'Tis the season and all that, where folks light candles and sing songs and eat too much — maybe rock an ugly sweater or two — and do all the cute family things we love and dread. Some prefer to just ignore the whole holidaze thing altogether. Either way, here are a calming gallery sound bath, a bunch of strangers singing in the park, poetry about walking on the wild side, and a few arts-based tips for impending New Year's Eve.

Thursday, December 22

Sound Bath with Karen Ahmanson at Matter Studio Gallery. Enjoy a yoga, breath, and therapeutic sound immersion, inside the gallery’s abstract elemental painting exhibition by Toby Huss. Huss’ intimate relationship with the movement of a fluttering line and the emotional expressivity of color and gesture create a charged environment perfect for activated contemplation. 5080 W. Pico Blvd., Mid-city; Thursday, December 22, 6-8pm; $38; Exhibition on view through January 16; free; matterstudiogallery.com.

Saturday, December 24

L.A. County Holiday Celebration at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. The 63rd annual L.A. County Holiday Celebration returns live to The Music Center and offers Angelenos of all ages the opportunity to experience and honor the dynamic, rich cultures of the county. Enjoy a diverse lineup of L.A.-based artists including performances by choral groups, dance troupes and local artists.  Not up for the crowds? Watch the show on PBS SoCal or stream on pbssocal.org. 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown; Saturday, December 24, 3-6pm; free; musiccenter.org.

Friday, December 30

Erin Taylor: Bimboland at Stories Books. An astonishing debut poetry collection wrestling with desire, vulnerability, sex work and money from writer and poet Erin Taylor, Bimboland is an astute and confident debut, balancing, in their blistering and tender style, their life as a sex worker and socialist politics. The poems are full of desire and vulnerability, insight and calls to action, both personal and societal. You can get lost in the insatiable pace of their words and the way in which you feel, as they feel, “powerful yet somehow / nothing.” 1716 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Feliz; Friday, December 30, 7pm; free; storiesla.com. 

New Year’s Eve

Polartropica’s New Year’s Eve Honeymoon at Cakeland. A unique, ethereal synth psychedelia musical experience combining exquisite melodies, dreamlike classical string arrangements, and shimmering vocals anchors a special two-part performance with tea, treats, burlesque, and light cosplay created exclusively for Cakeland's immersive art space — a walk-in sculptural environment made of frosted cake, mirrors, sweet surprises and sharp fangs. 936 Mei Ling Way, Chinatown; Saturday, December 31, 6-8:30pm & 9pm-midnight; $25-$40; instagram.com/cakeland.la.

The Roots at Disney Hall. Spend this New Year's Eve with Questlove, Black Thought, and the rest of the legendary Roots crew. The Grammy-winning Philadelphia hip-hop group — and house band for The Tonight Show — rings in 2023 with a pair of shows at Walt Disney Concert Hall, bringing their much-heralded, much-loved live show to say goodbye to 2022 and welcome the new year in style. 111 S. Grand Ave, downtown; Saturday, December 31, 7pm & 10:30pm; $89-$284; laphil.com. 

New Year’s Eve Spectacular at the Groundlings. NYE can be a bit fraught, so why not just laugh at the passage of time? The lobby hosts snacks, beer and wine before the all-star performers take the stage at for a raucous improv show featuring The Groundlings House Band. At midnight, the actors and audience will come together for a champagne toast to welcome in 2023! 21 & Up Only. Guests will need to provide a same-day covid test upon entry. 7307 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood; Saturday, December 31, 9pm; $100; groundlings.com.

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