Promenade, SM Place Light Up for Holidays

(l.to r.) Promenade tree, Santa Monica Place tree.

   Winter will arrive in Santa Monica on Friday, November 28, at precisely 5:15 p.m. when Emmy-winning actress Doris Roberts and Mark L. Walberg, host of “Temptation Island” and “House Rules,” throw the switch, lighting downtown Santa Monica for the holidays.
   The ceremony will follow a day of music and entertainment on the Third Street Promenade and at Santa Monica Place.
   Surfin’ Santa Claus and his elves will arrive at 9 a.m. Friday on the Promenade, set up shop and preside at a breakfast for 150 children who will inaugurate the 2003 wish list. At 2 p.m., the Santa Monica High School Orchestra will kick off a program on the Main Stage. Future Hasbeens will emcee the opening segment, before turning the stage over to Mark and Kim from KOST Radio.
   In addition, actors from Santa Monica Playhouse will perform a portion of “Alice and the Wonderful Tea Party,” and Gwendolyn and the Goodtime Gang will appear.
   At 4 p.m., snow will fall at Santa Monica Place.
   Following the lighting ceremony, Roberts, who is featured in “Everyone Loves Raymond” on CBS, will decamp to Barnes and Noble to sign copies of her autobiography, Are You Hungry, Dear? at 6 p.m.
   Children can have their photos taken with Santa Claus for $2 during the holidays, with the proceeds going to the Westside Food Bank, an area nonprofit organization.
   The Winterlit display will illuminate Downtown Santa Monica every evening from sundown to 3 a.m. through the first week of January. It features three 22-foot trees, icebergs around the Promenade’s famous dinosaur sculptures, and a new cascade of lights. Santa Monica Place will erect a 30-foot tree in the central court, ice, snowflakes, sprite fairies, and a multi-colored light show that creates a shimmering snow effect.
   Upcoming holiday events include regular appearancs by Santa, strolling carolers and Scrooges, screenings of short holiday films every Tuesday in December on the upper deck at Santa Monica Place, and the lighting of a menorah at the beginning of Hanukkah, Saturday, December 20.
   The holiday celebration is being produced by The Bayside District Corporation, which manages the downtown business district, and the Macerich Company, owners of Santa Monica Place.
  
   Main Street Throws Annual Holiday Party
   At 6 p.m., Friday, November 28, the merchants on Main Street will begin their three-day celebration with a tree-lighting ceremony and holiday music at the California Heritage Museum, 2612 Main Street, just south of Ocean Park Boulevard.
   Main Street’s now-famous starfish holiday lights will also be lit for the season.
   The ceremonies will be followed by a window decorations contest, during which residents and visitors may cast ballots for their favorite Main Street displays. Many stores are also planning holiday parties and sidewalk sales.
   Santa Claus will arrive on Main Street on Saturday morning, in time for a pancake breakfast at 8 a.m. at the Victorian, 2640 Main Street, after which he will appear on Main Street. He will return every Sunday until Christmas, and, on Sunday, December 21, he will be joined at the Farmers’ Market by a Klezmer band.
   The Main Street holiday events are being produced by the Main Street Merchants Association.