Celebrate 2025’s arrival at these New Year’s Day events in L.A.

The first Rose Parade in 1890 was staged to show off California’s sun-kissed climate, and it’s still the best way to boast to your friends and family who are typically snowed in this time of year. The parade, and its floral floats, marching bands and equestrian outfits, steps off around 8am near the Norton Simon Museum; head to the eastern half of the route and you can easily find a spot with a decent view in the morning, no camping out required.

Interested in the floral floats but not a multi-hour parade? Watch the Pasadena tradition from home and then mosey on over to Sierra Madre and Washington Boulevards to view the floats post-parade. Though the thick crowds can rival the parade itself, this is the best opportunity to view the floats close up. The stunning float showcase is a unique opportunity to see the intricate floral handiwork in person, from just a few feet away.

Swimmers across the city will take to the not-so-icy waters to welcome the new year with the annual Polar Bear Plunge. Water and air temperatures on New Year’s Day typically hover around 60 degrees, which is Arctic enough if you ask us. You can spectate or dive in during at meet-ups in Huntington Beach (dubbed Surf City Splash) and San Pedro, whose plunge at Cabrillo Beach tends to be the most consistent one.

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 costs a few dollars extra.

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 through mid-January on the corner of Fifth Street and Arizona Avenue (less than a 10-minute walk from the E Line). Tickets for an hour-long slot ($22) include skate rentals, and you can book private parties and cabanas if you’re looking for something a bit more premium

The L.A. Zoo is staying open after dark most nights through January during this delightful new take on its light-up holiday tradition. The event’s “Animals Aglow” edition has gone all in on oversized animal-shaped lanterns, and the result is a colorful, charming trail that celebrates the zoo’s natural inhabitants.

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 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 on coffee from “Luke” actor Scott Patterson own brand. Holidays Made Here runs as part of all studio tours (the cheapest one is a three-hour tour) from December 18, 2024, to January 5, 2025—including on New Year’s Day.

The annual L.A. Kings ice skating rink 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: Tickets, which include skate rental, are only sold on-site, and can’t be purchased online.

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Right down the hill from Universal Studios Hollywood, at the Hilton hotel, you’ll find this ice skating rink with views of the Hollywood Hills. For the kids, there’s Santa’s Workshop and face painting. Grown-ups can opt for the “date & skate” package, which includes two tickets and two themed cocktails from Jingle Bell Tavern, a holiday pop-up bar. Theme nights include “Wicked Wednesdays,” when the rink is lit up in green and tracks from the musical provide the soundtrack.