The holiday season kicks into gear with plenty of wintery pop-up happenings all over town. Plus, a rock icon in concert and lots more. Check out our top 17 L.A. weekend event picks for November 15-18.

By William Yelles.

EVENTS

Bai Holiday Ice Rink Pershing Square
Opens Nov. 15. Skate among the skyscrapers at this ice-skating rink, which materializes every holiday season at Pershing Square. Admire the art and scenery, never mind the 80 degree temperature and sunshine. M-Th 11:30 a.m.–9:30 p.m., F 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m., Sa 10 a.m.-11 p.m., Su 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m. $9 GA plus $5 skate rental. 532 S. Olive St., L.A. holidayicerinkdowntownla.com

 

 

BOLD Holidays Beverly Hills
Starts Nov. 15. BOLD Holidays returns to Beverly Hills with extended shopping hours, live entertainment, art installations—including artist Alexa Meade painting directly onto models—and more. Festivities begin with the Rodeo Drive Holiday Lighting Celebration and continue Friday and Saturday evenings through the holiday season with performances, upscale food trucks and fireworks. See website for complete schedule of events and locations. 5-8 p.m. Free. lovebeverlyhills.com

 

Chinese Lantern Festival
Starts Nov 15. The Chinese Lantern Festival will light up the night with the glow of more than 1,000 lanterns ranging in size from 12-23 feet tall. This year’s theme, “The Wild,” spotlights five different locations–America, Oceania, Asia, Antarctica and Africa—with lanterns representing wild animals from each region. Also food, entertainment and a craft marketplace. 5:30-10 p.m. $13-$21. Fairplex, 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona, 855.618.8188. chineselanternfestival.com

 

SPONSORED
Skyspace “City Lights” ft. Jason Bentley & Marques Wyatt
Nov. 16. Deep and Bender presents “City Lights” at Skyspace. Take a yoga class 1,000 feet above downtown L.A. and then party all night to the music of DJ Marques Wyatt and his special guests. Experience interactive audio-visual performances, vendor booths and free Skyslide rides along with complimentary treats by Kevita, Papa & Barkley and Redd Bar. Full bar service will be available. 21+. 8 p.m.-2 a.m. $22-$37. OUE Skyspace LA, 633 West Fifth St., L.A. Tickets

 

Jerry Lee Lewis
Nov. 17. Musical icon and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Jerry Lee Lewis—one of rock’s wildest performers in his heyday with mega-hits including “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” and “Great Balls of Fire”—takes the stage in a rare appearance at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts. 8 p.m. $90-$115. 18000 Park Plaza Dr., Cerritos, 800.300.4345. Tickets

 

 

Jackalope Indie Artisan Fair
Nov. 17-18. Join Jackalope Arts for a unique, curated shopping experience featuring 200+ makers and designers of local handmade goods along with acoustic music performances and family-friendly activities. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Pasadena Central Park, 275 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena. jackalopeartfair.com

 

 

 

Nutcracker Tea
Nov. 17-18. The Nutcracker Tea combines the artistry of Los Angeles Ballet dancers with the elegance and beauty of the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills. In the ballroom, guests will enjoy a special preview performance from The Nutcracker and savor a full High Tea. Children will be treated to a crafts area, where they will also enjoy dance lessons from the ballet’s stars, while parents will find a special holiday bazaar filled with unique gift ideas. 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. seatings. $125 GA; $50 children. 9850 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310.860.6666. waldorfastoriabeverlyhills.com

 

“Enchanted: Forest of Light”
Opens Nov. 18. Descanso Gardens’ popular light show is an interactive, nighttime experience featuring a one-mile walk through unique lighting installations. New dining options and a whiskey bar will be open nightly exclusively for ticket holders. See website for schedule and ticket prices. 1418 Descanso Dr., La Cañada Flintridge, 818.949.4200. descansogardens.org

 

 

Fa La Land
Opens Nov. 18. This immersive pop-up exhibit brings the North Pole to downtown L.A. Help make toys at “Jingle Bell Toy Factory,” get lost in light in a fluorescent “Fa La Forest,” jump in on the action at “Fa La Fest” and get your Christmas list ready for your private audience with Santa himself. Tickets must be purchased in advance. $37. Su 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m., Tu-Th 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m., F 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m., Sa 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m. ROW DTLA, 787 S. Alameda St., L.A. falaland.com

 

 

Healthy Spot Pupsgiving Play Dates
Nov. 18. Bring your pup for off-leash play time, pie eating contests, and pumpkin and cranberry treats, plus sweet snacks for humans.
5-7 p.m. Free; advance registration required. Healthy Spot, 4718 Lincoln Blvd., Marina del Rey; 8126 Beverly Blvd., Beverly Grove; 1000 S. Grand Ave., Suite A, downtown; 6433 E. Pacific Coast Hwy., Unit A-5, Long Beach. RSVP

 

 

 

FOOD + DRINK

Soft Serve at Alfred
Now Available. Coffee and tea room Alfred is expanding into soft serve exclusively at the Melrose Place location. One flavor will rotate each month beginning with Thai Tea—coconut based, vegan, probiotic and brewed with an authentic Thai tea blend. 7 a.m.-8 p.m. $5. 8428 Melrose Place, L.A., 323.944.0811. alfred.la

 

 

 

Milla Chocolates
Now Open. Milla Chocolates—founded by award-winning chocolatier Christine Sull Sarioz—is open for business at its first storefront. This follows an earlier pop-up at ROW DTLA late last year. Both a boutique and cafe, the shop features Milla’s full line of chocolates and confections along with specialty coffees and loose leaf teas. M, W-Su 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Tu 8 a.m.-7 p.m. 9414 Venice Blvd., Culver City, 310.876.1021. millachocolates.com

 

 

“Friendsgiving” at Jane Q
Starts Nov. 16. The all-day café located in the Kimpton Everly Hotel is offering a special three-course “Friendsgiving” menu featuring market-fresh spinach velouté with charred lemon vinaigrette, turkey pot pie with glazed root vegetables and puff pastry, and a slice of homemade pumpkin pie topped with candied pepitas and Chantilly cream. $36; $2 from each dinner sold will be donated to No Kid Hungry. 6 a.m.-10 p.m. 1800 Argyle Ave., Hollywood, 213.279.3534. janeqla.com

 

 

ARTS+CULTURE

“Wishlist 6” Art Opening
Nov. 17. Gabba Gallery’s signature cash-and-carry affordable art show returns for the sixth year featuring works from over 100 artists. That means that when you purchase art you get to take it home right away and the curators will hang something new in its place. The opening night reception features DJ Jonathan Williams spinning, tacos by Norma, and bar. The exhibit is on view through Dec. 22. 7-11 p.m. Free; art priced from $50+. Gabba Gallery, 3126 Beverly Blvd., L.A., 323.604.4186. gabbagallery.com

 

Barnsdall Art and Craft Fair
Nov. 18. Just in time for some holiday shopping, Barnsdall Art Center hosts its popular Barnsdall Art and Craft Fair showcasing diverse work from the Art Center students and faculty including handcrafted jewelry, ceramics, cards, prints, paintings, drawings and photography. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Barnsdall Art Park, 4800 Hollywood Blvd., L.A. barnsdallartcenter.org

 

 

SPONSORED
Check Out the Star-Studded Lineup for L.A.’s UnCabaret
Nov. 18. L.A.’s legendary UnCabaret celebrates 25 years 
of wildly fun, idiosyncratic and intimate performance with this one-time-only evening of live comedy, music and never-before-seen footage from the vault. Guests include alumni Bob Odenkirk, Maria Bamford, Julia Sweeney, Janeane Garofalo, Jill Soloway and special surprise guests. 7 p.m. $29.50-$59.50. The Theater at Ace Hotel, 929 S. Broadway, L.A. Tickets

 

“Quack”
Through Nov. 18. Having its world premiere here, this new comedy is about a daytime talk show host whose reputation is ruined by a take-down piece of journalism, exploring the fleeting nature of 21st-century fame. See website for show times and ticket prices. Kirk Douglas Theatre, 9820 Washington Blvd., Culver City, 213.628.2772. centertheatregroup.org

 

 

“Enchanted: Forest of Light” photo courtesy Descanso Gardens. Bai Holiday Ice Rink Pershing Square photo courtesy HolidayIceRinkDTLA/Facebook. Jerry Lee Lewis photo by Martin Schoeller courtesy 117 Entertainment Group. Jackalope Indie Artisan Fair photo courtesy Gil Riego Photography. Nutcracker Tea photo by Catherine Kanner. Fa La Land photo courtesy FaLaLandOfficial/Facebook. Healthy Spot Pupsgiving photo courtesy Healthy Spot. Milla Chocolates photo by Ali Gokay Sarioz. “Wishlist 6” Art Opening image (Sarah Stieber, “Who Run The World”) courtesy Gabba Gallery. “Quack” photo courtesy Center Theatre Group.

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