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# It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/its-beginning-to-look-a-lot-like-christmas/
- Published: 2003-12-13T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T03:19:39.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Business, Pacific Palisades, #archive-import

*Illuminated nativity scenes to shine through new year*

*By LEE RAJSICH Special to the Daily Press*

A holiday tradition in its fifth decade has returned to Santa Monica.

A festive opening ceremony featuring Christmas music and storytelling was held at Palisades Park to celebrate the return of the Santa Monica Nativity Scenes. This year’s event marked the Nativity Scenes’ largest opening ceremony and include the most church groups in eight years, according to Santa Monica Nativity Scenes Committee spokesperson Hunter Jameson.

In 1953, Joan Wilcoxson, wife of actor Henry Wilcoxson, had the idea to create a nativity scene in Santa Monica. With the support of former Santa Monica Mayor and manager of the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce Herb Spurgin, Wilcoxson’s idea became reality and was bolstered by funding from the city, the Chamber of Commerce and local churches.

At the same time, local businessmen Virgil Kingsley and Syidro Reyes jumped on board with financial support. Reyes, whose great aunt Arcadia Bandini Baker donated the property that now constitutes Palisades Park to the city in the 1890s, became the original emcee for the opening celebration of the nativity scenes in 1954.

“(The scenes) really seemed to get rolling in 1954,” said Jameson, recalling that between 1953 and ’54 the scene count grew to nine and established a local tradition which included a candlelit procession, featuring a youth choir that marched through downtown to the display, caroling and carrying a giant cross. By 1958, the scene count had expanded to its present total of 14.

By 1960, the Santa Monica City Council had dubbed the city “the City of the Christmas Story,” thanks to the storytelling event at the nativity scene opening ceremony.

The successful history of the nativity scenes hasn’t been without stumbling blocks, however, according to Jameson. In 1968, Proposition 13 took the city’s funding out of the nativity project and reduced the display to just five scenes. In response to the gap in funding, local churches took more responsibility and widened their support. In 1981, the Chamber of Commerce resumed its funding efforts, until ’86, long enough to revitalize the display.

Today, there are 13 churches — 12 from Santa Monica and one from Venice — and the Santa Monica Police Officers Association, each representing one booth. The city is no longer associated with the finances of the display. The event organizers, set-up crew and entertainment have always participated voluntarily.

Each year, the booths undergo minor changes, mostly when repairs are needed. This year, one of the most profound changes will be Trinity Baptist Church of Santa Monica’s “Flight Into Egypt” booth, according to Jameson. A new backdrop has been added featuring a three-section screen. Routine repairs include refurbishing costumes and fixing mannequins.

Donations from the 13 participating churches, the Police Officers’ Association and from individual supporters defray the scenes’ approximate $17,000 cost, which covers insurance, maintenance, storage and parking-meter fees for the stretch of real estate occupied along Ocean Avenue.

The 14 scenes with life-size figures depicting events surrounding Christ’s birth, as told in the Gospel of St. Luke, have been displayed every holiday season at the same location since 1954.

Each of the scenes this year has been designed by individuals from local churches. Featured among the displays will be “the Annunciation,” “the Three Wise Men,” “Flight into Egypt” and “Return to Nazareth.”

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/121303-03_02.jpg)

prominent choirs from Santa Monica churches will help celebrate the annual unveiling of the nativity scenes in Palisades Park this weekend. (Photo: File photo Several)

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 13, 2003.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/121303.pdf?ref=smdp.com)