Spectacular Holiday Shows, Lights, and Shopping
The weeks leading up to the Tournament of Roses is the perfect time to enjoy Pasadena's holiday festivities. Get tinsel ready and enjoy all the merry holiday joy springing up around town.
Holiday Ballets
Celebrate the festive season and get tickets to these limited-time Christmas ballet performances
Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet
November 22, 2025
Share the joy of NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet with family and friends. Give the gift of a spectacular holiday experience featuring an international cast, whimsical puppetry and opulent costumes and sets, hand-crafted by the finest artisans of Europe.
Los Angeles Ballet Presents The Nutcracker
December 12-28, 2025
Enjoy Los Angeles Ballet’s original production of The Nutcracker set to Tchaikovsky’s iconic score. This production stays true to the traditions of the storybook tale and is set in 1912 Los Angeles, with hints and tastes of Southern California.
Holiday Classics
Grab your tickets to the tinsel in Tinseltown in Pasadena's theater district. These limited-time holiday theaters are sure to jingle all the way.
Pasadena Symphony's Holiday Candlelight
December 12-13, 2025
Enjoy fully reserved seating in the architecturally exquisite, acoustically sonorous All Saints Church for an array of choruses and handbells in this festive concert. Expect your favorite holiday songs performed by candlelight.
A Christmas Carol at A Noise Within
November 29-December 24, 2025
More than a play, A Christmas Carol at A Noise Within theater is a spectacular holiday experience, including special snacks, pre-show crafts, and photo ops before the show in our decorated lobby and after the show with the cast.
Festive Holiday Pop-Ups
Pasadena's neighborhoods are transformed into holiday wonderlands, complete with Santa Claus appearances, gifts, and activities for the whole family.
Old Pasadena For the Holidays
All season long
Old Pasadena invites you to “Celebrate Together” this holiday season with sparkling snowflake lights, easy shopping, and dining perfect for any occasion with friends and family. Spanning 22 historic, walkable blocks, the district features more than 300 shops and restaurants—nearly 200 independently owned—making it the ultimate destination for holiday cheer, gifts, and gatherings.
South Lake Shopping District's Holidayfest
December 6, 2025
Holidayfest South Lake Avenue is back for its annual holiday celebration! Enjoy photos with Santa, holiday activities, music, raffles, and more. The event features performances by Darden the Band, Jessica Fichot, and Buyepongo.
Kid-Approved Holiday Joy
Gather the family and head to Pasadena for kid-approved holiday festivities. From illuminated gardens to sock skating, it's time to get in the ho-ho-holiday spirit.
Winter Frolic at Kidspace Children’s Museum
Starting November 7, 2025
Experience the transformation at Kidspace Children's Museum during Winter Frolic, as it turns into a winter wonderland. Grab your favorite socks to skate on the no-ice sock skating rink, go ice fishing, build sculptures out of ice blocks, and dress up a life-size no-melt snowman in the icy cave.
Enchanted at Descanso Gardens
November 16, 2025 - January 4, 2025
Descanso Gardens transforms into a shimmering nocturnal wonderland. Walk one mile through illuminated trees and exquisite lighting effects in the Ancient Forest, and more.
Teddy Bear Tea
December 6-7, 13-14, 18-24, 2025
Head to the Langham Huntington, Pasadena, for the coveted holiday Teddy Bear Tea experience, where tiny sandwiches meet a puppet show and a visit from Santa Claus himself. Each child will receive a limited-edition Paddington x The Langham bear to take home as a memento.
Holiday Tours
Rose Bowl Stadium Holiday Tour
December 26 - 28, 2025 & January 2, 2026
Walk in the footsteps of legends and delight in an unforgettable opportunity to go behind the scenes of America’s Stadium for two special holiday tours. Your tour guide will lead you through this National Historic Landmark, including the original 1922 locker room, the current locker rooms, the press box, the Court of Champions, and more.
Pasadena Holiday Look In Home Tour
December 6-7, 2025
The Women’s Committee of the Pasadena Symphony Association is putting on the 58th Annual Holiday Look In Home Tour, offering a feast for the eyes. Experience the beautiful gardens and magnificent architecture of four elegant homes while docents point out interesting features and musicians provide holiday music. Don’t forget to check out the boutique for unique shopping finds.
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Best Annual Events, Celebrations, and Festivals in Pasadena
Pasadena knows how to throw a party, and its annual events are the talk of the town. Whether you're a local or a visitor, there are plenty of music festivals, food festivals, and city-wide celebrations to go around. Don't worry, we'll start with the granddaddy of them all – the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade.
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