The presents have been opened, the tree is now looking kind of sad and you want to get out of those pajamas and go somewhere.
But is there anything to do on Christmas Day?
Ho! Ho! Ho! Of course there’s plenty to do that day, from family-friendly outings and ocean adventures, to getting a final view of holiday lights.
Here are 10 things to do in Southern California on Christmas Day.
Catch a flick
Movie theaters are open on Christmas and going to the movies is a holiday tradition for a lot of people. So grab some popcorn and go check out new movies released this month like “Wonka,” released Dec. 15; “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,” which is out on Dec. 22; Or end the year with a romcom and see “Anyone But You,” which hits theaters on Dec. 22.
Day at the park
Take a stroll through the tranquil, yet surprisingly active La Mirada Community Regional Park. The 76-acre park not only has picnic areas where people can chill and barbecue, but it also has a lake where visitors can fish. There’s no license needed, just bring a pole and catch lunch. The park also includes a disc golf course, as well as pickleball and tennis courts. And bring a glove and bat for a family baseball game since there are several well-maintained fields, too. The park is at 13701 S. Adelfa Ave., La Mirada.
Dine with pirates
Ahoy! Go on an escapade with pirates at the Pirates Dinner Adventure in Buena Park. The live-theater show is an epic adventure filled with swordplay, acrobatics and of course a pirate feast you can enjoy from the safety of your table. Pirates Dinner Adventure, 7600 Beach Blvd., Buena Park. Tickets start at $68.95 at piratesdinneradventure.com.
Festival of Lights
Wait until the sun goes down and catch one of the most spectacular holiday light displays at the Mission Inn in Riverside. This self-guided tour is great for families who will see giant nutcrackers, palm trees, buildings and pretty much everything in and around the Inn wrapped in bright holiday lights. The Mission Inn, 3649 Mission Inn Ave., Riverside. missioninn.com.
Hang out with stars
Get ready to take a bunch of selfies as you walk into Madame Tussauds Hollywood wax museum. The museum is filled with incredibly realistic wax figures of A-list stars like Lady Gaga, Harry Styles, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Angelina Jolie and Danny Trejo. Madame Tussauds Hollywood, 6933 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles. Tickets start at $27.99 at madametussauds.com.
Ice Skating
Strap on your skates and slide around all day on the various ice rinks open on Christmas. And you’ll likely not have to drive far to find one since there are rinks all over the place. Some of the ice rinks open in Christmas include The Santa Monica Ice Rink at 1324 Fifth Street, Santa Monica; Temecula On Ice at 41000 Main Street, Temecula; and at the Newport Dunes Fire and Ice Festival at Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort, 1131 Back Bay Drive, Newport Beach.
Imaginarium
Feel the Christmas spirit as you walk through more than five million lights along an immersive 1.5 mile trek through 10 zones that includes more than 25 larger-than-life interactive scenes, plus synchronized music and lights. Imaginarium is at the Fairplex, 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona. Tickets are $18-$25 at imaginarium360.com.
Pacific Park at Santa Monica Pier
Pacific Park is open on Christmas Day from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. and it’s an old-school carnival and amusement park above the water on the Santa Monica Pier. There are 12 rides, carnival games, food and plenty of performers roaming around. It’s free to get in, but rides and games cost extra. Pacific Park, 380 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica. pacpark.com.
Disneyland and Universal Studios
Disneyland goes all out for the holidays, so of course the park is open on Dec. 25. The holiday is celebrated with a Christmas Fantasy Parade, a fireworks show, a 60-foot-tall Christmas tree at one end of Disneyland’s Main Street U.S.A. and rides like It’s a Small World and Haunted Mansion decked out in holiday décor. Universal Studios Hollywood is all in on the Christmas, too, with Grinchmas in the Universal Plaza and a dazzling light show inside The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Universal Studios Hollywood,100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City. universalstudioshollywood.com. Disneyland, 1313 S Disneyland Drive, Anaheim disneyland.com.
Whale Watching
LA Waterfront Cruises in San Pedro offers a couple of two-hour tours on Dec. 25 into the open ocean to search for whales. But you may also see dolphins, sea lions and other sea life. LA Waterfront Cruises, 550 S. Harbor Blvd., San Pedro. Tickets are $35 for children 5-11; $45 for seniors; and $50 for general admission at tickets.lawaterfrontcruises.com.
