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Jurassic Quest, Oshogatsu Festival, and More Top Things To Do in Los Angeles This Weekend

Climb inside an allosaur head. Photo courtesy of Jurassic Quest
Climb inside an allosaur head. Photo courtesy of Jurassic Quest
12/11/24 - By Toby B

Looking for the best things to do in Los Angeles this weekend? Here are some of our favorite events and activities to add to your list this weekend

Welcome to 2025! The first weekend of the new year brings some prehistoric fun, sending kids on an epic Jurassic Quest to Pasadena. Monsters of a different kind roar into Anaheim as the Monster Jam monster trucks smash, crash, and soar through Angel Stadium. The Japanese American National Museum welcomes the Year of the Snake with its annual Oshogatsu Festival, featuring kid favorites such as rice-pounding and candy sculpture demos.

Plus, if you're not ready to let go of the Christmas season just yet, this weekend offers one last chance for seasonal merriment and twinkling lights at many of our favorite spots, including Universal Studios, the LA Zoo, and Descanso Gardens.

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Rose Parade float photo by David via Flickr 2.0
Rose Parade float photo by David via Flickr 2.0

Best Things To Do This Weekend in Los Angeles

Floatfest: A Rose Parade Showcase of Floats

Pasadena
Wednesday - Friday, January 1 - 3
Floatfest offers a unique opportunity to get up close to the majestic beauty of the Rose Parade floats after they have made their appearances on Colorado Boulevard. READ MORE

Disney on Ice: Magic in the Stars (Long Beach)

Long Beach
Thursday - Sunday, January 2 -5
The shining stars are on the ice in the latest Disney on Ice show. Magic in the Stars features 56 favorite Disney characters, including Mirabel, Woody and Buzz, Tiana, Moana and more! READ MORE

Jurassic Quest (Pasadena)

Pasadena
Friday - Sunday, January 3 -5
Jurassic Quest takes visitors on a walk through the Cretaceous, Jurassic and Triassic Periods, allowing them to experience what it was like to be among dinosaurs of all kinds. The experience has the nation’s biggest herd of photorealistic dinosaurs - over 100 true to life-size animatronic dinosaurs, ranging from the very small to the gigantic, each painstakingly replicated in every detail. READ MORE

Norwalk Las Posadas Celebration 2025

Norwalk - FREE
Saturday, January 4
Norwalk holds a traditional cultural celebration, featuring a candlelit procession at the City Hall lawn. This festive event features folklorico dance, traditional treats, food trucks, cultural activities for children, and live music. READ MORE

Public Star Party

Griffith Park - FREE
Saturday, January 4
The sky... it's full of stars! The lawn... it's full of telescopes!   ​The Observatory's free public star party offers a chance for the whole family to look at the sun, moon, planets, and other objects with the assistance of the Los Angeles Astronomical Society, the Los Angeles Sidewalk Astronomers, and the Planetary Society. READ MORE

Landscape Luminaries with LACMA

Willowbrook - FREE
Saturday, January 4
Capture the beauty of winter with a handcrafted, glowing lantern at this workshop hosted by LACMA, Kids and adults can design their own winter scene and turn it into a luminary to take home. All materials are provided. Seating is limited and advance registration is recommended.  READ MORE

Monster Jam (Anaheim)

Anaheim
Saturday & Sunday, January 4 & 5
Monster trucks smash, crash, and battle their way through Angel Stadium in the Stadium Championship Series.  READ MORE

Burbank Rose Parade Float Viewing

Burbank - FREE
Saturday & Sunday, January 4 & 5
Anyone who'd like one last peek at Burbank's entry in this year's Rose Parade can catch the community float in its final public viewing across from the Burbank Central Library, at the corner of Glenoaks and Olive. The prehistoric-themed float is titled "Having A-Lava Fun!" READ MORE

2025 Oshogatsu Family Festival

Little Tokyo - FREE
Sunday, January 5
2025 slithers in at the Japanese American National Museum: this year's Oshogatsu Family Festival celebrates Year of the Snake. The popular annual event features cultural performances, crafts, and activities for families and kids of all ages.  With free admission all day, the festival is the last chance to see all of the Museum's exhibitions before the Pavilion closes for renovation. READ MORE

Lunar New Year Festival at the Bowers Museum

Santa Ana - FREE
Sunday, January 5
2025 is the Year of the Snake. The Bowers welcomes the new year with traditional lion and dragon dances and exciting music performances Festivities include free art activities, face painting, and exhilarating dance and music performances, as well as a special student art exhibition by Anaheim High School District. The free festivals always include treats: this month it's Vietnamese eggrolls! READ MORE

Cirque du Soleil KOOZA Santa Monica

Santa Monica
Ends Sunday January 5
Cirque du Soleil returns to Santa Monica Pier! KOOZA combines acrobatic performance and the art of clowning, while exploring fear, identity, recognition and power.  Special offer: Kids tickets are $19.87 for a limited time only! READ MORE

Enchanted: Forest of Light

La Cañada Flintridge
Ends Sunday, January 5
Enchanted: Forest of Light is an interactive, nighttime experience, featuring a one-mile walk through unique lighting displays throughout Descanso Gardens.  READ MORE

LA Zoo Lights: Animals Aglow

Griffith Park
Ends Sunday, January 5
Zoo Lights once again lights up the night with a holiday light display at the LA Zoo. The event transforms select areas of the zoo into an immersive landscape filled with spectacular lantern sculptures of animals among blooming flowers, towering trees, and more. This year, Santa returns to join in the fun.  READ MORE

Holidays at Universal Studios Hollywood

Universal City
Ends Monday, January 6
The magic of Christmas comes alive at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Hogsmeade transforms with enchanting spirit, festive décor, and holiday-themed food (cheers to a toasty mug of hot butterbeer!).  At night, Hogwarts Castle is illuminated in a dazzling display of festive lights and music. Is your heart two sizes too small? Perhaps you need a big dose of holiday cheer, courtesy of the Who-tacular festivities with The Grinch, Max, and Who-ville with the return of Grinchmas. And Christmastime is Mario time, when you celebrate the holidays at Super Nintendo World. READ MORE

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