ValidaTrip / Things to do in Los Angeles
Things to do in Los Angeles in December 2026
By ValidaTrip Research · Updated May 20, 2026
Quick answer: Los Angeles in December 2026 usually runs near 20C by day, 9C at night, with about 6 rainy days.
Dated picks to verify first include Elf - The Musical and Oh, Mary!.
Check the event list and public holidays below before assigning fixed dates.
Events, festivals, and public holidays for Los Angeles, United States, in December 2026.
The point is making sure the places you already want to see are actually open on the days you'll be there.
Planning a Los Angeles trip in December?
Paste the recommendations you've collected — from friends, a ChatGPT itinerary, or blog listicles. ValidaTrip checks every place against your December dates: opening hours, closures, what needs booking ahead, and which Los Angeles events overlap your trip.
No account needed to try it.
Month context
Los Angeles in December: weather, seasonal timing, and what changes.
Los Angeles weather in December
High
20.4°C
Low
8.9°C
Rain
6d
65mm
9.7h daylight
What to prioritize in December
Prioritize Santa Monica Pier, Union Station, Venice Beach Boardwalk and Canals, Getty Center, Griffith Observatory and Griffith Park. Festival timing to check: Hollywood Christmas Parade, Holiday Boat Parade.
What's month-specific in December
Hollywood Christmas Parade
The Hollywood Christmas Parade kicks off the holiday season.
Holiday Boat Parade
Other popular events during the holiday season include the Marina del Rey Holiday Boat Parade and a popular Christmas Eve music show in Downtown at the L
Dates to check
Events, festivals, and closures in Los Angeles.
Events & festivals in Los Angeles, December 2026
Dates and ticketing change constantly — treat this as a starting point and confirm anything you'd build a day around.
- Dec 1
- Dec 1
- Dec 1
- Dec 1 – Dec 31
LA Zoo Lights
An annual nighttime event featuring spectacular light displays throughout the Los Angeles Zoo, perfect for families and visitors of all ages. — Advance tickets recommended, especially on weekends.
via GPT Festivals
- Dec 1 – Dec 31
Holiday Ice Rink at Pershing Square
Outdoor ice skating rink in downtown Los Angeles, open throughout December with skate rentals and holiday music. — Tickets and skate rentals available on-site; peak times may require waiting.
via GPT Festivals
- Dec 2
Show all 38 events for December
- Dec 3 – Dec 6
LA Art Show 2026
An international contemporary art fair featuring galleries, artists, and collectors from around the world, held at the Los Angeles Convention Center. — Tickets available online; early booking recommended due to popularity.
via GPT Festivals
- Dec 3 – Dec 31
- Dec 4 – Dec 31
- Dec 4 – Dec 31
- Dec 4 – Dec 31
- Dec 4
- Dec 5
LA County Holiday Celebration at Grand Park
A festive holiday event featuring live music, food vendors, and family-friendly activities in downtown Los Angeles. — Free admission; arrive early for best seating.
via GPT Festivals
- Dec 5
- Dec 5
- Dec 7
- Dec 8 – Dec 31
- Dec 8
- Dec 8
- Dec 9
- Dec 12 – Dec 13
Nisei Week Winter Festival
A celebration of Japanese American culture with traditional performances, food, and crafts held in Little Tokyo. — Free entry; some workshops may require registration.
via GPT Festivals
- Dec 12 – Dec 31
- Dec 12
- Dec 12
- Dec 17 – Dec 31
- Dec 18 – Dec 24
LA Philharmonic Holiday Concerts
A series of holiday-themed classical music concerts performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. — Tickets required; purchase in advance.
via GPT Festivals
- Dec 18 – Dec 31
- Dec 18 – Dec 31
- Dec 18 – Dec 31
- Dec 19 – Dec 31
- Dec 19 – Dec 31
- Dec 21 – Dec 31
- Dec 26 – Dec 27
- Dec 27 – Dec 28
- Dec 28 – Dec 29
- Dec 29 – Dec 30
- Dec 30 – Dec 31
- Dec 31 – Jan 1
Public holidays & closures in December 2026
On these dates banks, government offices, and many attractions in United States close or switch to holiday hours. Worth checking before you pin a must-see to one of them.
- Dec 25Christmas Day
City context
What Los Angeles is known for before you choose what to prioritize.
Known for
City context
Los Angeles spreads across the Los Angeles Basin between the Pacific, the Santa Monica Mountains, and the San Gabriel Mountains, so a single day can move from Hollywood studios to Downtown concert halls to Venice sand. The city works best as a neighborhood plan: Hollywood for film history, Downtown LA and the Arts District for museums and food halls, Santa Monica and Venice for the coast, and Pasadena for older civic architecture.
Food & drink
Local flavor
Los Angeles food is a city map: street tacos, Korean barbecue, Armenian lahmajune, sushi, French-dip sandwiches, smash burgers, pupusas, and farmers-market produce all matter. Grand Central Market, Thai Town, Koreatown, Boyle Heights, Sawtelle, and the Original Farmers Market give first-time visitors a practical route through that range.
Things to do
Attractions and sights to consider in Los Angeles.
Things to do in Los Angeles
Map of top sights in Los Angeles
- 1Santa Monica Pier
- 2Union Station
- 3Venice Beach Boardwalk and Canals
- 4Getty Center
- 5Griffith Observatory and Griffith Park
- 6Walt Disney Concert Hall
- 1
Santa Monica Pier
4.6★ · 132,512outdoorOpen dailyThe pier dates to 1909 and includes the 1916 Looff Hippodrome, Pacific Park rides, Route 66 markers, and broad beach views. It is the western end of the E Line from Downtown Los Angeles.
Wikipedia - 2
Union Station
4.5★ · 11,318outdoorOpen dailyLos Angeles Union Station opened in 1939 with Spanish Colonial Revival and Art Deco details, tiled waiting rooms, courtyards, and rail links across Southern California. Olvera Street, Chinatown, and Little Tokyo are all nearby.
Wikipedia - 3
Venice Beach Boardwalk and Canals
4.5★ · 2,318outdoorDeveloper Abbot Kinney opened Venice of America in 1905, and the remaining canals still show the original resort-city idea. The boardwalk, Muscle Beach, skate park, and Abbot Kinney Boulevard sit south of Santa Monica.
Show 7 more sights
- 4Getty Center
- 5Griffith Observatory and Griffith Park
- 6Walt Disney Concert Hall
- 7The Broad
- 8Hollywood Bowl
- 9La Brea Tar Pits and LACMA
- 10TCL Chinese Theatre and Hollywood Walk of Fame
Areas and routes
Neighborhoods, day trips, and getting around Los Angeles.
Los Angeles neighborhoods
Each district has its own character — knowing which one you're in changes what's realistic to fit in a day.
Hollywood and Los Feliz
This side is cinematic and hillside, with the Chinese Theatre, Walk of Fame, Griffith Observatory, Franklin Village, studio history, and late-night Thai Town food nearby.
Downtown LA, Bunker Hill, and Arts District
Downtown is dense and mixed, with Union Station, Grand Central Market, Walt Disney Concert Hall, The Broad, Little Tokyo, warehouses, galleries, and brewery patios.
Santa Monica
Santa Monica is coastal and walkable, with the pier, Third Street Promenade, Palisades Park, the E Line terminus, and hotels facing the Pacific.
Venice and Marina del Rey
Venice is eccentric and beach-level, with the boardwalk, canals, skate park, Abbot Kinney shops, murals, and marina sunsets just south.
Beverly Hills and West Hollywood
This westside belt is polished and social, with Rodeo Drive, Sunset Strip clubs, design showrooms, hotels, and restaurant-heavy streets between Beverly and Santa Monica boulevards.
Pasadena and Highland Park
The northeast side feels older and more architectural, with Old Pasadena, the Gamble House, Rose Bowl, Arroyo Seco, York Boulevard, and Gold Line light-rail access.
Day trips from Los Angeles
Doable as a long day or comfortable as an overnight — each one is a destination on its own.
45km / 40-75min by car from Downtown LA or about 1.5h by Metrolink and bus via Anaheim
Disneyland Resort
The 1955 theme park and Disney California Adventure make a full Orange County day, with timing driven by freeway traffic and park reservations.
35km / 1h ferry from Long Beach or San Pedro terminals
Catalina Island
Avalon, Descanso Beach, glass-bottom boats, hiking, and harbor views give Los Angeles a true island day trip.
210km / 2.5-3h by car from Central Los Angeles
Joshua Tree National Park
Desert boulders, Joshua trees, Keys View, and dark skies are reachable as a long day but work better with an overnight in Twentynine Palms or Joshua Tree.
Getting around
Metro rail and buses use the TAP card, with the B Line for Hollywood, E Line for Santa Monica, A Line for Pasadena, and regional trains from Union Station. A car or rideshare is still fastest for cross-basin moves, but parking and freeway traffic make neighborhood clustering essential.
How to plan Los Angeles in December
- 1
Anchor the month
Check the 38 dated Los Angeles events for anything that overlaps your exact December dates before assigning fixed sightseeing days.
- 2
Protect closure days
Hold flexible plans around the 1 public holiday in United States; museums, markets, and government-run sights can switch hours.
- 3
Group and validate
Group each Los Angeles day by nearby neighborhoods, then validate the saved places against your trip dates before exporting the checked route to Google Maps.
What to pack for Los Angeles in December
Pack from the monthly climate profile, not a generic Los Angeles checklist.
- Layerable daytime clothes for average highs around 20C.
- A light evening layer because nights average 9C.
- A small umbrella or packable shell for scattered rain across about 6 days.
How many days do you need in Los Angeles
4 days covers the main Los Angeles highlights at a realistic pace. Add 3 extra days if you want the listed day trips.
Is Los Angeles worth visiting in December
Yes. Los Angeles in December: 20.4°C high, 8.9°C low, 65mm rain over 6 days, 9.7h daylight. Mild and dry — shoulder-season sweet spot.
Validate your list
Turn this into a Los Angeles plan that actually works
All your recs in one place
Paste what friends, ChatGPT, and blogs gave you for Los Angeles. ValidaTrip pulls out each place and sorts it — no spreadsheet by hand.
Open on your dates
Every place checked against the days you're actually in Los Angeles, with timed tickets and reservation-only spots flagged while you can still get a slot.
Export to Google Maps
Send the cleaned, checked, and neighborhood-grouped plan to Google Maps so your Los Angeles days are ready to navigate.
Questions
- What's on in Los Angeles in December 2026?
- Around 38 notable events and festivals fall in December 2026, including Elf - The Musical, Oh, Mary!, Los Angeles Philharmonic. Dates and times change — confirm each before you build your day around it.
- Are there public holidays in Los Angeles during December 2026?
- Christmas Day (Dec 25). Banks, government offices, and some attractions close or run holiday hours on these days.
- Will the places on my list be open when I'm in Los Angeles in December?
- Not always. Opening days and hours vary by weekday, season, and holiday. Paste your Los Angeles list into ValidaTrip and it checks every place against the exact dates you're there, flagging closures before the trip instead of at a locked door.
- How do I plan Los Angeles days without crossing the city twice?
- ValidaTrip groups your places by neighborhood so each day stays in one or two areas instead of zig-zagging. It also flags what needs booking ahead, so timed tickets and reservations don't fall through.