December Holidays for Kids 2027: A Fun LA Idea for Every Day
December in Los Angeles has its own kind of magic. Palm trees wear twinkle lights, Santa shows up in board shorts, and somehow the whole city smells like cinnamon and sunscreen at the same time.
It is also the busiest month of the year for most families. That is why we mapped out December holidays for 2027 with one simple, kid-friendly idea for every single day. You will find big celebrations like Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa, plus quirky national days, a meteor shower, the winter solstice, and favorite LA traditions.
Use this guide however it helps most. Some families do one idea a day like an Advent calendar. Others pick five or six favorites and call it a win. Either way, you get more cozy moments and fewer "I'm bored" complaints during winter break.
December Holidays 2027 at a Glance
Here are the big December holidays and dates for 2027, with weekdays included so you can plan around school and work.
Monday, Dec. 6: St. Nicholas Day
Tuesday, Dec. 7: Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
Monday, Dec. 13: December full moon (the Cold Moon) and St. Lucia Day
Thursday, Dec. 16, through Friday, Dec. 24: Las Posadas on Olvera Street (held every year on these nights)
Tuesday, Dec. 21: Winter solstice at 6:42 p.m. Pacific time
Friday, Dec. 24: Christmas Eve, and Hanukkah begins at sundown
Saturday, Dec. 25: Christmas Day
Sunday, Dec. 26: Kwanzaa begins (through Jan. 1)
Friday, Dec. 31: New Year's Eve
Winter break dates vary across LA, and most districts had not posted their full 2027-2028 calendars when we wrote this. Many schools break the week before Christmas and return after New Year's Day, but check your own school calendar before booking a trip or camp. Hanukkah 2027 runs from sundown Friday, Dec. 24, through nightfall Saturday, Jan. 1, 2028, so this year it overlaps with Christmas and Kwanzaa.
Week 1: December 1 to 7
December 1 (Wednesday): Eat a Red Apple Day
Dec. 1 is the start of meteorological winter, which in LA might mean wearing a light jacket for a whole afternoon. Kick off the month with Eat a Red Apple Day and a family apple taste test.
Line up a few varieties, like Fuji, Gala, and Red Delicious, and rate them for crunch, sweetness, and juiciness. Then use the leftovers for apple "donuts" topped with peanut butter and sprinkles.
December 2 (Thursday): National Fritters Day
Fritters are basically pancakes that went to a party. Make easy corn fritters or apple fritters for dinner, with kids measuring, stirring, and taste-testing (a grown-up handles the hot pan).
While you cook, start a December bucket list on the fridge. Let every family member add three things they want to do this month, then cross them off as you go.
December 3 (Friday): International Day of Persons with Disabilities + Sweater Vest Day
The United Nations marks the International Day of Persons with Disabilities each Dec. 3. It is a gentle opportunity to talk with kids about inclusion, kindness, and how everyone plays and learns in different ways.
Read a picture book with a main character who has a disability, then try a simple game of sign-language charades. It is also a day to celebrate sweater vests, so dig out the nerdiest one you own and wear it proudly to dinner.
December 4 (Saturday): Santa's List Day
Santa is reportedly checking his list today, so it is the perfect time to write letters to the North Pole. Set out paper, markers, and stickers, and encourage kids to include one thing they are thankful for along with their wish list.
Want to see Santa in person? Our guide to places to take photos with Santa in and near Los Angeles covers malls, farms, theme parks, and free options. Book ahead for weekends, because those time slots go fast.
December 5 (Sunday): International Volunteer Day
International Volunteer Day is a lovely way to teach kids that giving can be fun. Pick a family project: sort donations at a food bank, make cards for a senior center, or pack snack bags for people experiencing homelessness.
If your family needs a little help this season, too, you are not alone. Our guide to getting a free Christmas tree, toys, and holiday assistance lists LA resources.
December 6 (Monday): St. Nicholas Day + Mitten Tree Day
In many European traditions, kids leave their shoes out on the night of Dec. 5 and wake up on St. Nicholas Day to find small treats like chocolate coins, oranges, or a tiny toy. It is a sweet, low-key tradition that is easy to start at home.
It is also Mitten Tree Day, inspired by the picture book "The Mitten Tree." Collect new gloves, socks, or beanies and donate them to a local shelter. Kids can decorate a paper mitten for each item they give.
December 7 (Tuesday): Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day + Cotton Candy Day
Dec. 7 marks the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. For older kids, it is a chance to talk about history and honor those who served. The Pearl Harbor National Memorial has kid-friendly background.
For a lighter moment later in the day, it is also National Cotton Candy Day. Fun fact: cotton candy was co-invented by a dentist named William Morrison. Kids find that hilarious.
Week 2: December 8 to 14
December 8 (Wednesday): National Brownie Day
Brownies are the perfect first baking project because they are hard to mess up. Let kids crack eggs, stir the batter, and add mix-ins like sprinkles, mini marshmallows, or crushed candy canes.
Cut them into small squares and wrap a few for teachers, neighbors, or your mail carrier. Homemade gifts from little hands always mean the most.
December 9 (Thursday): Christmas Card Day
The first commercial Christmas card was printed in England in 1843. Make it a craft night and let kids design homemade holiday cards with stamps, glitter, and handprint reindeer.
Send a few to grandparents, cousins, and faraway friends. For more ideas, try our creative holiday crafts for kids, which work for every celebration.
December 10 (Friday): Human Rights Day + Holiday Lights Night
Human Rights Day marks the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the United Nations on Dec. 10, 1948. With kids, keep it simple: talk about fairness, kindness, and the idea that everyone deserves to be treated with respect.
Then hop in the car for a Friday-night holiday lights tour. Our list of magical places to see holiday lights in Los Angeles has neighborhood displays and ticketed light shows. L.A. Zoo Lights usually runs from late November into January, so check the L.A. Zoo Lights page for 2027 dates and tickets once they are announced.
December 11 (Saturday): International Mountain Day
International Mountain Day is a great excuse for a snow trip. Southern California's mountains are close enough for a day of sledding, snow tubing, and snowball fights, depending on conditions.
Check our list of the best spots for snow tubing, sledding, and snow play near Los Angeles before you go. Pack extra socks, gloves, and snacks, and check road conditions the morning you leave.
Parent tip: Snow days in local mountains can mean heavy traffic. Leave early, and carry snow chains if the forecast calls for them.
December 12 (Sunday): Poinsettia Day
Poinsettia Day honors Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first U.S. minister to Mexico, who brought the plant to the United States. In Mexico, the poinsettia is called flor de Nochebuena, or Christmas Eve flower.
Make paper poinsettias from red and green construction paper, or pick up a real one for the table. Keep live plants out of reach of curious pets and toddlers, since nibbling the leaves can cause an upset tummy.
December 13 (Monday): St. Lucia Day + the Cold Moon
In Sweden, St. Lucia Day is celebrated with candlelight, songs, and saffron buns. Traditionally, the oldest daughter wears a white gown and a crown of candles. A battery-operated version is definitely the way to go at home.
Tonight, look up for December's full moon, often called the Cold Moon. It is officially full that morning, so it will look big and bright all evening. Take a moonlight walk around the block and see who can spot it first.
December 14 (Tuesday): Monkey Day + Geminid Meteor Shower
Monkey Day started as a college art joke and turned into a silly global celebration. Watch a monkey documentary, make banana muffins, and hold a family monkey-noise contest. (Neighbors may have questions.)
The Geminid meteor shower, one of the best of the year, usually peaks around Dec. 13 and 14. Check the American Meteor Society for the 2027 forecast, then bundle up in the backyard with hot cocoa and blankets.
Week 3: December 15 to 21
December 15 (Wednesday): Bill of Rights Day + Lemon Cupcake Day
The Bill of Rights was ratified on Dec. 15, 1791. Ask kids to write their own family "bill of rights," with rules like the right to one bedtime story and the right to pancakes on Saturdays.
Celebrate the new constitution with lemon cupcakes. Southern California backyards are often overflowing with lemons this time of year, so you may have the main ingredient growing outside your door.
December 16 (Thursday): Las Posadas Begins
Las Posadas is a beautiful Mexican tradition that reenacts Mary and Joseph's search for shelter in Bethlehem. Each night features a candlelit procession, songs, and a celebration at the end, often with piñatas and treats.
Event: Las Posadas on Olvera Street
Where: El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument, 125 Paseo de la Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Dates: Every year, Dec. 16 through Dec. 24
Time: Festivities begin at 6 p.m. each evening
El Pueblo says Las Posadas has been part of Olvera Street since 1930, and everyone is welcome. Take Metro to Union Station, which is right across the street. It is also National Chocolate Covered Anything Day, so dip pretzels and strawberries in chocolate before you go.
December 17 (Friday): Wright Brothers Day
On Dec. 17, 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright made the first powered airplane flight at Kitty Hawk. It lasted 12 seconds, which is shorter than most toddler tantrums.
Hold a family paper airplane contest in the hallway. Test which designs fly farthest, longest, and loopiest. Then celebrate National Maple Syrup Day with a pancake dinner. Breakfast for dinner always feels like a holiday.
December 18 (Saturday): Bake Cookies Day
Clear the counters, it is cookie day. Sugar cookies, gingerbread people, and snickerdoodles are all kid-friendly classics. Set up a decorating station with frosting, sprinkles, and mini candies.
Pack up a plate for neighbors and leave a few for Santa next week. For a weekend outing, our list of dazzling Christmas and holiday events for LA families is packed with ideas.
December 19 (Sunday): Look for an Evergreen Day
Go on an evergreen hunt at a local park or botanical garden. Count pine trees, collect fallen pinecones, and compare needle shapes.
Back home, turn your pinecones into bird feeders with peanut butter and birdseed, or paint them for ornaments. Still need a tree? See our list of the best places to buy Christmas trees in Los Angeles.
December 20 (Monday): Go Caroling Day
Caroling feels old-fashioned in the best way. Print lyrics to a few favorites, practice once at home, and visit a few friendly neighbors. Even a single verse of "Jingle Bells" makes people smile.
Shy singers can carol over video chat to grandparents instead. Prefer to listen? A Nutcracker performance is a beautiful way to spend a December evening. Our list of Nutcracker ballet performances in and near Los Angeles covers big productions and budget-friendly shows.
December 21 (Tuesday): Winter Solstice + Flashlight Day
The winter solstice arrives at 6:42 p.m. Pacific time, according to Griffith Observatory. It is the shortest day and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, so the days start getting longer from here.
Celebrate the longest night with a flashlight scavenger hunt (it is National Flashlight Day, after all). Hide small treats around the house and turn off the lights. Fun fact for basketball fans: James Naismith's first game of basketball was played on Dec. 21, 1891.
Week 4: December 22 to 28
December 22 (Wednesday): Build a Gingerbread House
Winter break is in full swing for many families, so plan a big, messy, glorious project. A gingerbread house is the classic choice, but graham crackers and frosting work just as well and cost less.
Set a theme: beach house, haunted mansion, or a candy version of your own home. Take a photo before anyone eats the roof.
December 23 (Thursday): Roots Day
Roots Day is about family history. Interview a grandparent or relative over the phone, and ask them what holidays were like when they were kids.
Create a simple family tree with photos and drawings. Kids love seeing how their story connects to people they have only heard about.
December 24 (Friday): Christmas Eve + Hanukkah Begins
It is a big night. Christmas Eve and the first night of Hanukkah land on the same evening in 2027, with the first candle lit at sundown. Whether your family celebrates one, both, or neither, it is a lovely time to talk about traditions and light.
Track Santa's journey with NORAD Tracks Santa, leave cookies and carrots for the reindeer, and read "The Night Before Christmas." Hanukkah families can light the menorah, spin the dreidel, and enjoy latkes. Our guide to Hanukkah celebrations and menorah lightings for LA families has local events.
The L.A. County Holiday Celebration is traditionally held on Christmas Eve at the Music Center's Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, with dozens of local performers. It is free with a reservation, and it is also broadcast on PBS SoCal. Check the Music Center's site for 2027 details.
December 25 (Saturday): Christmas Day + Hanukkah
Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah. Open gifts, make a big breakfast, and save time for a family walk or a beach stroll. Southern California is one of the few places where Christmas at the beach is a real option.
Need to get out of the house? See our list of what is open on Christmas Day in LA. Tonight, light the second Hanukkah candle and settle in with one of our jolly Christmas movies for kids. It is also National Pumpkin Pie Day, so dessert is already decided.
December 26 (Sunday): Kwanzaa Begins + Boxing Day
Kwanzaa is celebrated from Dec. 26 through Jan. 1. Each day honors one of seven principles, called the Nguzo Saba, starting with Umoja, or unity. Families light the kinara, share stories, and often exchange handmade gifts.
Learn about the seven principles together at the official Kwanzaa website, and make a paper kinara with red, black, and green candles. In Britain and Canada, today is also Boxing Day, which makes it a good day to box up toys your kids have outgrown for donation.
December 27 (Monday): Make Cut Out Snowflakes Day
No snow? No problem. Fold white paper into triangles, cut little shapes, and unfold to reveal a one-of-a-kind snowflake. Tape them to the windows for an instant winter wonderland.
Older kids can try six-sided snowflakes, which look more like the real thing. Younger kids can use coffee filters, which are thinner and easier to cut.
December 28 (Tuesday): Card Playing Day
Card Playing Day is perfect for the lazy days between holidays. Teach kids a classic like Go Fish, Crazy Eights, War, or Spoons.
Card games are secret math practice, too. Matching, counting, and adding all sneak in while everyone is busy trying to win. Need more boredom busters? See our free and cheap things to do with kids in LA over winter break.
Week 5: December 29 to 31
December 29 (Wednesday): Thank-You Note Day at Home
Before the gifts get lost in the toy bin, set up a thank-you note station. Younger kids can draw a picture of the gift, while older kids write a few sentences.
Make it fun with stickers, stamps, and a mug of hot cocoa. Grandparents will treasure these far more than a quick text.
December 30 (Thursday): National Bicarbonate of Soda Day
Baking soda is the star of the most famous kitchen science experiment ever: the volcano. Build a volcano from play dough or a paper cup, add baking soda and a little dish soap, then pour in vinegar with red food coloring.
For more kitchen experiments, try our list of fun science experiments to do at home. Lay down a towel first. Trust us.
December 31 (Friday): New Year's Eve
Plenty of families ring in the new year at noon or 9 p.m. instead of midnight. Do a "noon year" countdown with a balloon drop, then make a time capsule with predictions for 2028.
For celebrations around town, see our roundup of family-friendly New Year's Eve events in Los Angeles or our ideas for celebrating New Year's Eve at home with kids. Then get ready for the Rose Parade, which traditionally kicks off at 8 a.m. on New Year's Day in Pasadena. Our Rose Parade family guide has viewing tips.
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Takeaway
December holidays bring a little bit of everything to Los Angeles, from candlelit Las Posadas processions and menorah lightings to Christmas morning at the beach and Kwanzaa celebrations. Mix in easy at-home ideas like cookie baking, paper snowflakes, and a solstice flashlight hunt, and the month feels festive without being frantic.
Bookmark this guide, pick the ideas your kids will love, and leave room for rest. We will update big LA event dates as organizers announce them for 2027, so check back as the season gets closer.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the main December holidays in 2027?
The main December holidays in 2027 are Hanukkah (starting at sundown Friday, Dec. 24), Christmas Eve (Friday, Dec. 24), Christmas Day (Saturday, Dec. 25), Kwanzaa (Dec. 26 through Jan. 1), and New Year's Eve (Friday, Dec. 31). The winter solstice is Tuesday, Dec. 21.
2. When is Hanukkah 2027?
Hanukkah 2027 begins at sundown on Friday, Dec. 24, and ends at nightfall on Saturday, Jan. 1, 2028. That means the first candle is lit on Christmas Eve this year.
3. When is the winter solstice in 2027?
The winter solstice is on Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2027, at 6:42 p.m. Pacific time, according to Griffith Observatory. It is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
4. What fun national days in December are good for kids?
Kid favorites include Santa's List Day (Dec. 4), National Cotton Candy Day (Dec. 7), National Brownie Day (Dec. 8), Monkey Day (Dec. 14), Wright Brothers Day (Dec. 17), Bake Cookies Day (Dec. 18), Make Cut Out Snowflakes Day (Dec. 27), and Card Playing Day (Dec. 28).
5. When is Las Posadas on Olvera Street?
Las Posadas on Olvera Street takes place every year from Dec. 16 through Dec. 24, with festivities starting at 6 p.m. each evening at El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument in downtown LA.
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