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All about New Year’s this week, so let’s get straight to it!
As the clock strikes midnight and the calendar turns anew, you might find yourself at the Grand Park New Years Eve Celebration in DTLA, There & Back Again New Year’s at Big Bar, Dreamland New Year’s Eve Party at Common Space, Night Dive New Year’s Eve at the Aquarium of the Pacific, the New Years Eve Fireworks in Marina del Rey, or many other locales. Scope out a few select FREE (and Metro accessible to-dos) in our handy guide here, otherwise scroll down below to get all the options on deck this week, including for the days following New Year’s Eve.
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Things To Do This Week
M = Less than .5 miles from an L.A. Metro Station, FA = Free Admission, TP = Top Pick
3D-Cember at The Academy Museum -> As we wrap up the last week of December, The Academy Museum is showing off their state-of-the-art Dolby 3D projection systems with classic and contemporary films shot in or intended for projection in 3D. The series concludes on Monday with a screening of Cunningham and Step Up. Tickets start at $5. Get more info here.
Enchanted: Forest of Light -> Descanso Gardens’ annual light spectacle is back with a range of wondrous, illuminated installations spread throughout the grounds, from 3-D geometric sculptures in the Rose Garden to a glowing meadow grass installation among the oaks. The experience continues all week through January 5. Adult tickets cost $22-$45 for non-members. More info here.
L.A. Zoo Lights -> The Los Angeles Zoo’s brightest annual tradition transforms the zoo grounds into a world of light and holiday magic. The after-hours event offers brightly lit displays and a festive family-friendly experience. L.A. Zoo Lights continue all week through January 5. Adult tickets range from $29-$35, depending on the desired date to attend. More info here.
Grand Park New Years Eve Celebration – M FA TP > Take part in Los Angeles’ flagship NYE celebration with live music, family-friendly activities, and a spectacular countdown show featuring 3D light projections at City Hall. Free to attend as always! More info here.
There & Back Again New Year’s at Big Bar – FA TP> As is their tradition Los Feliz’s Big Bar will be hosting hourly countdowns for the New Year starting at 3 p.m., but this time around it’s being done with a Middle Earthian twist. The bar will feature their menu of fantasy cocktails all day long, and guests can expect “visits” to destinations like Rivendell, the Mines of Moria, Rohan and on and on. It all culminates with a midnight ring drop (instead of a ball drop) and a complimentary champagne toast. No ticket necessary, no cover to attend.
NYE at The LINE LA -> Ring in the New Year with a triple dose of fun at The LINE LA in Koreatown. Choose your vibe—or hit them all—with 1970s disco energy at Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, retro 1980s nostalgia (complete with vintage arcade games and a breakdance show) at Break Room 86, and futuristic beats at the Lobby Bar featuring live DJs and a midnight toast. Upgrade your night with a prix-fixe dinner at Openaire or snag a Multi-Venue Open Bar Ticket for access to all three parties. More info here.
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Dreamland New Year’s Eve Party – FA > Hawthorne’s Common Space Brewery welcomes 2025 with a pajama party feature special visuals, food options, and DJ-spun tunes. No cover to attend. 21+ only. Runs 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. More info here.
D-Nice & Friends at Walt Disney Concert Hall -> Ring in the new year with DJ D-Nice at Walt Disney Concert Hall, joined by a star-studded lineup including Jon B., Johnny Gill, Tweet, Next, Estelle, Kenny Burns, and more. Hosted by Tisha Campbell, this unforgettable night promises incredible vibes and live performances to close out the year. More info here.
Night Dive New Year’s Eve – M > The Aquarium of the Pacific rings in the New Year with a special edition of their adults-only, Night Dive program. The evening includes live music, magic, and a confetti countdown to 2025. Tickets run $89.95 person. More info here.
Noon Year’s Eve at Discovery Cube Los Angeles – TP > Celebrate the new year early with the whole family at Discovery Cube Los Angeles! The event features music, dancing, engaging science exhibits, and a spectacular balloon drop, complete with apple cider toasts at noon and 3 p.m. Tickets are $26 per person. More info here.
NYE at Broken Shaker – M FA > Ring in the New Year in DTLA at Broken Shaker’s rooftop bar with a free, all-night house music celebration! The DJ lineup includes Akumen, Andy Oro, and No Pressure, who will keep the beats flowing into 2025. More info here.
Trademark Brewing NYE – M FA > Want to celebrate the turning of the new year a bit early? Long Beach’s Trademark Brewing is hosting an afternoon-to-evening celebration, punctuated by countdowns for the London ball drop (4 p.m. our time) and the New York City ball drop (9 p.m.) The tap room opens at noon, and it’s free to attend. More info here.
Long Beach New Year’s Fireworks – M FA > The City of Long Beach rings in 2024 with a midnight fireworks show on the waterfront launched from the Queen Mary. Viewers can stake out a spot at Shoreline Village or Shoreline Aquatic Park near Lions Lighthouse. More info here.
Hot Funk Disco NYE Party at Gin Rummy –FA> Gin Rummy, the tiki bar in Marina del Rey, is turning up the heat this New Year’s Eve with a party to dance your way into 2025. The fun starts at 7:30 p.m., featuring live music by Jules Duke at 8 p.m., followed by high-energy DJ sets from Barrett, DJ Entre, and Jayvon. Big Noise Beer and Meili Vodka will be on hand to keep the drinks flowing. Admission is free. More info here.
New Years Eve Fireworks & GLOW Party at Marina del Rey – FA > Celebrate the New Year with fireworks in Marina del Rey. Enjoy a ten-minute fireworks show, at 8:59 p.m. and 11:59 p.m. The shows will be shot from the Marina’s south jetty and can be viewed from virtually anywhere in Marina del Rey. The free family-friendly Glow Party takes place at Burton Chace Park, 7 p.m. to midnight. More info here.
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Angel City Brewery No Cover New Year’s –M FA> Angel City Brewery is hosting an all-day, Y2k-themed, NYE Party featuring throwback tunes from the 2000s, bites for purchase, and plenty of beers on offer. Era-appropriate attire is heartily encouraged. Free to attend, but 21+ only. The party runs from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. More info here.
A Truly Sparkling New Years Eve – M FA> Just a stone’s throw from Angel City Brewery, Truly LA’s seltzer tap room will be decked out in holiday decor and adorned in disco balls for a danceable party that runs from 4 p.m. to 2 p.m. Entry is free, but admittance will be first-come, first-served. More info here.
The Rose Parade – M FA > On Wednesday the 136th Rose Parade returns to Pasadena for 2025 with its iconic assemblage of decorative displays, floral arrangements, eye-catching floats, marching bands and horse-drawn carriages, all traversing a 5 and a half mile route along (mostly) Colorado Blvd. More info here.
Floatfest: A Rose Parade Showcase -> Following the 136th Rose Parade, visitors will have a chance to view the detail and design of float entrants up close Wednesday to Friday at Floatfest, a ticketed ($25) showcase taking place at select times in the afternoon. More info here.
California State Parks Host First Day Hikes –FA TP > Start 2025 on the right foot with a First Day Hike at Malibu Creek State Park. Taking place on Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., join guided adventures like a 4-mile movie and film history hike, a 5-mile habitats hike, or a bilingual Junior Ranger nature walk (in Spanish and English). More info here.
Bob Baker’s Nutcracker -> Continuing this Thursday to Sunday, the Bob Baker Marionette Theatre recreates their 1969 performance of the beloved holiday ballet The Nutcracker at the Sierra Madre Playhouse. The show features large-scale marionettes and intricate sets, with performances running on select dates from through January 5, 2025. Tickets are $25. More info here.
Chinatown First Fridays – M FA > L.A.’s Chinatown stays open late on Friday for an evening of exploring the unique small businesses and contemporary art and culture spaces that make up the historic neighborhood. West Plaza and Chungking Road will activate with local pop-up vendors, DJ-spun music, and area galleries with extended hours. More info here.
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Free First Fridays at MOCA Geffen – M FA TP > This Friday evening, MOCA Geffen in Little Tokyo is offering a free chance to check out the work of Icelandic–Danish artist Olafur Eliasson, whose solo exhibition is currently on view at the museum as part of the PST ART: Art & Science Collide initiative. The exhibition includes a series of site-specific installations showcasing a “dazzling array of sensory experiences that harness the laws of geometric optics to address feelings and concepts of embodiment, perception, and participation.” The event also includes a walkthrough of Eliasson’s work led by writer, theorist and Studio Olafur Eliasson fellow Neema Githe. Limited free reservations are available in timed slots between 6 to 8 p.m. More info here.
Dining & Drinking
(picks by Christina Champlin)
New Years Day Brunch at Encanto -> Ring in 2025 with a Baja-inspired brunch at Encanto in Los Feliz. Sip $5 Skyduster draft beers, savor $10 Micheladas and Margaritas, and build your perfect Bloody Mary from their roaming cart. A DJ spins ’90s and R&B hits starting at 11:30 a.m. Dig into the $45 prix-fixe menu, which features a sampler platter (jalapeño cornbread, seasonal fruit, and smoked trout) and a choice of entrées like churro French toast or a Lox “torta.” Reserve your table on Open Table. More info here.
New Year’s Eve at Lunetta -> Ring in 2025 with an elegant four-course dinner at Lunetta in Santa Monica. The prix fixe menu kicks off with an amuse-bouche of Kaluga Caviar on homemade potato chips with champagne onion dip. Next, choose a starter like the Little Gem Baby Wedge or Red Crab Gnocchi, followed by entrées such as Wood-Grilled Loup de Mer, Foraged Mushroom Pappardelle, or Wood-Roasted N.Y. Steak. Finish on a sweet note with your pick of Chocolate Ganache Tart with spiced poached pear or White Chocolate Pot de Crème with pink champagne gelée. Dinner is $125 per person. For a more relaxed celebration, head next door to Lunetta’s all-day concept, where Cocktails & Canapés are served à la carte. Seasonal sips like the Winter Citrus Spritz and Bourbon Maple Smash pair perfectly with bites like smoked salmon crostini, truffle deviled eggs, and crispy pork belly skewers. Reservations for both are highly encouraged. More info here.
New Year’s Eve & Pajama Disco Brunch at The Front Yard -> The Front Yard at The Garland in North Hollywood hosts a New Year’s Eve soirée to usher in 2025. Feast on a special à la carte menu of signature dishes and dance the night away with a live DJ spinning until 12:30 a.m. On January 1, The Front Yard keeps the good vibes going at their annual Pajama Disco Brunch (11 a.m.–1 p.m.). Come in your coziest PJs and enjoy a complimentary mimosa or Bloody Mary with your meal. More info here.
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