December Holidays for Kids 2026: A Fun LA Idea for Every Day
December in Los Angeles is a funny thing. The palm trees wear twinkle lights, the beach is still open, and somebody on your block has an inflatable snowman sunbathing on the lawn. We love it.
This is also the busiest month of the year for families, so we made it easy. Here is a fun idea for every single day of December 2026, mixing December holidays and quirky national days with simple activities at home and real LA outings worth putting on the calendar.
Pick the days that fit your family and skip the rest. December is supposed to feel merry, not like a 31-item to-do list.
December Holidays 2026 at a Glance
Here are the big December holidays and LA dates to know. We checked every 2026 date below against official sources.
Tuesday, Dec. 1: Giving Tuesday
Friday, Dec. 4: Hanukkah begins at sundown (through nightfall Saturday, Dec. 12)
Sunday, Dec. 6: St. Nicholas Day
Sunday, Dec. 13 to Monday, Dec. 14: Geminid meteor shower peak
Wednesday, Dec. 16: Las Posadas begin on Olvera Street (through Dec. 24), and the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade begins (through Dec. 20)
Monday, Dec. 21: Winter solstice, and LAUSD winter break begins
Thursday, Dec. 24: Christmas Eve
Friday, Dec. 25: Christmas
Saturday, Dec. 26: Kwanzaa begins (through Jan. 1)
Thursday, Dec. 31: New Year's Eve
LAUSD students are on winter break from Monday, Dec. 21, through Friday, Jan. 8, 2027, so the second half of this list doubles as a winter-break survival plan. See our LAUSD 2026-2027 calendar guide for every school holiday this year.
Week 1: December 1 to 7
December 1 (Tuesday): Giving Tuesday + Eat a Red Apple Day
Giving Tuesday kicks off the season of giving, and it is the perfect day to let kids choose a cause. Maybe it is an animal shelter, a food bank, or a toy drive. Set a small budget and let them decide where it goes.
It is also Eat a Red Apple Day and the first day of meteorological winter, so celebrate with sliced apples and peanut butter while you plan the month. Families who need a little help this season can find resources in our guide to getting a free Christmas tree, toys, and holiday assistance.
December 2 (Wednesday): Write Letters to Santa
Get those wish lists in early. Pull out markers, stickers, and glitter (or skip the glitter if you value your carpet), and let kids write or draw their letters to Santa.
Little ones can dictate while you write. Bigger kids can add a thank-you to Santa or a note about something kind they did this year. Tuck a copy into a keepsake box, because you will want to read these again in ten years.
December 3 (Thursday): Plan Your Santa Photo
Santa's calendar fills up fast in December, and so do the lines. Pick your Santa photo spot this week, book a time slot if one is offered, and pull out the matching outfits now so nobody is hunting for a red sweater on picture day.
Our list of places to take photos with Santa in and near Los Angeles has options from malls to theme parks to farmers markets.
December 4 (Friday): Hanukkah Begins at Sundown
Hanukkah 2026 begins at sundown on Friday, Dec. 4, and lasts eight nights, ending at nightfall on Saturday, Dec. 12. Light the first candle on the menorah, spin a dreidel, and fry up some latkes (or buy a big box of sufganiyot and call it a win).
Want to celebrate with the community? Check out our list of Hanukkah celebrations and menorah lightings for LA families. It is a great way for every family to learn about the Festival of Lights.
December 5 (Saturday): International Volunteer Day + Tree Shopping
International Volunteer Day is a sweet reminder that kids can help, too. Collect gently used coats and blankets, sort canned food for a local pantry, or make cards for a senior center.
Then make it a Christmas tree day. Whether you love a cut tree, a living tree, or a trip to the lot just to smell the pine, our guide to the best places to buy Christmas trees in Los Angeles has you covered.
December 6 (Sunday): St. Nicholas Day
In many European traditions, kids leave their shoes out on the night of Dec. 5 and wake up to small treats from St. Nicholas on Dec. 6. Think chocolate coins, clementines, or a tiny ornament.
It is a fun way to share family heritage, or simply add a little surprise to an ordinary Sunday. Bonus: it gets the shoes off the stairs, at least for one night.
December 7 (Monday): Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
Dec. 7, 2026, marks 85 years since the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. For school-age kids, it is a meaningful day to talk about history and the people who served.
Keep it age-appropriate. Read a kids' history book together, look at a map of Hawaii, or call a grandparent and ask what they remember learning about World War II. Then lighten the mood, because it is also National Cotton Candy Day.
Week 2: December 8 to 14
December 8 (Tuesday): National Brownie Day + Sensory-Friendly Zoo Lights
Bake a pan of brownies and let the kids decorate them like presents with icing ribbons and sprinkles. Fair warning: nobody will wait for them to cool.
Tonight is also Sensory-Inclusive Zoo Lights at the Los Angeles Zoo, designed for guests who prefer a calmer, quieter visit.
Event: L.A. Zoo Lights
Where: Los Angeles Zoo, 5333 Zoo Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90027
Dates: Nov. 20, 2026, through Jan. 10, 2027 (Sensory-Inclusive night: Dec. 8)
Time: 6 to 10 p.m.
Cost: Tickets start at $19
Parent tip: Zoo Lights is closed on select nights, including Dec. 1, 7, 14 to 16, 24, 25, and 31, so check the calendar before you buy tickets.
December 9 (Wednesday): Christmas Card Day
Skip the store-bought stack this year (or at least a few of them). Set up a card-making station with cardstock, stamps, washi tape, and old holiday cards to cut up.
Kids can make cards for grandparents, teachers, the bus driver, or a neighbor who lives alone. A handmade card from a 5-year-old is basically priceless.
December 10 (Thursday): Human Rights Day
Human Rights Day honors the idea that every person deserves fairness, safety, and respect. That is a big idea, but kids get it more than we think.
Ask simple questions at dinner: What does fair mean? What would you do if a friend was left out? Then make a family "kindness promise" poster and hang it on the fridge for the rest of the month.
December 11 (Friday): International Mountain Day
Mountains are the closest place to find real snow near LA, and December is when the snow-play season usually gets going. Plan a day trip for sledding, snow tubing, or just a very enthusiastic snowball fight.
Our list of the best spots for snow tubing, sledding, and snow play near Los Angeles will help you pick. Always check road conditions and chain requirements before you leave.
December 12 (Saturday): Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe + Poinsettia Day
Dec. 12 is the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a beloved celebration for many Mexican and Mexican American families in Los Angeles, often marked with music, roses, and church gatherings.
It is also Poinsettia Day. The poinsettia is native to Mexico, where it is called flor de Nochebuena. Pick one up for your table and talk with kids about where it comes from. Tonight is also the last night of Hanukkah.
December 13 (Sunday): Geminid Meteor Shower
The Geminids are one of the best meteor showers of the year, and 2026 is a good one. EarthSky says the shower peaks the night of Dec. 13 to 14, and the slim crescent moon will not get in the way.
Bundle up, grab blankets and hot cocoa, and head somewhere dark, away from city lights. Kids can usually spot meteors in the evening before bedtime. Lay back, look up, and let your eyes adjust for at least 20 minutes.
December 14 (Monday): Monkey Day
Monkey Day is a silly, fun excuse to read Curious George, play a game of "monkey see, monkey do," or make a banana snack.
Want to see the real thing? The Los Angeles Zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Dec. 25), and it is home to a whole crew of primates. Visit the L.A. Zoo website for tickets.
Week 3: December 15 to 21
December 15 (Tuesday): Bill of Rights Day
The Bill of Rights was ratified on Dec. 15, 1791. For older kids, read the first ten amendments together in kid-friendly language, then ask which right they think matters most.
For little ones, make a "family rules" list together, with a few silly ones mixed in. (Rule 7: Dessert counts as a food group in December.)
December 16 (Wednesday): Las Posadas Begin on Olvera Street
Las Posadas is a nine-night tradition that reenacts Mary and Joseph's search for shelter, with candlelit processions, songs, and piñatas. On Olvera Street, it is free, joyful, and one of the most meaningful holiday traditions in Los Angeles.
Event: Las Posadas on Olvera Street
Where: Olvera Street (the procession begins at the Avila Adobe)
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Dates: Dec. 16 to 24, nightly
Time: Children's piñata at 6:30 p.m.; procession at 7:15 p.m.
Cost: Free
Bring a jacket, because evenings get chilly, and grab a warm cup of champurrado nearby. Union Station is right across the street, so the Metro is an easy way to skip the parking hunt.
December 17 (Thursday): Wright Brothers Day + Boat Parade
On Dec. 17, 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright made the first powered airplane flight. Celebrate with a paper-airplane contest in the living room. Who can fly the farthest? The straightest? The loopiest?
Then head to the water for one of Southern California's favorite traditions, the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade.
Where: Newport Harbor, starting and ending at the tip of Lido Isle
Newport Beach, CA
Dates: Dec. 16 to 20, 2026
Time: Parade begins at 6:30 p.m. nightly
Cost: Free to watch; Marina Park is a free public viewing area
Read more about the tradition in our Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade guide.
December 18 (Friday): Bake Cookies Day + a Community Nutcracker
It is officially cookie day. Roll out sugar cookies, set up a decorating station, and accept that some reindeer will have three antlers. That is part of the charm.
Craving culture with your cookies? Pasadena Dance Theatre's Nutcracker Community Show is at 10 a.m. today at the San Gabriel Mission Playhouse, with $10 seats, and its full performances run Dec. 19 to 21. Our roundup of Nutcracker ballet performances in and near Los Angeles has every show, from big stages to budget-friendly community productions.
December 19 (Saturday): Look for an Evergreen Day
Go on an evergreen scavenger hunt. Pines, cedars, and holly are hiding in parks, gardens, and neighbors' yards all over LA. Bring a paper bag and collect fallen pinecones and sprigs.
Back home, turn your finds into a simple centerpiece or a pinecone bird feeder with peanut butter and birdseed. Hang it outside and see who comes to visit.
December 20 (Sunday): Go Caroling Day
Round up the cousins, neighbors, or a few brave friends and go caroling on your street. Print the lyrics ahead of time, because nobody actually knows the second verse of anything.
Not into singing in public? Have a family sing-along at home with hot cocoa and a candy cane in every mug. Your audience of one golden retriever will love it.
December 21 (Monday): Winter Solstice + Winter Break Begins
The winter solstice arrives at 12:30 p.m. Pacific time on Dec. 21, 2026, according to EarthSky. It is the shortest day and longest night of the year, so lean into it.
Have a cozy candlelit (or flashlight-lit) dinner, read stories about winter, and celebrate that the days start getting longer tomorrow. It is also the first day of LAUSD's winter break, so plan something easy and fun to kick it off.
Week 4: December 22 to 28
December 22 (Tuesday): Holiday Movie Marathon
The first full week of winter break calls for pajamas, popcorn, and a holiday movie marathon. Let each family member pick one movie, and build a blanket fort for the screening.
Need ideas? Our list of Christmas movies for kids and families has classics, cartoons, and new favorites.
December 23 (Wednesday): Full Moon + Night of the Radishes
December's full moon rises tonight, so take a short after-dinner walk to look at it together. Kids love noticing how bright the neighborhood looks under a full moon.
Dec. 23 is also the Night of the Radishes in Oaxaca, Mexico, where artists carve radishes into amazing scenes. Grab a bag of radishes and let older kids try carving (with supervision) or make little radish mice for the holiday table.
December 24 (Thursday): Christmas Eve
Track Santa's journey around the world with one of these free Santa tracker apps, leave out cookies and carrots, and read a favorite Christmas story before bed.
Looking to get out of the house first? The LA County Holiday Celebration has traditionally taken place on Christmas Eve afternoon at the Music Center's Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, free with a reservation. The 2026 details have not been posted yet, so check the Music Center's Holiday Celebration page. Tonight is also the final night of Las Posadas on Olvera Street.
December 25 (Friday): Christmas
Merry Christmas. After the wrapping paper settles, take a family walk, call faraway relatives, or play with the new toys together.
If you need to get out of the house, our list of family-friendly spots open in Los Angeles on Christmas Day has ideas. It is also National Pumpkin Pie Day, so you have our full permission to eat pie for breakfast.
December 26 (Saturday): Kwanzaa Begins + Boxing Day
Kwanzaa runs from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1 and celebrates African American culture and community, with a different principle for each day, starting with Umoja (unity). Light the first candle of the kinara and talk about what unity means for your family.
It is also Boxing Day, which makes it a great time to box up gently used toys and clothes to donate. Making room for the new is easier when kids help choose what to pass on.
December 27 (Sunday): Make Cut-Out Snowflakes Day
No snow in your yard? Make your own. Fold white paper into triangles, snip away, and unfold a one-of-a-kind snowflake every time.
Tape them to the windows for a winter wonderland, or hang them from the ceiling with string. Older kids can try coffee filters dyed with markers and water for colorful snowflakes.
December 28 (Monday): Card Playing Day
Pull out a deck of cards for a family game day. Go Fish, Crazy Eights, and War are perfect for little kids. Older kids can learn Gin Rummy or Spit.
Make it a tournament with a homemade trophy. The winner gets to pick dinner, and the loser does the dishes. (House rules may vary.)
Week 5: December 29 to 31
December 29 (Tuesday): Winter Break Adventure Day
By now, the kids have probably asked "what are we doing today?" about 400 times. Plan one bigger outing for midweek, when crowds are often lighter than weekends.
Find ideas in our list of free and cheap things to do with kids in LA over winter break, or go all out with the best places to see holiday lights in Los Angeles before the season ends. Always confirm current hours and prices before you go.
December 30 (Wednesday): National Bicarbonate of Soda Day
Baking soda day means one thing: volcanoes. Build a volcano out of playdough or a plastic bottle, add baking soda, a squirt of dish soap, and red food coloring, then pour in vinegar and stand back.
Do it outside or on a cookie sheet. Then talk about the science: an acid (vinegar) and a base (baking soda) react and make carbon dioxide gas, which creates all those fizzy bubbles.
December 31 (Thursday): New Year's Eve
Ring in 2027 your way. Many families love a "noon year" countdown so little kids can celebrate without staying up until midnight. Make confetti poppers, write down favorite memories from 2026, and share one goal for the new year.
Planning to go out? See our guide to family-friendly New Year's Eve events in Los Angeles, or stay cozy with fun ways to celebrate New Year's Eve at home with kids. And if your family is heading to Pasadena tomorrow, read our Rose Parade 2027 family guide tonight.
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Takeaway
December holidays give families so many reasons to celebrate, from Hanukkah candles and Las Posadas processions to Christmas morning and the first night of Kwanzaa. Mix quiet traditions at home with a few special LA outings, and the month feels magical without wearing everyone out.
Save this page, pick your favorites, and leave room for the unplanned moments, like a spontaneous dance party in the kitchen. Those are often the ones everyone remembers.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the main December holidays in 2026?
The biggest December holidays in 2026 are Hanukkah (sundown Dec. 4 to nightfall Dec. 12), Christmas Eve (Dec. 24), Christmas (Friday, Dec. 25), Kwanzaa (Dec. 26 to Jan. 1), and New Year's Eve (Thursday, Dec. 31). St. Nicholas Day (Dec. 6) and the winter solstice (Dec. 21) are fun to celebrate, too.
2. When does Hanukkah start in 2026?
Hanukkah 2026 begins at sundown on Friday, Dec. 4, and ends at nightfall on Saturday, Dec. 12. The first candle is lit on the evening of Dec. 4.
3. When is LAUSD winter break 2026?
LAUSD students are on winter break from Monday, Dec. 21, 2026, through Friday, Jan. 8, 2027. The second semester begins Monday, Jan. 11, 2027. Other districts may have different dates, so check your school's calendar.
4. When is the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade in 2026?
The 2026 Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade runs Dec. 16 to 20, starting at 6:30 p.m. each night from the tip of Lido Isle. Watching is free, and Marina Park is a free public viewing spot.
5. What are fun December national days for kids?
Kid favorites include National Cotton Candy Day (Dec. 7), National Brownie Day (Dec. 8), Christmas Card Day (Dec. 9), Monkey Day (Dec. 14), Bake Cookies Day (Dec. 18), Go Caroling Day (Dec. 20), and Make Cut-Out Snowflakes Day (Dec. 27).
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