The weather outside isn't frightful, but the City's holiday events are sure to be delightful. Every part of town from Montana Avenue to Main Street has something to offer in the way of a yuletide celebration.
The Third Street Promenade is going to be bustling with cheer this month, starting with the Downtown Santa Monica Community Tree Lighting and photos with Santa on Thursday, Dec. 3 from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. between Arizona Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard. The Promenade will also be host to Menorah Lightings in the same location, starting at sundown from Dec. 6 - 13, with the Dec. 10 lighting featuring a special performance by Klezmer Juice. And creeping closer to Christmas the Promenade will host a holiday movie night featuring a screening of the classic holiday movie “Home Alone” on Friday, Dec. 18. Hot cocoa and kids crafts at 6 p.m. will precede the screening at 7 p.m.
Main Street will be celebrating the season in style with their holiday event on Saturday, Dec. 5. The festivities begin at 5:15 p.m. when Santa Claus will be available for photos with the little ones on the lawn at the California Heritage Museum (2612 Main St.) Photos are free, but remember to bring your own camera. The Santa Monica High School choir will perform holiday classics at 6 p.m. Then the jolly man himself will preside over a countdown to the lighting of the holiday tree on the lawn, which will be followed by a candlelight walk to the iconic shopping cart tree at the Edgemar Center for the Arts. Off Their Jingle Bell Rockers will perform for the crowd until close at 7 p.m. Over 60 participating Main Street merchants will be hosting special holiday parties with the festivities taking place from 6 - 9 p.m.
Montana Avenue will be hosting its 30th annual Holiday Walk on Friday, Dec. 4 from 5 - 9 p.m. The walk is a yearly tradition during which stores on the street stay open late for shoppers who are hunting for holiday gifts. Santa will be present for photos and carolers will wander the avenue.
For those who are ready to jump right into the season there is the Holiday Hop Along Pico hosted on Pico Boulevard on Saturday, Dec. 5. During the event, local residents and businesses alike will gather together from 12 - 4 p.m. to enjoy refreshments, entertainment, shopping specials and art displays. There will be red bows adorning merchants' doors signaling they are offering holiday specials. The center of the activity will be at the Venice Family Clinic (2509 Pico Blvd.) where there will be live music by bands like The Lads, children's activities and refreshments from Gilbert's El Indio, Unurban Coffeehouse and Z Garden. Santa Claus will be holding court from 12 - 3 p.m. and photos may be taken free of charge. Entertainment along the boulevard will include strolling Samohi carolers and live music at Acapillow, Animal Kingdom, El Texate, Kronovet Realty and McCabe's; as well as the “Pico elves” that will hop along the boulevard with lists of specials and additional info for the holiday activities. Donations of canned goods will be accepted at the event for the Westside Food Bank.
And at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows the holiday season will be celebrated with the annual Meet Me Under the Fig Tree event on Sunday, Dec. 6. The free event, hosted by the hotel and MSD Capital, will run from 2 - 5 p.m. and the whole family is invited. There will be entertainment provided by Grammy-award winning pianist Bill Cunliffe and the Santa Monica High School orchestra, photo ops with Santa Claus, gingerbread houses, seasonal crafts and a complimentary raffle with prizes donated by local businesses and the Miramar Hotel. There will be a bounce house, cotton candy, a petting zoo, mural painting and more for the kids. Visitors are encouraged to bring nonperishable food items, which will be donated to OPCC.
jennifer@www.smdp.com
