Venice Sign Holiday Lighting
Venice, CA
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.
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.
The Venice Sign Holiday Lighting is Venice‘s most recognizable holiday tradition — the night the historic Venice Sign at the corner of Windward Avenue and Pacific Avenue changes from white to red and green for the season. Now in its 14th year, the celebration is organized by the Venice Chamber of Commerce and combines the sign’s color change with the broader Windward Avenue activation.
The evening features live entertainment with Grammy-winning talent, local artisan vendors, culinary delights from local restaurants, photos with Santa, family-friendly activities, and special guest appearances leading up to the official lighting ceremony. The sign — originally installed in 1905 by developer Abbot Kinney and restored in 2007 — is the visual anchor.
For families and visitors in Venice, Mar Vista, Marina del Rey, and the broader Westside, this is the neighborhood’s December anchor. The same day, Abbot Kinney Boulevard runs companion events including a Snow Day with sledding on real snow.
At the corner of Windward Avenue and Pacific Avenue in Venice — a block off the Boardwalk, spanning Windward at Pacific. The sign was originally installed in 1905.
The lighting ceremony evening runs 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. The official sign-lighting moment is the centerpiece of the program.
Not the same, but a deliberate companion. The Abbot Kinney Boulevard Snow Day runs the same day, 11 AM to 4 PM, with sledding on real snow, kids’ crafts, face painting, and Santa. Many families do both.
Yes — Santa is part of the Venice Sign lighting and at the separate Abbot Kinney Snow Day earlier in the day.
The beach lots at Windward fill fast on event night. Inland blocks of Pacific Ave and surrounding residential streets are the spillover; expect to walk a few blocks to the sign. The Boardwalk is walking-distance from most parking.
The Venice Sign is the historic neon sign that arches over Windward Avenue at Pacific Avenue — the gateway to the original Venice of America designed by tobacco-magnate-turned-developer Abbot Kinney in 1905. The sign was originally installed in 1905, removed in the 1940s, and restored in 2007 as a duplicate of the original. It anchors Windward Circle, the early-Venice civic core where the city’s original canal system terminated, a block off the Venice Boardwalk and a short walk from the iconic Venice Canals.
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.