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Happy Thanksgiving Angelenos! Hope you’re having a great turkey day. Once the fill of food has been had, we’ve got a few events to help you enjoy the long weekend to follow.
From November 28-30 in Los Angeles, you’ll find the Make Merry Mixer at Ovation Hollywood, the 2025 premier of Lights on Display, “Green” Friday at Plant Chica, the Holiday Zone Arts & Crafts Fair at Heavy Manners Comics, Yuletide Cinemaland at Heritage Square, the Hollywood Christmas Parade, and more.
Things To Do This Weekend
M = Less than .5 miles from an L.A. Metro Station, FA = Free Admission, TP = Top Pick
Make Merry Mixer at Ovation Hollywood – M FA > Ovation Hollywood hosts a jam-packed day of holiday entertainment this Friday. Expect black Friday shopping deals, a cocktail lounge hosted by Dave & Buster’s, and a Mario Kart/Super Smash Bros. tournament on the big screen. Families can also enjoy complimentary photos with Santa and live holiday caroling. The day culminates with a cozy outdoor screening the Will Ferrell comedy Elf. Programming runs from noon to 9 p.m. More info here.
Fourth Fridays in Long Beach – FA > Retro Row in Long Beach comes alive on the fourth Friday of the month with special pop-ups, live performances, and extended store hours from shops on 4th St between Temple and Cherry. This month they’re gearing up for a special Pride edition of the event. Runs 6 to 9 p.m. More info here.
Lights on Display – FA > One of the most elaborate home lighting displays of the holiday season is back in Sherman Oaks beginning this Friday. Resident Mike Ziemkowski has a brand new edition of Lights on Display for 2025, and per usual you’ll find an elaborate mix of computer controlled lighting, DMX controlled intelligent light, and a bevy of animatronic characters synched to a pre-programmed playlist of holiday tunes. Following Friday’s premier, the lights will run Wednesday to Sunday from 6 to 9 p.m. (weather permitting) through New Year’s Day. They’ll also be collecting donations for the American Lung Association. More info here.
“Green” Friday at Plant Chica – M FA > Skip the chaos of Black Friday and celebrate a different kind of post-Thanksgiving event at “Green Day” this Friday at Plant Chica in Leimert Park. This community gathering focuses on cultivating community and celebrating the magic of plants. Highlights include a plant-based vendor market, a repotting station, a “Kiddie Corner” with face painting, and a brief sunrise meditation session. Runs 10 to 3 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.
Bob Baker Holiday Photo Fundraiser -> The Bob Baker Marionette Theater is hosting a Holiday Photo Fundraiser this Friday. For a fee of $110 (for up to four people), guests can take professional holiday photos with festive BBMT puppets, choosing between a Santa & Rudolph backdrop or a Winter Wonderland scene with Demi Star. This fundraiser supports the theater’s mission of preservation and education, with the goal of raising $10,000 for field trip attendance. Reservations are required due to limited time slots. Photos will be taken between 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. More info here.
Enchanted Forest of Light -> Continuing this Friday to Sunday (skipping Thanksgiving Day), Descanso Gardens’ dazzling winter tradition, Enchanted Forest of Light, returns to illuminate the season from with a wintry spectacle on view through January 4. Wander through a one-mile pathway of large-scale, interactive installations, including the glowing stained-glass cottages by Tom Fruin and the geometric works of HYBYCOZO. Timed entry starts at 5:30 p.m. on open dates. Adult, non-member tickets run $27-$45. More info here.
LA Auto Show – M > The 2025 LA Auto Show finishes up this weekend, running through Sunday. Get up close with the future of driving at the Los Angeles Convention Center by exploring and comparing hundreds of the latest cars, trucks, SUVs, and EVs, all folded into new attractions like the Creator Studio and The Underground for custom car culture, alongside favorites like the Showcase Hall and hands-on experiences like the Camp Jeep and Ford Bronco Built Wild Adventure Courses. Adult tickets start at $18. Get more info here.
Holiday Zone Arts & Crafts Fair – FA TP > This Saturday and Sunday, Echo Park’s Heavy Manners Library hosts the Holiday Zone: Arts and Crafts Fair, a two-day market featuring local Los Angeles vendors. This free event invites the public to browse and purchase unique gifts from local artists and support small businesses. The market runs from noon to 6 p.m. both days. More info here.
Art Lab at The Hammer – FA > The Hammer Museum hosts its recurring Art Lab session this Saturday. The free drop-in program is designed for visitors of all ages and skill levels, offering hands-on creative activities inspired by the artworks currently on view at the museum. The session is facilitated by Hammer educators and is a great option for families looking for a creative post-gallery activity. The program is held from 1 to 4 p.m. More info here.
Yuletide Cinemaland – M > Beginning this weekend, Street Food Cinema’s Yuletide Cinemaland series celebrates its 8th season at the historic Heritage Square Museum. The immersive winter experience features a Wintertime Walkway, simulated snowfall, Santa visits, carolers, and an artisanal marketplace, alongside L.A.’s top food trucks and the enhanced Tinsel Tavern. The season kicks off with Opening Night this Saturday featuring a Home Alone double feature and a Pajama Party Night. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Adult tickets start at $34. More info here.
Hollywood Christmas Parade – M FA > Get ready for the official start of the holiday season with the 93rd Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade, returning this Sunday. The dazzling, U-shaped parade starts on Hollywood Blvd. at Orange Drive, travels east to Vine, then down to Sunset Blvd. and back. To avoid heavy traffic and road closures, take the Metro Red Line directly to the Hollywood/Vine or Hollywood/Highland stations, which put you right on the route. Parade starts at 6 p.m. More info here.
Great Rock n’ Roll Flea Market -> This Sunday, the Regent Theater hosts a holiday edition of the Great Rock n’ Roll Holiday Flea Market. This family-friendly event features over 40 local vendors selling vinyl records, vintage items, art, unique crafts, and more. Attendees can enjoy DJ sets, a vibrant atmosphere, and special brunch offerings like bottomless mimosas and Neapolitan brunch pizzas. Rockin’ Bingo starts at 1 p.m. in The Love Song Bar. Event goes from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. More info here.
Dining & Drinking
(picks by Christina Champlin)
Love & Salt $11 Menu (November 28–30) -> Love & Salt is celebrating their 11th anniversary this month and to celebrate they’re offering a special 11-item menu at the celebratory price of $11, with $1 from each item donated to Regarding Her. Menu highlights include Stuffed Clams with Pancetta & Bread Crumbs, Porcini & Fontina Arancini and a sweet Bomboloni. Stop by this Friday through Sunday from 4:30 PM – 10 PM. More info here.
Black Friday at Levain Bakery (November 28) -> On Friday all Levain Bakery locations are hosting a giveaway, any customer who purchases four cookies or more will get a free mini tote. More info here.
Smell Good Saturday with by/rosie jane at Donut Friend (November 29) -> Award-winning fine fragrance brand by/rosie jane is launching Smell Good Saturdays, a new series of surprise community pop-ups. The kickoff event at Donut Friend in Highland Park from 3 to 6 p.m. will treat the first 100 guests to a complimentary travel-sized Rosie perfume, plus an exclusive rosewater donut inspired by the brand’s best-selling Rosie fragrance. More info here.
Bottomless Mimosas at Superba Venice (November 29) -> Starting this Saturday, Superba Venice kicks off the holiday season with bottomless mimosas offered exclusively at the Venice Café location Fridays through Sundays. Priced at $15 per person, guests are invited to sip all weekend long with unlimited pours until 4 p.m.
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