Santa Monica's Holiday Fun for Everyone

SANTA MONICA YOUTH ORCHESTRA HOLIDAY MARIACHI CONCERT

Tuesday, December 3 | 6:30 p.m. | Pico Library De-stress from the holiday rush and join us for a Mariachi concert featuring well-known holiday songs as well as popular mariachi songs. Sing-along, clap-along and drink a complimentary cocoa. For more information, call 310.458.8684 or visit SMPL.org.

HOMESPUN FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Saturday, December 7 | Virginia Avenue Park Farmers Market (Pico Boulevard at Cloverfield) and participating shops along Pico Boulevard. Celebrate a homespun holiday season with the Pico Boulevard merchants and farmers. For more information visit facebook.com/PicoBlvdSM.

TEA AND CANVAS PAINTING

Monday, December 23 | 6:30 p.m. | Pico Library Get together with your friends for a wintertime celebration of painting fun and a hot tea treat! Learn a step-by-step method for creating your very own piece of artwork. For more information, call 310.458.8684 or visit SMPL.org.

MONTANA AVENUE HOLIDAY WALK

Saturday, December 7 | 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. | Montana Avenue (between 6th - 17th Streets) For more information visit MontanaAve.com.

HANDMADE HOLIDAY DECORATIONS

Monday, December 9 | 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. | Montana Branch Library Hand make crafty banners, centerpieces, garlands, and one-of-a-kind decorations for a beautiful holiday celebration! Enjoy crafting using felt, hand stamping, paper crafting techniques and more to create special items for the holidays. For more information call 310.458.8682 or visit us at SMPL.org.

MIRACLE ON MAIN (20TH ANNIVERSARY)

Saturday, December 7 | 4 p.m. - 8 p.m. | CA Heritage Museum (Main Street at Ocean Park Boulevard) and Surrounding Businesses. Tree lighting, carolers and Santa! Starting at California Heritage Museum at 4 p.m., followed by a candlelight walk to the famous Shopping Cart Tree at Edgemar Center and festivities along Main Street with holiday parties at participating shops into the night. Organized by the Main Street Merchants Association BID. For more information, visit MainStreetSM.com.

HOLIDAY CARD CRAFT EXTRAVAGANZA

Tuesday, December 10 | 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. | Ocean Park Library Drop in and create spectacular cards or gift tags for the holiday season using folding, coloring, glue, or pop-up construction. For more information call 310.458.8683 or visit SMPL.org.

HAVE YOURSELF A MOVIE LITTLE CHRISTMAS WITH AUTHOR ALONSO DURALDE

Saturday, December 7 | 2 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. | Fairview Library Alonso Duralde, film critic for thewrap.com and author of several film history books, discusses the quirky history of holiday movies. Following his talk, we’ll screen one of his favorite obscure Christmas flicks, a romantic comedy starring Janet Leigh and Robert Mitchum. (87 min) For more information call 310.458.8681 or visit SMPL.org.

THE MARK TWAIN RINGERS

Wednesday, December 11 | 4:00 p.m. | Fairview Library Enjoy a special holiday concert featuring a group of all-teen English handbell ringers from Mark Twain Middle School that has performed across the United States and all over the world! (45 min) For more information, call 310.458.8681 or visit SMPL.org.

PHOTOS WITH SANTA

Saturday – Tuesday | Through December 24 | Santa Monica Place’s Center Plaza Visit Santa Clause at his ocean-side workshop and snap a picture. Photo packages available for purchase. Make reservations online at SantaMonicaPlace.com.

ICE SKATING

Through January 20 | Hours Vary, Check Website | 1324 Fifth Street (Corner of Arizona Avenue and 5th Street) Every holiday season DTSM brings a little ice skating to the beachside community with an 8,000-square-foot ice-skating rink. Skate rental and allday admission $15, locker rentals $5. Check website for skating hours and weekly performance schedule. For more information, visit DowntownSM.com/WinterLit.

PET PHOTOS WITH SANTA

Wednesday, December 11 & 18 | 5 p.m.- 8 p.m. | Santa Monica Place Bring your furry friend to one of Santa Monica Place’s special pet nights and “sit” for a photo with Santa. Dogs and cats only and must be on leash or in carrier. Reserve your spot at SantaMonicaPlace.com/Holiday.

THE LYRIC CHORUS SINGS IN THE SEASON

Thursday, December 12 | 11:00 a.m. | MLK Jr. Auditorium The SMC Emeritus Lyric Chorus returns under the direction of Tom Gerhold and Linda Jackson, for a seasonal concert featuring a variety of Broadway songs and summertime favorites. For more information, call 310.458.8600 or visit SMPL.org.

MENORAH LIGHTINGS

December 22 – 30 | Begins at sundown | 1300 Block of Third Street Promenade (between Santa Monica Boulevard + Arizona Avenue) Join local synagogues and community groups as their members celebrate the Festival of Lights this Hanukkah season. DowntownSM.com/WinterLit

BOB BAKER MARIONETTE THEATER

Thursdays, December 5, 12 & 19 | Santa Monica Pier Merry-Go-Round deck The iconic Bob Baker Marionette Theater brings their holiday spectacular to the Pier for 6 shows of puppetry, singalongs and cheer. It’s a magical show on the carousel deck, with the Holiday windows illuminating the night sky. For more information, visit SantaMonicaPier.org.

HOLIDAY CHEER ON THE PIER INSTALLATION

Daily through January 6 | SM Pier Historic Merry-Go-Round Windows The historic merry-go-round windows will come to life with a holiday installation by renowned Australian artists, PipnPop. The windows will be free to view and open to the public day and night. For more information, visit SantaMonicaPier.org.

HOLIDAY STORYTIME

Friday, December 13 | 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. | Santa Monica Pier Merry-Go-Round Hosted by the Santa Monica Public Library. This is a wonderful event for Santa Monica kids to play and learn holiday lore. For more information, visit SantaMonicaPier.org.

UNIQUE LA HOLIDAY MARKET

Saturday & Sunday, December 14 & 15 | Santa Monica Pier Get all of your holiday shopping done at one of LA’s best artisan markets with everything from jewelry to crafts, homewares to apparel. Featuring some of the area’s coolest and most unique vendors, creating a shopping experience unlike any other. For more information, visit SantaMonicaPier.org.

THE NOELLE’S HOLIDAY CONCERT

Saturday & Sunday, December 21 & 22 | Santa Monica Pier Merry-Go-Round deck A female doo-wop group that sings holiday carols - is there anything better or more festive?! It’s the last weekend before the holiday, so make sure you come down and catch the last bit of magic at Holiday Cheer at the Pier. For more information, visit SantaMonicaPier.org.