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New Year's Weekend Things To Do in LA: Free Gardens, Concerts and Movies in Your Car, & a Battleship

Ventura Botanical Garden is free on New Year's Day. Photo courtesy of Visit Ventura
Ventura Botanical Garden is free on New Year's Day. Photo courtesy of Visit Ventura
12/30/20 - By Toby B

2020, we’re so sorry to see you go. So sorry. Those parties we’re throwing, those are because we are sad you are leaving. The flashy lights and the singing and the celebratory pinecones, all tangible expressions of our deep, profound, can’t-wait-til-you’re-gone sorrow. 

True, we may seem jolly through our many jubilations, but remember as we laugh on the outside, we are also laughing on the inside. Who wouldn’t, nibbling on tasty treats and exploring the rave-like wonders of LA’s newest drive thru? And even if it means most of our celebrations are virtual and far apart, we’re cool with that, because that means we are literally putting ourselves further from you.

Whatever 2021 holds in store, know that it can never replace you in our hearts, worst year ever. Though you may be gone, the silver lining is you will be gone. And us? We'll be so busy doing fun things like the ones we find on the Poppins@Home platform, such as a planting workshop, a LEGO masterpiece design class, and a virtual escape room, that we may even forget you ever existed...

Keep reading for our best picks to party like it isn't 2020...

While we are trying to promote safer activities that occur outdoors or with social distancing guidelines in place, please keep your family and others safe by always wearing a mask and maintaining appropriate distance. If you arrive at an event that appears too crowded, try using the “nearby” search feature on our event calendar to find something else to do—or stay at home and check out our list of virtual events in December.

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Elf on the Shelf’s Magical Holiday Journey is a theatrical drive-thru experience at the Fairplex in Pomona. Photo by Alex J. Berliner/ABImages
Elf on the Shelf’s Magical Holiday Journey is a theatrical drive-thru experience at the Fairplex in Pomona. Photo by Alex J. Berliner/ABImages

Things To Do New Year's Weekend in LA with Kids

New Year's Eve Concert with Queen Nation

December 31
They will rock you—into 2021! Queen tribute band Queen Nation is the headliner performer at this New Year's Eve concert. Guests listen to the concert from the comfort and safety of their cars. READ MORE

The Bite LA - New Year's Celebration

December 31 and January 2
The Bite LA rings in the New Year with food and fun. In addition to the usual drive-thru fun, for New Year's there are party favors, a sparkling cider toast, and a virtual Rockin' New Year's show. READ MORE

Free Admission on New Year's Day

January 1
This New Years families can stop and smell the roses, or perhaps an ornamental Eucalyptus. Ventura Botanical Gardens offers free admission on New Years Day. Leashed dogs are welcome. READ MORE

Drive -In Movie Nights at Mel's

January 1
Mel's Drive-In lives up to its name with a new movie screening series. Folks can drive in to the Hollywood restaurant and watch a movie from their cars. Plus: free popcorn and candy with every ticket! READ MORE

Starlite Movies - Westminster

January 2 - 3
Westminster Mall offers families a festive moviegoing experience: classic and current favorites shown on a massive screen viewed from the comfort and safety of our own cars. March movies include Jurassic World and Inside Out. READ MORE

Reflections at Descanso

Through January 10
Take a moment to smell the flowers. Then think about  them. And maybe take a picture. Descanso visitors are invited to take a moment to reflect and enjoy the beauty that’s all around us. READ MORE

Battleship Iowa: Open for Self-Guided Outdoor Tours

Ongoing
The Battleship Iowa has reopened for outdoor tours. Visitors take a self-guided tour of the outdoor spaces on the battleship using the free mobile app.  READ MORE

Electric Mile Drive-thru

January 1 - 10
Electric Mile is an immersive drive-thru journey through light, sound, and imagination, brought to life by the producer of electronic dance music festival Electric Daisy Carnival. With over 500 art installations and 5 million lights, it's a true feast for the senses. READ MORE

Newport Beach Christmas Ring of Lights Cruises

December 4 - January 3
Newport Landing provides 3 cruises nightly to view the millions of twinkling lights by the water. Cruises view all of the amazing light displays of bay front estates and landscapes.  READ MORE

Hikari - A Festival of Lights

Through January 10
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

The Elf on the Shelf’s Magical Holiday Journey Drive Thru

Through January 3
In 2021, the Elf on the Shelf experience is presented as a walk thru. READ MORE

Dodgers Holiday Festival

Through January 3
The 2020 World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers are hosting a drive-thru Holiday Festival, complete with a light show, LED video displays, fake snow, and interactive displays honoring the Dodgers' World Championship and the holidays! READ MORE

Christmas in Color

December 4 - January 3
Millions of lights are synchronized to holiday music playing on the car radio as families drive by giant candy canes, snowmen, lighted archways, and more at Raging Waters. READ MORE

Holiday Road at King Gillette Ranch

December 4 - January 10
Holiday Road is a drive-thru holiday lights experience brought to LA families by the producers of the popular Halloween event, Nights of the Jack. Take a spin through King Gillette Ranch to enjoy larger than life holiday displays and millions of Christmas lights. READ MORE

Arena Cinelounge Drive-In

Ongoing
Arena Cinelounge adapts to the times, with a new drive-in format in Hollywood offering daily screenings of new releases. READ MORE

Magic Mountain Holiday in the Park

Through January 31
Magic Mountain is illuminated with millions of lights for a festive holiday experience. Park-goers can enjoy festive foods, seasonal entertainment, and favorite thrilling coasters decorated for the holidays. Santa Claus and his elves visit with park guests; Mrs Claus leads festive crafts and seasonal activities. READ MORE

Gardena Drive-In Cinema

Ongoing
Gardena Cinema is the only old-fashioned single-screen stand-alone independent movie theater in South Los Angeles. It began operating outdoor cinema in the parking lot in August 2020 and continues to do so, this month with movies such as Interstellar and Wonder Woman 1984. READ MORE

Drive-In at Tustin's Mess Hall Market

Ongoing
Folks can drive in and dine out, with drive-in screenings at Tustin's Mess Hall at FLIGHT. Upcoming films include Labyrinth, The Princess Bride, and Clue READ MORE

Hollywood Legion Theater Drive-In

Ongoing
The Hollywood Legion Theater’s drive-in is the first-ever drive-in cinema in the heart of Hollywood. READ MORE

Rooftop Cinema Drive-in in Santa Monica

Ongoing
These "rooftop" screenings are actually at the airport: Santa Monica Airport to be specific. READ MORE

Hot Wheels Ultimate Drive-thru

December 3 - January 10
Guests venture into the world of Hot Wheels in this unique, kid-focused drive-thru experience featuring Hot Wheels Monster Trucks, specialty Monster Trucks, Garage of Legends vehicles, robots, and more. The experience is contactless; guests remain safely in their own cars. READ MORE

Drive-In Theatre at The Hollywood Roosevelt

Ongoing
In April, the Hollywood Roosevelt hosts Movies Nights by the pool. READ MORE

Sparkle DTLA

Through January 3
The magic of the holidays is alive and well at the Bloc in Downtown LA. Each night, millions of lights (over 18 million!) illuminate the night and synchronize to festive tunes, for one of LA’s largest multi-colored interactive holiday displays. READ MORE

Starlite Drive-In Movies - Irvine

Ongoing
Drive-in movies at the Irvine Spectrum continue into the new year. April movies include Grease. READ MORE

Holidays in Your Car - Ventura

Through January 2
One million animated LED lights keep the 2020 holidays bright. The Holidays in Your Car drive-thru experience combines light and sound in a dazzling holiday display, with holograms, projection mapping, and lasers synchronized to holiday tunes. READ MORE
A scene from the film Luz. Image courtesy of Los Angeles International Children's Film Festival
A scene from the film Luz. Image courtesy of Los Angeles International Children's Film Festival

Top Virtual New Year's Events

Story Pirates New Year's Eve Party with DJ Squirm-a-Lot

December 31
DJ Squirm-a-Lot is planning a HUGE New Years bash to ring in 2021! Unfortunately his old nemesis, Yorma the ice dragon, is trying to spoil the big party with her icy dragon magic. Will DJ Squirm-a-Lot and the rest of the Story Pirates be able to foil Yorma's plans and have an awesome party? READ MORE

Noon Year's Eve with Camp

December 31
Camp, the kids' experiential shop, hosts a virtual celebration to ring in the NOON year! The midnight-style party happens in the middle of the day, complete with fun games, a craft, a dance party, and — of course — a countdown, Camp-style. READ MORE

Aquarium of the Pacific Noon Year’s Eve

December 31
An Aquarium of the Pacific educator helps families celebrate the New Year, at a kid-friendly midday time! READ MORE

Grand Park LA New Year's Eve

December 31
LA’s official New Year’s Eve party is going global! Grand Park’s NYELA 2020 makes its national broadcast debut on Fuse. Revelers can count down to 2021 by tuning into the biggest virtual NYE dance party on the West Coast. READ MORE

Special Wheel Lighting: New Years Eve Countdown

December 31
Santa Monica Pier's Pacific Park counts down to the New Year with a light display on the Ferris Wheel, featuring  fun designs, colorful displays, and a 60 second countdown in huge animated numbers on the Pacific Wheel. READ MORE

New Year's Eve Live Webcast from Times Square

December 31
It's the next best thing to being there, only not so cold and crowded! Families across the globe can tune into the live webcast of New Year's Eve in Times Square. The commercial-free, webcast covers the festivities leading up to the Ball Drop at midnight. READ MORE

Rockin' Rockfish Noon Year's Eve

December 31
Reel in the new year with the Seattle Aquarium's Rockin' Rockfish Noon Year's Eve virtual celebration. This free event features music from Mikey the Rad Scientist, a dance party, fun facts about the aquarium's animals, a countdown at noon, and more. READ MORE

The Weatherford Hotel’s 22nd Annual Great Pinecone Drop

December 31
The Great Pinecone Drop is Flagstaff’s New Year’s Eve tradition. Most years, thousands gather in the streets for the countdown into the New Year and the lowering of the Pinecone, followed by a brief fireworks display. READ MORE

Fruity Pebbles New Year's Countdown

December 31
Looking for a sweet way to countdown to the New Year? Pebbles Cereal hosts a countdown featuring Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble. READ MORE

New Year's at the Needle

December 31
The annual New Year's light show at Seattle's Space Needle is presented virtually this year. This year’s celebration offers striking visuals in a wondrous display of digital effects, engineered to bring bigger thrills than ever before – all viewed safely from the comfort of home. READ MORE

2021 Rose Parade TV Special

New Year's Day! (January 1, 2021)
A New Year's Day tradition continues 2021 style—socially distanced and safe. The re-imagined Rose Parade features live-to-tape musical and marching band performances, heartwarming segments about the Rose Parade, celebrity guest appearances, and more. READ MORE

15th Los Angeles International Children's Film Festival

Through January 3
The 15th annual Los Angeles International Children’s Film Festival adapts for the times, this year welcoming a global audience. The festival offers more than 80 short films and animation from around the world, presented completely online via Vimeo Showcase. READ MORE

2021 Oshogatsu Virtual Family Festival - Year of the Ox

January 3 -8
Little Tokyo's Japanese American National Museum celebrates the Year of the Ox with its annual Oshogatsu Family Festival, this year presented virtually. The celebration expands to a week, with virtual, kid-friendly activities to celebrate the new year. READ MORE

A Faery Hunt Show and Fairy New Year's Party! - Online

January 2
It's time to celebrate the New Year in Fairyland. The festivities begin with an enchanted musical recorded performance of Auntie Angelica's Fairy Garden, featuring beautiful fairies, a silly Gnome, and the King of Fairyland, not to mention a talking eggplant and a magical unicorn! READ MORE
Frolic in the snow. Photo courtesy of Big Bear Mountain Resort
Frolic in the snow. Photo courtesy of Big Bear Mountain Resort

More Things To Do in LA this Season

New Year's Eve with Kids: Things To Do on New Year's Eve in Los Angeles as a Family

15 Ideas for Celebrating New Year’s Eve at Home with Kids

Countdown treat bags, time capsules, and more ways to welcome 2024 at home. READ MORE

Christmas Vacation in Los Angeles: 65 Staycation Ideas for Things To Do With Kids

With so much to do, it will be hard to choose plans for the holiday break! READ MORE

Snow Play Near Los Angeles: 16 Places LA Families Can Pretend It's Winter

People in other places survive winter; Angelenos visit it. READ MORE

Online Winter Holiday Break Camps Kids Will Love

From theater and dance classes to cooking and STEM camps. READ MORE

Best Holiday Lights Drive-Thrus and Christmas Light Shows in Los Angeles

These holiday light shows dazzle in gardens, zoos, trains, and more! READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Legg Lake @ Whittier Narrows Recreation Area:
Hollywood American Legion Post 43
Santa Monica Airport Interim Open Space