Why Even The Biggest Grinch Will Fall In Love With Fa La Land, the New LA Christmas Popup
My husband hates pop-ups. He hates taking pictures. He hates being IN pictures. So what was he doing at the latest LA Christmas pop-up? My brother bought us all tickets knowing I would love it and not realizing hubby might hate it. Haha so it was to my great surprise and delight to see my pop-up grinch of a husband actually enjoy himself for once – AND put on a Christmas sweater for pics to boot! (mind blown)
This was all of course thanks to the incredibly joyful staff at Fala Land who had magical grinch-defying powers and contagious Christmas cheer. They were so high on life (and maybe drunk on too many Red Bulls ?) that you couldn’t help but smile in unison and laugh at their silly antics. Only they could make communicating the rules of the pop-up seem fun, not boring…similar to how Jet Blue airlines creatively makes their announcements onboard humorous rather than bland. And only they could chant “put on that sweater, put on that sweater” in such a convincing way as to actually make my husband listen to me and put on the ugly Christmas sweater I brought for him to wear. And for that I am forever grateful!
Have you heard of Fa La Land? It’s a holiday-themed pop-up where you can get your Santa pics AND enough fodder to fill your Instagram feed for the next month! Each room was highly stylized and every corner bursted with vibrant colors and classic Christmas scenes. And like all pop-ups, each room had fun interactive elements.
Winter Wonderland? Check. Here you got to meet and chat with Mrs. Claus, write a letter to Santa and mail it and walk through the naughty or nice door of your choice.
Elf on the shelf and a spinning wheel to determine which list you should write your name on? Check.
Psychedelic Christmas tree forest where you have to search for the hiding elf? Check.
Ball Pit? Check
Supersized, candy swing? Check.
And the most spectacular santa pic? Check!
For more info. on this fantastically festive popup, and to buy tickets, click here!
Fa La Land is located at the ROW DTLA 787 S. Alameda StreetLos Angeles, CA 90021 in the heart of downtown Los Angeles.
Fa La Land is open 6 days a week, closed Mondays.
Tuesday: 11am-8:30 pm
Wednesday: 11am-8:30 pm
Thursday: 11am- 8:30pm
Friday: 11am-9:30 pm
Saturday: 10am-9:30 pm
Sunday: 10am-8:30 pm
For more on popups and the 8 elements you’re likely to find at any, click here for my popular pop-up round-up!
The next room, was light, bright and reminiscent of the Disney Movie’s Frozen scene. Ice crystals hung above, a mirrored ice throne awaited and jellybeans disguised as famous works of art decorated this palace.
Strangely enough, in LA, this pop-up had so few people running through it, we felt like we had the place to ourselves! 
That right there, may have been the real treat. Because as NY-ers, we are accustomed to waiting in lines for that Instagram-able shot. Here, we jumped in and found ourselves in an enormous pool of marshmallows all by ourselves! It was incredible!
This immersive Instagram heaven had colorful moments at every turn. But one of our favorites was the room with unicorns and flying, farting pigs. Yes, you heard me right..but no worries, these silly pigs blow confetti at you and poop our chocolate bars ha!
Jackie Sorkin, candy stylist, star of TLC’s Candy Queen and celebrity event planner describes Candytopia as a place where “an eccentric chocolatier and a daredevil pop star had a whirlwind romance, got married while skydiving, and had a glamorous, glittering love child who grew up to rule a small nation.”
