Holidays at Universal Studios
The holidays begin at Universal Studios (91 Universal City Plaza, Los Angeles) with the attractions Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Grinchmas. In the first case, the village of Hogsmeade is transformed to welcome visitors with a festive decoration coupled with an a cappella performance by the Hogwarts Frog Choir. In the evenings, The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle puts on its laser light show. Meanwhile, at Universal Plaza, the Whos of Who-ville greet visitors with a party, chants and a giant gnarled tree. From Friday to January 1st. Tickets from $91. Reports and schedules universalstudioshollywood.com.
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Christmas at Magic Mountain
With Holiday in the Park the December festivities begin at Six Flags Magic Mountain (20120103 Magic Mountain Pkwy., Valencia). The theme park will be decorated with more than two million lights, a market with a wide variety of Christmas items for sale and a corner for children to write letters to Santa. New this year is Santa’s house, where visitors can take a photo or do crafts. There are also bonfires to burn chocolates and DJ music. Starting today Thursday and until January 1st. Tickets from $30. Reports and schedules sixflags.com.
Lights at the LA Zoo
LA Zoo Lights: Animals Aglow is the new winter attraction at the Los Angeles Zoo (4480 Zoo Dr., Los Angeles), which is available every night and that transforms this park into an immersive experience with a large number of animal sculptures among flowers, trees and more. Includes more than 20 animals, such as giraffes, elephants, orangutans and koalas. There is hot chocolate and churros for sale. Ends on 20 from January. Tickets from $22. Information and schedules lazoo.org.
Photo: Courtesy Christmas at the Music Center
The annual ceremony of Christmas tree lighting returns to the Music Center’s Jerry Moss Plaza (108 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles ), for the first time in person after the pandemic. The Urban Voices Project participates, which will begin to sing 10 minutes before the ceremony. There will be free snowflakes and hot chocolate. Free event. Monday 5 p.m. Reports musiccenter.org.
And in the Grand Park
In conjunction with the Christmas tree lighting event from the Music Center, the Grand Park (197 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles) presents Holidays Lights, a holiday event that includes decorations of the holidays at the intersection of Grand Avenue and Hill Street, with a pink sphere on a tree, a menorah and many lights. Starts Monday 5pm. Free. Musiccenter.org reports.
Christmas celebration at SeaWorld
SeaWorld San Diego (480 Sea World Dr., San Diego) kicked off its Christmas Celebration with new attractions, including two theater shows, a live reindeer, a ride with Mrs. Claus and a new fireworks display. In addition, attractions such as photos with Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, music with the SeaWorld Christmas Brass Band, artificial snow and the lighting of the tree of 197 feet tall. Ends on January 8th. Tickets from $50. Reports seaworld.com.
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Ice Rink in Downtown LA
After a two-year hiatus, the Holiday Ice Rink Pershing Square returns, an ice rink in Pershing Square Park (500 S. Olive St., Los Angeles) who this year turns 20 years since it was first installed. It is the largest outdoor track in the city, with 7,200 square feet. Entrance fee and skate rental $11 . Open daily until January 1st. Reports holidayicerinkdowntownla.com.
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And also in Santa Monica
Winterlit returns to Downtown Santa Monica, and includes the ice rink, which returns after an absence from two years. Track 8, square feet will transform the corner of Fifth Street and Arizona Avenue into the 1200 Fifth St., in Santa Monica, at a winter party. During the sessions there will be DJ music. Every day from 6 to 000 pm. Tickets and skate rental $16. Close the 16 from January. Reports downtownsm.com.
Party in OC
The traditional annual Winter Fest OC returns to the OC Fair (50 Fair Dr., Costa Mesa), where this venue is transformed into a great winter party with a wide variety of attractions and live entertainment. Some of what is included is a walk to the north pole, outdoor ice rink, a slope of 108 feet long to slide on tires, photos with Santa and jumps. Tickets from $20. Ends January 1. Reports winterfestoc.com.
Kidspace Christmas Party
The Kidspace Children’s Museum (461 N. Arroyo Blvd., Pasadena) is celebrating its second Kidspace Winter Frolic this year, where families can do crafts, have animal encounters, see special performances, skate with socks on the ice-free rink or pile snowballs in the Snow Dome. Ends on January 8th. Tickets from $000 . Reports and schedules kidspacemuseum.org.
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