Holidays at Olvera Street
Los Angeles, CA
Olvera Street’s nine-night Las Posadas reenacts Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem with candlelit processions, piñatas, champurrado, and pan dulce — a treasured Los Angeles tradition since 1930.
Olvera Street’s nine-night Las Posadas reenacts Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem with candlelit processions, piñatas, champurrado, and pan dulce — a treasured Los Angeles tradition since 1930.
Las Posadas on Olvera Street is one of Los Angeles’s oldest and most beloved cultural holiday traditions, celebrated continuously since 1930 at the birthplace of the city. The nine-night celebration runs from December 16 through December 24, reenacting Mary and Joseph’s journey to find shelter.
Each evening features a candlelit procession down historic Olvera Street, with participants stopping at storefronts to sing traditional songs asking for shelter. The children’s piñata is the lively launch of each evening — candy is thrown for all to catch.
Festivities also include warm champurrado, freshly baked pan dulce, traditional mariachi and folk music, and a deeply community atmosphere. While rooted in Christian and Catholic traditions, Las Posadas warmly welcomes participants of every background.
Yes — the procession, piñata, and music are all free to attend. Food, drink, and gifts at the Olvera Street vendors are paid.
Las Posadas runs for nine consecutive nights, from December 16 through December 24 each year. Each evening kicks off with the children’s piñata, followed by the candlelit procession.
Not at all — while Las Posadas is rooted in Christian and Catholic traditions, the celebration warmly welcomes participants of every background. It’s a community celebration of the season.
Use the paid lot at Union Station across Alameda Street — it’s the most convenient option. Metro B and D Lines also stop at Union Station, making transit the easiest way to arrive.
Very — the children’s piñata that opens each evening is a joyful kid-centered moment, with candy thrown for all to catch. The procession is short and walkable, and the festive atmosphere keeps young children engaged.
Olvera Street sits at the historic core of El Pueblo de Los Angeles, the site where the city was founded in 1781. Originally called Wine Street and renamed in 1877 for Judge Agustin Olvera, Los Angeles County’s first elected county judge, the block was transformed into a Mexican marketplace through the efforts of preservationist Christine Sterling and opened to the public on Easter Sunday, 1930. The surrounding El Pueblo district was designated a California state historical monument in 1953 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, and the marketplace still anchors a neighborhood that includes the Avila Adobe of 1818, the city’s oldest surviving residence.
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Caruso’s Americana at Brand turns Glendale into a holiday wonderland — a Mt. Shasta white fir more than 80 feet tall, thousands of lights and ornaments, nightly snowfall, Santa visits, and a glowing shopping district, all free for families. Confirm this season’s program at americanaatbrand.com.
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Southern California’s holiday lights and festive outings are pure magic — but nothing compares to Santa Claus himself stepping through your own front door. House of Kringle brings a real-bearded, professionally trained Santa to homes and gatherings across SoCal for an intimate live visit your family will treasure for years.
Check Availability
Have a date in mind? Tell us when and where, and we’ll let you know whether Santa is open. House of Kringle brings a real-bearded Santa Claus to Live Visits and Group Experiences across Southern California, and December fills quickly, so the sooner you check, the better your odds of locking in your first choice.
This is a quick availability check, not a booking. Nothing is reserved and nothing is owed until we’ve confirmed your date and you’ve placed your retainer.