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Time to mourn, time to embrace, time to heal on LA wildfires’ anniversary: A list of public events

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1-Year Anniversary Events for Eaton and Palisades Fires

Mark your calendars for a series of community events commemorating the one-year anniversary of the Eaton and Palisades fires. These gatherings honor those affected, celebrate resilience, and support ongoing recovery efforts.

Jan. 4 – Altadena Forever Run

A tribute to those who lost their homes, those who helped, and those who are rebuilding. The event features a 10K Run, 5K Walk/Run, and a 1K Family Walk/Run. Although registration is closed, the public is encouraged to cheer on participants starting at 8 a.m. (beginning with the 10K run).

This event honors Altadena’s resilience, supports long-term recovery, and raises funds for residents impacted by the Eaton fire. Proceeds from the event and donations through a GoFundMe campaign benefit the Altadena Eaton Fire Relief Fund and the Sheriff’s Support Group of Altadena.

Location: Starting point at Mariposa Junction, 849 E. Mariposa St., Altadena.

For route maps and donation information, please check the official event website.

Jan. 6 – Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church Prayer Services

The Rev. Matt Hardin leads an evening prayer service at 7 p.m. at Brentwood Presbyterian Church, 12000 San Vicente Blvd., Brentwood.

On Jan. 7, Rev. Hardin will lead a morning prayer gathering at the church’s destroyed campus site:

Time: 8 a.m.
Location: 15821 Sunset Blvd., Pacific Palisades.

Contact: 310-454-0366
Website: palipres.org

Jan. 7 – Eaton Fire Remembrance

La Cañada Presbyterian Church: “Grief stations” will be available all day, with a worship service at 6:30 p.m.
Location: 626 Foothill Blvd., La Cañada Flintridge.
Phone: 818-790-6708.

Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine: A Day of Remembrance and Renewal with restored gardens open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors are invited to peaceful contemplation. A gong will sound every hour on the hour for a moment of silence, regardless of visitors’ location around the lake. No reservations required.

The Lake Shrine, dedicated in 1950, is part of the worldwide Self-Realization Fellowship founded by Paramahansa Yogananda.
Location: 17080 Sunset Blvd., Pacific Palisades.
Phone: 310-454-4114.

American Legion Post: While the post ceremony will be held onsite, the formal ceremony portion from 9–10 a.m. will be livestreamed outside the post (15247 La Cruz Drive, Pacific Palisades). The public is invited to watch.

They Let Us Burn – Call for Fairness, Accountability and a Vision for the Rebuild: A non-partisan demonstration and rally featuring various speakers at a press conference.
Time: 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Location: Palisades Village, 15307 Antioch St. (corner of Swarthmore Avenue), Pacific Palisades.
RSVP requested via the event website.

Corpus Christi Catholic Church and School: Noon gathering to commemorate the fire on the church school steps (890 Toyopa Drive). Later, at 7 p.m., Rev. Msgr. Liam Kidney celebrates the Mass of Remembrance and Reflection at St. Monica Catholic Church, 725 California Ave., Santa Monica.
Note: Corpus Christi Church (15100 Sunset Blvd., Pacific Palisades) was destroyed in the fire.
Website: corpuschristichurch.com

St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church: Concerts of Remembrance, Healing, and Renewal featuring community prayers at noon and 6 p.m., with concerts by violinist Anne Akiko Meyers and members of the Los Angeles Master Chorale at 1 p.m., and the Pacific Strings at 7 p.m.

Location: 1031 Bienveneda Ave., Pacific Palisades.
Free to attend; suggested donation $45. Donations accepted at the door or online.

Details and ticket donations: tinyurl.com/4ujrkfu5
Facebook: The Parish of St. Matt’s

City of Malibu Palisades Fire Remembrance

Finding Strength in Community – A Healing Moment: Activities include a Chumash blessing, a moment of silence for lives lost, a remembrance poem by Malibu’s poet laureate Charlotte Ward, an art gallery tribute to first responders and community members, and a memorial area.

Time: 4 p.m.
Location: Malibu City Hall, 23825 Stuart Ranch Road.
The formal program will be livestreamed from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Malibu City’s YouTube channel.
Website: malibucity.org/palisades1yrremembrance

Community Coalition for Altadena Recovery (CCAR) – Eaton Fire 1-Year Commemoration

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger and Altadena-based organizations host an event featuring remembrances, music, and refreshments.
Time: 5 p.m.
Location: Grocery Outlet parking lot, 2270 Lake Ave., Altadena.
Rain or shine.

Altadena for Accountability: Holding a peaceful, silent demonstration at the same time and location (in front of Grocery Outlet, 2270 Lake Ave., Altadena).
Contact: foraltadena@gmail.com

Rise Malibu – A Night to Honor, Remember and Rise Together

Event includes musical performances and a screening of Big Rock Burning (2025 documentary).
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Malibu High School, 30215 Morning View Drive, Malibu.

Text “BIGROCKBURNING” to 44834 for tickets. Proceeds benefit the Malibu Education Foundation.

A Concert for Altadena

Hosted by John C. Reilly, this concert features performers such as Aloe Blacc; Dawes & Friends featuring Eric Krasno; Everclear; Brandon Flowers (The Killers); Jenny Lewis; Lord Huron; Lucius; Mandy Moore; Ozomatli; Brad Paisley; Taboo (Black Eyed Peas); and Rufus Wainwright.

Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Pasadena Civic Auditorium, 300 E. Green St., Pasadena.
Tickets start at $150.
Proceeds go to the Altadena Builds Back Foundation via the Pasadena Community Foundation’s Eaton Fire Relief and Recovery Fund.

Tickets available through Ticketmaster: tinyurl.com/4vccyk4h

Jan. 9 – Music Center’s Innovation Social

Reflections on Loss, Hope and Renewal: Guests will connect with Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality stories as well as interactive 3D stations documenting personal and environmental stories from the LA wildfires.

The event also features a performance by Evolve Altadena and TreePeople will distribute acorns.

Time: 6–9 p.m.
Location: Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Founders’ Room and Stern Grand Hall, 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles.
Free admission; reservations required via website.
Parking: $10 at Music Center or Walt Disney Concert Hall garages.
Website: musiccenter.org/innovationsocial

Jan. 11 – Altadena Candlelight Vigil

Hosted by Kinfolks Helping Hands and Connect 2 Rise, the vigil commemorates the Eaton fire. The event includes performances by a children’s choir and the Benn Family (featured on “America’s Got Talent”).

Time: Early entry at 6:30 p.m., ceremony begins at 7 p.m.
Location: Altadena Town and Country Club, 2290 Country Club Drive, Altadena.

Note: This event was postponed from its original date (Jan. 7) and location, now moved indoors.

Contact: changematters99@gmail.com

https://www.whittierdailynews.com/2026/01/02/time-to-mourn-time-to-embrace-time-to-heal-on-la-wildfires-anniversary-a-list-of-public-events/

5 Ways to Avoid Family Feuds This Thanksgiving

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Every year at about this time I see some patients who are filled with anxiety at the thought of going home to family for the holidays. While, for some, Thanksgiving sparks memories of delicious foods, aromas, and warm family feelings, for others just the idea of seeing relatives produces an almost panicked reaction. Family can be a fraught topic and I don’t pretend that I can help patients work out all of their complex issues and past history before heading home for the holidays. Processing that stew of anger, ambivalence, disappointment, guilt, and other uncomfortable emotions takes time in therapy to examine and resolve. But there are practical steps you can take to prevent frustration, blow-ups, and discomfort with your family. The key: adjusting your attitude as you head into the holidays. I’ve formatted these recommendation using the word FEUDS so they are easy to remember: F=Forget. Your psychotherapy may involve delving into the hurts heaped on you when growing up. But why not consider letting go of those memories and feelings just for a day or two over the holidays? Sometimes I suggest that a patient close their eyes, fill an imaginary red balloon with the negativity they harbor toward relatives, and then let the balloon go and fly into the air. You can always come back to examining family issues but, for the holidays, try to Be Here Now, as Ram Dass, an American spiritual leader and yoga guru, advised in a book of the same title. By bringing all your emotional baggage to the holiday table, you set yourself up for an unhappy experience. By letting go of hurt and hostility, you give yourself a chance to enjoy the holiday. Don’t deprive yourself of a good time. E=Ease. If you feel tense as you enter into the holiday season, it increases the chance of that strain accelerating when surrounded by relatives with whom you have challenging relationships. De-stressing in advance may take the form of breathing deeply and relaxing one’s body the day and hours before, meditating, doing yoga, and/or setting your intentions. When we are relaxed, we are less likely to become irritated, jump to conclusions, engage in arguments, and escalate conflicts. Try easing your way into the holidays. The results may be surprisingly beneficial. U=Understanding. Inevitably, those who hurt us have been hurt themselves. The parent who is overly critical, the sibling with whom you feel competitive, the aunt who talks so much that no one else can chime in-all of these characters threaten potentially tumultuous encounters. It can be worthwhile to spend a few minutes before you gather for the holidays thinking about each of your relatives from their own perspective: Did your overly critical parent have a disapproving parent from whom they felt rejected? Is the sibling of whom you feel jealous envious of some qualities that you possess? Why does your aunt need to take command of the famiy table? By all means, family issues should be explored in therapy. But, for the holidays, it can be interesting to see what happens when you exercise empathy for others. You may feel more lovingkindness toward the relatives you might otherwise resent. D=Diagnose. Chances are, the negativity you feel toward your family is rooted in something within you or the relatives you disdain. Thanksgiving is a holiday that requires being thankful. If you are feeling negative about relatives as well as other aspects of your life, you may, in fact, be experiencing some level of depression. Or maybe the tensions in your family are due to conditions that others are suffering. Maybe your irritable father or grandparent is depressed, or your selfish sibling is a narcissist, or the cousin who needs everything to happen at a certain time or in a certain way has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or is on the autism spectrum. The point is that there may be biological conditions impacting your feelings about your family. Recognizing the roots of your or your family members’ attitudes and actions can be helpful in de-toxifying them.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/depression-a-guide-for-the-perplexed/202511/5-ways-to-avoid-family-feuds-this-thanksgiving