> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Let the Santa Monica holiday festivities begin
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/let-the-santa-monica-holiday-festivities-begin/
- Published: 2003-11-28T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T03:16:53.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Events, Downtown, #archive-import

*By Daily Press staff*

DOWNTOWN — Thousands will see the annual holiday lighting ceremony in downtown Santa Monica tonight, as four-time Emmy award-winning actress Doris Roberts of “Everybody Loves Raymond,” and Mark L. Walberg, the host of “Temptation Island,” throw the switch on “Winterlit” on the Promenade.

The ceremony follows an afternoon of music and entertainment. At 2 p.m. the Santa Monica High School Orchestra will kickoff the program. Future Hasbeens Comedy Troupe and KOST radio’s Mark & Kim will host the day’s events. Santa Monica Playhouse will perform, followed by musical group Gwendolyn and the Goodtime Gang.

At 4 p.m., snow begins falling at Santa Monica Place and “Surfing Santa” and his elves arrive in a convertible.

At 5:15 p.m. all of downtown Santa Monica and Santa Monica Place will spring to life as Roberts and Walberg throw the switch and thousands of lights and sculptures begin to sparkle amid music and a snowy confetti, officially beginning the holiday season.

A party is planned tonight on Main Street as well. At 6 p.m., there will be a tree-lighting ceremony at the California Heritage Museum, 2612 Main St. After the ceremony and some holiday music, everyone will be invited to pick up a judging form and choose their favorite store windows in a decorations contest.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/112803-02_01.jpg)

Robert Barrett and Hilda Kale set up a Christmas sales display at Hennessey and Ingalls, a popular independent bookstore on Wilshire Boulevard. (Photo: John Wood/Daily Press)

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 28, 2003.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/112803.pdf?ref=smdp.com)