The Venice Chamber of Commerce will host its 14th Annual Venice Holiday Sign Lighting Celebration Saturday, Dec. 6 from 6-9 p.m. at Windward Avenue and Pacific Avenue.
The free, family-friendly event will illuminate the iconic VENICE Sign in festive holiday colors as the community gathers to kick off the holiday season.
"The Venice Holiday Sign Lighting is one of our most cherished community traditions," said George Francisco, event producer and former Venice Chamber of Commerce president. "It's a moment where we come together to celebrate our vibrant neighborhood and the people who make Venice such an inspiring place to live, work, and visit."
This year's celebration will feature surprise celebrity guests, live entertainment with Grammy-winning talent, local artisan vendors, culinary delights from local restaurants while supplies last, photos with Santa, and family-friendly activities leading up to the official lighting ceremony.
Past celebrations have included musical acts and surprise guests including Robert Downey Jr., P!nk, Lisa Loeb, Smash Mouth, Angelica Huston, Joe Manganiello, and Matthew Modine.
The Venice All-Stars, led by two-time Grammy-winning producer Rob Christie, will headline this year's entertainment. The lineup includes Richie "LaBamba" Rosenberg and Mark "The Loveman" Pender (Bruce Springsteen, Conan O'Brien Show), Jimmy Z (Rod Stewart, Etta James, Eurythmics), Randy Cooke (Smash Mouth, Colbie Caillat, Kelly Clarkson), and Ricky Z (Josh Groban, Lauryn Hill, Steven Tyler), with vocals by Rachel Krishna Anderson, Michelle Elliott, and special guest performers including guitar virtuoso Angela Petrilli.
Taste of Venice will showcase culinary delights from more than 20 local restaurants including Market Venice, The Venice Whaler, Gran Blanco, Si! Mon, The Penmar, Cerveteca, Venice Beach Wines, The Venice Beach Club, Voodoo Doughnuts, Butcher's Daughter, Belles Beach House, Kassi Club, Great White, and Hinano's.
The event will include the annual "My Venice Holiday" poster contest ceremony honoring local elementary school students and the dramatic lighting of the VENICE Sign by a surprise celebrity guest.
Attendees can RSVP online at givebutter.com/venicesign. The event will include a street closure east of Pacific Avenue.
The VENICE Sign has served as a defining neighborhood symbol since 1905, originally installed by developer Abbot Kinney. The contemporary version was recreated in 2007.
Edited by SMDP Staff