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# Bayside gears up for the season
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/bayside-gears-up-for-the-season/
- Published: 2005-11-29T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T08:15:01.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Events, Downtown, #archive-import

City records show that the Bayside District, including the Promenade and Santa Monica Place, generated more than $137 million in sales in the fourth quarter of 2004 — the last three months of the year. The district includes the area between Wilshire and Pico boulevards, from Ocean Avenue to Lincoln Boulevard. (See chart.) The Winterlit tree-lighting ceremony, which Bayside has held for the past few years, will not take place during this holiday season, said Maria Fotopoulos, a Bayside spokeswoman.

Fotopoulos said it will bypass the tree-lighting ceremony this year and instead host more events spread over the holiday shopping season.

“This year, we wanted to focus on creating more events for downtown Santa Monica and Third Street to drive traffic throughout the holiday season, with something for everyone,” Fotopoulos said.

This year’s activities include a “Friends & Family Shopping” day at Santa Monica Place mall that will benefit education causes; a “Winterlit Beauty Lounge,” where visitors can take a break from shopping; a fund-raising event for Katrina relief at the Fairmont Miramar; a modeling contest that will focus on winter fashions; a children’s festival that will feature snow, live entertainment, interactive booths, pony rides and a petting zoo on Dec. 10; and two Winterlit concerts, scheduled for Dec. 14 and 15.

Free gift-wrapping will be provided by Bayside at a cart courtesy of Provenzano Resources, Inc. the new vending cart service provider which is set to begin operating its new program today. The gift-wrapping cart will be located on the weekends throughout December at Third Street near Broadway and will be hosted by area nonprofit groups, according to Fotopoulos. Gift-wrapping services are free, but the nonprofit groups will be accepting contributions, she said.

Fotopoulos said shoppers can donate a new, unwrapped toy at the Toys for Tots drop off at Barney’s Beanery. Visitors also can pick a wishing star for a senior citizen, and then place a holiday package under the tree at Santa Monica Place for gift delivery to local homebound seniors.

Log on to www.downtownsm.com for a list of downtown holiday activities.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 29, 2005.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/112905.pdf?ref=smdp.com)