at the Academy Museum

Mid-City - Saturday, December 24: Home Alone <
The Academy Museum screens family-friendly films on Saturdays at 11am. March's films are favorite Oscar-winning or nominated family films, as chosen by Museum staff. READ MORE

Christmas on the Farm

Moorpark - Daily through December 24
Underwood Farms' Moorpark Farm Center is brimming with activity this holiday season. A wide range of activities are included with admission such as visits to the Animal Center, holiday photo ops, tractor-drawn wagon rides, animal shows, and combine & harvester slides. And on a few select weekends in December: reindeer! READ MORE

Las Posadas

DTLA - Daily through December 24
Free
A reenactment of Mary and Joseph's search for a room at the inn is presented by the Olvera Street merchants, their families, and friends. Visitors are encouraged to join the nightly candlelight processions and Christmas carol singing in Spanish and English. READ MORE

Christmas at the Santa Barbara Zoo

Santa Barbara - Saturday & Sunday, December 24 & 25
Looking for something to do Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?  The Santa Barbara Zoo is open! READ MORE

Hanukkah Menorah Lighting at Culver City Hall

Culver City - Sunday, December 25
Free
The community is invited for a Grand Menorah Lighting at the Culver City Hall courtyard to celebrate Hanukkah. READ MORE

Mary Poppins (Hollywood Legion Theatre)

Hollywood Hills - Monday, December 26
A Boxing Day screening of Mary Poppins? Sounds practically perfect in every way! READ MORE

Snow N Glow 2022

Ventura - Daily through December 26 (closed on Christmas)
Do you want to build a snowman? Or maybe go snow tubing? Families need look no further than Ventura for SoCal's newest winter wonderland. The Snow N' Glow experience at Ventura County Fairgrounds features fresh snow that is made daily and an immersive light trail with over 1 million twinkling lights. Fireworks light the night on select dates. READ MORE

Holiday Road Walk-thru at King Gillette Ranch

Calabasas - Daily through December 30 (closed on Christmas)
Holiday Road returns as a walk-thru immersive holiday lights experience, filled with larger-than-life holiday displays and millions of Christmas lights. Guests can enjoy countless photo ops, a festive souvenir shop, Santa and Mrs. Claus, countless candy canes, and all of the holiday cheer. READ MORE

Hikari - A Festival of Lights

Irvine - Select dates through December 30 (closed December 24 & 25)
Hikari means "shine" in Japanese, and this holiday season Tanaka Farms shines with over a mile of twinkling lights. The 30-acre farm dazzles with farm-themed lighting on trees, tractors, and sugarcane. Enjoy live music, food, photo ops, arts & crafts, barnyard animals, photos with Santa, and holiday lights! READ MORE

Capistrano Lights

San Juan Capistrano - Select dates through December 30 (closed December 24 - 26)
The Jewel of the Missions hosts Capistrano Lights, inviting families to experience the Mission at night with a nightly tree lighting and candlelit music program. READ MORE

Santa's Speedway - Christmas Lights Experience

Irwindale - Daily through January 1
Santa's Speedway returns in a new Christmas festival experience, featuring a dazzling light show. Highlights of this year's event include a snow play area, dining and drinks in the Christmas Village, photos with Santa, tram and hayrides, and massive holiday light exhibits, along with much more. READ MORE

LA Zoo Lights: Animals Aglow

Griffith Park - Select dates through January 22 (closed December 24 & 25)
Zoo Lights once again lights up the night with a holiday light display at the LA Zoo. The event transforms select areas of the zoo into an immersive landscape filled with spectacular lantern sculptures of animals among blooming flowers, towering trees, and more. This reimagined, wildlife-centric LED-lights display features over 30 of the Zoo’s most beloved animals including giraffes, elephants, orangutans, lemurs, koalas, and condors. READ MORE
Candy Cane Lane is all lit up this weekend! Photo courtesy of Discover Los Angeles
Candy Cane Lane is all lit up this weekend! Photo courtesy of Discover Los Angeles

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