10 Great Things to Do in Los Angeles in December

Discover Hidden Staircases

Homes were built into the hills, in the early years of Hollywood, so there are staircases all over for you to discover. Staircases can be found in hilly communities like Echo Lakes, Silver Park, Hollywood Heights and Beachwood Canyon. In Hollywood Heights you can find staircases to explore along a 1-mile network of stairs and paths south of the Hollywood Bowl heading towards Camrose Drive. The Music Box staircase in Silver Lake is named after the Laurel and Hardy movie, "The Music Box,", where the duo can be seen carrying a piano up the steep flight of steps.

See the Festival of Lights

The annual Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Griffith Park Light Festival is one full mile of Crystal Springs Drive along the L.A. Zoo property that is decorated with thousands of beautiful lights. Both kids and adults will love seeing the simple and unique beauty.

4730 Crystal Springs Drive
Los Angeles, California 90027
(213) 367-1255
dwplightfestival.com

Festival Navideño de la Calle Ocho

Staged on 8th Street at Normandie Avenue in Los Angeles, more than 50,000 Latinos and other celebrants gather at this free festival with arts and crafts, live music, carnival rides, food samples and more.

(323) 962-4735

Go to the Grove

Each year The Grove shopping and entertainment complex puts up a 110-foot Christmas tree. There's a fake snowfall nightly on the hour and Christmas carols. The first night lighting ceremony is televised locally just like the one in New York's Rockefeller Center and brings out celebrities to perform and take part in the festivities.

The Grove
189 The Grove Drive
Los Angeles, California 90036
(323) 900.8080
grovela.com

LA Harbor Holiday Afloat Parade

Enjoy a parade of aquatic lights that usually happening on the first weekend of December from 6pm to approximately 9pm. Viewing locations along the Port of Los Angeles Main Channel include: Banning's Landing Community Center, Wilmington; Cruise Ship Promenade, San Pedro; Los Angeles Maritime Museum, San Pedro; Ports O'Call Village, San Pedro; 22nd Street Landing, San Pedro; and Cabrillo Marina, San Pedro.

For more information, contact one of these many sponsors:
San Pedro Yacht Club, (310) 952-0122
Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club, (310) 528-9377
Los Angeles Yacht Club, (323) 314-4747

Downtown on Ice

Try outdoor ice skating similar to Rockefeller Center at LA's Downtown on Ice. Southern California's original outdoor skating rink appears annually right in the middle of Downtown LA. The public ice rink fills part of Pershing Square across from the Biltmore Hotel.

Pershing Square, 532 South Olive St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Rates (2011) are $6 per 1 hour skating session plus $2 skate rental.
Discounted parking is available under the park with validation.
(213) 847-4970.
www.laparks.org/pershingsquare/doi.html,

Marina del Rey Boat Parade

Thousands who live in the Marina and thousands more from miles around come to the Marina to see the annual boat parade in Marina del Rey, but very few remember the first boat parade in Marina del Rey. When that first boat parade circled the Marina's main basin in 1963 there were approximately 100 boats in the Marina and almost no buildings.

The annual Marina del Rey Holiday Boat Parade is held on a Friday or Saturday evening in December. The evening parade will runs between 6 and 8 P.M. Traditional fireworks that annually noted the beginning of the boat parade will be shot off the south jetty. The parade boats will circle the Marina main channel several times.

Viewing Locations: Burton Chace Park, 13650 Mindanao Way, Marina del Rey or Fisherman's Village, 13755 Fiji Way, Marina del Rey

Disneyland Christmas Fantasy

The "A Christmas Fantasy Parade" is an annual parade presented at Disneyland Park in the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, CA. The parade is a holiday parade that runs (usually) from the weekend before Thanksgiving until the Sunday after New Years. It debuted in during the 1994 Holiday Season, replacing the "Very Merry Christmas Parade." The parade features several Christmas themed floats and a catchy soundtrack, along with favorite Disney characters such as Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy, Max Goof, Clarabelle Cow, Scrooge McDuck, Pinocchio, Jiminy Cricket, Mister Geppetto, Woody & Buzz, Belle, Beast, Snow White and her Prince, Princess Aurora, Prince Phillip, Cinderella, Prince Charming, Ariel, Prince Eric, Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, and the Babes in Toyland soldiers. Earlier versions of the parade included Roger Rabbit, characters from Lilo & Stitch, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Mulan, Aladdin, and also young children.

Parade: When Santa's not at the Reindeer Roundup," he's riding his sleigh down Main Street in the "Christmas Fantasy" parade. Traditional Disney characters are joined by marching nutcrackers, toy soldiers and dancing snowmen. Fireworks: The nightly musical fireworks display also takes on a holiday theme. It is topped off with snowflakes falling on Main Street.

Grab a Holiday Hot Dog at Pinks

Pink's was founded by Paul and Betty Pink in 1939 as a pushcart near the corner of La Brea and Melrose. The Great Depression was still having an impact on the country, and money was scarce. People could purchase a chili dog made with Betty's own chili recipe accompanied by mustard and onions on a steamed bun for 10 cents each. As business grew, thanks to Betty's chili and the custom-made Hoffy-brand hot dogs with their natural casings, so did Pink's. The family built the current building in 1946 at 709 North La Brea.

Descanso Gardens

Located 20 minutes from downtown LA, these gardens are truly a nature lover's retreat. Their heart is a 30-acre California live oak forest that's home to many varieties of camellia. Also popular is the five-acre International Rosarium, a magnificent themed display of roses from around the world. Indoor exhibits offer a great deal to explore as well, and the Hospitality House contains a terrific art gallery with changing monthly shows. If you're visiting on a weekend, be sure to have tea in the Japanese Tea House.

Descanso Gardens
1418 Descanso Dr
La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011
Phone: (818)-949-4200