Celebrate the Holidays at The Music Center in Downtown Los Angeles

One of the largest performing arts centers in the country, The Music Center is home to the Ahmanson Theatre, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Mark Taper Forum and Walt Disney Concert Hall (WDCH). From concerts and sing-alongs to the city’s largest holiday celebration, visitors can spend the entire season at The Music Center and never see the same event twice.

Ring in the holiday season with Grant Gershon and the Los Angeles Master Chorale at the Festival of Carols, featuring a program of traditional Christmas carols and festive folk songs from around the world. The family-friendly Festival of Carols welcomes children ages six and above.

Michael Feinstein is coming home to the Mark Taper Forum for the first time in more than 15 years! Feinstein launches his Center Theatre Group Residency with a special Holiday Celebration that includes a mix of classic holiday songs, jazz standards, and never-before-performed arrangements of music from the Great American Songbook - brought to magical life with a combination of live performance, a multimedia children’s choir and dynamic dance.

Opening at the Ahmanson Theatre on Tuesday, December 5, A Christmas Story: The Musical brings the beloved 1983 movie to life. In 1940s Indiana, a young and bespectacled Ralphie Parker schemes his way toward the holiday gift of his dreams, a Red Ryder BB gun. The infamous leg lamp, outrageous pink bunny pajamas, a maniacal department store Santa, and a triple-dog-dare to lick a freezing flagpole are just a few of the distractions that stand between Ralphie and his Christmas wish.

The Los Angeles Master Chorale presents Navidad Nuestra (Our Christmas), featuring a program of Christmas carols sung in the musical traditions of the composers’ homelands of Argentina, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Cuba and the United States. Highlights include the world premiere of Ernesto Herrera's Navidad Iluviosa; Cristian Grases’ El tren para Belén (Train to Bethlehem), Eric Whitacre’s Glow; and the rhythms of cueca (a traditional dance from Argentina and Chile), carnavalito (a Bolivian folk dance) and chacarera (a traditional dance from northwestern Argentina) in Ariel Ramírez’s Navidad Nuestra.

The GRAMMY Award-winning Chanticleer is known worldwide as “an orchestra of voices” and dubbed “the world’s leading male chorus” by The New Yorker. The celebrated vocal ensemble returns to Walt Disney Concert Hall on Wednesday, December 13 with the group’s annual tradition, A Chanticleer Christmas. A seasonal favorite with audiences and critics alike, A Chanticleer Christmas features a classic holiday program of a cappella choral music.

Deck the Hall with the Holiday Sing-Along, taking place at Walt Disney Concert Hall on Saturday, December 16. Raise your voices and spirits with this annual holiday tradition that offers fun, cheer, and festive music for the whole family! Hosted by Melissa Peterman, the Holiday Sing-Along features the Hall's massive pipe organ, the voices/LA choir, and a jazz combo leading a selection of seasonal favorites.

Two sessions, at 11:30am and 2:30pm. Come early to Winter Wonderland in BP Hall to warm up your vocal cords with complimentary hot cocoa, create your own holiday craft, and take a picture with Santa Claus before your Holiday Sing-Along show.

Handel's "Messiah" (December 17)
Composed in just 24 days, Messiah by George Frideric Handel is the composer's most popular work and might be the most performed classical work of all time. Performed by the LA Master Chorale and guest artists, the Baroque masterwork's joyous refrains and exultant arias - including the iconic "Hallelujah" Chorus - will fill Walt Disney Concert Hall.

"Messiah" Sing-Along (December 18)
One of the highlights of the holiday season, LA Master Chorale Artistic Director Grant Gershon conducts the audience in a joyful Messiah Sing-Along with chamber orchestra and soloists. Bring your own score or buy one in the lobby, and join the chorus in this vibrant tradition. Hallelujah!

Join Artistic Director Grant Gershon and 20 singers from the LA Master Chorale for Carols on the Plaza! Song booklets will be provided, you bring your holiday spirit for "Deck the Halls", "Frosty the Snowman", "Joy to the World" and more. This free event will take place in Jerry Moss Plaza beginning at 6pm on Monday, December 18.

'Tis the season for the annual holiday movie screening at Walt Disney Concert Hall! Written and produced by John Hughes, Home Alone (1990) stars Macaulay Culkin as Kevin McCallister, an 8-year-old boy who's accidentally left behind when his family leaves for Christmas vacation. Kevin must defend his home against two bumbling thieves (played by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern) in this modern classic directed by Chris Columbus.

On December 20-22, John Williams' Oscar-nominated score - featuring the signature song "Somewhere in My Memory" - will be performed live-to-picture at WDCH, conducted by David Newman with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra.

Arrive early for Home Alone in Concert wearing your best ugly holiday sweater, and test your knowledge with Home Alone trivia, presented by Scum & Villainy in BP Hall.

Ten-time GRAMMY Award winner Arturo Sandoval will make it a Swinging Holiday at Walt Disney Concert Hall on Saturday, December 23. Enjoy a jumping, jiving, jingling night with a program of holiday favorites decked out in Latin jazz styling.

Before the concert, stop by the Winter Wonderland in BP Hall to decorate and serve yourself a complimentary hot chocolate, coffee or tea. For something with more "spirit," head to the cash bar!

LA's largest holiday celebration, the 64th Annual L.A. County Holiday Celebration is taking place from 3pm to 6pm on Sunday, December 24 at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Presented by the L.A. County Board of Supervisors, the Holiday Celebration features a diverse lineup of LA-based artists, including the Divas and Drummers of Compton, Gay Men's Chorus of LA, Mariachi Divas de Cindy Shea and many more.

Angelenos of all ages are invited to enjoy instrumental music, choral groups and dance performances that showcase the rich cultures and holiday traditions from across L.A. County. Admission to the show is free, no reservations or tickets are necessary. Early arrival suggested - first come, first seated. Guests are welcome to come and go throughout the performances.

For those who can't attend in person, the program will be broadcast live on PBS SoCal and live-streamed on pbssocal.org.

Go Metro and exit at the Civic Center / Grand Park Station along the Metro B and D Lines; or the newly opened Grand Ave Arts / Bunker Hill Station for the Metro A and E Lines.