Christmas Events in Los Angeles for Kids (2026 Guide)

Last updated: October 29, 2026 · By Heather Shorr

Santa visits, the Polar Express, the Grinch, boat parades, the Nutcracker and outdoor ice rinks: the Christmas events in Los Angeles that are worth planning a December around if you have kids.

Christmas in Los Angeles doesn’t look like a snow globe, but there’s no shortage of things to do. Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, the city fills up with parades, holiday shows, train rides, ice rinks and more Santas than any family could visit. The hard part is choosing. Some events are free and easy with a toddler. Others take a full day, a babysitter’s worth of planning and tickets bought weeks ahead. This guide covers the big Christmas events and activities for kids. If you’re mainly looking for light displays (L.A. Zoo Lights, Descanso Gardens, Candy Cane Lane), see our separate guide to the best holiday lights and events for kids in LA. One quick note: holiday details change every year. Dates below were checked in October 2026. Where an organizer hadn’t announced 2026 details yet, we’ve given last year’s dates and said so. Always confirm on the official site before you go.

Christmas Events in LA at a Glance

1. The Hollywood Christmas Parade

Best free big event

The parade that kicks off the season in LA. It’s held every year on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, with marching bands, floats, celebrities and Santa at the end. The route makes a loop along Hollywood Boulevard, Vine Street and Sunset Boulevard. Curbside viewing is free, but the good spots fill up hours ahead. If you have little kids, reserved grandstand seats on Hollywood Boulevard near the start of the route are worth considering: you get a seat, a set place to meet up and an easier exit.

• Date: Sunday, November 29, 2026 (evening; check the official site for the start time)
• Cost: Free curbside. Grandstand seats were $45 to $85 last year through Ticketmaster.
• Best ages: 4 and up, or younger kids in a stroller with a parent who doesn’t mind crowds
• Website: thehollywoodchristmasparade.org

Our parent tip: Take the Metro B Line to Hollywood/Highland or Hollywood/Vine instead of driving. Street closures and parking around the route are the hardest part of the night.

2. Grinchmas at Universal Studios Hollywood

Best for a big day out

Universal goes all in for the holidays, and it’s all included with regular park admission. In Universal Plaza, a 65-foot Christmas tree lights up several times each evening, with artificial snowfall. Kids can meet the Grinch and his dog Max. New this year, the Minions dress up for the holidays in Minion Land for Merry Minions. In the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Hogsmeade is decorated for Christmas, the Frog Choir sings holiday songs, and each evening The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle projects lights and music onto the castle.

• Dates: November 21, 2026 through January 3, 2027
• Cost: Included with park admission
• How long: A full day
• Best ages: 4 and up
• Website: universalstudioshollywood.com

Our parent tip: Stay for the tree lighting and the castle show after dark. They’re the best part of the holiday season at Universal, and they’re easy to miss if you leave in the afternoon.

3. Disneyland Holidays

Best for Disney families

Disneyland’s holiday season starts earlier than most. A Christmas Fantasy Parade returns to Disneyland Park, along with the nighttime show Believe… in Holiday Magic, holiday versions of Haunted Mansion and “it’s a small world,” and the Festival of Holidays at Disney California Adventure. Santa greets families through December 24 at the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail in California Adventure and, new this year, at Mickey’s Toontown Trolley Barn in Disneyland Park.

• Dates: November 13, 2026 through January 6, 2027
• Cost: Included with park admission
• Best ages: All ages
• Website: disneyland.disney.go.com

Our parent tip: No park tickets? Downtown Disney has nightly “snowfall,” live music and Chip and Dale’s Ornament Trail, and it’s free to walk around.

4. The Polar Express Train Ride

Most magical for little kids

The book comes to life on a real train. During the roughly one-hour ride at the Southern California Railway Museum in Perris, conductors punch golden tickets, chefs serve hot chocolate and a cookie, and everyone reads along with the story. Then Santa boards the train, and every child gets a sleigh bell to take home. Perris is about an hour and a half from central LA without traffic, so plan the trip around the ride.

• Dates: Select dates in November and December 2026
• Cost: Ticketed; prices vary by date and seat class
• How long: About one hour
• Best ages: 2 to 8
• Location: Southern California Railway Museum, 2201 S. A Street, Perris
• Website: socalrailway.org

Our parent tip: Lots of families wear pajamas, just like in the movie. Book early. Weekend rides closest to Christmas are the first to sell out.

5. Visits With Santa

Best quick holiday tradition

Most of LA’s big shopping centers bring in Santa from mid-November through Christmas Eve, and many are free to visit, with photo packages extra. Here’s what’s worked well in past years. Most centers post their 2026 schedules in November.

• The Grove, The Americana at Brand and The Promenade at Westlake: Santa through December 24. Reservations are highly recommended; walk-ups depend on availability.
• Westfield Century City: Last year’s Santa’s North Pole Adventure was a 30- to 45-minute experience with a scavenger hunt, a short visit with Santa and a postcard to mail to the North Pole.
• Santa Monica Place: Last year, visiting Santa was free, with photos extra, and families could book a phone call from Santa.
• Ovation Hollywood: Offered free digital photos with Santa last year.
• Glendale Galleria and Santa Monica Place: Both held pet nights last year, if the dog needs a photo too.

Our parent tip: Book the first slot of the morning on a weekday if you can. Santa is fresh, the line is short and your toddler hasn’t missed a nap yet. If your child doesn’t do well with crowds or waiting in line, ask whether the center offers a sensory-friendly Santa session. Some do, and our guide to things to do in LA with autistic kids has more ideas.

6. Holiday Boat Parades

Best free evening outing

Boats decked out in lights cruise the harbor, and it’s all free to watch from shore. The Marina del Rey Holiday Boat Parade is usually held on a Saturday in mid-December. Last year it ran from 6 to 8 p.m. on December 13, with a drone show just before the parade and family activities at Burton Chace Park starting at 4 p.m. In Long Beach, the Naples Island Holiday Boat Parade winds through the canals of Naples, also in mid-December. It’s great for kids because the boats pass close to shore.

• Dates: Mid-December 2026; check the official sites for the exact dates
• Cost: Free to watch; parking fees apply
• How long: About two hours
• Best ages: All ages
• Website: Marina del Rey Holiday Boat Parade

Our parent tip: Bring blankets and something warm to drink. It gets cold by the water after dark, even in LA. Making a day of it in Long Beach? See our guide to things to do with kids in Long Beach.

7. The Nutcracker

Best Christmas show

A first Nutcracker is a holiday tradition for a lot of LA families, and there are versions for every attention span. Los Angeles Ballet performs the full ballet each December. Last year it played at Royce Hall at UCLA (December 12 to 14) and the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood (December 19 to 28). For younger kids, Bob Baker’s Nutcracker is the marionette version: shorter, closer to the action and just right for preschoolers. Last season it ran from late November into early January at the Sierra Madre Playhouse.

• Dates: December 2026; check each company for dates
• Cost: Ticketed
• Best ages: 3 to 6 for Bob Baker’s marionettes; about 5 and up for the full ballet
• Websites: Los Angeles Ballet · Bob Baker Marionette Theater

Our parent tip: Choose a matinee for kids under about 7. The full ballet runs about two hours with an intermission.

8. Outdoor Ice Skating

Best winter feeling without driving to the mountains

Skating outside under palm trees is a very LA way to do Christmas. Two seasonal rinks are favorites with families:

• Holiday Ice Rink Pershing Square in downtown LA ran from November 20, 2025 to January 11, 2026 last season, with the skyline all around you.
• ICE at Santa Monica, a few blocks from the beach at 1324 5th Street, ran from November 7, 2025 to January 19, 2026 last season, from noon to 10 p.m. daily.

Both usually return each fall with similar dates.

Our parent tip: Weekday afternoons are the calmest time for first-timers. Bring gloves; little hands get cold on the ice even when it’s 65 degrees out.

More Christmas Ideas Around LA

• Enchant at Santa Anita Park (Arcadia): A giant Christmas light maze with a story for kids to follow, plus ice skating, snow slides and Santa. Last year it ran from November 21 to December 28, and it returns in 2026. Theme nights sell out quickly.
• Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Magic Mountain: Last season it ran from late November into early January, with Santa’s cottage, crafts with Mrs. Claus and the North Pole Express train.
• The Grove: A giant tree, nightly snowfall and holiday music, free to enjoy. We cover it in our holiday lights guide.
• Kids out of school? See our guide to winter break camps in LA, and for rainy days, our indoor activities for LA kids.

How to Plan a Christmas Outing With Kids

• Pick one big event per weekend. Trying to fit in Santa, a parade and a light show on the same day usually ends in a meltdown.
• Book early. The Polar Express, Nutcracker matinees and Santa reservations sell out first, often weeks ahead.
• Go early in the season. Late November and the first week of December are much calmer than the weekend before Christmas.
• Plan around bedtime. Daytime events and early evening slots work best for kids under 5.
• Take the train when you can. Metro gets you to the Hollywood parade and downtown without the parking fight.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best Christmas events in Los Angeles for kids?

Our top picks are the Hollywood Christmas Parade (free, November 29, 2026), Grinchmas at Universal Studios Hollywood, the Polar Express Train Ride in Perris, the holiday boat parades in Marina del Rey and Long Beach, and a Nutcracker performance. For light displays, see our holiday lights guide.

What free Christmas events are there in LA?

The Hollywood Christmas Parade, the Marina del Rey and Naples Island holiday boat parades, The Grove’s tree and nightly snowfall, and walking around Downtown Disney are all free. Many malls also offer free visits with Santa, with photos extra.

When is the Hollywood Christmas Parade in 2026?

Sunday, November 29, 2026, the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Curbside viewing along Hollywood Boulevard, Vine Street and Sunset Boulevard is free.

Where can kids see Santa in Los Angeles?

The Grove, The Americana at Brand, Westfield Century City, Santa Monica Place and Ovation Hollywood all host Santa from mid-November through Christmas Eve. Disneyland and Universal have Santa or holiday character visits for park guests too. Book ahead where reservations are offered.

Where can kids see snow at Christmas in LA?

Without leaving town, Universal Studios Hollywood, The Grove and Downtown Disney all have nightly artificial snowfall, and Enchant has snow slides. For real snow, the closest mountains are about one to two hours away, usually from mid-December on.

Find More Holiday Fun Near You

Every December, LA parents end up searching dozens of websites, event calendars and parent groups to figure out what’s happening near them and what’s actually worth it with kids. That’s exactly the problem we’re building AfterschoolSearch to solve: one place to find kids’ activities, events, classes and camps around Los Angeles County.

Dates, prices and schedules were checked in October 2026 and can change. Always confirm details directly with the event organizer before you go.

Related: LA Zoo Lights guide