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Best Things to Do in SoCal This Week: December 1-7, 2025

Every week, I highlight a few events across the SoCal region. This week, celebrate a holiday tradition at Latino Theater Company, explore LA's stories through the archives, shop handmade art from over 90 BIPOC makers, and more.

A 50-year retrospective of multimedia artist Patti Heid

Experience five decades of fearless artistry at Airbrush to AI: Fifty Years of Reinvention, a sweeping solo retrospective by multimedia artist Patti Heid. This layered exhibition traces Heid’s evolution from her lush 1970s airbrush work to groundbreaking digital imagery, immersive installations, neon interventions, and her recent AI explorations born during the pandemic. Known for blending technical virtuosity with magical-realist storytelling, Heid transforms love, loss, perseverance, and redemption into transcendent visual narratives.

Patti Heid
Los Angeles Center for Digital Art
410 South Spring St
Los Angeles, CA 90013
Thursday, December 4, 6:00 PM
Free

Over 100 performers light up the holidays

A beloved Los Angeles holiday tradition since 2002, Latino Theater Company’s magnificent pageant La Virgen de Guadalupe, Dios Inantzin returns to captivate audiences with its sweeping blend of history and faith. Featuring a cast of more than 100 performers, including singers, musicians, and Aztec dancers, this large-scale production transforms the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels into a vibrant tapestry of music and movement.

 La Virgen de Guadalupe, Dios Inantzin
Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels
555 West Temple Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Friday, December 5, 12:00 AM
Free

Explore LA’s stories through archives

Unpack the power and poetic potential of community-held histories at this conversation moderated by archivist Moriah Ulinskas, exploring how artists and community organizations activate archives to build new cultural narratives. Speakers include Lylliam Posadas (Your Neighborhood Museum) and artists Keko Jackson, Leah King, and Camille Wong.

Tender Excavation
The Luckman Fine Arts Complex at Cal State LA
5151 State University Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90032
Saturday, December 6, 2:00 PM
Free

Get handmade with 90+ BIPOC makers

Celebrate the season at the In Todo Holiday Craft Fair, a showcase of more than 90 BIPOC makers bringing together handmade art, apparel, jewelry, food, and more. Hosted at SUAY in the Arts District, this free, all-day event invites you to discover one-of-a-kind gifts that center sustainability, culture, and craft.

BIPOC Craft Fair
SUAY Sew Shop
905 Mateo St
Los Angeles, CA 90021
Saturday, December 6, 9:00 AM
Free

Shop at a quonset-hut creative hub

Join the holiday-spirit at Patchwork Show Santa Ana, a creative pop-up and makers festival with deep roots in Orange County. This edition marks a special return to where the event began, now partnering with indie icon Harveys Seatbeltbags to bring you 50+ curated vendors offering one-of-a-kind gifts, artisanal goods, and handcrafted surprises.

Patchwork Show
Santa Ana Diesel
724 Poinsettia St N
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Saturday, December 6, 12:00 PM
Free

An iconic movie poster gets its own close-up

Award-winning graphic designer Kenny Gravillis leads an intimate tour through Jaws: The Exhibition, revealing how movie posters shape cinematic history. In this special 30-minute program, Gravillis breaks down the artistry, storytelling, and strategy behind some of the world’s most memorable film imagery and get a behind-the-scenes look at design decisions that helped define the first summer blockbuster.

Inside "Jaws" Poster Design with Kenny Gravillis
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
6067 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Sunday, December 7, 2:00 PM
Free with Museum Admission

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