Holiday Events & Christmas Moments in Santa Monica

Christmas in Santa Monica looks a little different; the air is crisp but never cold, palm trees shimmer with lights, and the ocean hums quietly in the background. At Sandbourne Santa Monica, the holidays unfold in tones of gold and sea glass: sunlit mornings, candlelit dinners, and a rhythm that’s more serene than hurried.

This is a place where the spirit of the season feels tactile and timeless, where design, flavor, and connection take the place of crowds and noise.

Coastal Calm Meets Holiday Cheer

From the beach to downtown, Santa Monica transforms into a coastal winter wonderland each December. You’ll find festive energy everywhere, from artful light displays to ocean-view events that blur the line between celebration and reflection.

Cheer on the Pier
Pacific Park’s annual Cheer on the Pier celebration brings the holidays to the boardwalk with glowing light installations, live music, and ocean views that make even the locals stop and stare. Snap a photo beneath the Ferris wheel or stroll the pier under its holiday glow, it’s a true Santa Monica tradition.

Downtown Santa Monica’s Winterlit
Winterlit turns the heart of downtown into a luminous corridor of LED-lit palms and storefronts. Beneath the 24-foot Christmas tree, visitors can explore local markets, carol performances, and art installations that celebrate the creative spirit of the city.

Holiday Happenings on Third Street Promenade
Downtown Santa Monica hosts Holiday Happenings throughout the season, menorah lightings, live jazz, Santa sightings, and local makers’ markets. The Promenade feels like a modern-day village square, where shopping blends seamlessly with celebration.

Ice at Santa Monica
Few things define a California Christmas quite like skating under the palms. This open-air rink brings mountain nostalgia to the beach, complete with music, twinkle lights, and warm drinks nearby.

Santa Monica Christmas Run
Now in its 46th year, the Santa Monica Christmas Run combines fitness, fun, and festive style. Participants don Santa hats and elf ears for a beachfront race that ends with brunch at Marelle, proof that holiday spirit can be both playful and coastal.

At every corner, Santa Monica’s glow replaces traditional holiday spectacle with something more soulful, a softer, sun-kissed kind of joy.

Festive Dining at Sandbourne

At Sandbourne, Christmas dining takes its cues from the season and the sea. Marelle, the hotel’s signature restaurant, reinterprets holiday flavor through a coastal lens, roasted root vegetables with citrus and herbs, winter greens drizzled with local honey, and indulgent desserts that feel effortless rather than extravagant.

For something more relaxed, The LOBBY Bar offers spiced cider, mulled wine, and golden-hour cocktails that glow against terracotta tones and candlelight. It’s the perfect spot to gather before an evening stroll or to unwind after a day of exploring the city’s lights.

Prefer to stay in? In-room dining transforms your suite into a private Christmas retreat. Wake to breakfast on the balcony, toast with champagne as the sun dips below the Pacific, and let the sound of the waves carry you into the calm of the evening.

Things to Do This Christmas in Santa Monica

Beyond the lights and markets, Christmas in Santa Monica is about slowing down and savoring simple beauty, morning walks, local flavors, and coastal sunsets that linger.

Morning: Palisades Park Promenade
Start your day along the bluffs, where the ocean stretches endlessly below. With soft skies and distant surf, it’s the perfect place to breathe in the season before the city stirs.

Afternoon: Main Street & Montana Avenue
Wander through boutique-lined streets, discovering pop-up markets, local designers, and thoughtful holiday gifts. Stop for a coffee or pastry along the way; this is Santa Monica at its most local and leisurely.

Evening: Pier Lights & Coastal Sunsets
As dusk sets in, head toward the pier. The Ferris wheel glows in holiday hues, reflecting off the waves below. It’s a quintessential Santa Monica moment, cinematic, calm, and quietly spectacular.

Christmas Eve at Winterlit
Join the community downtown for open-air dining, live music, and festive cocktails beneath the Winterlit lights. It’s a local favorite and a reminder that sometimes the most memorable celebrations are the simplest ones.

Stay Where the Season Finds Its Calm

After the last glass of mulled wine, the comfort of Sandbourne awaits, calm, refined, and unmistakably coastal. Each suite reflects the warmth of winter on the coast — tactile textures, layered lighting, soft throws by the window, and balconies that open to the ocean breeze. It’s the kind of space where mornings begin slowly and evenings unfold without rush.

And when it comes to holiday dining, the season continues at Marelle. Their festive menus shape some of the most memorable moments of December, from the California-inspired Christmas Eve Dinner, to the New Year’s Eve tasting menu, to Thanksgiving’s coastal twist on tradition. Whether you’re joining for a long-table celebration or bringing curated dishes back to your suite, these menus add depth and flavor to your holiday stay.

Here, the holidays aren’t defined by spectacle, but by stillness, comfort, and the small rituals that make the season meaningful: morning coffee with ocean light, afternoons drifting between the pool and the promenade, and evenings shaped by good food, warm company, and a sense of ease.

Make this season your own at Sandbourne Santa Monica, where the lights, the sea, and the spirit of connection come together in quiet celebration. Explore our festive offers and book your coastal Christmas stay today.