December 3
Montana Avenue Holiday Walk, shopping deals, entertainment, and warm drinks, 5 to 9 p.m., Montana Avenue between 7th and 17th Streets, www.montanaave.com.
The Music West Singers, holiday concert featuring songs of the 1940s with period set, vintage costumes, and live band, 7 p.m., $10, Westchester Townhouse, 8501 Emerson Ave., Westchester, 310.692.0006.
SMC Chamber Choir, holiday music program, with music from both Jewish and Christian musical traditions, 7:30 p.m., $10, Edye Second Space, SMC Performing Arts Center, 1310 11th St., 310.434.3005.
December 3-5
Fillmore and Western Railway Holiday Train Rides, Christmas Tree Holiday Train, Dec. 4-5, Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 19, North Pole Express, weekends through Dec. 27, Dinner with Santa, Dec. 10 and 17th, prices range from $14 to $47, children under two are free, 805.524.2546.
The Nutcracker, by the Malibu Civic Ballet, 7:30 p.m. Friday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, $32 to $35, Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 PCH, Malibu, 310.506.4522.
December 4
Main Street Annual Holiday Festival, sidewalk sale, Santa Claus, tree and menorah lightings in Heritage Square, caroling by walking groups, a candlelight walk, entertainment by Jingle Bell Rockers at Edgemar Center, and open shops with refreshments and entertainment, 6 to 10 p.m., free, Main Street between Pico Blvd. and Marine St., www.mainstreetsm.com
Ocean Park Holiday Party, featuring gypsy jazz of the Chris Murphy Band, 4 to 6 p.m., free, Deyermond Art and Book Gallery, 2801 Main St., contact@opa-sm.org.
Sweet Treats Decorating Party, 1 to 4 p.m., free, Malibu Country Mart, 3835 Cross Creek Rd., Malibu, 310.826.5635.
Winter Feast and Frolic, benefit for The Broad Stage, with “Lady Jamie Lee Curtis,” plus Impro Theatre’s “Jane Austen Unscripted” with special guest Michael York, cocktails 6 p.m., theatre 7 p.m., $250, The Broad Stage, SMC Performing Arts Center, 1310 11th St., 310.434.3416.
December 4-5
The Nutcracker, presented by Westside Ballet of Santa Monica, 2 and 7 p.m. Saturdays, 1 and 5 p.m. Sundays, Wadsworth Theatre, 11301 Wilshire Blvd., LA, www.ticketmaster.com or call 800.982.2787. Also plays Dec. 11 and 12.
December 4-11
Chanukah Menorah Lighting, with congregation Kehillat Ma’arav, through Dec. 11, 6:30 p.m., free, 1300 block (center court-north) Third Street Promenade, http://thirdstreetpromenade.org.
December 5
1610 Vespers by Claudio Monteverdi, a fusion of traditional and polyphonic chant, presented by Cantori Domino, 4 p.m., seniors $20, regular $25, St. Augustine-by-the-Sea, 1227 4th St., www.cantoridomino.org.
Beyond Baroque Holiday Party, with reading by Hollywood Institute of Poetry, 7:30 p.m., free, Beyond Baroque, 681 Venice Blvd., Venice, 310.822.3006.
December 6
Happy Holidays Workshop, learn how to identify your pleasures, leave things behind, and make the most of your choices, with Carlan Robinson, PhD., 3 to 4:30 p.m., free, DeWind Room, Santa Monica Family YMCA, 1332 6th St., 310.393.2721. Also meets December 13.
The Shop Around the Corner, classic film with James Stewart and Margaret Sullivan, followed by discussion with film scholar Vivian Rosenberg, 2 p.m., free, Montana Branch Library, 1704 Montana Ave, 310.458.8682.
December 7
Holiday Elf Gift Shop, with works by Shari Elf, through Dec. 23, Project Room 1, Santa Monica Museum of Art, Bergamot Station, www. SMMoA.org.
Holiday Hoopla, children’s program with storytelling and puppet show, 3:30 and 4:30 p.m., free, Ocean Park Branch Library, Main St., 310.458.8683.
Mrs. Scrooge, an interactive retelling of the classic, written and directed by Diane Namm, through Dec. 19, 4 p.m. Tuesdays-Wednesdays, noon and 3 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays, The Other Space, Santa Monica Playhouse, 1211 4th St., www.westofbroadway.org.
December 8
Advent Organ Vespers, 7 p.m., free, Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, 1343 Ocean Park Blvd., 310.452.1116. Also December 15.
December 9
Lyric Chorus, holiday tunes, 11 a.m., free, MLK Jr. Auditorium, Santa Monica Main Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., 310.458.8600.
ONGOING
ICE at Santa Monica, ice skating through February 15, noon to 10 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, noon-midnight Fridays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays, $10 (includes skates), ICE at Santa Monica Outdoor Ice Rink, 1324 5th St., 310.393.8355.
Pictures with Santa Claus, through Dec. 24, 11 a.m to 5 p.m., Center Court, 1300 Block of Third Street Promenade, thirdstreetpromenade.org.
Santa Monica Place Gift-Wrapping, through the holiday season, during mall hours, Guest Services, Level 2, Santa Monica Place, thirdstreetpromenade.org.
