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Surfing Santa Competition. Photo by Pacific Dream Photography courtesy of Surfers Healing
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11/21/19 - By Toby B

It's not Thanksgiving; that's the first thing you need to know. No turkey, no punkin pie—instead we're serving up hot cars, icy princesses, and great white whales. Not a holiday, no celebration, just the usual doo dah in the City of Angels.

Speaking of, time to get started on your yuletide cheer, with Santas (both surfing and landbound), Nutcrackers, and tree lightings galore. We've a roundup chock full o' holiday jubilation, but I have to tell you the title is an outright lie. While, yes, it is the ultimate list, don't buy into the claim that there are only 50 celebrations listed. In fact, it's more like 58, or maybe 60, or possibly 6 zillion. But we're definitely not stopping at 50.

Thankfully, we have several more weeks to work on our truthfulness skills, which is pretty important if you want to stay off the naughty list. So we'll start with the following verified statement: 

Keep reading for our most festive picks for weekend fun. For reals.

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Things To Do All Weekend

Surfing Santa Competition

Dana Point
Competitors surf the waves at Orange County's Salt Creek Beach dressed like Santa (or other holiday-inspired characters) every year on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Only in SoCal! READ MORE

Frozen 2 (PG)

Hollywood
The past has a way of returning, and when it does, we must ... go see the sequel.  Box office champ Frozen 2 continues its reign at the El Capitan. READ MORE

Moby Dick Reading on the Beach

Venice
Call me Ishmael... In this annual event, folks gather on Venice Beach for a reading of Moby Dick. Everyone's welcome to pull up a chair and listen, or even take a turn reading a few pages. The event is held over two days, from sun up to sun down. READ MORE

LA Auto Show

Downtown
The LA Convention Center once again becomes a car lover's paradise during the LA Auto Show. The LA Auto Show's one million square feet of indoor/outdoor space showcase the newest electric, hydrogen, and gas-powered vehicles, aftermarket brands, and scooters. Many exhibitors offer fun activities for kids, which may include immersive experiences and VR, giveaways, and gaming. READ MORE

Tanaka Farms Holiday Santa Tour

Irvine
Tanaka Farms comes alive for the Christmas season with a special Holiday Farm Tour…with Santa! READ MORE

Sawdust Festival Annual Winter Fantasy

Laguna Beach
Sawdust Art Festival presents its annual Winter Fantasy. Sawdust Art Festival grounds are transformed into a winter wonderland with thousands of lights and an abundance of decorated trees.  READ MORE

Kiddee Matinees

Hollywood
On Saturdays and Sundays, families can catch a matinee screening of a kid-friendly movie at the New Beverly Cinema.  Guests ages 12 and under get a free bag of popcorn. READ MORE

PSPA Presents The Nutcracker

Palos Verdes
Professionals and pre-professionals join together to create Peninsula School of Performing Arts' annual production of The Nutcracker. READ MORE

Holiday Classics at The Paley Center

Beverly Hills
Holiday television classics screen for free all day at the Paley Center. There's no better place for your annual dose of Rudolph, Frosty, and the Grinch. This weekend's screenings add a touch of Kwanzaa to the mix. READ MORE
Photo courtesy of Norton Simon Museum
Photo courtesy of Norton Simon Museum

Things To Do Saturday, November 23

Winter Wonderland/ Santa's Arrival (South Bay Galleria)

Redondo Beach
Santa Claus is coming to town! This free event at South Bay Galleria features Winter Princess meet & greets, a custom photo booth, arts & crafts, face painting, balloon twisting, and more. READ MORE

Saturday Morning Stories and More

West LA
Erin go bookstore! Luke Robertson visits Children's Book World for a St. Patrick's Day storytime. Every Saturday morning Children's Book World offers free children's entertainment March 2020 schedule:      March 7: Andrew & Polly Mini-Concert (all ages) March 14: St. Patrick’s Day Storytime with Luke Robertson (ages 4 – 7) March 21: Kevin Noble Maillard Storytime & Signing (ages 3 – 7) March 28: Roda Ahmed Launch Party & Signing (ages 4 –... READ MORE

Norton Simon Family Day: Summer at the Seaside

Pasadena
Hot enough for you?  Norton Simon visitors can beat the summer heat while viewing artworks that capture majestic views of the beach and sea. Participants then create artworks of their own in the lower-level courtyard, with inspiration from seaside paintings by artists like Louis-Eugène Boudin, Gustave Courbet and Claude Monet. READ MORE

What is a Western? Film Series

Griffith park
What Is a Western? is an ongoing film series that examines a variety of movies about the American West.  The majority of the films are traditional Westerns set in the nineteenth century; however, nontraditional Westerns and films outside of the Western genre that provide unique insights into the region are also featured.  READ MORE

FIGat7th Kids Club

Downtown
There are no Kids Club events scheduled at this time. Kids Club will return at a future date. READ MORE

My Way Matinee

Santa Clarita
My Way Matinee at Regal Cinema is a sensory-friendly showing of current release films. Sounds levels are lower. Lights are a bit brighter. Guests can feel free to be themselves, and dance, sing, clap or cheer if they feel like it. All in a sensory-friendly atmosphere created for families with members who have sensory processing related issues. These showings are on the first show of the day on select Saturdays and Tuesdays each month.  READ MORE

AMC Theatres Sensory Friendly Films

Multiple Locations
Select AMC Theatres show current releases in a special monthly screening for families affected by autism. The program provides a special opportunity for families to enjoy their favorite films in a safe and accepting environment. READ MORE

Barnes & Noble LEGO Frozen 2 Build Event

Multiple Locations
Select Barnes & Noble locations host a Frozen 2 LEGO Event.  Frozen fans can visit their local B&N to build their own castle from Frozen 2 to take home. READ MORE

Holiday Kick-Off Celebration at Westfield Culver City

Culver City
Westfield Culver City welcomes the holiday season with Santa and friends in center court.  Guests can enjoy magic, kids crafting, prizes, and musical performances.  READ MORE

The Great Los Angeles Walk 2021

Arcadia to Downtown
Nobody walks in LA... or do they?? This annual walk is held on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. This year, the Great Los Angeles Walk welcomes vaccinated participants to join in and walk from the San Gabriel Mission to downtown, the same route that the city's first settlers – Los Pobladores – took to found Los Angeles in 1781 READ MORE
Hauser & Wirth Family Studio Workshop. Photo by Noe Montes
Hauser & Wirth Family Studio Workshop. Photo by Noe Montes

Things To Do Sunday, November 24

Doo Dah Parade

Pasadena
The eccentric Doo Dah Parade treats onlookers to all that is quirkiest in Pasadena—and a high-ranking item from our 100 Things To Do with LA Kids list. READ MORE

Family Matinees at the Vista Theatre

Los Feliz
I have the map! I have the map! And the day after tomorrow... The world! A young boy joins up with a group of Time Bandits who have a map that allows them to travel to different points in time, meeting up with Robin Hood, Napoleon, and ultimately a dark Time Lord in Terry Gilliam's Time Bandits. READ MORE

Family Flicks at the Hammer

Westwood
UCLA's Hammer Museum presents a free family screening each month.  In January guests can celebrate the Lunar New Year with Over the Moon. In this 2020 animated film , a young girl, Fei Fei, is determined to prove the existence of a legendary moon goddess, Chang’e. Fei Fei builds a rocket ship and takes viewers on a musical expedition beyond the stars.   READ MORE

Family Studio Workshop: A Study in Pink

Downtown
See how far working with one color can take you! Participants in this month’s Family Studio Workshop create their own collages, drawings, and sculptural objects utilizing materials all in shades of pink. READ MORE

Family Workshops at CAAM

Exposition Park
Head to CAAM to make a stunning metallic work of art and feel like a blacksmith. READ MORE

Huntington Beach Miracle on Main Street Tree Lighting

Huntington Beach
HB Downtown fills the second block of Main Street with entertainment, holiday craft vendors, and cookies and cocoa. READ MORE

Christmas at Palisades Village

Pacific Palisades
Palisades Village kicks off the holiday season with its 2nd Annual Tree Lighting celebration. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Palos Verdes Performing Arts Norris Theatre
AMC Theatres - Participating Locations
Multiple Barnes & Noble locations, including The Grove
starts at Plaza de San Gabriel
Old Pasadena, starting at Raymond & Holly
The California African American Museum