Top Places to See Christmas lights in Los Angeles this year:
Check out these must-see neighborhoods and landmarks:
Enchanted: Forest of Light
Descanso Gardens’ light-up experience ditches the kitsch aesthetic typical at many venues in favor of a whimsical, wondrous, curiosity-driven display that’s among L.A.’s most stunning and, more importantly, most fun. The interactive, nighttime program sets up illuminated installations around the botanical garden grounds, from luminescent forests to free-standing hands-on art pieces.
Marina Del Rey Boat Parade
Feel as though you’ve escaped to a small-town fishing village during the Marina Del Rey Boat Parade—well, you know, minus the massive crowds. Bring a blanket and gather around Fisherman’s Village or Burton Chace Park to watch as 70 boats glide through the marina with holiday lights and decorations in competition. Categories include Best Theme, Best Animation, Best Band, Best Lights and more. The festivities on December 11 begin at 5:55pm with fireworks, and the boat parade starts at 6pm, rain or shine.
Venice Canals
Free of the boardwalk’s grunge and Abbot Kinney’s pretense, the Venice Canals are an idyllic slice of L.A. living made all the more charming by the Christmas lights that line its bridges each year. Leave your car a few blocks away to avoid the narrow, one-way Dell Avenue, and take a stroll through the shimmering neighborhood. The long-running and gleefully irreverent boat parade typical floats along the first or second Sunday of December.
Dell Ave (Venice)
Tanaka Farms is opening up its Irvine fields for this after-dark wagon ride and walk-through. Hikari—which means “light” or “shine” in Japanese—has set up a long trail of lanterns, plus some festive theming that’s overtaken the farm’s scarecrows, tractors and trees. You’ll be able to explore the lantern field by both tractor and foot, and afterwards you can peruse a petting zoo, games, crafts and photo ops. You’ll need to purchase a parking pass, as well as tickets for each person; the prices fluctuate depending on the time, so opt for 7:30pm or later for the lowest cost. Till December 30, 2022
Holiday Time at Disneyland
Even before the Halloween pumpkins disappear from Main Street, you’ll be able to spot signs of the holidays at Disneyland. The beloved theme park turns into the merriest place on earth for a full two months (Nov 11–Jan 8), with Christmas makeovers of popular rides and holiday-themed nighttime shows. As far as Christmas lights go, you’ll spot festive decor all over the parks, from the auto-themed Americana decorations in Cars Land to icicle lights draped atop Sleeping Beauty Castle. But the real standout, in our opinion, is the joyous facade of “It’s a Small World.” The annual Christmas makeover of the classic Disneyland ride is now open and runs through January 22, 2017.
The L.A. Zoo is staying open after dark most nights through January during this light-up holiday tradition. Many of the lighting displays are inspired by the zoo’s wild residents (elephants, giraffes, koalas and condors, among them), and that appears to be the case even more so than before with the event’s new “Animals Aglow” tagline. The zoo touts this year’s event as a “reimagined” display that seems to lean in to oversized animal-shaped lanterns.
Take your Christmas movie binge-watching up a notch and reserve a seat to the upcoming special screening of Home Alone at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. The Los Angeles Philharmonic is bringing the cult classic to life and performing John Williams’s score live to picture in an immersive experience, conducted by David Newman.
Source: TimeOut.com
My Favorite Four Mountains in Aspen, Colorado | Happy Holidays in Aspen
From celebrating the Nordic lifestyle at the annual Wintersköl with a variety of exciting festivities to exploring a downtown winter wonderland with concerts, carolers, and free ice skating during the 12 Days of Aspen, there’s always plenty to do in Roaring Fork Valley.
Fresh air gifts fresh perspective. Explore all four of our unique mountains, accessible on a single lift ticket and united by a deep sense of place.
