Welcome, listeners, to Things to Do in Los Angeles with your globe-trotting sports nut Oly Bennett, broadcasting from the city where palm trees wear Christmas lights and the skyline is basically a movie set. It’s Saturday, December 20, 2025, and LA is serving up classic winter-in-SoCal vibes: cool, sunny, and perfect jacket-optional weather while the rest of the country argues with snow shovels.
Today’s energy is pure holiday hustle. Downtown to Hollywood, you’ve got shoppers, skaters, and selfie-takers all chasing that “I swear this is festive even though it’s 70 degrees” feeling. Over at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles Ballet is performing The Nutcracker, a local twist that whisks you from snowy scenes straight to Venice Beach and the Pacific coast. Over in Inglewood, the Intuit Dome is the center of the sports universe tonight as the Clippers take on the Lakers in a rivalry matchup that feels like a family feud with better lighting. And if you’re into stargazing instead of slam dunks, Griffith Observatory is hosting its free Public Star Party this afternoon and evening, where volunteers set up telescopes so you can literally spend Saturday night looking at Saturn instead of your phone.
For families, several community toy giveaway events are popping off across the city today, including holiday villages and Santa visits offering free toys, food, and activities for kids in neighborhoods like Crenshaw and South LA. Later tonight, nightlife cranks up: Academy LA in Hollywood is hosting Nicky Romero for a high-energy electronic set, while The Vermont Hollywood welcomes Rooler for an 18-plus, festival-style chaos-your-legs-will-feel-tomorrow kind of night. If you like your holidays with a side of speakeasy mystery, Santa’s Secret immersive experience turns a winter wonderland into a hidden holiday bar with cocktails, variety acts, and live music.
On the local news and city info front, holiday traffic is no joke, so expect extra congestion around shopping hubs like Hollywood & Highland, Downtown, and major arenas. Metro rail and buses tend to be packed but are a smart move tonight if you’re heading to the game, concerts, or clubs; you dodge parking prices that look like rent. Keep an eye on service alerts from LA Metro if you’re riding late.
If you’re planning your perfect LA day, here’s your game plan. Daytime: hit Griffith Park for a hike up to Griffith Observatory, then stick around for the star party. Swing through the Arts District or Mission Road to check out immersive exhibits and holiday pop-ups. Evening: grab dinner at one of the city’s buzzy new seasonal menus—LA restaurants go extra creative in December—then choose your lane: ballet at the Dolby, hoops in Inglewood, jazzed-up holiday concerts at Walt Disney Concert Hall, or straight-up clubbing in Hollywood.
Local tip from Oly: LA may be a driving city, but the real pros park once and make a mini walking tour out of a neighborhood. In Hollywood, you can hit dinner, a show, and a nightclub all within a few blocks, instead of playing “find the parking spot” after every stop. And fun fact: instead of snow, LA’s winter “storm” is jacaranda petals and palm fronds, so your biggest hazard is tripping while taking a sunset photo.
Tomorrow, the holiday engine keeps rolling with more Nutcracker performances, ongoing immersive holiday experiences, and plenty of last-minute markets and festive pop-ups. Tune in next time as we hunt down more surprise gems, wild events, and maybe a sport you’ve never heard of hiding in a Los Angeles park.
Thanks for listening, please subscribe, and remember—this episode was brought to you by Quiet Please podcast networks. For more content like this, please go to Quiet Please dot Ai.
For more check out https://www.quietperiodplease.com/
and make sure to jump on these great deals https://amzn.to/3V0gjPt
For more on Oly check out https://www.instagram.com/olybennet/
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
