Gigs Go Gratis, Glittery at Universal CityWalk

A trio of concerts stir up the holiday spirit up the hill.

We're not saying you shouldn't start listening to holiday music on Jan. 5, but we are saying that if you put off the more chill-out parts of the season, then the season shall end and you'll be plunk in the middle of early January, sputtering "but wait! I didn't mean to spend all of my time running about, getting stuff done!"

That's an issue, for sure, for many of us this time of year, and it goes high gear come mid-December, when people start saying "I can't believe Christmas is next week!"

Oof. Too much, still, to do.

Here's a solution: Do stuff *outside* of your to-do list, make it easy, make it festive, and make it free.

Universal CityWalk has the big blinky over-the-top tree up, and a series of pay-nothing concerts at the tree-close 5 Towers stage. The gratis entertainment'll land on various nights through New Year's Eve, so chances are good something jingle-bell-y will be going down up the hill on almost any evening you choose.

Plus, inside Universal Studios Hollywood? Uh-huh: It's Grinchmas. Go to the backlot and Whoville, which neighbors the Bates Motel (#35 on our favorite SoCal secrets). It's ticketed, natch, but, if you're a Grinch lover, think about it.

But if you want to stick to CityWalk, here's a sample of what's on: Dec. 14 features Rozzi Crane and vocalists from "The Voice" and other shows. Dec. 15 brings gospel holiday songcraft, and Dec. 17? Electronic dance vibes.

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Basically picture the LED-lively brightness of CityWalk, on a stage, over several nights, with a holiday bent, with no admission price.

Yep, you won't let the season fly this year, we're sure of it. Unhand your list and do stuff that isn't about stuff, at least for a night.

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