Holiday Fun at Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica, CA
The iconic Santa Monica Pier glows with a 55-foot Christmas tree atop the Ferris wheel, free Holiday Cheer on the Pier nights with marionettes and Santa visits, and a snowman-lit Pacific sky.
The iconic Santa Monica Pier glows with a 55-foot Christmas tree atop the Ferris wheel, free Holiday Cheer on the Pier nights with marionettes and Santa visits, and a snowman-lit Pacific sky.
The Santa Monica Pier transforms for the season with an unmistakable Pacific Park Ferris wheel light show — in recent seasons a 55-foot multicolored Christmas tree has risen from the pier on the south-facing side of the West Coaster, with an animated snowman waving over the ocean, reindeer with blinking red noses, animated snowflakes, and holiday emojis lighting up the wheel each night.
Free Holiday Cheer on the Pier evenings have typically run on three Thursdays in December, with art activities, live entertainment, and Santa visits centered in the historic Carousel building. Kids have written letters to Santa, made ornaments with local artists, and watched Bob Baker Marionette Theater performances at Patio 66 with hot cocoa and churros nearby.
Walking the pier itself is always free, and the Ferris wheel light displays run nightly through the holiday season. Confirm this season’s confirmed Holiday Cheer dates and Ferris wheel program at pacpark.com.
Yes — walking the pier, viewing the Ferris wheel light display, and the three Holiday Cheer on the Pier evenings (marionettes, Santa, crafts) are all free. Only the Pacific Park rides and beach parking cost extra.
Holiday Cheer on the Pier has typically run on three Thursday evenings in December (often the first three), with afternoon-into-evening hours. The pier’s Carousel building and nearby walkways host kids’ crafts and letter-writing; live marionette shows are typically held in the evening at Patio 66. Confirm this season’s confirmed schedule at pacpark.com.
Yes — the Ferris wheel holiday light display runs every evening throughout the holiday season at Pacific Park, with the 55-foot Christmas tree, snowman, reindeer, snowflakes, and emoji animations visible from the beach for miles.
Paid parking is available in the Santa Monica Pier and beach lots near Ocean Avenue. Some metered street parking is available east of PCH. Plan to walk a few blocks during peak holiday evenings.
Very — the pier is wide, flat, stroller-accessible, and family-leaning. Bob Baker Marionette performances especially delight kids. Pair with the carousel for a quintessential Santa Monica family afternoon.
The Santa Monica Pier debuted on September 9, 1909, drawing crowds with its sweeping ocean views and quickly becoming one of Southern California’s most recognizable landmarks. In 1916, carousel-maker Charles Looff added the adjacent Pleasure Pier and its Hippodrome building, establishing the amusement tradition continued today by Pacific Park, which opened in 1996. The pier also stands as the symbolic western terminus of Historic Route 66, marked by a dedicated sign installed in 2009.
The official City of Santa Monica tree-lighting ceremony — performances by local ballet, choirs, and middle-school groups along Third Street Promenade, with Santa lighting the official city holiday tree.
Brian J. Cook
An open-air 8,000-square-foot downtown ice rink at 5th and Arizona — running mid-November through mid-January as Santa Monica’s signature winter tradition, two blocks from Third Street Promenade.
Brian J. Cook
Venice’s official holiday lighting tradition — the historic Venice Sign changes from white to red and green for the season, with live music, photos with Santa, and the surrounding Windward Avenue activation.
Brian J. Cook
Venice’s hidden canals — modeled on Venice, Italy — dress up for the holidays with twinkling lights on every bridge and home, plus a first-weekend-of-December boat parade, all free to walk.
Brian J. Cook
Southern California’s holiday lights and festive outings are pure magic — but nothing compares to Santa Claus himself stepping through your own front door. House of Kringle brings a real-bearded, professionally trained Santa to homes and gatherings across SoCal for an intimate live visit your family will treasure for years.
Check Availability
Have a date in mind? Tell us when and where, and we’ll let you know whether Santa is open. House of Kringle brings a real-bearded Santa Claus to Live Visits and Group Experiences across Southern California, and December fills quickly, so the sooner you check, the better your odds of locking in your first choice.
This is a quick availability check, not a booking. Nothing is reserved and nothing is owed until we’ve confirmed your date and you’ve placed your retainer.