Discover the best 2025 holiday events in Los Angeles with lights, parades, concerts, markets, and more. Your must-see LA holiday guide.
Los Angeles doesn’t just celebrate the holidays—it engineers a spectacle out of them. Each winter, the city transforms into a glittering playground of art, culture, lights, music, and culinary indulgence.
And in 2025, holiday events in Los Angeles are leveling up again, blending immersive tech, nostalgic traditions, and community-centered magic to create the most anticipated holiday season in recent memory. Whether you’re looking for family outings, date-night enchantment, cultural happenings, or Instagram-worthy installations, this year’s lineup proves that no one decks the halls quite like LA.
Below is your definitive guide to the best 2025 holiday events in Los Angeles, complete with event summaries, locations, and available contact details. Bookmark this list—you’ll need it.
L.A. Zoo Lights: Winter Wild!
As one of the city’s longest-running seasonal staples, L.A. Zoo Lights: Winter Wild! returns bigger than ever in 2025. Visitors can wander through miles of glowing pathways, animated animal lanterns, synchronized light shows, and a new “Frosted Forest” installation featuring a canopy of sparkling whites and blues that look straight out of a storybook.
“We’re doubling our illuminated animal sculptures this year,” says event director Jeremy Cordero. “We want guests to feel like they’re stepping into a living, breathing holiday ecosystem.”
Location: Los Angeles Zoo, 5333 Zoo Dr., Los Angeles, CA
Website: https://www.lazoo.org/zoolights/
Contact: (323) 644-4200
Expect family crowds early in the evening, but late-night weekday entry is ideal for adults who want to wander at a slower pace. Pro tip: the glowing giraffe bridge is the best photo spot of the season.
Enchanted: Forest of Light at Descanso Gardens
This beloved interactive experience transforms Descanso Gardens into a surreal dreamscape. The 2025 edition features new interactive LED sculptures, expanded soundscapes, and the return of crowd favorites like the tulip pathway and the symphony of illuminated oak trees.
“Enchanted is where art meets nature,” says resident lighting designer Kara Sato. “We design it to feel like the garden is responding to your presence.”
Visitors can grab hot chocolate or mulled cider along the route—a ritual in its own right.
Location: Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Dr., La Cañada Flintridge, CA
Website: https://www.descansogardens.org/enchanted/
Contact: (818) 949-4200
The event is a perennial sellout—book tickets early.
Holiday Road Los Angeles
Set on sprawling King Gillette Ranch, Holiday Road delivers a hybrid of immersive walk-through experiences and large-scale holiday displays. Think massive ornaments, interactive tunnels, glowing gingerbread landscapes, oversized candy canes, and roaming costumed characters.
2025 introduces a “Snowfall Lane” moment—engineered so that every guest walks through flurries of biodegradable “snow”—because LA deserves its winter moment too.
Location: King Gillette Ranch, 26800 Mulholland Hwy, Calabasas, CA
Website: https://holidayroadusa.com/
Contact: info@holidayroadusa.com
Pair this with nearby Malibu dining and you’ve got a full winter’s night out.
The Hollywood Christmas Parade
A Los Angeles icon since 1928, the Hollywood Christmas Parade marches down Hollywood Boulevard with floats, marching bands, celebrity appearances, performance troops, community groups, and the ultimate holiday cameo—Santa Claus.
2025 is expected to bring enhanced drone coverage for television broadcast, new musical performances, and a tribute float honoring classic Hollywood holiday films.
Location: Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA
Website: https://thehollywoodchristmasparade.org/
Contact: (866) 727-2331
Arrive early or prepare to stand—parade spectators show up in droves.
ICE at Santa Monica: Beachside Skating Wonderland
Skating by the beach feels inherently Los Angeles—a little absurd, a lot joyful. ICE at Santa Monica turns the Promenade into a glittering coastal rink, complete with festive lights, themed DJ nights, and structured skate lessons.
In 2025, the rink is adding silent-disco skate sessions and a weekly “Skate & Create” event where kids can decorate ornaments after skating.
Location: 1324 5th St., Santa Monica, CA
Website: https://www.downtownsm.com/ice/
Contact: (310) 393-8355
Go at sunset for maximum vibe.
Las Posadas at Olvera Street
One of LA’s most important cultural holiday traditions, the Las Posadas reenactments on Olvera Street represent centuries-old Mexican heritage. Each night features a procession with candles, songs, prayer, and community togetherness. Guests can enjoy champurrado, buñuelos, piñatas, and traditional performances.
“Las Posadas reminds us that the holidays are about hospitality and shared roots,” says cultural historian Marisol Calderón.
Location: Olvera Street, Los Angeles, CA
Website: https://www.olveraevents.com/lasposadas
Contact: info@olveraevents.com
It’s free, meaningful, and unforgettable.
LA Philharmonic’s Holiday Spectacular at Walt Disney Concert Hall
The Walt Disney Concert Hall is an architectural gift—add holiday music and you’ve got magic. The LA Phil’s 2025 schedule includes its signature Holiday Sing-Along, the Family Holiday Concert, Gospel Christmas, and a new cinematic program pairing holiday classics with live orchestral accompaniment.
Location: 111 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, CA
Website: https://www.laphil.com/
Contact: (323) 850-2000
Perfect for date night—or for putting your phone down and letting art wash over you.
Marina del Rey Boat Parade
If you’ve never seen a boat wrapped head-to-toe in lights, you haven’t truly experienced LA in December. The 2025 Marina del Rey Boat Parade brings nautical creativity to new heights each year.
Expect fireworks, live music, food trucks, and boat owners who treat holiday decorating like a competitive sport.
Location: Marina del Rey Harbor, Los Angeles, CA
Website: https://mdrboatparade.org/
Contact: info@mdrboatparade.org
Plan ahead—parking sells out fast.
Smorgasburg LA Holiday Market
LA’s food scene is a universe unto itself, and the Smorgasburg Holiday Market gathers its most exciting vendors in one place. From limited-edition holiday pastries to artisanal gifts, 2025’s event expands to feature a “Micro-Maker Alley,” showcasing indie creators from across SoCal.
It’s a perfect one-stop gift shop—plus, there’s nothing like sipping horchata cold brew (yes, that’s a thing) while browsing through handmade ceramics and holiday decor.
Location: ROW DTLA, 777 S. Alameda St., Los Angeles, CA
Website: https://la.smorgasburg.com/
Contact: la@smorgasburg.com
Get there early—the best bites sell out.
The Getty Holiday Lights & Art Nights
In 2025, The Getty launches a new seasonal program merging art, architecture, and creative illumination. Expect light installations inspired by Renaissance paintings, candlelit courtyard performances, and after-hours gallery access.
This one’s for the culture lovers.
Location: 1200 Getty Center Dr., Los Angeles, CA
Website: https://www.getty.edu/events
Contact: (310) 440-7300
Pro tip: parking is discounted for evening programs.
Winter Fest OC (Greater LA Region)
A short drive from central LA, Winter Fest OC continues to rein in massive crowds with its winter-themed attractions: ice slides, carnival games, snowfall zones, and a full North Pole Village. The 2025 expansion includes a “Glacier Garden Bar” and a live holiday storytelling theater for kids.
Location: OC Fair & Event Center, Costa Mesa, CA
Website: https://www.winterfestoc.com/
Contact: info@winterfestoc.com
Families flock here—plan for a full day.
Why Los Angeles Holiday Events Feel Bigger in 2025
Every year, holiday experiences become more immersive—and Los Angeles has positioned itself as a testing ground for experiential entertainment. With Hollywood creativity, tech innovation, multicultural influence, and world-class venues, the city produces holiday programming that feels cinematic.
These events aren’t just decorative—they’re storytelling. They forge traditions for families, craft Instagram moments for teens, and provide refuge for adults who want to escape the world for a night. And that is the real gift LA gives every December.
Experience the magic firsthand
Whether you’re a lifelong Angeleno or flying in to experience the magic firsthand, the 2025 holiday events in Los Angeles offer something unforgettable for everyone. From glowing gardens to oceanfront parades and iconic cultural celebrations, the season is shaping up to be the brightest, boldest, and most joyful yet. Start planning early—this is the year to make your own LA holiday tradition.
Discover the best 2025 holiday events in Los Angeles with lights, parades, concerts, markets, and more. Your must-see LA holiday guide.
