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11/22/22 - By Toby B

Looking for the best things to do in Los Angeles on Thanksgiving Day and all Thanksgiving weekend? Here are some events and activities to add to your list for this long holiday weekend!

Can we say it? We’re thankful. Our calendar runneth over with activities that reflect the joy of the season. This weekend we can unpack the new Disney film Strange World, take part in a Turkey Trot, visit a flurry of holiday light displays such as Tanaka Farm's Hikari and Holiday Road at King Gillette Ranch, and see snow and take part in winter fun at Ventura's Snow N' Glow. To top it off, on Sunday we can claim a spot on Hollywood Boulevard to watch the Hollywood Christmas Parade.

Plus, discover all the activities and events that are happening on Thanksgiving Day, find out which restaurants are open on Thanksgiving, and check out our Thanksgiving Activities Guide for Families for Thanksgiving crafts, movies (who knew?), and even Thanksgiving jokes. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Mommy Poppins!

More Things To Do in Los Angeles this Week with Kids:

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Holiday Road is a dazzling walk-thru immersive holiday lights experience. Photo courtesy of Holiday Road
Holiday Road is a dazzling walk-thru immersive holiday lights experience. Photo courtesy of Holiday Road

Best Things To Do Thanksgiving Weekend in Los Angeles with Kids

Wild Lights and Jungle Nights

Moorpark - November 23 - December 30
America’s Teaching Zoo shines bright this holiday season during its enchanting holiday light event. Highlights include the Arctic Enchanted Aviary and the Illuminated Jungle complete with a glow-in-the-dark garden.  READ MORE

Burbank YMCA Turkey Trot

Burbank - Thursday, November 24
Burbank Community YMCA invites families to run, jog, walk, or push a stroller in the Thanksgiving Turkey Trot 5K/10K through the streets of downtown Burbank.  READ MORE

Turkey Trot Los Angeles 2022

DTLA - Thursday, November 24
How about working off that turkey ... before you eat it! The Turkey Trot Los Angeles takes participants on a scenic course through Downtown LA (starting and ending near City Hall/ Grand Park). READ MORE

Ventura Botanical Gardens are Free on Thanksgiving

Ventura - Thursday, November 24
Free
Free admission to Ventura Botanical Gardens on Thanksgiving Day? That's something to be thankful for! Exploring these 100+ acres of gorgeous views and pretty blooms makes for something new and interesting to do while working up an appetite for dessert! READ MORE

Yeti's Snow Play

Wrightwood - Friday, November 25
When you're looking for snow -  go where the Yeti go!   Families can make it a snow day at the Yeti’s Snow Play, Southern California’s closest snow. Guests can meet the Yeti and his friends, slide down the tubing lanes, or take a ride up the Scenic Sky Chair.   READ MORE

Jingle Bell Jump

Thousand Oaks - Friday, November 25
Free
At noon sharp, Santa Claus parachutes into the Janss Marketplace for some holiday fun. He'll land near Sharky's, if you want to find a good spot to watch the action. The fun includes face painters, kids' crafts, story time with Mrs. Claus, and live holiday music. READ MORE

Green Friday

Claremont - Friday, November 25
Free
Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden invites families to escape the stresses and crazy lines of Black Friday and "opt outside," with free garden admission. READ MORE

Santa Arrival and Tree Lighting (Manhattan Village Mall)

Manhattan Beach - Friday, November 25
Free
Manhattan Village lights up the holidays with live music, holiday characters to meet and greet, and of course, the arrival of Santa to light the 41-foot tree at 5pm! READ MORE

Irvine Park Railroad Christmas Train

Orange - November 25 - December 23
Irvine Regional Park's annual Christmas Train offers both daytime and nighttime rides through the historic park to meet Santa at his Village.  READ MORE

Christmas on the Farm

Moorpark - November 25 - 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

Merry + Bright at South Coast Botanic Garden

Palos Verdes - November 25 - December 24
South Coast Botanic Garden invites guests to be Merry + Bright this Holiday Season. Holiday offerings include new seasonal plantings throughout the garden and photo opportunities, including the garden's twist on iconic pine trees. READ MORE

Hikari - A Festival of Lights

Irvine - November 25 - December 30
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

Holiday Road Walk-thru at King Gillette Ranch

Calabasas - November 25 - December 30
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

Winter Fest

Costa Mesa - November 25 - January 1
Feel that chill? That's the return of Winter Fest, So Cal's largest winter festival! General admission includes the North Pole Journey (an immersive walk-through experience), entertainment, light displays, photo ops, and meeting Santa. Additional activities such as ice skating, snow tubing, carnival rides, ice bumper cars, and LED golf are included with various premium admission passes or can be purchased as add-ons. READ MORE

Annual Lighting of the Bay

Newport Beach - November 25 - January 6
Free
The 32nd Annual Lighting of the Bay kicks off the holiday season at Newport Dunes,  illuminating the bay each evening at dusk with more than 50 electric Christmas trees and holiday decorations. Opening night festivities include live musical performances, stocking decorating, holiday photo booths, a holiday movie on the beach, festive food and beverages, and more. Santa takes center stage at dusk as he flips the magic switch to illuminate the bay with more than fifty floating holiday decorations and Christmas trees.  READ MORE

Holiday Light Festival Train Ride

Griffith Park - November 25 - January 6
Hooray! Griffith Park and Southern Railroad brings back its popular Santa train ride this year. The evening ride is gentle and timeless, and just the right size for kids and their parents to take in the festively decorated mile of track. READ MORE

Winter Wonderland Celebration at Vroman's

Pasadena - Saturday, November 26
Free
Santa loves books, and he's dropping in at Vroman's to take photos and celebrate this special season. Kids have the opportunity to create a craft and snap a photo with the jolly saint. Photos are free.  READ MORE

Winter Village Festival

Sierra Madre - Saturday, November 26
Free
Sierra Madre sweetens Small Business Saturday with the Winter Village Festival. The event promises snow, music, shopping, and Santa Claus!   READ MORE

We Heart Eagle Rock Shop Small Weekend

Eagle Rock - Saturday, November 26, 2022
The small businesses of Eagle Rock host pre-holiday shopping fun at the 12th annual event. Each shop is hosting its own in-store and/or online + virtual promotions over the BFCM weekend (that's Black Friday through Cyber Monday). READ MORE

Bob Baker’s Nutcracker

Highland Park - November 26 - January 8
Bob Baker's Nutcracker returns most triumphantly this year to the Bob Baker Theater! This beloved version of the story has been running since 1969, and every performance ends with ice cream. Don't miss this LA holiday tradition!  READ MORE

Hollywood Christmas Parade

Hollywood - Sunday, November 27
Free
When  it comes to parades, New York may own Thanksgiving, but no one beats Hollywood for Christmas. The slightly kitschy, but very lovable Hollywood Christmas Parade airs across the country throughout December, but the event takes place on the Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend. READ MORE
A Thanksgiving weekend visit to the Auto Show is an annual tradition. Photo courtesy of the Los Angeles Auto Show
A Thanksgiving weekend visit to the Auto Show is an annual tradition. Photo courtesy of the Los Angeles Auto Show

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Places featured in this article:

America's Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College
Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort
Griffith Park and Southern Railroad
Downtown Sierra Madre
Colorado Blvd between Eagle Rock Blvd and Townsend
Bob Baker Marionette Theater