After getting your fall fix of museum exhibitions, broaden your horizons by exploring this winter season’s countless festivities. What Los Angeles lacks in seasonal weather, it makes up for in fantastic events and shows that you can enjoy with those you love. Plus, you can save money to buy the perfect gifts for your family and friends as all these events are either free or affordable.  

Grand Park’s Winter Glow

https://www.timeout.com/los-angeles/things-to-do/grand-parks-winter-glow

Take advantage of the sun setting earlier by stopping by Grand Park to experience not only its usual festive decorations but nineteen interactive installations. Some of the projections and light-inspired works include “A Spark of Light,” which uses touch sensors to give viewers the opportunity to change the work’s colors, “The Net,” which is a neon tunnel, and “Infinity Mirror,” which features LEDs. These pieces will be on display until December 25th and are completely free to view from sunset until 10 pm.  

Holiday Ice Rink Pershing Square and Ice at Santa Monica

While it never snows in Los Angeles or even gets lower than 60 degrees in the winter for that matter, we can pretend it does with outdoor ice rinks in various parts of town. Whether you live closer to Downtown or Santa Monica, either area provides a home for a winter ice rink. Both of the ice rinks admissions are $15 and will be open until January 21st.

Smorgasburg LA

https://www.timeout.com/los-angeles/things-to-do/smorgasburg-la#tab_panel_2

To all the foodies out there, look no further. Come on by the Row DTLA on any Sunday from now until December 23rd to experience an amazing opportunity of eating and shopping. There’s something for everyone here, as the food options range from acai bowls to tamales to oysters.  

Haunted Tales of Downtown Los Angeles

https://www.timeout.com/los-angeles/things-to-do/haunted-tales-of-downtown-los-angeles#tab_panel_2

If you’d like to revert back to Halloween days again and Nightmare Before Christmas just isn’t cutting it, consider this $20 2-hour nighttime tour that starts in front of Pico House, near Union Station. The guide will take you on a journey through the city’s spookiest locations and recount mysterious stories. If interested in the haunted world or simply want a unique perspective of LA’s history, this event is for you. This walking tour extends for the most part year-round.

Enchanted: Forest of Light

https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Enchanted-Forest-of-Light-Pre-Sale-Begins-449061523.html

Stop by the Descanso Gardens in La Cañada to see their beautiful forest area transformed into a luminescent light show. Interact with the ten installations ranging from color changing columns and trees, illuminated paths, a magical floating disco ball, and spinning patterned pendants.  Enchanted is $28-$30 for general public entry, but this includes the opportunity to explore the rest of the location’s botanical gardens. It is on display until January 6th but the gardens are open year-round.

Striking Iron: The Art of African Blacksmiths

https://www.fowler.ucla.edu/exhibitions/striking-iron/

A short walk away from Marymount, visit the UCLA Fowler Museum for a traveling exhibition featuring over 225 works by African blacksmiths. Not only does the exhibit reveal the history of ancient African lives through displaying tools that allowed for hunting and farming, but also portrays the aesthetic beauty and sophistication in the transformation of iron.

Julian Rosefeldt: Manifesto

https://www.timeout.com/los-angeles/art/julian-rosefeldt-manifesto

Director Julian Rosefeldt teams up with Cate Blanchett to create a 13-panel video piece where she reads manifestos from artists and transforms into each character seamlessly. The seemingly separate pieces join together in abstract ways to leave the audience questioning the relationship of people and their places in society. This unique video event takes place at Hauser and Wirth in the Arts District. Free admission is available until January 6th.

Photo Ark

https://www.timeout.com/los-angeles/art/photo-ark

Photographs by Joel Sartore, a photographer National Geographic for over 20 years, will be presented at the Annenberg Space for Photography in Century City until January 13th. Featured are 100 photographs from his travels, printed in large-format with exquisite definition, of more than 8,000 species from 40 plus countries.  

Candy Cane Lane

https://www.laweekly.com/arts/8-best-holiday-light-displays-in-la-and-beyond-7654171

One cannot think of the holiday season in Los Angeles without thinking of the iconic Candy Cane Lane, which continues from the second Saturday in December until the end of the year. While you may be too old to sit on Santa’s lap, you’re never too old to enjoy some beautiful houses extraordinarily decorated with lights. Centered in Lubao and Oxnard Street in Woodland Hills, explore eight blocks of condensed holiday joy that have prevailed for over 60 years.

This winter season, enjoy holiday fun with your friends and family doing activities such as ice-skating and exploring interactive light exhibits. Or, if you’d prefer a break from the holiday mood, visit an art exhibition or even a haunted tour of the city. Fill up your schedule with stress-free outings before Finals and maximize your time with loved ones over break by visiting or partaking in one of these memorable events and exhibits.