Best Things to Do in SoCal This Week: December 15-21, 2025
Punk and street art rebel
Street art and punk music clash at Beyond the Streets with this high-voltage conversation featuring Shepard Fairey alongside Circle Jerks icons Keith Morris and Greg Hetson. This one-night-only gathering digs deep into the shared DNA of punk, protest, and visual culture where DIY ethics, political urgency, and rebellious aesthetics shaped generations. Free and unfiltered, this is a must for fans of art, music, and countercultural history.
434 N La Brea Ave
A Christmas parade with boats
Set sail with the 117th Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade. Over five sparkling nights, the harbor comes alive as decorated yachts, kayaks, canoes, and boats glide through the water in a dazzling Ring of Lights celebration. Hosted by the Commodores Club of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce, this iconic parade blends nautical charm with seasonal spectacle.
944 Via Lido Nord
Small hands, big creativity
Get hands-on at LACMA with NexGenLA Creative Pathways, a free, drop-in art experience designed just for kids and teens. Make mini-piñatas alongside a cozy reading corner perfect for recharging between creations. Hosted by NexGenLA, LACMA’s free membership program for L.A. County youth under 17, the event offers a welcoming, imagination-forward space where curiosity takes center stage. It’s an easy, joyful way for families to make art and enjoy the museum together at no cost.
2401 Wilshire Blvd
Tiny artworks, big imagination
Big talent comes in small packages at the Whittier Art Gallery’s Miniature and Small Works Closing Art Reception. Get up close with intricately crafted works that prove scale has nothing to do with impact. Meet the artists behind these finely detailed pieces and celebrate the close of a standout exhibition.
8035 Painter Ave
Art history on paper
A celebration of artistry on paper arrives at the Hammer Museum with Five Centuries of Works on Paper: The Grunwald Center at 70. This expansive exhibition showcases nearly 100 extraordinary works spanning the Renaissance to today. From master draftsmen like Albrecht Dürer and Rembrandt to contemporary artists including Corita Kent and Ed Ruscha, the show highlights the remarkable depth and range of one of the nation’s most significant works-on-paper collections.
10899 Wilshire Blvd