It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in LA, and if there is one place sure to give you instant warm fuzzies for the holidays, it’s Downtown Santa Monica and the Third Street Promenade. Just think: twinkling lights, thousands of them in fact, ice skating with scarves and mittens, warm hot chocolate, and yes – even falling snow. It wouldn’t be “LA” without it, of course. For folks like me craving nostalgia and a little holiday cheer, here are five ways Downtown Santa Monica has you completely covered this year:

 

5 FESTIVE WAYS TO GET IN THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT THIS YEAR IN DOWNTOWN SANTA MONICA

 

1. Channel your inner Michelle Kwan at Downtown Santa Monica’s ICE.

 

Ok so you don’t have to be Michelle Kwan to enjoy ice-skating – Ice at Santa Monica is a family and friendship affair welcome to all. This 8,000 square-foot ice-skating rink features all the makings for a perfect holiday themed afternoon or evening. Aside from skating, Ice also offers delicious bites from local restaurants, holiday movie screenings, and so much more. Between the festive lights, the holiday music, the laughter and smiling faces – the happiness at Ice is simply contagious.  Skate rental and all-day admission is just $15, and locker rentals are $5. Ice at Santa Monica is open through January 21, 2019.

 

2. Take a stroll through the 3rd Street Promenade to catch the Merry & Bright Light show

 

Something that never tires during the holiday season is a good old-fashioned light show. Granted this light show is quite modern and state of the art; a rush of joy, wonderment, and nostalgia is still guaranteed. Almost every tree you see and nearly everywhere you look along the Third Street Promenade is decorated with lights. And be sure not to miss the nightly light show itself that commences every half hour between 5-10 pm.

 

3. Grab the fam and catch an Outdoor movie screening of Holiday & LA classics

 

Every Wednesday night through January 16th at Ice, you and friends and family can catch a 6pm screening of holiday favorites such as A Christmas Story, Home Alone, and the Nightmare Before Christmas. Stick around after the holiday movie screening to catch an 8pm showing of a select “LA film” – described as a curation of a cinephile’s exploration of the City of Angels’ role in motion pictures.

 

4. Bring your furry friend down to Santa Monica Place for a night with Santa

 

Get those red noses, light up collars, ugly sweaters, and bell adorned outfits ready because pets need pic’s with Santa too! And Santa Monica Place is making you and your little furry loved one’s Christmas wishes come true this season by having Santa stop by on December 12th and 19th between 5 – 8 pm. JUST to pose with pups and kitties. Santa will be available for photos with everyone else everyday through Christmas Eve between 11am – 8pm.

 

5. Have a beer for a cause in honor of the 10th Annual Santa Monica Pub Crawl

Take part in the season of giving by joining a few thousand of your closest friends for the “Merriest Night of the Year in Santa Monica”. This year the annual Santa Monica Pub Crawl will be on December 8th. And will feature 30 of the city’s best bars and restaurants with four unique routes. Proceeds from the night will go towards providing 100,000 meals to those in need this season at the Westside Food Bank.

 

 

 

Disclaimer: This post was made in partnership with Downtown Santa Monica. But as always my voice and opinions belong only to me. Thank you for supporting the incredible brands who in turn support me. And thus allow me to bring fresh and relevant content to our community on the regular! To learn more about happenings in Downtown Santa Monica, please visit www.downtownsm.com