Posted by 
Revving up for your final weekend before Christmas? Hopefully all that holiday shopping is complete and you can just enjoy a few leisurely to-dos as we count down to Santa’s arrival in La La Land.
On deck this December 19-21 in Los Angeles, you can check out an URBAN DEATH XMAS at Zombie Joe’s, Holidays Around the World at Benny Boy, Picture This! at Lyric Hyperion, a free performance by the The Santa Monica Symphony, the 1042 Flea at Angel City Brewery, Bob Baker Marionettes & Friends’ VERY MERRY MIX-TRAVAGANZA, and more.
Things To Do This Weekend
M = Less than .5 miles from an L.A. Metro Station, FA = Free Admission, TP = Top Pick
URBAN DEATH XMAS -> Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre Group is celebrating 20 years of URBAN DEATH by unleashing your worst holiday fears with URBAN DEATH XMAS: Maze + Show Spooktacular! this Thursday through Sunday. Yelp’s #2 Scariest Haunted Attraction in America presents a yuletide nightmare where guests must brave a twisted, spine-chilling wintertime maze before and after the central performance. The show features riveting, grotesque vignettes and mind-blowing physical performances, all reaching into the darkest corners of the winter solstice. This event is strictly 18+ due to graphic content and nudity. Showtimes are at 8 p.m., 9 p.m., and 10 p.m. each evening. Tickets are $24 online, or $28 at the door. More info here.
A Live Hallmark Christmas Movie! -> This Friday at Dynasty Typewriter, comedy collective Moon Goon is hosting an interactive holiday spectacle with A Live Hallmark Christmas Movie! The group will stage an entire Hallmark Christmas movie complete with “4D effects.” Come ready to fall in love, kiss under the mistletoe, and enjoy deeply stupid holiday brilliance. The show is for ages 18+, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. and the performance starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20. More info here.
Holidays Around the World – FA > Experience the sounds of international celebrations as French-Chinese-American singer Jessica Fichot brings her Holidays Around the World concert to Benny Boy Brewing this Friday. Accompanied by a fiery jazz band, Fichot performs festive multilingual originals and traditional songs spanning Christmas, Hanukkah, and Chinese New Year. Expect unique renditions of classics like Los Peces en el Río and bilingual carols in French, Mandarin, and Spanish. Food from Tirzah’s Mexi-Terranean is available on-site, and the event is strictly for those ages 21 and over. Admission is free. 7 to 10 p.m. More info here.
DS Night Market Expands to Daytime Hours – M > Chinatown’s indie Thai-focused DS Night Market is leveling up its weekend game with newly expanded daytime hours, giving the community even more time to eat, shop, and hang. Taking over Chinatown Central Plaza, the market channels the high-energy vibe of Thailand’s street scenes with a lineup of Thai food vendors, local makers selling holiday-ready gifts, and a stage for emerging performers. The market now runs Fridays from 5 to 11 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 9 p.m. Entry is free, and the whole experience is family-friendly. More info here.
Piotr Beczała at BroadStage -> BroadStage Santa Monica’s Celebrity Opera Series brings world-renowned Polish tenor Piotr Beczała to the stage for a prestigious vocal performance this Friday evening. Recognized as one of the most coveted performers in opera, Beczała has graced the world’s leading stages and earned accolades including Singer of the Year at the ECHO Klassik Awards. Accompanied by celebrated pianist and conductor Kamal Khan, the tenor will showcase the exceptional artistry and vocal beauty that have defined his distinguished career. Tickets for this performance start at $45. Program begins at 7:30 p.m. More info here.
Animation Block Party Presents Picture This! The Live Animated Comedy Show – FA > Animation, comedy, and holiday cheer collide at the Lyric Hyperion Theater this Saturday with a Winter Extravaganza starring Picture This Comedy, presented by the Animation Block Party. This free show features stand-up comedians performing live while talented animators, cartoonists, and artists draw them in real-time. You can also catch winter and holiday-themed Animation Block Party shorts. The show runs from 7 to 9 p.m. RSVP is required. More info here.
Holiday Screenings at Million Dollar Theater – M > This Saturday, Secret Movie Club hosts a festive double feature at the historic Million Dollar Theater as part of their Holiday Hullabaloo series. The morning begins with a 35mm screening of Frank Capra’s masterpiece It’s a Wonderful Life, followed by the charming Ernst Lubitsch classic The Shop Around the Corner. Guests are encouraged to bring food from the adjacent Grand Central Market to enjoy during the films. Tickets start at $16 for individual movies, with discounted double feature passes available. Movies play at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. More info here.
2nd Annual Krampus Art Show– FA > Now on view at CoprOGallery in Santa Monica, catch the “The 2nd Annual Krampus Show.” Curated by Monte Beauchamp of BlabWorld, the exhibition features dark and festive works from dozens of participating artists inspired by the mythical creature. The gallery is located on the campus of Bergamot Station, with open hours on Friday from 11 to 7 p.m., Saturday from noon to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The exhibition runs through January 3. More info here.
Free Mochitsuki at Yama Sushi Marketplace -> Ring in the New Year the traditional way as Yama Sushi Marketplace hosts free mochitsuki demonstrations at all three of its LA locations, starting this Saturday. This time-honored Japanese New Year ritual transforms steamed rice into mochi, symbolizing good fortune, long life, and good health, all set to the beat of live taiko drumming. Historic Little Tokyo confectioner Fugetsu-Do will be on hand to serve freshly made mochi to guests after each demo. Catch the excitement at the original San Gabriel location on December 20, West LA on December 27, and Koreatown on January 3, 2026, from 11 a.m. to noon.
Scenes from Life: Joy – FA > The Santa Monica Symphony presents a festive holiday concert titled Scenes from Life: Joy this Saturday at Barnum Hall. Led by conductor Pola Benke, the program features seasonal classics including Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite, Glazunov’s Winter, and a unique Klezmer Nutcracker arrangement. Guests arriving early can explore a rare pre-concert exhibition of 1930s Works Progress Administration artworks in the Roberts Gallery starting at 6 p.m. While admission to the performance is free, donations are encouraged to support the symphony’s community mission. Seating is first-come, first-served. Program runs 7 to 9 p.m. More info here.
CAAM Scavenger Hunt December 2025 – M FA > On Sunday, the California African American Museum hosts an interactive scavenger hunt, inviting visitors to explore current exhibitions through a series of engaging prompts. Participants use a specially designed clue board to navigate the galleries, fostering close-looking and conversation while making unexpected connections between the artworks and timely themes. The first teams to successfully complete a winning pattern on their boards will be rewarded with a small museum-branded prize. This family-friendly activity is open to all ages, and admission to the museum is free. The hunt runs from 2 to 3 p.m. More info here.
1042 Flea at Angel City Brewery – M FA > Bid farewell to Truly LA this Sunday during a special holiday pop-up market hosted at Angel City Brewery, curated by the 1042 Flea. To celebrate the venue’s final month, visitors can browse a curated selection of local vendors offering everything from vintage clothing and handmade jewelry to plants, pottery, and unique trinkets. While shopping for last-minute gifts, guests can enjoy craft beers and refreshments in the heart of the Arts District. Admission to the market is free, and the event is open to all ages with adult supervision. Runs 1 to 6 p.m. More info here.
Bob Baker Marionettes & Friends’ VERY MERRY MIX-TRAVAGANZA – TP >The Bob Baker Marionettes team up with Screen Novelties and 7th House Screenings for a festive matinee at the Philosophical Research Society this Sunday. This second annual holiday mix-travaganza features live puppetry highlights from the theater’s winter repertoire followed by a curated selection of rare stop-motion shorts, vintage television clips, and antique advertisements from around the world. Guests are encouraged to wear holiday sweaters for this whimsical afternoon of animation and live performance. Tickets are $20, with children ages 2 and under attend admitted for free. Runs 1 to 3 p.m. More info here.
Dining & Drinking
(picks by Christina Champlin)
La La Land Kind Café Reserve Now Open in Beverly Hills -> La La Land Kind Café has unveiled its most ambitious concept yet with the opening of its new Reserve cafe in Beverly Hills, designed to be nothing less than “the greatest coffee shop in America.” This elevated outpost spotlights meticulously crafted beverages built around premium ingredients, with a strong focus on matcha. Drinks are prepared with fine-dining precision, from scales used to dial in the perfect matcha latte to delicate finishing touches like hand-placed flowers atop saffron- and rose water–infused matcha. For true matcha devotees, the menu also features a rare $20 supreme first-harvest, stone-milled matcha, making this a must-visit for anyone curious about coffee and tea at its most refined.
Smorgasburg Presents A Very Caribbean Christmas -> Smorgasburg is closing out the year with island energy as Bridgetown Roti returns to host the second annual Caribbean Christmas Market this Sunday, December 21. Expect a stacked lineup of Caribbean pop-ups including Bridgetown Roti, BodegaDelights, Simply Wholesome, Dilan’s Caribbean Grill, and Melnificent Wingz, plus a Smorgasburger stand from Chef Jon Harris of Linden. Smorgasburg favorites Chef Bee and Back Yard Jerk will also be serving all day, while DJs ROZAY and Yala keep the vibes high with nonstop island sounds. Come hungry, stay festive, and shop gifts from Soul Food Candle Co. and Chicken Wing Studio while you’re at it.
Angelini Osteria Cocktails -> Angelini Osteria has quietly raised the bar with a new cocktail program that’s every bit as confident as the kitchen. Expect well-executed classics like a Hemingway Martini, Chef Gino’s own spin on a Paper Plane, and a Calabrian chili–laced spicy Margarita that brings just the right amount of heat. It’s a tight, thoughtful lineup that makes lingering at the bar before (or after) dinner feel like the move.
Want to get the best things to do in L.A. sent straight to your inbox? Join over 60,000 Angelenos who subscribe to our twice weekly email newsletter!
By subscribing, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy and consent to receive emails from We Like L.A. about news, events, offers, and partner promotions.
