Balloons and Santa
Cathedral City
Spend a day gazing skyward at the Cathedral City Hot Air Balloon Festival, where multicolored orbs paint the desert sky by morning and glow gently by night. Enjoy live music, food trucks and a beer garden, and take a ride in a tethered balloon. When: 7 a.m. Nov. 16-18 Cost, info: Free. Familyfriendly. No dogs. (760) 321-5154, hotairballoon fest.com
L.A. and environs
Who says nobody walks in L.A.? The 13th Great Los Angeles Walk is a 16-mile stroll through the city from Pershing Square to Santa Monica. This year’s route goes through Koreatown in honor of Jonathan Gold, the late L.A. Times food critic who loved the neighborhood’s food. Organizers suggest going slowly to take in the sights and the crowd. When: 9 a.m. Nov. 17 Cost, info: Free. Familyfriendly. Dogs OK. (323) 356-2536, greatlawalk .com
Burbank
Faux snow will fall in the evening at the Burbank Winter Wine Walk and Holiday Street Fair. During daylight, check out the family-friendly activities on San Fernando Boulevard. The 21-and-older crowd can enjoy a wine walk ($50) through downtown Burbank. When: noon Nov. 17 Cost, info: Free for street fair; $50 to $80 for wine walk. Family-friendly. Dogs OK in certain areas. (805) 628-9588, burbankwinterwine walk.com
Dana Point
Surfers of all ages wearing Santa hats, elf onesies and other holiday garb will compete for prizes at the Stand Up Paddle & Surfing Santa Competition at Salt Creek Beach. Registration fees and donations benefit Surfers Healing, a nonprofit that takes children with autism to surf camp. When: 8 a.m. Nov. 17 and 18
Hollywood
See your favorite film and TV stars at Vulture Festival LA, a pop-culture-filled weekend of panels, interviews and performances at the Hollywood Roosevelt hotel. In the lineup: “Crazy Rich Asians” star Constance Wu, Jim Carrey, and Connie Britton and Eric Bana from the upcoming limited series “Dirty John.” Tickets for each event about $30. When: 9 a.m. Nov. 17, 11:30 a.m. Nov. 18 Cost, info: From free to $150. Best for those 13 and older. No dogs. (212) 508-0700, vulturefestival .com
Pasadena
Here comes the 41st Occasional Pasadena Doo Dah Parade. Entries include the Pony Baloney Express and Aloha Oy Vey Ukulele Marching Band, which will parade around East Pasadena. When: 11 a.m. Nov. 18 Cost, info: Free. Familyfriendly. Dogs OK. (626) 590-7596, pasadenadoo dahparade.info