Los Angeles’s grandest train station fills with massive ornaments, glowing trees, and seasonal programming — a beloved free holiday tradition through late December. Confirm the season’s lineup at unionstationla.com.
Holidays at Union Station turn one of Los Angeles’s most beautiful landmarks into a free holiday wonderland. From mid-November through late December, the historic Ticket Concourse and Waiting Room come alive with thousands of gleaming lights, oversized wreaths and ornaments, and a signature large Christmas tree, while the entrance plaza and palm trees dress up with seasonal lighting.
Seasonal programming has varied year to year — past seasons have featured live music performances, gingerbread house displays, evening tours led by the Los Angeles Conservancy, and the annual tree lighting ceremony (recently in its second decade). The Metrolink Holiday Express train is a separate ticketed add-on with pre-boarding activities and a Santa visit on select December weekends.
Union Station is Metro-connected, making it one of the easiest L.A. holiday destinations to reach. Confirm the season’s confirmed events and times at unionstationla.com.
House of Kringle is part of the magic at Union Station’s annual holiday tree lighting, where Santa Claus and two of his North Pole elves help light up one of downtown Los Angeles’s most beloved seasonal gatherings. Families who’d love that same wonder at home can book a live Santa visit across Los Angeles.
Yes — admission to the historic station and the on-site holiday décor and programming is free. Only paid parking and the optional Metrolink Holiday Express train tickets cost extra.
Past seasons have included a tree lighting ceremony (recently in its second decade), live music, gingerbread house displays, and evening tours by the Los Angeles Conservancy. Confirm the current season’s lineup and dates at unionstationla.com.
Metrolink’s Holiday Express runs on select December weekends from Union Station, with festive pre-boarding activities, music, treats, and a Santa visit on board. The Holiday Express is ticketed; children 2 and under may ride free on an adult’s lap. Buy in advance — trains sell out.
Metro is the easiest option — the B and D Lines stop directly at Union Station. Paid parking is available on site. Metrolink trains also serve the station from across Southern California.
Very — the giant trees, lights, ornaments, and trains delight kids. The gingerbread house display is a popular kid-favorite stop. Pair with Olvera Street’s free Las Posadas right across the street for a magical L.A. holiday evening.
Los Angeles Union Station opened in 1939 as the city’s consolidated passenger rail terminal, designed by the father-and-son team of John and Donald Parkinson in a distinctive blend of Spanish Colonial, Mission Revival, and Art Deco styles often called Mission Moderne. Frequently described as the last of the great American railway stations, the terminal at 800 N. Alameda Street was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 and today serves Amtrak, Metrolink, and Metro rail and bus lines as Southern California’s busiest transit hub.
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.
Brian J. Cook
South Pasadena’s tree and menorah lighting opens the season on the Mission Street Farmers’ Market block — student musicians and dancers, a community menorah, and a tree lit by the Mayor in the heart of the city’s walkable downtown.
Brian J. Cook
The Glendale Galleria — Glendale’s three-story regional mall — is fully decorated for the holiday season each year, with a free Santa visit setup near the lower-level Apple store, decked corridors across all three levels, festive music, and extended hours through the season. Free to walk, free to visit Santa, free family atmosphere — paid photo packages optional.
Brian J. Cook
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.
Brian J. Cook
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.
