Is it really December?! I haven’t done a thing! EEEGAADS! Not to worry, Ladies, I’m here with a handy and helpful guide of magical LA Holiday Lights and Events that you can refer to throughout the holiday season.  And wow is there a ton to enjoy. I’ve got a terrific choice for you in holidays card that will give back to the LA foster kids community. LA Stylist Felicia Arlin has you covered for the chilly air and the Holidays. And as usual, Lady Penelope, does not shy away from saying it like it is, Tomatoes.

CASA Holiday Cards

You can celebrate the Holidays and help foster children have a better chance in life, all across LA, by making a donation to CASA LA. In return you’ll receive physical CASA Holiday Cards that you can send out or you’ll receive digital e-Cards that you can send directly to the inbox of friends and family. What a gift for CASA and your peeps.

CASA’s mission is to mobilize community volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children in Los Angeles. CASA/LA’s vision is a Los Angeles in which all children and families impacted by the child welfare and juvenile justice systems have equitable access to the resources and support they need to thrive.

LA Style Stories

Our amazing Fashion Stylist, Felicia Arlin, has great advice in “It’s a Wrap” for bundling up in the cool weather with style. “Holiday Casual” reminds Tomatoes that less in more and not all holiday looks are created equal. Remember, I only highlight a snippet of Felicia’s amazing and inspirational cur8edme posts so be sure to follow her on Instagram, Ladies. Get the details.

Sonnets from Suburbia

Lady Penelope means business when it comes to voting and she doth scorns the apathetic citizen in her sonnet “Forgot to Vote??”. Me thinks Tomatoes might thoroughly enjoy following Lady P’s “Sonnets from Suburbia” on social media. Forgot to Vote??

Holiday Events

All across the LA area there is indeed a ton of exciting and fun events to stir your Holiday spirit and I’ve compiled a list that I hope covers a good variety of the best of the best events to keep you busy, Tomatoes. And a heads up…there are a few this weekend you might not want to miss.

Dec. 2 & 3: Latino Theatre Company’s epic holiday pageant “La Virgen de Guadalupe, Dios Inantzin,” Featuring over 100 actors, singers and indigenous Aztec dancers as well as children and seniors from the community, takes place at L.A.’s beautiful Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in DTLA.

December 3 & 4: Craft Contemporary Holiday Marketplace. Guests of the event will enjoy music and complimentary refreshments while they shop and mingle among vibrantly crafted and designed goods by the museums’ curated vendors.

December 4: Vromen’s Bookstore in Pasadena presents “Holiday Music on the Paseo” featuring Youth Handbells, the Dulcet Singers and the Rosound Ringers.

Dec. 3 – December 23:  A Noise Within’s delightful theatre production of “A Christmas Carol” is a uniquely faithful adaptation of Dickens’ novel featuring innovative staging, whimsical costumes and original music.

The LA Conservancy celebrates the festive sights and sounds of the season with 2 special tours: “Holidays at Union Station In Person Tour” on December 6, 13 & 20 and the “Vintage LA Christmas Live Virtual Tour” on December 14 & 21 . The LA Conservancy has something for everyone this holiday season.

December 10: The “Botanicum’s Holiday Family Faire” not only celebrates Hannukah but Christmas and Kwanza as well. The beautiful grounds of the Theatricum Botanicum transform into an outdoor winter wonderland with an artisan holiday marketplace, photos with Santa, festive food & drinks, caroling & singing madrigals.

December 11: The Gamble House is all decked out for “Gamble House Holiday Tours”. Enjoy festive decorations, live seasonal music and shopping at the Gamble House Bookstore where staff will help you check gifts off your shopping list.

December 18: Celebrate Hanukkah and make special memories at the Skirball’s “Hanukkah Festival”.  You will be magically filled with music, storytelling, puppetry, art making, candle lighting, and more.

Through December 24: “Merry + Bright” at the South Coast Botanic Garden is just that…merry and bright.  Its winter wonderland nature sculptures will be sprinkled throughout the Garden with a variety of offerings that include holiday shopping, workshops, Santa photos and an Elf in the Garden.

December 17- 24: “Holiday Fun” at The Original Farmer’s Market welcomes you to celebrate the holidays and enjoy their fab Yuletide décor with Dickensian carolers, live music and more.

Dec 3-23: “Aquarium Holidays” at the Aquarium of the Pacific features holiday décor, snowfall in the Great Hall, shopping, and appearances by Santa Diver.

Through January 6: “Santa Monica’s Holiday Celebration” transforms the 3rd Street Promenade into a holiday immersive experience for the whole family. Tens of thousands of colorful lights, decor and garland will deck the Third Street Promenade illuminating convenient shopping, activities and outdoor dining experiences.

“Deck the Halls Holiday Concerts” at Walt Disney Concert Hall has sleigh bells ringing and that’s not all. Sing-alongs, choirs, jazzed-up holiday faves favorites and dressed-down holiday films and a rocking New Year’s Eve Party.

Through December: “Yuletide Cinemaland” at Heritage Square Museum is screening Holiday movies along with Victorian Home Tours, Sing-Alongs, Holiday treats and drinks, shopping and more.  A unique and entertaining way to celebrate the season.

Through January 8: “An American Christmas Story Ronald Reagan Library” is an out of the ordinary exhibit that features Christmas trees decorated in various themes derived from each U.S. state and territory, as well as Hanukkah menorahs given to President Reagan. Simply spectacular!

December 24: “LA County Holiday Celebration” at the Music Center is LA’s largest multicultural holiday celebration while being LA’s longest running Holiday Tradition. It’s back with live performances for the public to attend as well as streaming virtually for those who prefer the comfort of their home.

Holiday Lights, Lights and More Lights

From the valley, to DTLA, to Midtown and on to the coastal communities, Los Angeles glows particularly bright this time of year because of the plethora of magically inspired twinkling light displays.  The super creative use of lights to celebrate the season is always masterful, Tomatoes.

Boat Parades

• December 3: Venice Christmas Boat Parade
• December 10: “Marina Del Rey Holiday Boat Parade” 
• Dec 10 & 11: “60th Huntington Holiday Boat Parade”
• December 10: “76th Naples Island Long Beach Holiday Parade/Sleighs on the Bay” 

Lights

• Dec 10 – January: Christmas Tree Lane Lighting Ceremony and Winter Festival in Alta Dena. For 100 years along Santa Rosa Street, the Christmas Tree Lane lights have ignited the holiday spirit. After a 2-year hiatus the Tree Lighting Ceremony and the Winter Festival are back for all to enjoy a return of this SoCal tradition.
• Candy Cane Lane in Woodland Hills is a wonderful holiday tradition since 1952. The neighbors do an incredible job with their holiday displays.
• Through December 30: Holiday Road at King Gillette Ranch transforms into a winter wonderland complete with everything from the North Pole, Elf Village, Gingerbread Lane, light tunnels, and Christmas tree forests.
• Through Jan 8:  “Lightscape” transforms the Arboretum into a night of wonder and light for an unforgettable holiday experience.
• Through Jan 8:  “Enchanted” at Descanso Gardens is de-light-ful with wonder.  Prepare to be enchanted.
• Through Jan 1: “Sparkle DTLA at the BLOC gives you a magical holiday show nightly with 18 million hues of lights in the night synchronized to festive tunes.
• Through January 22: “LA Zoo Lights Animals Aglow”at …you guessed it…the LA Zoo and Botanical Gardens is a dazzling, enchanting, eye-popping wild wonderland of light under the stars.