BURBANK, Calif. — In 2006, Bobby Wittenberg migrated to sunny Los Angeles with three of his East Coast film school buddies to make their way in the, sometime, cold entertainment industry.

“It’s the town where a lot of people think it’s not easy to make friends, or everyone’s out for themselves,” said Wittenberg. “LA didn’t feel like the Christmas we were used to.”

To widen their circle of friends, Wittenberg and his homesick roommates decided to host an “old fashioned” Christmas party in their small two-bedroom apartment in the San Fernando Valley. The only requirement was to wear an “ugly Christmas sweater.” Ninety people showed up. 

Sixteen years later, Wittenberg now co-hosts what he says is the biggest and longest-running “ugly sweater” party in LA, which has since moved the Burbank Moose Lodge to accommodate hundreds of guests. The party is famous and was once the unofficial holiday party for the staff of "The Tonight Show" starring Jay Leno.