Welcome winter this December, as the South Bay shows off its holiday spirit! Nearly every corner in town is certain to be lit up with festive cheer! So, don’t hesitate to step out in that (kinda ugly) holiday sweater or that awesome light-up Santa hat— you’ll surely be welcomed here, and some people might even be a little jealous of your seasonal swag… Expect a month full of songs, ginormous trees, dazzling parades, and lots of glee (minus the occasional local grinch, of course). This month is anything but disappointing, and we CANNOT wait to dive into it!
1.Spirit of the Holidays Parade
Get in line and witness magic in real time! The South Bay is marching away this December with two beautiful holiday parades. You’re in for a treat because both San Pedro and Rolling Hills Estates are coming through with lights, cameras, and mega action! Each procession has something super special to offer and they’re a week apart so you can experience both (it’s quite a way to get to know the South Bay!).
Firstly, San Pedro’s 44th Annual San Pedro Chamber Spirit of the Holidays Parade, will be taking place on December 1st in its downtown district! From 1-3 p.m., you’ll get a chance to see Santa, soak in the design feats of holiday floats, support local businesses, and most importantly… create memories that will last a lifetime. Each year the parade only gets bigger, and that means MAXIMUM magic levels. Don’t miss out!
Rolling Hills Estates will host their Peninsula Parade of Lights on December 7th, and it promises to be a special affair! From 6 to 7:30 p.m., the parade will take over a major stretch from Silver Spur Road to Norris Center Drive. This event is truly a special display of the South Bay, showcasing the distinctive charm of the PV Peninsula. In addition to classic parade floats and Santa showcases, there will be awards AND equestrian units! So, make sure the whole family is ready for some horse-powered holiday fun, because these majestic animals will certainly be the stars of the show!
2.Old Torrance Holiday Stroll
Walk your way through the holidays this December with four amazing festive stroll events in the South Bay! There’s no better way to embrace the season’s magic than by connecting with your local community. Make new friends, reminisce with old ones, explore local businesses, enjoy delicious food, capture festive photo ops, meet Santa, sing carols, gaze up at a towering Christmas tree, and dress up—it’s an endless list of holiday fun. Just be sure to bring your holiday cheer! With four chances to join in, you won’t want to miss out on the festive spirit!
Old Torrance’s Holiday Stroll will be taking over downtown on December 4th from 4-8pm and there will be SNOW! Yes, real snow. It’s the time of the season for love and cheer, so bring your best sweater and join in on the fun!
Both Redondo and North Manhattan Beach will be hosting their walkabouts on December 5th from 5–9 p.m. Redondo’s event will take place at Riviera Village, where the streets will be closed for safe (and optimal) enjoyment.
North Manhattan’s event will take over the streets on Highland Ave, between 32nd Street and Rosecrans Ave. Dress to impress—it’s nothing short of the season’s best!
Hermosa’s California Great Santa Stroll brings a whole new vibe to the strand. On December 14th, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hermosa Pier, you’ll have a special chance to take part in a worldwide competition for the most Santas gathered in one place, all through a fun 5k run/walk. This event is for everyone (even furry friends)! This is your big chance to make holiday history, don’t miss out!
3.Joy Around the World: Festival of Holidays and Tree Lighting
The holidays are all about spreading cheer, and what better way to kick things off than with a classic tree lighting?! November brought a few of these festive celebrations, and now December has two more magical nights in store! The cities of El Segundo and Lomita are ready to light up the season with their very own tree lighting events, guaranteed to drum up that holiday spirit within you (if it’s not already up and running). These celebrations are packed with family-friendly fun, including Santa meet-and-greets, live performances, tasty treats, crafts, and even gift giveaways.
These events are back-to-back, so why not double the holiday cheer and have twice the fun? ‘Tis the season, after all!
Mark your calendars: El Segundo’s Joy Around the World Tree Lighting (insert hyperlink) is on December 5th from 3–7 p.m. at City Hall Plaza, and Lomita’s Tree Lighting (insert hyperlink) is set for December 6th at 5:30 p.m.
Don’t miss these events—they’re sure to lighten up any day!
4.Winter Fest
Do you ever go to sleep in Southern California and dream of snow? Do you often face the reality that a white Christmas in the South Bay is relatively impossible? Well, if either of these are true, you are in for a very sweet treat… The city of Carson will be holding their annual Winter Fest on December 6th from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Veteran’s Park! There will be bouncy houses, a snow run, a toddler-friendly snow area, trackless train, food vendors, a visit from Santa, and the list goes on! Make sure to come experience some of the best snow the South Bay has to offer, we’ll see you there!
5.Sand Piper’s Holiday Homes Tour
Why marvel at a beautifully decorated holiday home from the outside when you can step inside and experience it up close? That’s where the Sandpipers come in! They’re hosting their 32nd Annual Holiday Homes Tour from December 6th–8th, showcasing a variety of stunning South Bay residences. For just $40, you’ll get exclusive access to tour three homes, each decked out for the season. PLUS, you can shop at the special holiday market and cafe, featuring exquisite jewelry, hand-selected wines and spirits, artisan goods, home decor, and clothing. Spice up your December with this unique experience, and enjoy something new this holiday season!
6.Sand Snowman Contest
In the wise words of the movie Frozen, do you want to build a snowman? To be honest, you probably do– or you have, at some point– simply the truth! Luckily for you, Hermosa Beach offers a wonderful alternative to snow, thanks to the resource that runs aplenty here, sand. The city will host a Sand Snowman Contest on December 7th, at 15th street beach and the shoreline. Registration will begin at 9 a.m. and judging will commence at 11:15 a.m.. So make sure to study up on Frosty in the coming weeks, because the big day is fast approaching! See ya down there, and maybe make some snow angels while you’re at it!
7.Manhattan Beach Holiday Fireworks
A truly iconic event is back for another year! Get your cheer in check because one of the best South Bay events is fast approaching. On December 8th, the skies will be lit up with magic during the Manhattan Beach Holiday Fireworks! Despite the name, this event is an all-day affair. There’s a packed schedule of holiday fun from 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Manhattan Beach pier, including a snow park, Santa float, holiday carolers, live bands, and lest we forget– fireworks! The big show itself starts at 7, but make sure you arrive early to secure a good spot!
8.Ugly Christmas Sweater PAWty
Get ready to grab your furry friends and their best holiday attire because one of the cutest holiday events in the South Bay is coming this December! Smog City Brewery in Torrance is hosting an Ugly Christmas Sweater PAWty on December 8th from 1 to 5 p.m.! While this event is all about our canine companions, there’s plenty for humans to enjoy, too. Expect an ugly sweater contest (duh), a food truck, vendors, a photobooth, and a raffle. It’s a perfect gathering for animal lovers—after all, who can resist a dog all dressed up for the holidays? Clear your schedule because this is one paw-some event you won’t want to miss!
9.Holiday Movie Night Screening “The Nightmare Before Christmas”
Spice up your holiday celebrations with a festive movie at a historic theater! The Hermosa Beach Community Center will be screening The Nightmare Before Christmas on December 13th from 5–8 p.m. as part of their Holiday Movie Night tradition. While Tim Burton’s iconic claymation on the big screen is draw enough, the event will also include holiday activities, craft stations, photos with Santa, and food & beverage concessions. It’s truly a unique way to experience Christmas cheer and spread wondrous creativity this month. Be sure to buy tickets in advance, as seats are limited! Additionally, the Community Center asks that attendees bring one unwrapped gift for a holiday toy drive to spread the cheer even further. See you on the big day!
10.Holiday Concert on The Pier
Music is arguably one of the most important parts of the holiday season. What would December be without the background music in shopping malls or carolers on the corner? It would certainly be less magical, that’s for sure! Redondo Beach knows this well, which is why the city is hosting a Holiday Concert on the Pier on December 14th from 2–4 p.m.! Expect plenty of jolly jingle bells, splendid sleigh-ride tunes, and a whole lot of ho-ho-hos—this is serious holiday fun, after all! Along with the lovely live music, there will be activity books, holiday photos, and sponsor giveaways. Spread the word and spread some cheer, because there’s no place like home (the South Bay) for the holidays.
11.Cruise at the Beach! 16th Annual Christmas Show 2024
Add a little extra sparkle to your December plans! Head down to the Redondo Beach Marina on December 14th from 12–6 p.m. to enjoy a stunning lineup of pristine classic cars and bikes. For $36, you can attend the 16th Annual “Cruise at the Beach” Christmas Show, where you’ll enjoy live music, a free goodie bag, best-in-show awards, and a raffle! Dazzle your way through the holidays and experience a different side of the South Bay this season. Plus, attendees get free all-day parking, making it easy to catch all the Redondo holiday events just down the street! Organizers also kindly ask that you bring an unwrapped gift for Toys for Tots. Cruise on down and join the fun—we’ll see you there!
We can’t lie—this month will be hard to top. The holiday spirit is infectious, after all! Nothing quite matches the joy this season brings, and with the good vibes of the South Bay, we know that cheer will carry on. With the beach and California sunshine on our side, nothing can bring us down. The new year promises endless surprises, new opportunities, and even more ways to connect with our local community. Embrace those new horizons—the sun always sets in the west, and pink skies are a South Bay guarantee. Here’s to January and the glee that keeps us going!
