Maybe hunkering down over a hot stove for hours preparing a traditional Christmas dinner doesn’t quite get you into the festive spirit. For those who want to get out of the house for Christmas, there are plenty of places open around Los Angeles.
Watch a Christmas movie or NBA game
Cinemas including AMC and Regal will be open on Christmas Day, showing morning, afternoon and evening screenings of the season’s latest family-friendly releases, including “Mufasa: The Lion King,” “Moana 2,” “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” and “evil.”
The New Beverly Cinema will screen Robert Eggers’ new film “Nosferatu” and Quentin Tarantino’s “The Hateful Eight.” Although online advance tickets for both afternoon shows are sold out, you can get your tickets in person at the box office one hour before show time, according to the theater website.
If action is more your thing, Cosm, Inglewood’s new entertainment and sports venue, is now open and offering two NBA games: Timberwolves vs. Mavericks at 11:30 a.m., and a doubleheader against the Lakers at 11:30 a.m. race. As of Monday night, reserved seats for both games were sold out. Visitors will watch the action on an 87-foot-diameter wrap-around LED screen reminiscent of the Las Vegas Globe.
Shopping malls and grocery stores
While most businesses or malls will be closed, including Glendale Plaza, Westfield Century City and The Citadel, others will have some restaurants and common areas open where visitors can admire holiday decorations.
- The Grove is closed, but Italian restaurant La Piazza and the AMC Theater will be open, and the outdoor mall will offer simulated snowfall for visitors at 6 and 8 p.m., according to a spokesperson
- Brand Americana in Glendale may have individual stores open, but will also have simulated snowfall at 7 and 8 p.m.
- Most grocery stores and retail stores, like Target, will be closed on Christmas Day, but you should check with your local store before ruling out picking up some last-minute dinner ingredients.
Theme parks and other attractions
If you want to turn this vacation into a mini-vacation, Southern California’s local theme parks have you covered.
- Anaheim’s two Disney parks—Disneyland and California Adventure—are both open on Christmas Day. Single-day, single-park adult tickets start at $206 on Wednesdays. The Christmas Fantasy Parade is scheduled for 2:30 and 5:30 pm on Main Street.
- The Downtown Disney District, which does not charge admission, is also open.
- Universal Studios Hollywood opens Christmas Day. One-day general admission tickets start at $154 for adults on Wednesday.
- CityWalk, a commercial area adjacent to the theme park, does not charge admission and will also be open.
On November 21, 2013, Disneyland guests cruised through the “It’s a Small World” holidays to see different Christmas and holiday celebrations from around the world, celebrated with lights and decorations.
(Alan J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
If the theme park sounds too crowded, maybe schedule a time to visit the Balloon Museum, which is showcasing “Let’s Fly,” an interactive inflatable installation.
“This unique exhibition pushes the boundaries of art, blending creativity and freedom into unforgettable sensory adventures through innovative inflatable art,” the website’s description reads. Adult tickets start at $52.21.
The Santa Monica Pier and its Pacific Park rides will be open, but individual vendors on the pier may be closed.
LA Live, a downtown entertainment center adjacent to the Crypto.com Arena, offers holiday skating on Christmas Day at its outdoor rink. General admission (includes skate rental) is $25 per person.
Here’s another Christmas tradition for those who don’t celebrate the holiday
Not everyone is celebrating at home. If that sounds like you, join in on a non-Christmas tradition and treat yourself to Chinese food, but be prepared to wait: One restaurant manager calls December 25 the busiest day of the year.
