Los Angeles in December : Weather, Events and Things to Do

As Isabel Marant rightly said, ‘ In Los Angeles, you can have the city life and feel like you are on a holiday at the same time’. And what is a better time to plan a vacation than during the festive month of December? The preparations to celebrate Christmas and New Year keeps the city bustling and busy. The whole place lights up with smiles and lights and that is the vibe people go to enjoy! Here are some pointers you can use and keep in mind to plan your vacation better:

Weather in Los Angeles in December

Weather in Los Angeles during December fluctuates between cold and comfortable. December is one of the coldest months in LA. The average amount of sunshine per day drastically drops to about seven hours a day. The chances of rain are about 22% which gives you a good probability if enjoying a day outdoors ( although it is suggestible that you carry a light jacket and an umbrella) The average water temperature is about 16-degree Celsius and so swimming is not such a great idea unless you are equipped with a water suit. Although the sun keeps the beach and sand quite warm so you can plan your day at the beach. Winter weather in Los Angeles can be quite unpredictable so it is best that you go through the daily weather forecast to plan your day before heading out.

Average temperature: 14C
Maximum temperature: 19C
Minimum Temperature: 8C
Average rainfall: 66mm

Events to Attend in Los Angeles in December

1. Hollywood Christmas parade

The parade marks its 90th year in 2021 and every year it has outdone the extravaganza and pomp. This long time tradition is one of the most-awaited and exciting events in the month of December. The U-shaped track of the parade starts from Hollywood Boulevard to Orange. There are multiple floats and performances followed by Santa Claus at the parade. Usually, live music begins at around 5 pm and the parade goes on from 6 pm to 8 pm. You can catch the live streaming of the event on multiple platforms but pre-booking must be made to watch the event live. It is an event enjoyed by children and adults alike. 

Venue: Hollywood Blvd to Orange Drive Los Angeles, CA 90069

2. Santa’s Northpole Village, Wisdome LA

Santa’s Northpole Village is one of the most attractive fantasy lands in Southern California. It opens around the end of November and goes on till the end of December. It features everything ranging from a Giant grinch chair to elves village. There are also craft rooms where children can bake cookies and Snowflake adventure as well. For an extra fee, families can go ice skating, make gingerbread houses or even get a picture clicked with Santa himself.

Venue: 1147 Palmetto St. Los Angeles, CA 90013

3. Christmas lights

Christmas lights are an eternal part of the Christmas celebrations. Be it at home or around the city, lights are a must to rejoice the Christmas vibe. There are quite a few locations in LA where you can enjoy the Christmas lights, some of them are as follows:

• LA Zoo lights:

It is a wonderland that is occupied by plants and animals. Enjoy and celebrate the Christmas spirit amidst these creations of nature. The whole zoo is lit up on the eve of Christmas and is a must-visit with your family.  

• WonderLand:

The Woodland hills were transformed into a one of a kind drive through the north pole. The whole path is decorated and has multiple tunnels. Some of them are decorated with arches of string lights and some of them with snowflake domes

• The Elf on the Shelf:

This is an hour-long experience with a quest to accomplish, it is an elf-sized quest to fix Santa’s sleigh and save Christmas! There are live actors performing and keeping you entertained all through.

• Christmas tree lanes:

Situated in Altadena is this mile-long driveway covered with conifers on either side of the road. During Christmas, this whole path is lit up with the decorated and illuminated Christmas lights on the trees.

• Hikari:

A festival of lights: Hikari means lights or shine in Japanese and it is the most apt description of the setup. The Tanaka Farms are offering an after-dark drive-through experience at $10 ( Of Course Santa will be there too!) 

• Descanso Gardens

On any normal day, Descanso gardens are a wonderful showcase of nature with its botanical and horticulture displays, but during Christmas it gets transformed into nothing short of an enticing jungle. The 160 acres of the garden is decorated and lit up from 5:30 pm to 10 pm every day. The displays start from mid-November till early January with some nights as exceptions (check their official website). The gardens host magical exhibits like flower power, lightwave lake and Rainbow sycamores.

Price: $28 ( only for the non-members of the garden)
Venue: 1418 Descanso DriveLa Canada Flintridge, CA 91011

4. LA county holiday celebration

What is Christmas without music, dance and other performances? The LA county Christmas celebration has been a tradition for over 60 years now. Normally you would be allowed to go to the music centre and enjoy a three-hour show on christmas eve but due to the restrictions created due to COVID 19, there was an online streaming of the event in 2020. Over 22 local artists performed and filmed at the location and this was then streamed online starting at 3pm on Christmas eve.

Venue: The Music Center’s iconic Dorothy Chandler Pavilion stage

5. Universal studios

Universal studios literally brings magic down to LA with their themed celebrations. Christmas comes to the Wizarding world here too. The Christmas theme decorations at Hogsmeade and the light animation on the castle of Hogwarts makes the celebration a dream come true for any Potterhead. The show happens from the end of November to the end of December. Universal Studios is also home to Grinchmas which is an extravaganza with Grinch, his dog and villagers who perform songs and carols and showcase the Christmas spirits.

Venue: 100 Universal City Plaza Universal City, CA 91608

Things to Do in Los Angeles in December

1. Disneyland Resort

Disneyland is where the magic happens and what’s a better time to spend there with your family and friends than during Christmas. Watch all your favourite Disney characters come to life. There will be holiday activities and events taking place in all your favourite theme parks. Be it a Victorian Christmas or Mickey’s Christmas party, here at Disneyland you get to experience it all and what is better than combining pure Disney magic, the beauty of December and the spirit of Christmas!

2. Outdoor Ice skating

Outdoor Ice Skating in December is a tradition for many people living in the Bay Area. Be it the Union square ice rink or the Winter Park or the Holiday ice rink, they all give you a chance to skid and slide with glee! So take a break from your holiday shopping and put on your blades at a seasonal or a permanent rink decorated with Christmas light! Maybe you could grab a hot chocolate after skating too.

3. Drive-in Theatres

During December, drive-in theatres pop up at parking lots very often. They showcase multiple classics and Christmas themed movies too. The drive-in theatres are cost-effective, safe and a lot of fun too. They proved to be a huge hit during the pandemic times. Mission Tiki drive-in theatre, Paramount drive-in theatre, Vineland theatre and the Roadium are some of the popular drive-ins. 

4. Bike

Want to bike with the air blowing in your hair and the view of the coast? Then  Marvin Braude Bike Trail is the place for you. It is a 22-mile long road covering most of the western coast. The path starts at Will Rogers State beach till Torrance County beach. You can walk the path too if you like.

The Ciclavia bike event is a monthly event in LA for biking enthusiasts. One neighbourhood or area is shut down and people can go explore it and bike their way around. You must remember that it isn’t a race and only people-powered vehicles are allowed. And the best part about it is you don’t need to own a bike!

5. Huntington Library

When in LA Huntington Library is one location you must visit. It covers the aesthetic and historical checklist of your trip. It is a library and museum with beautiful gardens as well. The library is home to over six million works. Due to the pandemic situation, the museums are closed but the gardens are open with reservations. A stroll in the Chinese garden is a must. The area must be explored and enjoyed at leisure and it can not be crammed into a ‘One day see all’ trip.

Venue:1151 Oxford RdSan Marino

6. Hike

With the bright clear blue skies in LA during winters, what would be a better time to go hiking? Located off Mulholland Drive in the Hollywood Hills, the Runyon Canyon Park is the perfect place to go hiking. You can get a 360-degree view of the city and you can see the ocean as well (on clear days of course) You could have a mini-day out at the park, it is definitely a perfect way to spend your winter afternoon. You could also hike at the Silverlake stairs.

December in Los Angeles is the perfect time to explore the city, experience the beautiful weather and indulge in the vibes of Christmas and in the preparations to welcome a brand new year. In this article we have tried to give you a glimpse of what a holiday in LA would be like and what you could do there, so go there on your next vacation and enjoy!