Miracle on Main Street, 25th Year Anniversary

Saturday, December 7 | 4 – 9 p.m.

Santa Monica’s original holiday celebration returns to Main Street as well it’s the grand celebration for the 25th Anniversary of the street’s “Shopping Cart Tree!”

The holiday icon is created every year by Santa Monica artist Anthony Schmitt and is located at Edgemar inside the Frank Gehry-designed building. It is decorated with some subtle variations in lights and décor that bring the crowds back year after year.

Standing almost 40 feet tall it takes 84 carts with 1,500 lights held together with about 4,000 tons of zip ties. The tree is built by a group of volunteers who have spent years establishing the fine art of placing each cart just so for holiday magic to happen.

The grand unveiling of the 25th shopping cart tree is Saturday, December 7 during the street’s annual holiday event, Miracle on Main Street. Kick off the festivities at 4 p.m., starting at the California Heritage Museum Lawn (2612 Main), when Santa Claus is available for photographs. The Santa Monica High School choir will perform before counting down the anticipated lighting of the Holiday tree at the lawn, which is followed by a short candlelight walk to Edgemar (2427 Main). Music from Off Their Jingle Bell Rockers will entertain crowds, with a party hosted by Maser Condo Sales (2525 Main) and other activities in the shops and restaurants along Main Street.