Designer Daniel Lucas of Scenario Design and his crew of painters, effects experts led by Jameel Haiat – a veteran of the Macy’s Christmas Day Parade – began installing the new Christmas display on the Third Street Promenade on Monday.
Seven designers spent several months developing the display, which will feature green, retro, oversized light bulbs, candy canes and woodland creatures.
“Third Street is such an eclectic, fun and up-beat environment that I wanted to warm up the scenery and take people to a place of fond memories of Christmas,” Lucas said. “I hope the décor will catch people off guard, and bring a smile to their faces.”
A partnership of the Third Street Promenade and Santa Monica Place, the fourth annual Winterlit will get underway on Saturday, November 19, with “Breakfast with Santa” at Santa Monica Place from 9:30 to 11 a.m.
On Tuesday, November 22, Santa Claus will cruise back into downtown Santa Monica in a convertible.
Accompanied by emcees Mark and Kim of KOST 103.5 radio, Santa’s holiday road trip will begin at 10 a.m. on Route 66 (Santa Monica Boulevard) and end on the Third Street Promenade at noon.
This year’s Winterlit’s activities and entertainment will focus on families, beginning with the raffle of a $1,000 shopping spree at 1 p.m. on November 22 at the Third Street Promenade.
On Sunday, December 4, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Santa Monica Place will host the first Friends and Family Discount Fundraising Shopping Day benefiting local schools. Public, private and charter schools, along with community colleges and universities, are selling tickets to this mall discount shopping day for $10, and will keep all the proceeds. Ticket buyers will be given wristbands that will qualify them for discounts and/or added value gifts with purchase at participating retailers.
At the other end of the Promenade, at Wilshire and Ocean, the Fairmont Miramar Hotel will serve hot chocolate under its famed landmark fig tree in the courtyard from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
On two Mondays, December 5 and 12, from 4 to 8 p.m., Santa Monica Place will hold “Pet Night with Santa,” at which people can have their pets’ pictures taken with Santa Claus. The SPCA will be on hand to introduce pets looking for homes.
On Tuesday, December 6, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., local would-be models – men, women and children 7 and older – can take part in a modeling contest sponsored by Santa Monica Place and Third Street Promenade. The 25 winning contestants will model clothing and accessories at two subsequent holiday fashion shows on the Third Street Promenade.
On Saturday, December 10, from noon to 4 p.m. Winterlit Fun! will feature falling snow, an ice carving contest, pony rides, a petting zoo, interactive play booths, arts and crafts, puppeteers, music and comedy.On Sunday, December 11, winners of the modeling contest will participate in fashion shows at 2 and 3:30 p.m.
