December in LA throws you a curveball every year. You pack for palm trees and sunshine, then wonder if there’s actually anything festive to do once you land. If you’re searching for things to do in los angeles california in december, you want a real answer, not just a list of malls with fake snow. This city goes all in on the holidays, from beachside light displays to mountain snow just an hour away.
The short answer: LA in December means holiday light shows at places like the Grove and Descanso Gardens, ice skating rinks that pop up outdoors, Griffith Observatory views paired with cooler night air, and neighborhood strolls through Beverly Hills decked out for the season. You get warm days for Santa Monica Pier and chilly nights perfect for downtown LA’s holiday markets.
We’ve spent years guiding visitors through this city and know which December spots actually deliver versus which ones just look good on Instagram. Below are nine picks that mix classic LA sightseeing with holiday-specific experiences, so your trip feels seasonal without missing the landmarks you came for.
1. Take a guided tour of LA’s holiday highlights
What it is
A guided holiday tour stitches together the scattered December magic of Los Angeles into one afternoon or evening instead of leaving you to guess which neighborhoods actually go big for the season. Local guides drive you past the Beverly Hills light displays, through the Grove’s tree lighting crowds, and along streets decked out with decorations that most visitors never find on their own because they’re tucked into residential blocks with no signage. Another Side of Los Angeles Tours runs private and small group tours that mix these seasonal stops with the landmarks you’d want to see anyway, like Hollywood and the Sunset Strip, so you’re not choosing between holiday cheer and classic sightseeing.
Who it’s for
This works best for first-time visitors who have limited days in the city and don’t want to burn one of them figuring out parking near the Grove or which streets in Beverly Hills actually string up lights. Families traveling with kids benefit from having a driver handle the logistics, since December traffic around popular light displays gets heavy after dark. Groups celebrating a milestone trip, or anyone who wants a guide explaining the history behind neighborhoods like Hancock Park while they cruise past the decorations, will get the most value here.
A guided tour turns a scattered list of holiday spots into one smooth night out, without the parking headaches.
Cost
Private holiday-season tours through Another Side of Los Angeles Tours typically run in line with their standard private tour pricing, starting around $75 per person and scaling up based on group size, vehicle type, and tour length. Semi-private and small group options bring the per-person cost down for parties of three or more, and custom itineraries built specifically around holiday lights or seasonal events can be arranged directly with the company.
Good to know
Book these tours at least a week ahead in December, since evening slots fill fast once the Grove and Griffith Park displays are running nightly. Dress for a temperature swing: LA days can hit 70 degrees, but evening tours past dusk get noticeably cooler, especially near the coast or up in the hills. If Instagram content matters to you, ask your guide to time stops at peak-lit locations right after sunset, when the displays photograph best against a darkening sky.
2. See the city’s best holiday light displays
What it is
Los Angeles turns into a holiday light display hub every December, with entire neighborhoods competing to out-decorate each other. The Grove wraps its outdoor mall in a massive tree lighting and nightly "snowfall" show, while Candy Cane Lane in Woodland Hills packs a residential street with animated displays that draw slow-moving traffic every night of the season. Griffith Park’s L.A. Zoo Lights and the drive-through displays at various fairgrounds round out the options if you want variety beyond a single stop.
Who it’s for
Visitors chasing that classic Christmas lights LA experience without a guide will find this easiest as a self-driven or rideshare evening. Couples looking for a low-key date night, and families with young kids who light up at animated reindeer and giant ornaments, both fit this activity well.
The best light displays in LA aren’t hidden, they’re just spread across neighborhoods most tourists never think to drive through.
Cost
Most neighborhood displays like Candy Cane Lane cost nothing beyond gas and patience for traffic. Ticketed events like L.A. Zoo Lights run around $25 to $35 per adult, with discounted rates for kids under 12.
Good to know
Parking near the Grove disappears fast after 6 p.m., so arrive early or plan to walk a few blocks. Weeknights draw noticeably smaller crowds than weekends, and December 20 through New Year’s Eve gets the heaviest traffic of the whole season.
3. Go ice skating under the palm trees
What it is
Nothing captures the strange charm of a Los Angeles December quite like outdoor ice skating rinks sitting a few blocks from actual palm trees. Pershing Square downtown sets up a seasonal rink with the city skyline as a backdrop, while Beverly Hills and other neighborhoods bring in temporary rinks that only run through the holiday season. The contrast is the whole point: you’re gliding on real ice while the temperature outside might still hit the 60s.
Who it’s for
Couples want a novelty date night, and families with kids who’ve never actually seen snow find this a fun stand-in for a real winter experience. Anyone chasing a photo that screams LA in December rather than generic beach shots should put this on the list, since the palm-trees-and-ice combination reads as uniquely Los Angeles the moment it hits social media.
Skating on ice with palm trees in the background is the kind of contrast that makes an LA December trip actually memorable.
Cost
Rinks like Pershing Square typically charge around $15 to $20 for admission and skate rental combined, with prices climbing slightly on weekends and holiday dates. Some pop-up rinks in shopping centers waive admission but charge separately for skate rentals.
Good to know
Sessions run in timed blocks, usually 60 to 90 minutes, so book online ahead if you’re visiting during peak weeks between mid-December and New Year’s. Bring a light jacket even though it’s LA: the rinks sit in shaded plazas that stay cooler than the surrounding streets, especially after sunset.
4. Stargaze at Griffith Observatory
What it is
Griffith Observatory sits above the Hollywood Sign with a clear night sky view that gets noticeably better in December once smog levels drop and the air cools. The free public telescopes on the lawn point toward planets and star clusters, and the building itself stays open late into the evening, giving you time to wander the exhibits before heading outside for the main event. Winter nights bring crisper visibility than the hazy summer months, so this is genuinely one of the better times of year to visit.
Who it’s for
Stargazers and photographers get the most out of this stop, especially anyone chasing that classic shot of the Los Angeles skyline stretching out below the hill. Couples on a date night and families with older kids curious about astronomy both find plenty to do here, since the exhibits inside stay engaging even if the sky clouds over.
A clear December night at Griffith Observatory gives you the best skyline view in the city, and it costs nothing.
Cost
Admission to the observatory grounds and exhibits is free. Telescope viewing on the lawn is also free, though the Samuel Oschin Planetarium show charges a small ticket fee, usually under $10 per person.
Good to know
Parking fills up fast after sunset, so arrive early or take the DASH shuttle from the base of the hill. Bring a jacket, since the elevation makes evenings colder here than down in the city.
5. Shop LA’s holiday craft markets
What it is
Los Angeles fills up with holiday craft markets every December, and the best ones feel nothing like a mall kiosk selling the same mass-produced ornaments everywhere. The Original Farmers Market pairs its regular food stalls with pop-up vendors selling handmade jewelry and local art, while events like Unique LA and various neighborhood maker fairs bring in hundreds of small-batch sellers under one roof for a weekend at a time. You’ll find candles, ceramics, vintage clothing, and gifts you genuinely can’t find at a chain store back home.
Who it’s for
Shoppers who’d rather support local vendors than fight crowds at a department store fit this perfectly. Anyone hunting for one-of-a-kind gifts, plus visitors who want a low-key few hours indoors between bigger sightseeing stops, will get real value out of a market visit.
Skip the mall crowds and shop where LA’s own makers sell their work, one weekend market at a time.
Cost
Most markets charge nothing to enter, though a few larger events like Unique LA sell general admission tickets in the $10 to $15 range. Budget separately for what you buy, since prices vary widely by vendor and range from small $10 trinkets to higher-end handmade pieces.
Good to know
Check each market’s specific December dates before planning your trip, since many run for one weekend only rather than the entire month. Bring cash, since some smaller vendors still don’t take cards, and arrive early on weekends before the good stuff sells out.
6. Snap photos with Santa around town
What it is
Los Angeles doesn’t do a single, obvious Santa photo spot the way smaller cities do, but that’s part of the fun. The Grove sets up an elaborate Santa display with a full backdrop and professional photographers on hand, while Americana at Brand in Glendale runs its own version with a walk-up line most evenings in December. Smaller pop-ups show up at malls and neighborhood tree lightings across the city, so you’re rarely more than a short drive from one.
Who it’s for
Families with young kids get the obvious payoff here, since a Santa visit is often the whole reason parents build a December LA itinerary around the holidays in the first place. Grandparents traveling with the family and anyone collecting a yearly Santa photo tradition will want to build in time for this stop.
A good Santa photo in LA takes patience, not luck, since the best backdrops always draw the longest lines.
Cost
Most mall Santa setups charge nothing to wait in line, but professional photo packages typically run $20 to $40 depending on print size and quantity. Some locations let you snap your own photo for free if you skip the official photographer.
Good to know
Weekday mornings see far shorter lines than weekend afternoons, when waits can stretch past 45 minutes. Check each location’s Santa hours ahead of time, since most operate on limited daily windows rather than staying set up all day long.
7. Catch a holiday concert at The Music Center
What it is
The Music Center downtown hosts a rotating lineup of holiday concerts every December, ranging from the LA Phil’s seasonal programs at Walt Disney Concert Hall to choral performances and dance productions staged across its four venues. Some years bring a full run of "The Nutcracker," while other seasons feature gospel choirs, jazz ensembles, or sing-along nights built around classic carols. The plaza outside often runs its own free entertainment too, so you can catch a taste of the season even without a ticket.
Who it’s for
Anyone wanting a dressed-up evening that breaks up a week of walking tours and beach stops will enjoy this. Couples looking for a date night, families introducing kids to live orchestral music, and visitors who’d rather sit somewhere warm and elegant than stand in another outdoor line all fit here.
A single night at The Music Center gives you the polished, indoor side of an LA December that the outdoor light displays can’t match.
Cost
Ticket prices swing widely depending on the performance and seat location, typically starting around $40 for balcony seats and climbing past $150 for prime orchestra placement at bigger productions like the Phil’s holiday shows. Free plaza performances happen periodically throughout December, so check the schedule if you want a no-cost option.
Good to know
Buy tickets a few weeks out for popular shows like "The Nutcracker," since weekend dates near Christmas sell out first. Parking downtown runs $15 to $20 in nearby structures, though the Metro Red Line drops you within walking distance if you’d rather skip driving.
8. Spot migrating whales off the coast
What it is
December kicks off whale watching season along the LA coastline, as gray whales start their annual migration from Alaska down to the warm lagoons of Baja California. Boats leaving from Marina del Rey, Redondo Beach, and San Pedro take you out into the channel where you can spot spouts, tail flukes, and occasionally a full breach if you’re lucky. Dolphins often show up alongside the whales, turning a single trip into more of a full marine wildlife tour than a one-species hunt.
Who it’s for
Nature lovers and photographers get the biggest payoff here, especially anyone who wants a break from city sightseeing and a chance to see coastal wildlife up close. Families with older kids handle the boat motion better than toddlers, and this trip suits travelers who don’t mind a couple hours on open water for the payoff of a genuine wild animal sighting.
Whale watching turns a quiet December boat ride into one of the few truly wild moments on an LA itinerary.
Cost
Most whale watching tours run between $30 and $60 per adult for a two to three hour trip, with kids typically priced a bit lower. Many operators offer a free return trip if no whales show up on your outing.
Good to know
Morning departures tend to have calmer water and better visibility than afternoon trips. Bring a light jacket regardless of the daytime temperature, since wind off the water gets cold fast once the boat picks up speed.
9. Wander the Enchanted Forest of Light at Descanso Gardens
What it is
Descanso Gardens transforms into the Enchanted Forest of Light every December, turning its normally quiet oak woodlands and camellia forest into a walking trail of illuminated art installations. You move through roughly a mile of paths lined with color-shifting trees, glowing orbs, and immersive light tunnels, each section themed differently from the last. Unlike a static display you view from the street, this one puts you inside the lights, which makes it feel more like an art exhibit than a typical holiday lights stop.
Who it’s for
Couples and photographers get the most out of this, since the slow walking pace and constantly changing scenery reward people who want to linger rather than rush through. Families with kids old enough to handle a mile of walking after dark fit well too, and anyone who’s already hit the bigger, louder displays like the Grove will appreciate the quieter, more artistic pace here.
Descanso Gardens trades flashing spectacle for a slow, immersive walk through light, and that’s exactly why it sells out every season.
Cost
Tickets run timed entry, typically $25 to $40 per adult depending on the date, with kids priced lower and toddlers often free. Prices climb on weekends and during the final two weeks before Christmas.
Good to know
This event sells out weeks in advance most seasons, so book your timed entry as soon as dates go live. Wear comfortable shoes for uneven garden paths, and arrive at your exact entry time since late arrivals sometimes get turned away.
Plan your LA December getaway
Nine stops won’t fill every night of a December trip, but they’ll anchor an itinerary that mixes real LA sightseeing with the season’s best extras. Pick two or three that fit your pace, whether that’s a slow evening at Descanso Gardens or a whale watching morning followed by ice skating at Pershing Square. December in Los Angeles rewards visitors who plan around the weather swings and sellout dates instead of winging it once they land.
Guessing which neighborhoods actually go big for the holidays, and which nights have the least traffic, is exactly the kind of local knowledge a good guide brings to the table. If you’d rather skip the research and let someone else handle the routing, parking, and timing, book a private tour and spend your December evening actually enjoying the lights instead of circling the block for parking.
