'Tis the season for Christmas events and holiday activities in Los Angeles! From the hundreds of Christmas events and holiday activities taking place this year, we've managed to trim our list to the top family favorites.

This year, Santa's bag is overflowing with festive fun for families in Los Angeles. This holiday season's stockings are full of theme parks dressed up in their holiday finest, traditional holiday parades, only-in-LA holiday shows, and other beloved holly jolly traditions. We can barely keep up with all the fun Christmas events and holiday activities in Los Angeles this year. 

 For more holiday activities, don't miss our Holiday Events and Christmas Activities Guide for Los Angeles, packed with every possible holiday and Christmas light show, Nutcracker shows, Polar Express holiday trains, outdoor ice skating rinks, and so much more.

The Nutcracker ballet is a classic holiday experience for kids and parents, but there are now so many versions of The Nutcracker ballet in NYC a parent could go sugar-plum crazy trying to figure out which one is best for their family.

We've found a dozen variations of The Nutcracker ballet playing this season across all five NYC boroughs, from the New York City Ballet's classic iteration at Lincoln Center to a 92Y production complete with a fabulous, family-friendly after party. We've also found a preschool-friendly Nutcracker performance starring stunning marionettes, and three Nutcracker performances at Brookfield Place that are completely FREE.

Read on for our curated recommendations for the best Nutcracker ballets in NYC for families, and find more holiday must-do's and Christmas activities in our NYC Kids' Guide to the Holidays.

'Tis the season for Polar Express train rides or Christmas trains! Los Angeles has plenty of holiday magic waiting on the rails, from a staple in Griffith Park to a movie-like adventure on the SoCal Polar Express. So, put on those matching family PJs and get ready to sing some carols, hear a story, and chow down on Christmas cookies, while embracing the holiday spirit. Kiddos may even get the chance to hand over those wish lists to Santa Claus in person. 

There are seats available (so far!) on the Christmas train rides below that take place from Thanksgiving weekend through Christmas. Reserve your spot ASAP because Polar Express trains are a hot ticket, and tend to book up fast.

Get in the holiday spirit with the best neighborhood holiday lights in Los Angeles, take your Christmas card to the next level with LA-only photo ops with Santa, and visit our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events for Los Angeles Families for more holiday adventures. 

The Nutcracker and A Christmas Carol are among the seasonal classics to look forward to over the holidays, when New Jersey theaters come alive with dancing sugar plum fairies, singing elves, and more than a few Christmas ghosts. 

If your child is nuts about The Nutcracker, you don't have to go to New York City to see a superb production—several top-notch companies perform the holiday favorite right here in New Jersey, including Roxey Ballet and New Jersey Ballet. For a fun twist on the classic, don't miss The Hip Hop Nutcracker at NJPAC.

Plus, favorite characters come alive on stage in holiday musicals, including A Charlie Brown Christmas Live on Stage and Elf the Musical.

In fact, there are so many top-notch productions, we couldn't list them all here, so be sure to check out our Activity Calendar for more, and bookmark our Guide to the Holidays in New Jersey for family-friendly Christmas activities all season long.

Tchaikovsky’s timeless Nutcracker ballet is a beloved family holiday tradition, and multiple Westchester and Hudson Valley venues present stunning performances of this classic.

Performances of The Nutcracker this year include Dance For Joy's Nutcracker for Kids, a condensed, narrated version of the classic ballet geared toward the younger set, and The Nutcracker at Irvington Theater, with a twist that features a variety of dance styles and modern hits sprinkled throughout the classic. 

Other holiday shows on our list include The Laurie Berkner Band Holiday Celebration at the Tarrytown Music Hall and Jessica Lynn: A Very Merry Classic Christmas at the Paramount Hudson Valley, which benefits Toys for Tots.