With Christmas Eve on Sunday, many of our local institutions seem to be taking the weekend off from big events…and many also plan to close early on Sunday, if they’re open at all. So be sure to check the hours for various places if you plan to be out and about. Also, given the small number of one-time events for the next few days, it would definitely be a great weekend to catch up with some season-long events like the Zoo Lights, skating in Pershing Square, and/or Holiday Train Rides in Griffith Park.
A bit closer to home, though, the New Beverly Cinema is going all in for the impending holiday with a full weekend of classic Christmas movies.  Starting on Saturday, you can see Will Ferrell in the 2003 family-favorite “Elf,” at 2 p.m., a double feature of the all-time classic “It’s a Wonderful Life (6:30 p.m.) and “A Christmas Story” (9:10 p.m.) and the much more sinister “Christmas Evil” at midnight. (Note: the evening double feature is technically sold out, but a small number of tickets will be for sale at the door, and there will also be a stand-by line). Â
On Sunday, the big event is the 58th annual L.A. County Holiday Celebration, starting at 3 p.m. at downtown’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Billed as “Los Angeles’ largest multicultural holiday celebration” and sponsored by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, the free three-hour show brings together many diverse L.A.-based artists and community groups, showcasing their talent, artistry and traditions through instrumental music, choral music and dance performances. (If you can’t make it in person, it’s also broadcast live on PBS SoCal (KOCE TV), and live streamed on pbssocal.org.) Highlights will include the Harmonic Bronze Handbell Ensemble, the Palmdale High School Choral Union and Sunday Night Singers, the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department Band, the MUSYCA Children’s Choir, Mostly Kosher, the Jung Im Lee Korean Dance Company, Las Colibri…and more.
Back at the New Beverly, the Christmas flicks also continue on Sunday with a repeat showing of Elf at 2 p.m, and then a double feature of Die Hard (6:30 p.m.) and Die Hard 2 (9:30 p.m.). (As with Saturday’s double feature, the one on Sunday is also sold out, but the same notes apply about a few tickets reserved for on-site sales, and a stand-by line.)
And, yes, Virginia, there is at least one big non-Christmas event this weekend — the 31st annual Matzo Ball Jewish singles party, sponsored by the Society of Young Jewish Professionals and billed as both “the nation’s leading Jewish singles event” and “the most epic one-night stand of the year.” It starts at 9 p.m. on Sunday at the Spare Room, 7000 Hollywood Blvd. Please note that this one is for ages 21 and up only. See the link above for more info and tickets.
Finally, to help you get around this holiday weekend, there will be NO closures of Wilshire Blvd., between Western and Gramercy, for Metro Purple Line subway construction this week. Also, Metro is offering free fares from 9 p.m. Sunday, December 24 through 2 a.m. Monday, December 25, on all bus and rail lines. Metro Rail Line Stations with faregates will be unlatched, and fareboxes and validators will not deduct fares.
Have a great weekend!
