December 2025 events calendar for Los Angeles

The annual L.A. Kings ice skating rink presented by Coca-Cola once again returns to L.A. Live. Skate around the dazzling Christmas tree that stands in the middle of the outdoor rink, and take in an LED holiday light show on the huge screens around the plaza. Choose from four nightly skating sessions. Note: General admission tickets, which include skate rental, are only sold on-site, and can’t be purchased online ahead of time.

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For the Record, the live production company known for transforming film soundtracks into immersive live musicals, used to pop up in Beverly Hills each holiday season for Love Actually Live. Now, it’s celebrating the season with a show made up of over 25 beloved songs from different holiday soundtracks, premiering inside FTR’s new permanent home: CineVita, the world’s largest Spiegeltent, in Inglewood. New Kids on the Block’s Joey McIntyre will host a night of numbers from films including Home Alone, Elf, White Christmas and, yes, Love Actually—all performed by a professional cast of singers, dancers and musicians. Pair your festive nostalgia with themed cocktails and seasonal treats.

This annual Christmas pop-up in the heart of Hollywood (6555 Hollywood Blvd) promises a 21+ immersive night of holiday cheer, complete with twinkling lights, snowflakes and other festive decor—think giant ornaments, craft cocktails, theme nights, live entertainment and, of course, seasonal cocktails like the Egg My Noggins and Polar Punch. You’ll need to buy a $19 ticket (which doesn’t include a drink) to get inside.

The Queen of Christmas—well, her likeness anyway—has taken over the Skybar at Mondrian this holiday season, filling the swanky poolside bar with lots of “All I want for Christmas” spirit. Sure to be a hit with both Carey fans and Christmas lovers of all candy-cane stripes, the pop-up winter wonderland boasts wall-to-wall holiday décor inspired by the singer, interactive photo ops, album backdrop re-creations, festive food, holiday cocktails and, of course, lots of merch. And forget letters to Santa—here you’ll find a dedicated “Letters to Mariah Carey” station, and “All I Want for Christmas Is You” will be played every 30 minutes. Your ticket gets you a welcome cocktail and 90-minute access to the immersive experience.

Step inside a Christmas tree made of lights during the return of this illuminated installation at Downtown shopping center the Bloc. Sparkle DTLA will light up the night with 18 million different hues through the end of the year, and every night you can catch its displays dance to synchronized holiday music on the hour (5–9pm). The festivities kick off December 7 with live music, photos with Santa and the Grinch, plus some surprises.

Melrose Trading Post is a favorite among flea-market shoppers year-round, but every Sunday in December, it’ll offer a merry twist. More than 260 local artists, makers and vintage vendors will be selling gift-worthy goods alongside live music and family-friendly holiday activities. Take your picture in the Rock ’n’ Roll Santa photo booth, get creative at an artist-led gift-making workshop, and catch performances by the Grand Arts Jazz Carolers and Little Women Ballet. And if a puppy’s on your Christmas wish list, you can adopt one on-site on December 28. Admission to MTP is usually $8, but you can get in for free December 7 and 14 if you bring a new, unwrapped toy for the Mágico Toy Drive; members of IATSE, SAG/AFTRA and Actors’ Equity unions get complimentary admission all month long.

Most of the year, Level 8’s rooftop bar, Golden Hour, is a poolside spot that channels the Copacabana. But over the holidays, it transforms into Winter Hour, a pop-up immersive winter wonderland outfitted in icicle lights, festive decor, faux snow and s’mores stations—and still boasting stunning views of DTLA. Don your après-ski or “Santa Baby” best and head to the top of the Moxy hotel. Your ticket includes a welcome drink—choose from a seasonal cocktail or a ski shot. For a more exclusive experience, spring for a cozy fire pit or intimate igloo. 

Located just blocks from the ocean, Ice in downtown Santa Monica brings a bit of winter to the comfortable coastal city. The 8,000-square-foot outdoor rink runs daily from November to mid-January on the corner of Fifth Street and Arizona Avenue (less than a 10-minute walk from the E Line). Tickets for an hourlong slot ($24) include skate rentals, and you can book private parties and fire pits if you’re looking for something a bit more premium. Look out for cozy treats for sale, plus special events like classical Sunday afternoons and a sparkly shindig for Taylor Swift’s birthday (Dec 13).

Not to be confused with Enchanted Forest of Light at Descanso Gardens, this newcomer to L.A.’s Christmas-lights scene is also located in the San Gabriel Valley—Santa Anita Park, to be precise—and claims to be the largest Christmas-lights maze in the world. In addition to its lit-up labyrinth with a 100-foot tree of lights as its centerpiece, the one-stop holiday extravaganza also boasts ice skating, an ice slide, a Ferris wheel, mini golf, a shopping village, visits with Santa and festive treats and drinks. 

Holiday light shows are popping up all over the city, but a free light installation is always welcome. Grand Illuminations—which features a custom 25-foot-tall LED light tree and dynamic display Lumiverse—returns for the second year on December 3 with a lighting ceremony, live music, a holiday market and refreshments from noon–7pm. The stars are the Electric Dandelions, 28-foot-tall kinetic sculptures that look like fireworks in action, which were designed by L.A.-based art collective Liquid PXL and debuted at Burning Man in 2016, popping up in the U.K., East Coast and various festivals before arriving at the Yard at Cal Plaza. The lights will stay on all holiday season, through January 4, till 10pm nightly.

The beloved Bob Baker Marionette Theater is back with its annual holiday production, which dates back to 1969. This year, the puppet-filled play is returning to the Sierra Madre Playhouse. From just after Thanksgiving through the beginning of the year, you can see the charming take on the classic ballet, with its large-scale marionettes and intricate sets, on most weekends and, closer to Christmas, select weekdays. 

If you’re shopping in Orange County and dreaming of a white Christmas, the open-air Irvine Spectrum Center has your answer. Located in Giant Wheel Court by Nordstrom, this Anaheim Ducks–sponsored rink offers an opportune time out from a busy shopping day. Following each 90-minute skating session, the rink is closed for resurfacing, so you’ll never have to skate on slush. Head to the adjacent Ferris wheel during the half-hour the rink is closed for nonstop fun. Tickets—$27 with skate rental, $24 if you bring your own—are available at the rink, but if you want “jump the line” tickets, you can buy them online ahead of time for $50.

If you’ll follow wherever Gilmore Girls leads, then you’re going to need to embark on the Warner Bros. Studio Tour this holiday season. For the final couple weeks of the year, the Burbank backlot is again supplementing its regular tour with the “Holidays Made Here” addition, which decks out the Stars Hollow section in festive decor, including the gazebo and Luke’s Diner, where you can sip coffee or cocoa from “Luke” actor Scott Patterson’s own brand—oh, and did we mention Patterson himself will be appearing in person each afternoon? In honor of the show’s 25th anniversary this year, the studio has further kicked things up a notch with new re-created sets, merch, a food passport add-on option and a nightly holiday light show. Holidays Made Here runs as part of all studio tours from December 18, 2025, to January 4, 2026. There’s also an event-only ticket option this year; while it’s the same price ($76), it means you can hang out in Stars Hollow all day.

This Christmas-themed Costa Mesa event has been turning Orange County into a veritable winter wonderland for 11 years now. Expect a Forest of Lights walk-through, snow play, ice tubing and photo ops, visits with Santa and a new falling snow area and themed entertainment zones with live music. Upgrade your experience with carnival rides, ice skating, bounce houses, “polar putt-putt” golf and fireside igloos. Hot cocoa and seasonal treats will help keep things cozy. 

It’s always Christmas at this charmingly kitsch amusement park outside of Lake Arrowhead. But it’s extra Christmassy toward the end of the year at Santa’s Village—especially if you’re lucky enough to get some fresh mountain snowfall. Swing by from November 13 to January 4 for lighting displays, a train ride, a magical nighttime walk through the forest, seasonal snacks, breakfast with Santa and tea with Mrs. Claus (those require a separate ticket) and ice skating.

Bob Baker Marionette Theater’s year-end production, formerly known as Holiday on Strings, has been reimagined as a holiday special complete with puppets in party clothes singing carols. Head to the troupe’s Highland Park location for the hour-long show, which follows host Demitrius Nova Twinklestar III on a tour of BBMT’s holiday traditions: You’ll see sledding slopes, caroling penguins, Santa’s workshop and more. For a sensory-friendly version, book tickets to the 4:30pm show on Saturday, December 20.

L.A. doesn’t typically seem like much of a winter wonderland, until, that is, you create an ice skating rink right in the midst of Downtown skyscrapers. Come glide around and pretend there’s snow on the ground at Pershing Square’s outdoor holiday skating rink. Skate rentals are included in admission, though lockers and skating aids cost a few dollars extra.

Relive your childhood theatergoing experiences this Christmas with Uncle Drosselmeyer, Clara and her beloved Nutcracker at the L.A. Ballet. The timeless show—which gets a SoCal-setting twist here—will travel all over L.A. for the holiday season, bringing classic pirouettes and Mouse King battles to UCLA, as well as 12 performances at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, where the show will be backed by the troupe’s live orchestra.

Feeling like you and your four-legged friend are attached at the hip? Spend even more quality time together during this dog-friendly series at Palos Verdes’ South Coast Botanic Garden. One Sunday a month, you can roam the gardens’ 87 acres with your fur baby. Nearly all of the paths are open to pups, except for the rose garden and a couple of other small areas. You’ll find plenty of water stations set up across the grounds, as well as an optional obedience class for purchase. You—the human—will need a reservation, while your best friend—the pup—will need to remain on their leash at all times, including in the parking lot.

Tanaka Farms opens up its Irvine fields for this after-dark wagon ride and walk-through. Hikari—which means “light” or “shine” in Japanese—has set up light displays including a long trail of lanterns, plus some festive theming that’s overtaken the farm’s scarecrows, corn maze, tractors and trees. You’ll be able to explore the lantern field by both tractor and foot, and afterward you can peruse a petting zoo, games, crafts and photo ops with Santa. While you’re there, you’ll also find the farm’s produce stand, a holiday market and a Christmas tree lot. You’ll need to purchase a parking pass on weekends, as well as tickets for each person any day of the week; the prices fluctuate depending on the date, so opt for a weekday for the lowest price.

Riverside’s stunningly beautiful Mission Inn is bathed in over 10 million twinkly lights during the annual Festival of Lights, which has lit up the city for 33 years now. The free, six-week-long holiday tradition runs from late November to early January and typically features more than 400 festive, animated figures. Having been voted the “Best Public Lights Display” by USA Today, the festival attracts over 500,000 visitors each year. The spectacle will kick off with a Switch On Ceremony on November 22, followed by live music from Matt Mauser and the Tijuana Dogs, and there’ll be holiday-themed kiddie rides outside the hotel all season long.

Justly venerated Philadelphia rap crew the Roots, anchored by Black Thought and Questlove, will take a recess from the Tonight Show stage to bring their jazzy take on hip-hop to L.A. for two year-end concerts at the Walt Disney Concert Hall this New Year’s Eve. KCRW’s Novena Carmel will kick things off with a DJ set and complimentary champagne toast. After the show, you can walk across the street and join the free N.Y.E.L.A. celebration at Gloria Molina Grand Park.

Going out for New Year’s Eve can become one of the priciest dates of the year, but thankfully DTLA’s Gloria Molina Grand Park continues to offer an affordable and family-friendly option. During this year’s event, which will pay tribute to the resilience L.A. showed throughout 2025, crowds will groove to a soundtrack of DJ-driven tunes and live bands—including rapper Ruby Ibarra, Ceci Bastida and Bardo—while hitting up a selection of food trucks (note: There’s no alcohol permitted or sold here). The night culminates with a countdown to midnight projected on the 22-story City Hall. If you dare attempt to drive, you’ll find $10 parking at the Music Center, but taking Metro is a much better bet—especially since fares tend to be free for NYE.

Go on rides during the day and stick around for DJ sets and a dazzling midnight fireworks display—all included in the price of admission—at Universal Studios Hollywood’s annual New Year’s Eve celebration. You’ll typically find multiple genre-themed party areas around the park (Universal Plaza, Springfield and near Jurassic World: The Ride) with desserts, beer, wine and champagne available for purchase at each. The EVE programming kicks off at 9pm.

Don a masquerade mask and ring in 2026 aboard the Queen Mary. The 21-and-over soiree has something for everyone on New Year’s Eve—whether you want a more mellow evening with food, drink and live music or to dance the night away in a club-like atmosphere, the ocean liner has got you covered. Also on board are roaming performers, fortune tellers, magicians, casino games, burlesque performances and dueling pianos. When the clock strikes midnight, share a New Year’s kiss under a dazzling fireworks display over the Pacific Ocean—cheesy, we know, but still very romantic.

Marina del Rey rings in the new year with two pyro-filled countdowns. The waterfront city has fireworks at both 9pm and midnight (or a minute before, to be precise). While the fireworks are set off near Burton Chace Park (which hosts a family-friendly “glow party” from 7pm to midnight), all of the restaurants with harbor views should have visibility of the fireworks. Some of the restaurants host ticketed (read: pricey) dinners, so we suggest finding a spot along the water and enjoying the fireworks for free.

Most New Year’s Eve parties in L.A. celebrate the stroke of midnight on the West Coast, and a bunch mark the ball drop on the East Coast, as well. But Big Bar celebrates the occasion with 10 countdowns. That’s nine themed cocktails (for purchase) and one complimentary champagne toast at midnight. This year’s “Alice in Oz” theme mashes up two fantasy favorites—Alice in Wonderland and The Wizard of Oz outfits are encouraged—and culminates in three cheers with a ruby glass.

For New Year’s Eve, this Pioneertown-inspired rooftop bar with strong cocktails and excellent vibes is rolling out a honky-tonk evening that includes music from country singers Johnny Travis Jr. and Nikki Lane and a live set by DJ Revel. At midnight, you can supplement the five-hour premium open bar and passed hors d’oeuvres with a special tequila toast—who needs champagne?

Angel City Brewery’s annual New Year’s Eve bash is going Art Deco this year, ringing in 2026 with gilded glamour and great beer. Dress to impress and show off your fabulous flapper energy at themed photo ops. As the name implies, there’s no cover to attend—just make sure to secure a seat early. You can grab dinner from ACB’s on-site House Made food truck.

The h.wood Group’s celeb-favored, ’20s-inspired lounge-slash-supper club Delilah will be ringing in the new year in style. Dine on selections from the handpicked à la carte menu (buttermilk fried oysters, anyone?) and join in a champagne toast at midnight. The night will culminate with a performance by none other than Wiz Khalifa.

The Gatsby-esque Prohibition NYE bash that typically took over Union Station at the end of the year seems(?) to be no more, but this year in its place is the also-KCRW-presented Resolutions, which will fill the historic train station a party that stretches from 8pm on New Year’s Eve into New Year’s Day itself. Hear sets by German techno duo Âme, Bonobo, Colyn, Jimi Jules and Marsh, complemented by state-of-the-art production, 10-point sound and visual elements that will make for a full immersive experience. 

The Houston Brothers’ eight-in-one nightlife destination is going all out for New Year’s Eve. Wander throughout the different concepts—including Que Bárbaro, Lucky Mizu, Mr. Wanderlust, Maison Kasai, Brown Sheep, Mother of Pearl and rooftop bar Golden Hour—for an immersive world of spectacle and live entertainment, from aerial artists and burlesque dancers to magicians and illusionists to DJs and live bands—there’s even a luchador wrestling match on the lineup. To eat, there will be passed hors d'oeuvres and globally inspired bites, which you can pair with premium cocktails from the four-hour open bar (8pm–midnight). Note: If you want access to the eighth venue, Sinners y Santos Nightclub, you’ll have to spring for VIP tickets.

Welcome 2026 against sweeping views of L.A. from a hilltop perch at Yamashiro. The Japanese restaurant—housed inside a historic Hollywood mansion from 1911—will host a bash with a premium open bar and a DJ spinning hip-hop, house and Top 40 tunes, capped off with a champagne countdown and party favors.

Ring in 2026 with a dose of Old Hollywood glamour during this celebration at the classic Hollywood Roosevelt. Maxim is taking over the historic hotel, transforming it into a glitzy winter wonderland for the night. Don your best semi-formal or cocktail attire (required) and masquerade mask (provided upon entry), and walk the red carpet amid celebs and models before enjoying live entertainment, music, photo ops and festive party favors to take home.

Let the Mondrian’s Skybar handle your plans this New Year’s Eve at its annual swanky soiree. Each ticket includes access to a four-hour open bar, plus a midnight champagne toast. Take in the city lights as you overlook the L.A. skyline at the rooftop bar that started it all. The pool will be covered and transformed into a light-up dance floor, so you can groove into the new year to tunes by DJ Thurston. Note: Cocktail attire is required.

The Freehand hotel will bring the house down New Year’s Eve at its rooftop oasis, Broken Shaker. Organizers Made to Move’s resident DJs, Akumen, Andy Oro and No Pressure, will be spinning bouncy, infectious house music all night long. Grab a tropical cocktail and dance with the DTLA skyline as your backdrop. Entry is free, and there will be a complimentary champagne toast at midnight.

Ring in the New Year with confetti, pyro and thousands of your closest friends at Countdown. John Summit, Above & Beyond, Pryda, Madeon and a couple dozen other dance acts top this year-end fest, which moves from San Bernardino to Downtown L.A. this year.

Any night at the historic Clifton’s Republic is a whimsical, transporting experience, but the storied Downtown destination is upping the whimsy with this year’s New Year’s Eve shindig, “a gathering of creatures from every realm.” Soak up the dark fantasy vibes as you dance under the boughs of the three-story (faux) redwood. Providing the soundtrack will be a lineup of both live music and DJs, including Machinedrum, who’ll be performing a high-energy set right into midnight. Costumes are encouraged but not required—though there will be a cosplay contest with a pretty covetable prize: dinner and an overnight stay at a four-star Santa Barbara hotel.

Dynasty Typewriter’s namesake comedy show Dynasty Tonight! brings stand-up and assorted entertainment to the theater, including for this NYE show with sets from hilarious comedians. Aparna Nancherla, Brent Weinbach, Jared Logan, Ashley Ray, Tony Sam and more will be taking the stage, so you’re in good hands. Each ticket includes a champagne toast at midnight.

Stake out a spot in downtown Long Beach to catch this waterfront fireworks show at midnight on New Year’s Eve. You can catch the display from pretty much anywhere near the water, like Shoreline Park and Village, and you can expect dinner specials and parties at plenty of local businesses nearby (including, yes, the Queen Mary, which has again revived its on-board party—a ticketed masquerade soirée).

What kid (or adult) doesn’t love to go to Disneyland? And on New Year’s Eve, the theme park stays open late (till 2am) and has even more magical happenings. We all know Disneyland does fireworks nearly nightly, but on New Year’s Eve they have a special showing in honor of the new year: “New Year's Eve Fantasy in the Sky.” Many of the restaurants inside the park also have special events or menus for the holiday, so do your research and get a reservation. You’ll have two chances to watch the fireworks: at 9pm and midnight. Just make sure to book your park reservation ASAP.

Osa Rooftop—Pasadena’s new and only rooftop bar, located atop the AC Hotel—is celebrating its first New Year’s Eve with a party, complete with a premium open bar, light fare from the menu of California cuisine, live DJ performances and hillside views. Bonus: The hotel sits along the route of the Rose Parade, Pasadena’s world-famous New Year’s Day tradition, so if you’re up for an all-nighter, you can stake out a spot on the sidewalk early.

Laugh your way into 2026 with this celebration at the renowned career-launching comedy theater, where the Groundlings family will be performing a night full of improv. Add gourmet treats, wine and a traditional Champagne toast at midnight, and you’ve got everything you need for the perfect New Year’s Eve. You might even catch a glimpse of the next Will Ferrell or Lisa Kudrow while you’re at it.

Knott’s Berry Farm goes all out during the holiday season, turning the theme park into the punny Knott’s Merry Farm, complete with holiday decorations, music and snow. For New Year’s Eve, they take it a step further with extended hours (till 1am) and a countdown to midnight capped off with fireworks. Look out for live performances throughout the evening, plus swing-dancing lessons and family-friendly comedy.

Terranea’s seaside New Year’s Eve party this year will be a glamorous, Great Gatsby–inspired affair, complete with flapper dancers, speakeasy cocktails and aerialists hanging from the chandelier. The classy—and spendy—celebration boasts a drool-worthy culinary spread: Think a champagne and caviar bar, oyster shooters, mini lobster rolls, lamb lollipops, imported cheeses, beef Wellington, risotto finished in a Parmesan wheel, a flambéed crepe station and more. In addition to this soiree in the Palos Verdes Ballroom, the resort will be hosting decadent dinners throughout the property.

Anonymous feminist art collective the Guerrilla Girls—whose members gained notoriety for donning gorilla masks and fighting the patriarchy—is coming up on its 40th anniversary, and the Getty Center is marking the occasion with a behind-the-scenes look at the group. See photography, protest art and the group’s famed posters—sporting statistics, bold visuals and satirical humor—that showcase the tactics the members used to demand recognition for women and artists of color. The Guerrilla Girls have even created a newly commissioned work for the exhibition. And you can add your own mark on the “graffitti wall” installation, giving visitors a creative outlet for their complaints about the world today. 

Robert Therrien’s Under the Table has long been one of the most popular pieces in the Broad’s collection (you know the one—the giant table and chairs that you ask your friend to snap a photo of as you stand underneath). Well now the museum is hosting the largest-ever solo exhibition of the artist’s work, displaying more than 120 pieces, including many that have never been shown in museums before. Expect more huge housewares and striking works, plus some intimate drawings and surprises from the late L.A.-based artist. The specially ticketed show will fill the first-floor galleries through April 5, 2026.

Dealing with a difficult subject head-on, the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA’s new show, “Monuments”—co-presented by the museum and nonprofit the Brick (formerly LAXART)—juxtaposes both intact and vandalized Confederate monuments with contemporary artwork. The show looks at the recent wave of monument removals from a historic perspective and encourages discourse about challenging topics amid an ongoing national debate about the role of these statues and what they represent. Tickets for the special exhibition are $18, though if you book far enough ahead of time, you can take advantage of free admission on the first Friday of every month.

Don’t go in the water, but do go to the Academy Museum to see the largest exhibition ever dedicated to Steven Spielberg’s original summer blockbuster, Jaws—which is celebrating its 50th anniversary. The museum was already home to the last surviving model shark from filming, but now you can go behind the scenes and see some 200 original objects from the film across multiple galleries. Some highlights: a re-creation of the Orca fishing boat, the dorsal fin used both in Jaws and its sequels, costumes worn by the central trio and a room full of vintage film posters and merch promoting the film. There are interactive elements, too: You can have your own Chief Brody dolly-zoom moment (and see the lens used to film the famous shot), play the iconic John Williams two-note score and control a replica of the mechanical shark.

Right on the heels of the release of his new film, Mickey 17, director Bong Joon Ho steps into the spotlight at the Academy Museum’s latest “Director’s Spotlight” exhibition (past subjects have included Spike Lee and Agnès Varda). The first-ever museum show dedicated to the Oscar-winning South Korean filmmaker will trace Ho’s career, creative process and cinematic influences. See over 100 storyboards, research materials, posters, concept art, creature models, props and on-set photos from the director’s archive and personal collection. On opening day, March 23, catch screenings of Okja (2pm) and Parasite (7:30pm) in the David Geffen Theater—Ho himself will be there in person.

Japan House Los Angeles is bringing an exhibition of shokuhin sampuru—hyper-realistic food replicas that have crossed over from marketing tool to art form (think Is It Cake? but cultural)—to Los Angeles for the first time. See mouthwatering faux food representing each of Japan’s 47 prefectures, from coffee house parfaits to izakaya skewers, as well as Chinese and Western cuisine, and try your own hand at food presentation by filling a bentō box yourself.

On the 50th anniversary of the Norton Simon Museum, look back to when Simon took over management of the Pasadena Art Museum in 1975, then ahead to the museum’s exciting future at this retrospective exhibition. See rare photos from the museum’s archives, and learn about the history of its major acquisitions, exhibitions, building and gardens—which are currently undergoing a transformation.

More than 50 works on display at the Autry showcase how indigenous artists have crafted visions of alternative futures in the face of enduring colonial trauma. The bottom-floor exhibition opens with a semicircle of high fashion, including remarkable crow attire from Cannupa Hanska Luger, which is paired with video footage from his accompanying performance piece. Star Wars plays a surprisingly large role in the vibrant show, including Andy Everson’s Northwest Coast-inspired take on stormtrooper helmets.

The Getty Villa reopens to the public five and a half months after its Palisades Fire closure with this international loan exhibition dedicated to the Greek Mycenaean civilization and the kingdom of Pylos, which Homer immortalized in the Iliad and Odyssey. It’s the first major museum show in North America devoted to the Late Bronze Age Mycenaeans. See treasures excavators unearthed from Messenia, the Palace of Nestor and burial sites including the tomb of the Griffin Warrior (1450 BCE)—think clay tablets, gold cups, ornate weapons and tiny signets and sealstones adorned with awe-inspiring amounts of detail. 

The Natural History Museum’s taxidermy dioramas turn a century old this year, and to celebrate the museum is reviving an entire hall of displays that’ve been dark for decades. Expect some fresh approaches to these assembled snapshots of the wilderness, including alebrijes made of recycled materials, a crystalline depiction of pollution and a tech-driven display of the L.A. River.

The California Science Center is inviting kids to get in the game with a new 17,000-square-foot exhibition about the power of play and the human body in motion. Besides teaching about the science behind sports, it also offers interactive challenges and video coaching from a team of Los Angeles-based mentor athletes including dancer Debbie Allen, the Dodgers’ World Series hero Freddie Freeman, Olympic medalist softball player Rachel Garcia and more. And for the first time ever, the center has commissioned public art—all by local artists—to complement the exhibition, including a Dodgers mural by Gustavo Zermeño Jr. The free exhibition will run at the Science Center through the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Ready to part ways with this year? Of course you are. New Year’s Eve is just about here and bursting with all sorts of late-night opportunities. Want to ring in the new year with a full belly and a champagne toast? Swing by a romantic restaurant or a classy hotel bar. Want to dance? Sweat out the last of your worries at a club. Feel like just staying home? Consider it the perfect excuse to catch up on some classic L.A. movies. Whatever your plans, we’ll help you make it a memorable New Year’s. Hello, 2026! (Please be good…)