Santa Monica Holiday Events: Winterlit Holiday Lights and Festivities Transform Downtown Santa Monica

Calendar Events "Self-Care Saturdays" Continue on the Third Street Promenade Through December 2021. Free workouts every Saturday morning plus a pop-up market featuring local artisan vendors and sustainable brands.

Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. in partnership with Fit Girl Club LA is hosting Self-Care Saturdays weekly through December 18 on the Third Street Promenade. Classes are free and vary per week with a diverse mix of workout styles including yoga, pilates, Krav Maga, dance cardio, kickboxing and more. Participants are encouraged to bring their own yoga mat, towel and water for maximum enjoyment.

Local, minority-owned businesses are also featured during the workout series, offering unique and often hand-made items with a self-care focus. Visitors are encouraged to mix and mingle with like-minded fitness enthusiasts, shop, dine or check out the celebrated Santa Monica Farmers Market, open from 8 am – 1 pm every Saturday.

Fit Girl Club LA will also host the Conscious Night Market on the Promenade, Saturday, December 4 from 2 – 8 p.m, free to the public. The pop-up artisan market features unique goods from over 50 local vendors, predominantly women-owned businesses in fashion, candles, plants and crystals. Market-goers can enjoy shopping elevated and sustainable brands in addition to live music and kids performances. Santa Claus will make a visit to the Market just in time for the holidays as part of Sleigh It Forward, which has been delivering unwrapped toys to kids in disadvantaged areas around Los Angeles since 2006. Santa will be present all day with a break every 40 minutes.

Classes are held Saturday mornings through December 18, 2021. There is a 10 am session and an 11am session, each offering a different type of workout. For a full class schedule visit, DowntownSM.com/Self-Care-Saturdays. The Conscious Night Market will be on the Promenade Saturday, December 4 from 2 – 8 pm. Third Street Promenade at Arizona Avenue, Santa Monica, CA

All workout classes are free, but participants are required to register ahead of time to ensure adequate and safe physical distancing of all attendees. For event registration visit, Eventbrite.

Santa Monica Place Announces 2021 Holiday Festivities

Enjoy shopping and dining with holiday DJ sets, entertainment, Pet Photo Nights, a visit with Santa Claus and more

This holiday season, Santa Monica Place will offer an array of festive activities for the whole family to enjoy. Visitors and shoppers will catch special performances by the dancing sensation, Santa Monica Beach Belles, ballerina performances inside the 14-foot larger-than-life Snow Globe, live DJ holiday sets, as well as festive light displays and a 50-foot iconic Christmas tree in Center Plaza.

Santa's coming to town November 19 and taking residence under the Christmas tree in Center Plaza through December 24. Visitors will have the opportunity to snap a photo with Santa and shoppers can bring their four-legged friends to meet Santa during Pet Nights on December 15-16.

SANTA HOURS November 19, 20, & 28: 11am-7pm, November 21: 12-6pm November 22 & 23: 2-7pm, November 24, 26, 27, 29 & 30: 10am-8pm

Thanksgiving Day, November 25: CLOSED

December Monday-Saturday: 10am-8pm. Sundays: 11am-7pm. Christmas Eve, December 24: 10am-5pm

BEACH BELLES & SNOW GLOBE BALLERINA PERFORMANCES December 10 -12: 3-7:30 pm. December 17- 24: 3-7:30 pm

PET PHOTOS WITH SANTA :Bring your four-legged friend to a special pet night and "sit" for a photo with Santa.* December 15 & 16: 5-8 pm *Cats and dogs only. Please be sure to have your pet on a leash or in a pet carrier.

Winterlit Holiday Lights and Festivities Transform Downtown Santa Monica

Festivities include the official City of Santa Monica holiday tree, menorah lightings, a pop-up artisan market, visits from Santa and more

The official City of Santa Monica 24-foot-tall holiday tree welcomes guests to the Third Street Promenade. Photo provided by Downtown Santa Monica, Inc.

Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. (DTSM) brings the holidays to the Third Street Promenade with the return of Winterlit, transforming the downtown district into an immersive, festive experience. Tens of thousands of colorful lights, decor and garland will deck the Third Street Promenade, 2nd and 4th Streets, illuminating convenient shopping and cozy outdoor dining experiences. Santa comes to the Promenade on Friday, November 19 at 6 p.m. for the annual lighting of the official City of Santa Monica 24-foot-tall holiday tree.

Nightly menorah lightings will celebrate the Festival of Lights during the Hanukkah season from Sunday, November 28 through Monday, December 6. The lighting of the menorah will begin at sundown and take place on the 1400 block of Third Street Promenade (located between Santa Monica Blvd and Broadway).

For a one-stop holiday shopping destination, the Conscious Night Market will be on the Promenade, Saturday, December 4 from 4 – 9 p.m. hosted by Fit Girl LA. The pop-up artisan market features unique goods from over 40 local vendors, elevated and sustainable brands in addition to live music and free kombucha. The SoCal Etsy Guild comes to downtown for two dates: Saturday, November 20 and Saturday, December 18 from 2 – 9 p.m., featuring local Southern California-based artists, crafters and designers. Shoppers can support local businesses while finding something for everyone on their gift list.

Steps from the Promenade, Santa Monica Place will offer an array of festive activities for the whole family to enjoy this holiday season. Santa Clause will be in town and available for photos November 19 through December 24. Visitors and shoppers can also catch special performances by the dancing sensation, Santa Monica Beach Belles, and the 14-foot larger-than-life Snow Globe. Bring your furry friend to a special pet night and "sit" for a photo with Santa on December 15 and 16. Visit SantaMonicaPlace.com for more information.

DJ HOLIDAY SETS Saturdays & Sundays in November and December: 3-7 pm Black Friday Weekend: 11 am-3 pm

The Morgan-Wixson Theatre. Youth Education/Entertainment Series (Y.E.S.) is thrilled to present, live onstage, the 25th annual Youth Musical Little Women

The Morgan-Wixson Youth Education/Entertainment Series presents Little Women, The Broadway Musical. Based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott. Book by Allan Knee, music by Jason Howland, lyrics by Mindi Dickstein, directed by Anne Gesling, music direction by Daniel Koh, choreography by Michael Marchak, produced by Evelyn Vizzi, Eve Keller, and Cori Goldberg. Runs November 13 – 28.

Based on Louisa May Alcott's life, Little Women follows the adventures of sisters Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy March. Produced nationally and internationally, Little Women has been praised by critics for its ambition in adapting such a well-known story for the stage. The original production starred the unparalleled Sutton Foster, who received Tony, Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk nominations for her performance.

The talented Morgan-Wixson teen cast is so excited to be back on stage after a year and a half away! Masked and vaccinated, these dedicated performers have been rehearsing with a renewed sense of purpose and dedication.

Company members include (in alphabetical order) Filip Alexander, Charli Austin, Liliana Bettinelli, Eadric Einbinder, Avery Fox, Maia Goldberg, Sarah Hajmomenian, Sophia Joy, Cole Kaller, Chase Klein, Ethan Kuwata, Lily Moss, Emily Ockomichalak, Monty Oxman, Abby Penny, Taos Pressman, Juliett Rojas, Walden Sullivan, Yaya Toubassy, Bo-Violet Vig, and Mimi Vizzi, and Kheian Washington.

Little Women embodies the complete theatrical experience, guaranteeing a night filled with laughter, tears and a lifting of the spirit. The powerful score soars with the sounds of personal discovery, heartache and hope – the sounds of a young America finding its voice.

JUST THE FACTS: Little Women, The Broadway Musical Based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott/ Book by Allan Knee Music by Jason Howland Lyrics by Mindi Dickstein/ Directed by Anne GeslingMusic Direction by Daniel Koh Choreography by Michael Marchak

Produced by Evelyn Vizzi, Eve Keller, and Cori Goldberg. Based on the beloved novel by Louisa May Alcott, Little Women is about the adventures of sisters Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy March who live in New England during the Civil War. Jo is trying to sell her stories to publishers but they are not interested. She takes her friend Professor Bhaer's advice and starts writing about herself and her sisters and their experiences. This timeless, captivating story is brought to life in this glorious musical filled with personal discovery, heartache, hope, and everlasting love.

Saturday November 13 at 2:00 pm Sunday November 14 at 2:00 pm Friday November 19 at 7:30 pm Sunday November 21 at 2:00 pm Friday November 26 at 7:30 pm Saturday November 27 at 2:00 pm Sunday November 28 at 2:00 pm

The Morgan-Wixson Theatre, 2627 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica 90405. Free parking available at the Venice Family Clinic 1 block west of the theater. Reserved seats available at http://www.morgan-wixson.org or by phone at 310-828-7519 or by email at boxoffice@ morgan-wixson.org. Ticket prices: Adults: $25, Ages 13-18: $20, Ages 12 Under: $16. Patrons must agree to follow the theater's Covid-19 policy before purchasing tickets.

Chanin Victor is a family travel specialist focusing on experiential, immersive, multigenerational travel. She is a versatile freelance writer, skilled journalist, and avid photographer. Based in Los Angeles with her family, Chanin seizes every opportunity to embark on new adventures. Discover her travels and insights at chaninvictor.com - PLUS - if you're interested in Chanin's family-friendly travel stories, inspiration and travel tips, look HERE: https://chaninvictor.com/travel-trends/ at the Santa Monica Observer!