The Most Wonderful Time of the Year in Los Angeles

Every year Griffith Park holds the annual DWP Holiday Light Festival. The park gets decked out in all kinds of cool light displays. They recreate everything from the Statue of Liberty to the Hollywood Sign in twinkly lights. This year the fest is going “green” and they’re banning cars from driving around the park to see the lights. So either grab a bike or some walking shoes.

There’s something fun about going to Disneyland during the holidays. Maybe it’s all the lights, maybe it’s the fireworks, or maybe it’s Mickey Mouse dressed up in a Santa outfit. Who knows? But do you really need an excuse to act like a kid again and go on a bunch of rides? Not really, no.

Ok, so I don’t really recommend doing this, but if you’re Jewish, single, and tired of being single, you might want to think about going to the Schmooz-A-Palooza at the House of Blues on Christmas Eve. (I know the name is horrendously corny and horrible.) The event is more or less a meet (meat?) market, but who knows, if you get drunk enough it might be fun. Either way, it probably beats eating Chinese takeout and playing board games with your parents.

Nothing says “the holidays” like holiday movies. And while you COULD add your fave holiday flicks to your Netflix queue, you could also see them on the big screen at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood. During the days leading towards Christmas, the theater screens gems like “Scrooge,” “White Christmas,” and “Fiddler on the Roof” (this movie has naught to do with Hanukah, but I still appreciate them trying to include us).

And in case you’re more of a traditionalist, every Christmas Eve, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at the Music Center hosts a holiday spectacular featuring multicultural choirs, music ensembles, dance troupes, etc… And don’t worry if you already have plans to roast chestnuts over an open fire at home— you can watch the show on PBS.

If you’re bemoaning the lack of carolers in LA, then you should consider getting tickets to WDCH’s annual holiday concert series: Deck the Hall. You can get a good dose of the holiday spirit with Chanticleer Christmas, the Soweto Gospel Choir, or the Count Basie Orchestra. Or if you’re feeling especially fearless you can attend a Holiday sing-a-long.

Sometimes the holidays can be a little painful (family+ having to buy gifts+more family), so it can be really good idea to laugh it off. Every year UCB has a pretty good selection of holiday comedic fare. A couple years ago I went to the All Jew Revue, which wasn’t hilarious, but it was significantly funnier than any jokes you’d hear around the holiday dinner table (unless the cast of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” happens to be part of your family).

Leave it to an LA mall to get a hot, ripped Santa instead of a plump, jolly one. Every year the Beverly Center welcomes Hunky Santa to the mall— a relief for those who’d rather sit on the lap of a guy who looks more like an Abercrombie & Fitch model than Homer Simpson.

This year, the Steve Allen Theater at the Center for Inquiry West is hosting Harry Shearer and Judith Owen’s Holiday Sing-A-Long. (You may remember Harry Shearer from such films and shows as “The Simpsons” and “This is Spinal Tap.”) So in case you fancy yourself a bit of a grinch or you can’t bear to hear another Bing Crosby song, Shearer and Owen’s irreverent holiday celebration might be up your street.