Plan out your month with the city's best concerts, culture, cuisine and more.
THINGS TO DO
Dec 3, 4
PlayStation Experience; Anaheim Convention Center
Pick up a controller and strap on a VR headset at this all-things-PlayStation expo with hands-on panels and presentations.
Dec 10
Marina Del Rey Boat Parade; Fisherman's Village
Feel as though you've escaped to a small-town fishing village at this illuminated boat parade and fireworks show.
Dec 16
The Music Center Holiday Sing-Along; Music Center Plaza
Belt out Christmas classics at this free public celebration.
Dec 24
L.A. County Holiday Celebration; Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
Gather up your friends and family to hear more than 20 choirs, music ensembles and dance troupes from all over the city.
Dec 31
N.Y.E.L.A.; Grand Park
Usher in 2017 with thousands of other Angelenos as a countdown clock is projected onto City Hall.
Dec 31
Prohibition NYE; Union Station
Travel back to the 1920s for this massive Prohibition era-themed NYE party, set in Downtown's 1930s Art Deco marvel.
Find more things to do in our December 2016 events calendar.
FOOD & DRINK
Dec 2-3
The Harvest: An Evening of Cocktails; Location T.B.A.
Join cocktail catering company the Whaling Club for a party featuring three liquid confection made with market-sourced produce, house-made ingredients and hand-cut ice.
Dec 4
Hog Butchery Demo with Jered Standing; 6375 N Figueroa St
Join accomplished butcher Jered Standing for an in-depth class on hog butchery, including pork tasting and a demo.
Dec 4
Mac and Cheese Smackdown; Bank of America Plaza
Indulge in our annual, gluttonous tasting event where we'll crown the ultimate mac and cheese contender in Los Angeles.
Dec 8
Rustic Canyon Dinner Series; Rustic Canyon
Enjoy the last of Rustic Canyon's 10th anniversary series with a dinner crafted by former Rustic Canyon chefs returning to their old stomping grounds.
Dec 10
Santa Monica Pub Crawl; Various bars
Cheers to the holiday season at this annual Westside tradition, when you can belt out Christmas carols while drinking your way through Santa Monica.
Dec 16
Cheese & Spirits Pairing at the Spirit Guild; The Spirit Guild
Revel in the holy matrimony that is cheese and spirits at this informative (and delicious) pairing from the Spirit Guild and Vagabond Cheese.
ARTS & CULTURE
Dec 4-May 7
Picasso and Rivera: Conversations Across Time; LACMA
Examine the ocean-separated ways in which European and Latin American art mined their respective ancient mythologies with 150 works from the two modernist masters.
Dec 5
A John Waters Christmas; Comedy Store
Have yourself a smut-filled Christmas as the acclaimed filmmaker leads this monologue-style comedy show.
Dec 5-11
Henry Rollins; Largo
Catch the KCRW host over eight nights at Largo, where you can expect a set full of wince-worthy wisecracks and reams of terrifyingly sharply observed socio-political commentary.
Dec 9-Mar 6
Van Gogh's Bedroom; Norton Simon Museum
See Van Gogh's intimate and iconic portrait of the bedroom in his French creative retreat, the Yellow House, on view on the West Coast for the first time.
Dec 12
Bergamot Station Holiday Open House; Bergamot Station
Celebrate the holiday season with an art sale and open house at the more than 30 galleries in this Santa Monica arts complex.
Opens Dec 17
The Unconventional Canvases of Keith Haring; Petersen Automotive Museum
See four cars and one motorcycle that the late political muralist painted in his signature style.
Dec 20-Apr 30
Breaking News: Turning the Lens on Mass Media; Getty Center
Probe into the post-'60s rise of news media as a polarizing and rich source of inspiration for artists.
Through Jan 1
Eyvind Earle: An Exhibit of a Disney Legend; Forest Lawn Glendale
Scope out landscape paintings that you know from once upon a dream during the final days of this exhibition about the prolific Disney background artist.
FILM
Dec 1-15
The Contenders; Hammer Museum
See the 10 most influential films from this year, as chosen by the Museum of Modern Art, with director and actor Q&As after movies like Arrival, Manchester by the Sea and Loving.
Dec 2
Film Noir at Union Station; Union Station
Catch the 1949 film Too Late for Tears—which was partially shot at Union Station—screened inside of the historic train depot.
Dec 3
A Conversation with Martin Scorsese and Irwin Winkler; Egyptian Theatre
Listen to the legendary director and his longtime production partner discuss their modern day classics, from Raging Bull to The Wolf of Wall Street, as well as the upcoming period drama Silence.
Dec 8
That Thing You Do! screening; Bing Theater (LACMA)
Revisit Tom Hanks's directorial debut on its 20th anniversary—and try not to get that namesake song stuck in your head.
Dec 15
Little Miss Sunshine 10 Year Reunion; Palace Theatre
Mark a decade since the indie sensation's release with this screening and cast and crew reunion.
Dec 17
The Shining + Holiday Party; The Los Angeles Theatre
Venture to the Overlook Hotel during this special screening and Kubrickian dance party.
Dec 22
The Princess Bride screening; Egyptian Theatre
Catch a screening of the cult classic fairy tale, followed by a Q&A and booking signing with Westley himself, Cary Elwes.
MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE
Dec 1
Emo Nite: The Two Year Anniversary; The Echo & Echoplex
Cake on the eyeliner for the two year anniversary of this emo dance party, complete with members of New Found Glory and the All-American Rejects.
Dec 2
Islands performing Return to the Sea; The Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever
Return to the decade-old first release from this project from Jamie Thompson, of on-again, off-again group the Unicorns and Serial theme fame.
Dec 6
Miike Snow; El Rey Theatre
See the Swedish sensation serve up a fresh menu of indie pop sound with tracks from his third and latest album.
Dec 9
Jim James; Orpheum Theatre
See the My Morning Jacket frontman step out solo in support of his latest John Lennon-gone-sci-fi release.
Dec 9, 10
Conor Oberst; Immanual Presbyterian Church
Join the Bright Eyes main man for two evenings of stripped-back songs.
Dec 10
Riot Grill Fest; The Regent Theater
Pair female-fronted punk like Le Butcherettes and Girlpool—the "riot" part—with Philly cheesesteaks and pizza—hence the "grill" pun—at this one-night-only fest.
Dec 10, 11
KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas; The Forum
Strike the electrified, amped-up harp and join the chorus with blink-182, Jimmy Eat World, M83, Green Day, Beck, Weezer and more.
Dec 13, 14
The Afghan Whigs; Teragram Ballroom
Support the seminal alt-rock band's guitarist's battle with cancer during this run of benefit shows, featuring Eagles of Death Metal, Mark Lanegan, Moby and more.
Dec 18
Stevie Nicks + The Pretenders; The Forum
See the crystal visions when the rock 'n' roll queen joins up with the Pretenders on this final stop of the tour.
Dec 21-23
The Growlers; The Wiltern
Spend three nights with O.C.'s beloved surf punk slackers.
Dec 28-31
X; The Roxy Theatre
Cap off the year with four straight nights of shows from one of the most important punk bands to ever hit Southern California.
Dec 30, 31
Countdown; NOIS Events Center
Ring in the New Year with Diplo, Zedd and Steve Aoki—and confetti, pyro and 30,000 of your closest friends
Find more shows in our December 2016 concert calendar.
THEATER
Dec 1-18
The Latina Christmas Special; The Los Angeles Theatre Center
Laugh along as three Latina comedians tell past Christmas stories as first-generation Americans.
Dec 2-23
A Christmas Carol; A Noise Within
Understand the meaning of the season with A Noise Within's annual show featuring Ebenezer Scrooge.
Dec 4-Jan 15
Amélie, A New Musical; Ahmanson Theatre
Enter the imaginative world of the endearing titular character as she steps from the silver screen and into this reimagined musical.
Dec 8-Jan 21
The King and I; Pantages Theatre
Take the whole family to enjoy the Rogers and Hammerstein's version of this production, which is set in 1960's Bangkok and tells the unconventional story of the King of Siam and Anna Leonowens, a schoolteacher.
Dec 9-18
SparkleBlob's Annual Holiday Puppet Show; Art & Commerce Productions
Follow Silver Lake's Most Well-Adjusted Family as they stress to impress for a hometown holiday during this offbeat puppet show.
Dec 9-18
The Nutcracker; Segerstrom Center for the Arts
Head to the O.C. to see Misty Copeland star in the American Ballet Theatre's version of this holiday tradition.
Dec 15-17
1966 Holiday Variety Extravaganza; The Broad Stage
Travel back to 1966 in Impro Theatre's 1966 Holiday Variety Extravaganza, a heartwarming unscripted holiday variety show.
Through Dec 18
The Beauty Queen of Leenane; Mark Taper Forum
Glimpse inside this mother-daughter relationship in a dark, yet funny, production directed by Garry Hynes.
Through Dec 18
Merrily We Roll Along; The Wallis
Sing along to Stephen Sondheim's songs in this production about three friends who get into show biz together.
SHOPPING & STYLE
Dec 3, 4
Unique LA Holiday Market; California Market Center
Rub elbows with local artisans at this high-end, handmade market.
Dec 3, 4
Grand Central Market Holiday Marketplace; Grand Central Market
Head to GCM for unique kitchen, pantry and tabletop finds from retail and culinary pop-ups, plus cookie decorating, love local music and tons of tasty eats.
Dec 3, 4
A Current Affair; Cooper Design Space
Shop more than 50 of the top vintage retailers, both local and national, at this stylish market.
Dec 10
Half Ceramics Holiday Studio Sale; Half Gallery
Shop super local and avoid the holiday hullabaloo at this open studio featuring L.A. ceramicists, woodworkers, printmakers and more.
Dec 10-11
Echo Park Craft Fair; Mack Sennett Studios
Peruse the high-end wares at the winter installment of L.A.'s most expertly curated craft fair.
Dec 10-11
Bitchcraft Winter Faire; Kinship Studios
Check out this badass, scrappy little market featuring a mix of witchy, metal, punk, psych, Western and hippie-inspired wares.
Dec 10-11
Renegade Craft Fair; Grand Park
Stroll through one of the country's top craft fairs—and be sure to sign up for our giveaway of over $1,500 worth of goods from local L.A. makers!
HOLIDAY
Through Jan 8
Enchanted: Forest of Light; Descanso Gardens
Stroll through the La Cañada Flintridge botanical garden as a one-mile stretch of its hillside property is transformed into 10 distinctly themed sparkly displays.
Through Jan 8
L.A. Zoo Lights; Los Angeles Zoo
Stroll through the Griffith Park zoo grounds as the festive tradition returns with more lights and an exclusive cocktail party.
Through Jan 8
Chill; Queen Mary
Cozy up to the Queen Mary for a waterfront winter wonderland featuring ice-skating, tubing and all sorts of other holiday performances and surprises aboard the Art Deco ocean liner.
Through Jan 16
ICE at Santa Monica; Santa Monica
Bundle up and glide around an ice rink just blocks from the beach as the Santa Monica rink celebrates its 10th season.
Through Jan 16
Holiday Ice Rink Pershing Square; Pershing Square
Skate around a warm-weather winter wonderland with the Downtown L.A. skyline as your backdrop at this seasonal ice rink.
Through Dec 23
Snow Los Angeles; Elysian Park
Explore nine acres of magical winter wonderland just minutes from Downtown.
See more Christmas events.
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