Cultural Holiday Events in Southern California – Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Las Posadas & More

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Holiday Events at Pretend City

Pretend City Children’s Museum

Celebrate the magic of the holidays all month long at Pretend City. Engage in fun holiday traditions from around the world.

December 1: Tree Lighting Ceremony
December 18: Las Posadas
December 20: Hanukkah Celebration
December 22: Christmas Celebration
December 27: Kwanzaa Celebration
December 31: Noon Years Eve

✳️ FREE!
Hanukkah Celebration
Nixon Presidential Library | Yorba Linda
Sunday, November 17, 2024
Enjoy a community menorah candle lighting and musical performances.

International Winter Holiday
Bowers Museum | Santa Ana
Sunday, December 1, 2024
Enjoy music, dance, and art from around the world including performances by The Klezer Juice Band, Mariachi Anacatlan, And Amati Strings. There will also be art making, face painting, and complimentary treats.

Irish Christmas in America
Garry Marshall Theatre | Burbank
Monday, December 2, 2024
This hugely popular show features riveting music, heartfelt song, dynamic dance, and great stories of Irish Christmas traditions. Enjoy lively music on fiddle, flute, pipes, harp, and thrilling Irish step dancing.

Merry-Achi Christmas
Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts | Cerritos
December 6-8, 2024
The beloved Merry-Achi Christmas returns to Cerritos, bringing a vibrant Mexican holiday celebration filled with festive music, dance, and joy. Enjoy the nation’s premier Sol de México de José Hernández, alongside America’s first all-female Mariachi, Reyna de Los Angeles, and Folklorico Revolución.

Nochebuena: A Christmas Spectacular
The Soraya | Northridge
December 7-8, 2024
This vibrant holiday show returns with vocalist Camila Fernández, granddaughter of legendary Vicente Fernández. Enjoy a Mariachi-infused holiday performance that celebrates Mexico’s many vibrant regions. This year, Mariachi Pueblo Viejo joins Ballet Folklórico de Los Ángeles to bring music, dance, and traditional costumes to life.

La Pastorela: A Mexican Christmastime Tradition
Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum | Rancho Dominguez
Saturday, December 7, 2024
See the La Pastorela Christmas play put on by the CSUDH Teatro Department. Kick off the Christmas festivities with oriejas and champurrado as you watch the play in the museum’s historic veranda.

Fiesta Navidad
Segerstrom Center for the Arts | Costa Mesa
Saturday, December 14, 2024
One of Orange County’s most beloved holiday events, Fiesta Navidad, features Grammy Award-winning Mariachi Los Camperos in a concert filled with festive music and dance. This celebration of Mexican holiday traditions is a joyous annual tradition.

✳️ FREE!
Holidays Around the World
Segerstrom Center for the Arts | Costa Mesa
Saturday, December 14, 2024
Enjoy a variety of live performances from local music acts and dance groups that celebrate holiday traditions from around the world. Kids can create their own seasonal crafts and experience sparkling snowfall on the plaza. Event is free with a Plaza Pass (free to sign up).

✳️ FREE!
CAAM Kwanzaa Kuumba Celebration
California African American Museum | Los Angeles
Saturday, December 14, 2024
Join CAAM for an early Kwanzaa celebration in honor of the sixth principal of Kwanzaa, Kuumba—or creativity. Enjoy yoga practice, interactive family storytime, and participate in a zine workshop.

Aloha Everywhere Concert Series: Kalani Pe’a Holiday Show
Downey Theatre | Downey
Saturday, December 14, 2024
Join the sensational 3x Grammy winner, Kalani Pe’a for a Hawaiian Christmas Show.

✳️ FREE!
The Kwanzaa Experience
Houghton Community Center | Long Beach
Saturday, December 14, 2024
Celebrate Kwanzaa and enjoy a day filled with crafts, musis, refreshments, resource fair, and family fun.

Las Posadas
Heritage Park | Santa Fe Springs
Saturday, December 14, 2024
Celebrate Las Posadas with music, dance, and holiday crafts. Participants are invited to join the procession at 6:30pm.

_{^{Photo: Halban Photography}}Hanukkah Festival
Skirball Cultural Center | Los Angeles
Sunday, December 15, 2024
Take a spin in the Dreidel lounge, grab a plate of latkes and jelly doughnuts, enjoy photo ops, a handcrafted torch-making activity, and join a storybook reading and dance lesson. At sundown, participate in a unique candle lighting ceremony.

✳️ FREE!
Las Posadas
Olvera Street | Los Angeles
December 16-24, 2024
Enjoy this nine-night celebration reenacting Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem. Each evening features a children’s piñata, followed by a candlelit procession with traditional songs and costumes. Complimentary sweet bread and champurrado given to all after the procession.

Navidad en Mexico
La Mirada Theatre | La Mirada
Saturday, December 21, 2024
This vibrant production celebrates Mexico’s festive Christmas traditions and folklore through music, song and dance. With a live mariachi band and costumes, this show invites you to embark on a journey through the many regions of Mexico to experience Navidad en Mexico!

✳️ FREE!
Annual Parol Lantern Festival
Expo Arts Center | Long Beach
Saturday, December 21, 2024
The annual Parol Lantern Festival is a holiday event celebrating Filipino community and culture. It showcases the tradition of creating and displaying the parol, a star-shaped lantern signifying hope and joy. This year’s theme is Light the Way. The festival also highlights Filipino culture, small businesses, and crafting workshops to create parol lanterns.

✳️ FREE!
Hanukkah
Third Street Promenade | Santa Monica
December 25 – January 1, 2025
Celebrate the Festival of Lights with nightly menorah lightings, hosted by a different group each evening. This special event brings unique programs that honor Hanukkah traditions, right in the heart of Santa Monica.

✳️ FREE!
Community Chanukah Celebration
2ND & PCH | Long Beach
Sunday, December 29, 2024
Join Alpert JCC, Shul by the Shore, and Temple Israel for a Chanukah celebration for the whole family featuring the giant menorah lighting, activities, and live music.

Kwanzaa Celebration
African American Cultural Center of Long Beach
Monday, December 30, 2024
Celebrate the seven principles of Kwanzaa (Nguzo Saba) and embrace unity, culture, and purpose. Enjoy cultural performances, candle-lighting ceremony, children’s corner, community fellowship, and Karamu feast.

Día de los Reyes
Olvera Street | Los Angeles
Details TBA.

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