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Los Angeles provides no limit of things to do, some awesome and some not so awesome. Since time is precious in this fast paced city we curate a list of things to do in Los Angeles for every weekend that’ll help you decide how you want to spend your limited supply of attention (not to mention dollars!).
This weekend in L.A. from Friday, December 6 to Sunday, December 8 features a free Friends themed pop-up, Grand Park’s Winter Glow, Griffith Park Festival of Lights Hike, West Coast Craft, The Union Station Holiday Festival, CicLAvia, SUNDAY FUNDAY free family-friendly day at the Wallis Annenberg Center and MUCH more.
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Remember you can always go to our L.A. events calendar page to get an updated rundown of what’s happening around the city.
Hope you find the rundown useful and, as always, enjoy your weekend!
Keep in mind that while we retain complete editorial control of our content, for some of the ticketing options provided we utilize affiliate links and receive a commission if you purchase through our links.
Friday December 6th, 2019
1. A free Friends themed pop-up opens at the Santa Monica Promenade this Thursday, courtesy of AT&T. It’s called ‘The One in Santa Monica’ and includes a life-size recreation of the famed Central Perk coffee house built using over a million LEGO bricks. Entry is free, but you have to book a reservation for a time slot online. FREE
2. Grand Park’s Winter Glow is a free night time art experience covering 12 acres of Grand Park in Downtown Los Angeles and the newly renovated Music Center Plaza. Whimsical artistic projections and light displays will illuminate paths and play off of the park’s most iconic elements. The holiday-inspired event will run nightly from Dec. 6 to 25. FREE
3. Here and Now transforms it’s space into a holiday bar called Blitzen’s from December 3-31. Get transported to the the North Pole and enjoy 15 festival cocktails, a seasonal food menu with offerings like Christmas poutine, themed entertainment and more.
4. Harvest Festival Original Art & Craft Show at the Fairplex Expo in Pomona is three days (Dec. 6-8) of original vendors showcasing handmade jewelry, blown glass, metalwork, photography, and much more just in time for the holidays.
5. CAGES is a brand new pop-rock musical from duo Woolf and the Wondershow that pushes the boundaries of what can be done on stage using elements of performance, projection, and sound. Shows run through Dec. 21.
6. The Griffith Observatory hosts a monthly forum where some of the most amazing phenomena in the known universe are explained and discussed. It’s called All Space Considered and it takes place on the first Friday of every month. FREE
7. The Echo Park Craft Fair returns to Mack Sennett Studios in Silver Lake on December 6-8. A perfect place for holiday shopping, this 5,000 square-foot fair features over 150 curated artist, makers and food vendors, with plenty of activities and entertainment to fill your afternoon.
8. Union Stations Cocoa Concerts continues with Latin sounds from The Conganas. Guests will also enjoy a free cocoa bar, Santa selfies, a “Candy Cane Lane,” photo-ops, holiday-themed arts & crafts and more. FREE
9. Get up close and personal with sharks at the Aquarium of the Pacific during Shark Lagoon Nights. Guests will have the opportunity to touch bamboo sharks and view large sharks in an after hours setting. FREE
10. Pick out your best black t-shirt and break out that eyeliner because Emo Nite returns this Friday at The Echo for an evening of nostalgic emo music and surprises to mark the milestone.
11. One of L.A.’s most magical holiday traditions, L.A. Zoo Lights returns November 15, 2019 through January 5, 2020 with thousands upon thousands of LED lights illuminating the zoo. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
12. Constitution Happy Hour at AMMO at The Hammer continues this Friday with guided, topical conversations about the US Constitution and its role in our democracy.
13. The Pacific Opera Project presents “La bohème,” or “The Hipsters” December 6-14 at The Ebell Club of Highland Park. Set to current times the show follows the story of several Los Angelenos during a cold SoCal winter as they tackle the city’s housing crises, love, jealousy and more.
14. Skyspace is holding a toy drive from December 2-20. Partnered with the YMCA the annual drive asks guests to bring an unopened, unwrapped toy valued at $5 or more to the Skyspace box office and receive a free Skyslide ride in return.
15. Since 1969 Bob Baker’s Marionette Theater’s adaptation of the Nutcracker has been warming hearts and delighting kids and adults during the holidays. The show includes over 100 handmade puppets at the Pasadena Playhouse. Running now until December 29.
16. Dress for Success annual Shop for Success pop up shop returns December 5-9 with nearly 200 top brands at up to 70 percent off retail price all to raise money for Dress for Success Worldwide-West’s career development and employment retention programs. Friday is a ticketed VIP night while December 6-9 is open to the public.
17. The annual LA Kings Holiday Ice happening at L.A. LIVE’s Microsoft Square is a daily outdoors holiday skating rink. Open November 30, 2019 through January 12, 2020.
18. Caltech Astronomy invites the public to sit in on a stargazing and lecture event this Friday at 8 p.m. FREE
Saturday December 7th, 2019
19. West Coast Craft comes to Los Angeles December 7-8 just in time for some holiday shopping. Walk through an outdoor market featuring over 300 craft makers on the South Lot at Skylight ROW DTLA. Free to attend.
20. Break a sweat while donning some glowing gear during the Griffith Park Festival of Lights Hike. (NOTE: There is some rain forecasted for Saturday, Dec. 7, so be aware of possible event cancellation or postponement).
21. The Union Station Holiday Festival returns with over 40 vendors at this pop-up artisan marketplace. The event also features live music, craft beers and for the kids a Little Elves Workshop, a Christmas Wish List Station, and a special performance from the Bob Baker Marionette Theater. This event is free to attend.
22. Join the Los Angeles Master Chorale for their annual holiday performance Festival of Carols at The Walt Disney Concert Hall this Saturday. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
23. Dive into the holiday season with a Queen Mary Christmas! The special event will see Christmas spirit lining the famous Long Beach vessel until January 1, 2020. Activities include a 26 feet tall Christmas tree, variety of holiday activities, an outdoor skating rink, live entertainment and much more. Occurring Thursdays through Sundays.
24. DTLA Mini Maker Faire is a family friendly event that celebrates craftsmanship at The Los Angeles Central Library. A plethora of interactive displays, exhibits, art installations, and more will take place throughout the grounds. FREE
25. Descanso Gardens’ Enchanted Forest of Light returns for another installment with a host of interactive displays and nighttime activities from November 17 through January 5, 2020. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
26. Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre Group presents an all new holiday-horror-theatre attraction titled Dark Dark Ride Ride Holiday Nightmare. It’s a “wild ride through winter wonderHELL” that takes place Wednesdays through Saturdays from December 4-21.
27. Do some good during LA River Action Day. Join Waterkeeper Alliance, LA Waterkeeper and Southgate’s STEAM Legacy High School to learn more about the issues and opportunities facing the LA River. The day includes a rapid trash assessment and clean-up, river health walks and insect identification, community water testing, and more. Breakfast will be provided. FREE
28. The Holiday Light Festival Train Ride at Griffith Park is a festive one mile ride on the tracks with tens of thousands of lights to get you in the Holiday spirit. Running November 29 through December 30.
29. The Griffith Observatory hosts a public star party once a month from 2-9:45 p.m. where folks can get a look at the sun, moon, plants and other objects in the sky through a variety of telescopes. FREE
30. Not everything in the holiday is jolly, and that will be evident in Season’s Screamings – a pop-up shopping experience that celebrates the dark side of December. The event will feature a plethora of vendors and exhibitors, photo op with Krampus, a fortune teller, an Elvira pop up shop and more. Admission is free.
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31. The Los Angeles Arboretum and Botanic Garden presents Moonlight Forest, where crafted lanterns line the garden grounds, some depicting animals, shimmering exotic flowers, and figures from Chinese legends. Happening Wednesdays through Sunday from November 9 through January 12, 2020. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
32. On Saturday the Belmont Shore Christmas Parade will have marching bands, school groups, floats and much more shutting down the streets for a massive holiday celebration. FREE
33. Enjoy a special performance of The Nutcracker (November 29 to December 24) by the American Contemporary Ballet at Metropolis Los Angeles. Occurring Thursdays through Sundays.
34. Now in its eleventh year the witchy craft fair Bitchcraft Winter Faire will take place this Saturday with dozens of unique vendors, art and more.
35. The Magical Chinese Lantern Festival returns to Fairplex starting Nov. 21 with a new theme for 2019-2020: Blooming Seasons. This year’s festival offers lantern displays as large as 30-feet high and 85-feet wide, highlighted by a 100-yard-long breathtaking Ceramic Chinese Dragon. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
36. Holidayfest on South Lake Avenue happening at The Shops on Lake Avenue will offer in-store specials and promotions from over 50 merchants, holiday activities for kids, photos with Santa, carolers, live music, giveaways and more.
37. The Bai Holiday Ice Rink returns to Pershing Square from Nov. 14, 2019 to Jan. 2, 2020 featuring a 7200 square foot outdoor ice-skating experience. A wide variety of events will take place throughout the duration of the rink.
Sunday December 8th, 2019
38. Los Angeles’ largest ongoing open streets initiative is heading to the San Fernando Valley on Sunday. CicLAvia will open a car-free, 5-mule stretch of Sherman Way, starting in Canoga Park, heading through Winnetka and ending in Reseda. FREE
39. SUNDAY FUNDAY is an interactive family-friendly event presented by the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts this Sunday that includes Story Pirates a swashbuckling musical sketch comedy show for children and an all ages Bollywood dance class led by Debbie Allen. FREE
40. On Sunday the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion presents another installment of Le Salon de Musiques, an intimate stage free chamber music experience where a Q&A with the musicians, as well as a champagne and high-tea experience catered by Patina will follow. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
41. Head to Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier for photos with Surfer Santa from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Central Plaza. FREE
42. Head to The Walt Disney Concert Hall for the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus holiday show.
43. WISHLIST, Gabba Gallery’s annual holiday show runs November 16 through December. Now in its seventh year, the event is a great way for folks getting into art collecting. Prices start at $50 and nothing is over $1000. Artworks are a mixed bag of local and international artists. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday, from noon to 3 p.m. or by appointment.
44. Cyber Spiritspresented by ULO is an eight-part installation and immersive theater experience that explores the presence of spirits in our digital devices. Part satire, and part social commentary, the colorful and quirky displays strive to make you both and laugh and contemplate. The experience lasts for about 15 minutes and includes plenty of dreamy optical sequences. Happening at ROW DTLA until December. Tickets available here.
45. Get into the winter spirit when ICE at Santa Monica returns with a 8,000 square foot ice skating rink. Running November 1, 2019 through January 20, 2020.
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46. The team behind LA’s award-winning series For The Record has a new production coming to The Wallis’ Bram Goldsmith Theater. Richard Curtis’s Love Actually will be transformed into a one-of-a-kind multimedia screen and stage event starting November 27. The film and live music blend together as the story unfolds throughout the London setting. Performances continue through December 29.
47. Friendship Buddies is a free stand-up comedy show that takes place at the Verdugo Bar back patio features some of the best comics in Los Angeles and beyond. Show starts at 8p.m. FREE
48. Gallery iam8bit’s 6th Annual Ornament Show returns December 5-22. Artists from around the world have crafted hundreds of original ornaments to help your Christmas tree stand out above the rest this holiday.
49. The Scenario Studio is offering a free pop-up photo experience on Rodeo Drive daily through December 22. FREE
50. Free museum day: Museum of Latin American Art, Craft and Folk Art Museum (pay what you can) and USC Pacific Asian Museum (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
Food Pick for the Week
This week’s pick by Christina Champlin, Co-Founder of We Like L.A.
Company For Dinner Hospitality Group (owned by “Top Chef” Winner Brooke Williamson and husband Nick Roberts) will host a Holiday Party pop-up bar at their Hawaiian eatery Da Kikokiko, located at Runway Playa Vista. During the entire month of December guests can enjoy holiday décor and sip-worthy tiki-themed drinks paired with Da Kikokiko’s signature poke bowls. There will be several special events hosted throughout the month, including a visit from Santa this Sunday, Dec. 8, an ugly sweater party on Dec. 12 and a New Years Eve party.
Da Kikokiko 12751 W Millenium Dr. Ste B-135 Playa Vista, CA 90094
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