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30 Best Things to Do in Los Angeles December 2023 with Kids

Disney on Ice: Magic in the Stars. Photo courtesy of Feld Entertainment.
Disney on Ice: Magic in the Stars. Photo courtesy of Feld Entertainment.
12/1/23 - By Toby B

December brings plenty of things to do in Los Angeles with Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and New Year's Eve. Don’t miss our favorite kid-friendly events and activities in Los Angeles this month.

Top things to do in Los Angeles and unwrap this December include Wicked at the Pantages,  Manhattan Beach Annual Holiday Fireworks Festival, (snow and fireworks!), an entire fleet of boat parades, including Dana Point's Boat Parade of Lights, and LA County's Annual Holiday Celebration.  Mirabel, Tiana, and Moana skate into the Southland, with a new Disney on Ice show that finds the Magic in the Stars. 2024 brings us a true Chrismukkah miracle as the first night of Hanukkah coincides with Christmas Day, though some of the local celebrations come earlier, such as the Skirball's annual Hanukkah Festival.

To end the month in style, ring in the New Year—or Noon Year—depending on your bedtime, as we look forward to all the fun we'll have in 2025. Keep reading to discover the best things to do in Los Angeles this December.

For even more fun things to do in LA this season, check out our Holiday and Christmas Activities Guide for LA Families—which includes a roundup of the Best Holiday Lights Drive-Thrus, Walk-Thrus, and Christmas Light Shows in Los Angeles, LA-only photo ops with Santa, where to see The Nutcracker and other holiday shows in LA, and more. 

These are just a few of our favorite things to do in Los Angeles in December. We're adding more events to the Los Angeles Family Event Calendar every day. Keep reading for the very best things to do in Los Angeles this December, and don't forget to check back weekly for our picks for the best things to do in Los Angeles each weekend. 

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Boat Parade of Lights at Dana Point. Photo courtesy of the event.
Boat Parade of Lights at Dana Point. Photo courtesy of the event.

The Best Things To Do in Los Angeles with Kids in December

Wicked at the Pantages

Hollywood
Opens Wednesday, December 4, 2024
Popular! You're gonna be popular... when your family finds out you got tickets to see Wicked at the Pantages! The Broadway sensation looks at what happened in the Land of Oz…before Dorothy ever got there. There is another young woman, born with emerald-green skin - smart, fiery, misunderstood, and possessing an extraordinary talent. When she meets a bubbly blonde who is exceptionally popular, their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships…until the world decides to call one “good,” and the other one “wicked.” READ MORE

Parks After Dark: Winter Wonderland

Multiple Locations - FREE
Friday December 6 - Saturday, December 21, 2024
31 LA County Parks turn into winter wonderlands - complete with snow! - on select Fridays and Saturdays this December. The free events include sled and snow play areas, visits with Santa Claus, holiday crafts, hot cocoa and snack stations, edible holiday crafts, stocking decoration, craft zone, and carnival games. The Teen Zone features a DJ, holiday t-shirt silk screening, and Santa hats. There is a toy giveaway with Santa Claus and his helpers give toys to kids 0 to 17 (while supplies last) READ MORE

Animation and Me Opening Day

Mid-Wilshire
Saturday, December 7, 2024
The Academy Museum celebrates the opening of its newest Gallery. Animation and Me is an immersive experience that uses projections of clips, concept art, and behind-the-scenes footage to illustrate the art and process of animation. READ MORE

Sand Snowman Contest

Hermosa Beach - FREE
Saturday, December 7, 2024
Who needs snow?  In Hermosa Beach, families can make their snowmen out of sand.  READ MORE

CicLAvia - The Valley

Canoga Park, Winnetka and Reseda- FREE
Sunday, December 8, 2024
CicLAvia returns to the Valley for a 5-mile route along Sherman Way from Canoga Park through Winnetka and into Reseda. Participants can jog, ride, bike, skate, run, walk, skateboard, spectate, and play, and may show up anywhere along the route to enjoy the open streets and explore the Valley. READ MORE

Manhattan Beach Annual Holiday Fireworks Festival

Manhattan Beach - FREE
Sunday, December 8, 2024
Manhattan Beach's annual fireworks extravaganza returns in 2024! Voted the best Holiday Fireworks Show in the Nation on Travel Channel's Jingle Brawls, this is a spectacular you won't want to miss!  Activities throughout the day include the SKECHERS Snow Park,  Santa Claus, live musical performances, and of course, fireworks.  READ MORE

Lythgoe Panto: Peter Pan and Tinker Bell - A Pirate Christmas

Thousand Oaks
Friday December 13- Sunday December 29, 2024
Lythgoe Family Productions presents an updated version of the classic Peter Pan tale, presented in the whimsical style of a traditional British family panto. In Peter Pan and Tinker Bell: A Pirate Christmas, Tinker Bell, Wendy, and Peter Pan embark on a wild quest to foil the pirates' plan to kidnap Peter. Joining Seinfeld’s John O’Hurley, who reprises his unforgettable Captain Hook, are The Voice's Julia Roome as Wendy, Nayah Damasen (Monster High) as Tinkerbell and Alkaio Thiele (Wizards Beyond Waverly Place) as Peter. READ MORE

Boat Parade of Lights at Dana Point

Dana Point - FREE
Friday - Sunday, December 13- 15, 2024
The annual Boat Parade of Lights returns with the theme: Santa’s Seaside Carnival. READ MORE

Annual Holiday Concert on the Pier

Redondo Beach -FREE
Saturday, December 14, 2024
Redondo Pier celebrates the holidays with the Annual Concert on the Pier. The festivities include live holiday music, activity books, a charity toy drive, a holiday photos, and sponsor giveaways. READ MORE

Marina del Rey Holiday Boat Parade and Fireworks

Marina del Rey - FREE
Saturday, December 14, 2024
The Marina del Rey Boat Parade returns for its 62nd year! Prepare to be awed as spectacularly decorated boats light up Marina del Rey's main harbor. This year's theme is a Margaritaville Holiday. READ MORE

CAAM Kuumba Kwanzaa Celebration

Exposition Park - FREE
Saturday, December 14, 2024
The California African American Museum invites everyone to celebrate Kuumba, the Kwanzaa principle of creativity.  The day includes yoga, an interactive storytime, and a zine workshop. READ MORE

Snow Day in Culver City

Culver City - FREE
Saturday, December 14, 2024
It doesn't snow in California- but we can truck it in like the best of them! Platform LA hosts a free snow day for LA kids, with a giant sledding hill. Enjoy cozy cocoa and kid-friendly crafts, as well!  READ MORE

Skirball Hanukkah Family Festival

West LA
Sunday, December 15, 2024
The Skirball Hanukkah Family Festival welcomes families of all backgrounds to revel in the spirit of the holiday with music, dance, and storytelling.  READ MORE

Hanukkah Celebration (Original Farmers Market)

Mid-City - FREE
Sunday, December 19, 2024
Nothing says Hanukkah like a giant Lego menorah! The Farmers Market celebrates Hanukkah with youth performances by JLA, a sing-along, arts and crafts, and Lego menorah building. READ MORE

Disney on Ice: Magic in the Stars (Crypto.com)

DTLA
Thursday - Sunday, December 19 - 22, 2024
The shining stars are on the ice in the latest Disney on Ice show. Disney on Ice: Magic in the Stars features 56 favorite Disney characters, including Mirabel, Woody and Buzz, Tiana, Moana and more.  READ MORE

Los Angeles Ballet's The Nutcracker at the Dolby

Hollywood
- Starts Thursday, December 19, 2024
Los Angeles Ballet's production of The Nutcracker is a classic with a distinctly Southern California twist. In this production, set pieces are designed to mimic beloved landmarks and trademarks of Southern California, while the ballet stays true to Tchaikovsky's iconic score.  READ MORE

Warner Brother Studio Tour - Holiday Edition!

Burbank - Starts Sunday, December 22, 2024
The Warner Brothers Studio Tour is getting dressed up in its holiday finest! From December 22 through New Year's Day, guests on the tour can immerse themselves in cinematic holiday magic. Seasonal additions include enchanting photo ops and the chance to view iconic holiday props and memorabilia. READ MORE

65th Annual LA County Holiday Celebration

DTLA - FREE
Tuesday, December 24, 2024
Choirs, music ensembles, and dance companies from the many neighborhoods and cultures of LA celebrate the season during this free, three-hour extravaganza. READ MORE

EquestFest

Burbank
Sunday, December 29, 2024
Burbank's famous Equestrian Center hosts the many equestrians participating in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade, at an annual show highlighting the horses' parade performances. READ MORE

Noon Year’s Eve Party - Southern California Children's Museum

Pasadena
Tuesday, December 31, 2024
Kids can ring in 2025 long before bedtime at Southern California Children's Museum. Kiddos can enjoy open play, special puppet show from Franklin Haynes Marionettes, a dance party, and more fun surprises The confetti drops at noon. READ MORE

Gloria Molina Grand Park's New Year's Eve LA

DTLA -FREE
Tuesday, December 31, 2024
Angelenos can welcome 2025 in the heart of DTLA at the West Coast’s largest free New Year’s Eve event. Gloria Molina Grand Park's NYELA Celebration rings in the new year with live entertainment on two stages, food trucks, a snack alley, and activities for the whole family.. The experience is capped off with the park’s signature countdown-to-midnight light show projected onto iconic City Hall, celebrating 2025, the city of Los Angeles, and our rich diversity.   READ MORE

LA Zoo Lights: Family New Year's Eve

Griffith Park
Tuesday, December 31, 2024
They don't call 'em party animals for nothing: LA Zoo Lights: Animals Aglow, the LA Zoo's holiday light spectacular, hosts an all-ages party to welcome the New Year.  READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Bank of America Performing Arts Center - Scherr Forum Theatre
The California African American Museum
Southern California Children's Museum