Holiday Sights & Sounds in Downtown LA

Outdoor Ice Skating at Pershing Square

Get your glide on for the holidays at Downtown LA’s traditional outdoor ice skating rink – for cool fun at the lowest admission price. Plus, enjoy a medley of FREE community events – including the Annual Winter Holiday Festival (December 8), the Community Broomball Tournament, concert series, and more.

Elegant afternoon tea with a holiday twist

Step out of the chilly weather into the elegant Rendezvous Court, and warm up with an equally elegant traditional afternoon tea. Special winter offerings include signature Biltmore tea blends plus maple scones, Christmas shortbread cookies, chocolate peppermint flourless cake, lemon meringue tarts, gingerbread mousse tarts, and French macarons.

Holiday Lunch Buffet at the Omni

With a view of MOCA, savor the season at the Omni Hotel’s new lunch buffet of California-inspired cuisine inspired by seasonal, local ingredients and an array of choices.

Festive Holiday Medleys

Ring in the holidays with the LA Master Chorale at Walt Disney Concert Hall. These growing LA traditions are guaranteed to fill you with the holiday spirit!

Holiday Wonders: Festival of Carols  •  Saturdays, December 8 & 15, 2012  •  2pm
Rejoice! Bach Magnificent  •  Sunday, December 16  •  2pm
Messiah Sing-Along  •  Monday, December 17  •  7:30pm
Handel: Messiah  •  Saturday, December 22  •  7:30pm

Holiday Concert Series with the LA Philharmonic

There’s no better place to celebrate the holidays than in the warm, wonderful acoustics of Walt Disney Concert Hall. From gorgeous singing to joyful swinging, you’re sure to find something fun and exciting to share with your loved ones.

A Chanticleer Christmas  •  Wednesday, December 12  •  8pm
Holiday Organ Spectacular  •  Friday, December 14  •  8pm
Aaron Neville: A Christmas Celebration  •  Tuesday, December 18  •  8pm
Don Tiki’s Hot Lava Holiday Show  •  Thursday, December 20  •  8pm
A Swingin’ Christmas with Big Bad Voodoo Daddy  •  Friday, December 21  •  8pm
Holiday Sing-Along – All New Show!  •  Saturday, December 22  •  11:30pm & 2:30pm
New Year’s Eve Celebration with Idina Menzel  •  Monday, December 31  •  7pm & 10:30pm

Holiday Breakfast and Photos with Santa

Gather your family for fond family memories at this timeless tradition! Enjoy city views and holiday brunch favorites – from buttermilk pancakes and crepes to fluffy scrambled eggs and crispy Yukon Gold breakfast potatoes. There are even children’s activities and a visit from Santa! Adult admission includes a mimosa or glass of champagne.

A Los Angeles Holiday Performance Tradition

For 53 years, this 3-hour-long extravaganza has honored the spirit of LA’s many cultures and holiday traditions through music, song, and dance. Community and professional choirs, music ensembles, folk and traditional artists, and dance companies perform while the program is broadcast live throughout Southern and Central California on KCET. Attendance and parking are free. No reservations or tickets are necessary, but seating is first come, first served.

Outdoor Ice Skating at L.A. LIVE

Be sure to make time to join the skating, festivities, and food available at L.A. LIVE. We look forward to celebrating this winter season with you!

Christmas Tree Lighting on the Plaza

Help usher in this festive time of year with the official lighting of L.A. County’s Holiday tree. Join host, Fritz Coleman, KNBC weatherman; County Supervisor Michael Antonovich; Burbank’s Providence High School Choir; area schoolchildren; The Music Center’s President and CEO Stephen D. Rountree and chamber music brass ensemble, Brass Pacifica, for a joyous event on The Music Center Plaza.

A Holiday Classic in a Historic Theater

There’s no better way to see this classic holiday film than on the big screen in a beautiful movie palace built in 1926. This is a great event for architecture lovers, film fans, and families; make sure to allow time before or after the film to explore the theatre and the Historic District. Bob Salisbury plays holiday music on the Orpheum’s Mighty Wurlitzer organ, the last remaining theatre organ on Broadway.

Holiday Lunchtime Concerts at Cal Plaza

Catch the holiday spirit with Grand Performances when California Plaza's WaterStage transforms into a stunning SoCal WinterStage! Join us for free holiday noon performances from The Macaroons, It's A Wonderful-ish Life: Holiday Tales to UnCabaret and Orchestre Surreal plays the music from "The Nightmare Before Christmas."

A Classic Christmas Tree in a Historic Hotel

Rendezvous for the holidays at the Historic Millennium Biltmore Hotel! Nothing lights up the holiday season more majestically than the nearly 90-year tradition of the tree-lighting ceremony at the Biltmore’s magnificent lobby. Enjoy Christmas carolers as the enormous, sparkling, live fir tree is illuminated. A cherished hotel tradition, this annual FREE tree lighting brings the community together and is the perfect way to kick off the holiday season.

Hanukkah Menorah Lighting at Pershing Square

Join the Downtown Community for this beautiful menorah lighting with blessing and song, led by Downtown’s Rabbi Moshe. Enjoy Jewish folk singers, bottle dancers, and dreidel fun. This event is free and open to the public. Secured validated parking with skate receipt is available in the Pershing Square underground garage.

Active Arts’ First-Ever Ukulele Orchestra

Bring your festive cheer and play along to your favorite holiday songs – as one big happy ukulele orchestra under the starry sky. Come prepared to play and sing! Open to beginner and/or intermediate amateur musicians 18 years and older. All sizes of ukuleles are welcome – soprano/standard, concert, tenor or baritone. Kindly provide your own music stand. Note: This is not a recital.

Holiday Sing-Along Caroling at the Music Center

Celebrate the sounds of the season with a FREE, family-friendly evening of singing together among the twinkling lights of the plaza. Bundle up, bring your friends and family, and sing along with live musical accompaniment. Lyric sheets are provided.