The celebration marks 150 years since the original town of Santa Monica was mapped and its first land parcels sold on July 14, 1875
Santa Monica will close out its yearlong 150th anniversary celebration with a free five-hour festival on the Third Street Promenade on Saturday, Dec. 13, featuring live music, dance workshops, giant games and an ice cream social across three downtown blocks.
The event, running from noon to 5 p.m. will transform the pedestrian promenade into themed zones focused on play, arts and culture, and music.
The celebration marks 150 years since the original town of Santa Monica was mapped and its first land parcels sold on July 14, 1875.
The 1200 block between Wilshire Boulevard and Arizona Avenue will host oversized mahjong tables, cosplay characters collecting toys for Toys for Tots, a restored 1952 fire engine, book giveaways from the public library and a visit from Curby the recycling robot.
The 1300 block will feature historical photo displays from the Santa Monica History Museum, hands-on printmaking and Japanese ink-painting workshops, and street performers.
The 1400 block near Broadway will include a main stage with New Orleans-style funk by The Gumbo Brothers, a salsa dance lesson led by Cuban choreographer Laroye Aña, and a closing set by Puerto Rican producer DJ Tosstones and his band La Freetanga. Hundreds of pints of limited-edition whiskey-and-pecan-praline ice cream will be given away in front of McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams.
Adults 21 and older will be allowed to purchase alcoholic beverages from licensed Promenade businesses and drink them outdoors within the city-approved Entertainment Zone.
More information is available at celebrating150.com.
