School and work are officially back in session after the holiday break, so the weekend is the perfect time to get out and enjoy everything Los Angeles has to offer.
There is an exciting sports matchup between the Lakers and Bucks happening right here in LA on Friday. There are also some must-watch playoff games for the Chargers and Rams going down this weekend on the road. And when you’re not cheering on LA, there are some fun New Years’ celebrations and food events Dodgers fans can check out.
Dodgers Nation has you covered with a full guide to the best events happening around Los Angeles this weekend.
Sports
NFC Wild Card Game: No. 5 Los Angeles Rams vs. No. 4 Carolina Panthers
AFC Wild Card Game: No. 7 Los Angeles Chargers vs. No. 2 New England Patriots
The Rams and Chargers will both be on the road for crucial wild-card games this weekend. Whether you’re traveling to support your team, hitting your favorite sports bar in LA or cheering from home, the Rams and Chargers must win these games to stay alive in the playoffs!
The Rams will be playing on Saturday at 1:30 pm PT at Bank of America Stadium. Then, the Chargers will take on the Patriots on Sunday at 5:00 pm PT at Gillette Stadium.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Milwaukee Bucks
The Lakers are going head-to-head with the Milwaukee Bucks at 7:30 pm PT at Crypto.com Arena on Friday. It will be an exciting matchup, as Lakers superstar Luka Doncic and possibly LeBron James face off with Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo. Grab your tickets here!
UCLA Men’s Basketball vs. Maryland
Head to Pauley Pavilion on Saturday at 5:00 pm PT at Pauley Pavilion to cheer on the UCLA men’s basketball team in a Big Ten game against Maryland. The Bruins are in the middle of a two-game losing streak and now hold a 2-2 record in conference play, so support UCLA and purchase your tickets here!
New Year’s Celebrations
2026 Oshogatsu Family Festival
It’s a brand new year, so it is the perfect time to celebrate the Year of the Horse during the Japanese American National Museum’s 2026 Oshogatsu Family Festival at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center on Sunday.
This is a free event for families and friends to make free crafts and origami, enjoy Japanese cultural performances and learn about what the Year of the Horse has in store for 2026. More information is available here.
Second Sundays: Japanese New Year
Lunar New Year is about a month away but the celebrations are already going on in LA! The Huntington Library near Pasadena will be opening its gardens for its Second Sunday Series on Jan. 11. Experience Lunar New Year traditions such as kumi-daiko drumming, building a Shimenawa wreath for good luck and admiring floral arrangements known as Ikebana.
This event is included with admission, and will take place from noon to 3:00 pm on Sunday. Purchase your admissions tickets here.
Food and Drinks
Smorgasburg LA
Every Sunday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, the ROW DTLA Complex in the Downtown Arts District becomes a family-friendly space to explore different food and drink vendors from around Southern California.
This Sunday, Jan. 11, is the Grand Reopening for the weekly event. There will more than a dozen new vendors and several returning fan favorites. Admission is free, and more information is available here.
Hollywood Farmers’ Market
More than 100 farmers, producers, food vendors and artisans gather at the Hollywood Farmers’ Market at 1600 Ivar Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90028 on Sundays from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm PT. You can explore the different crops for sale and support your local farmers by purchasing groceries from the market.
The market accepts EBT benefits, for up to $15 a week for fresh fruits and vegetables. WIC and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program checks are also accepted! More information is available here.
Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
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