November 3, 2026 · By Alina Mekk
November is when Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and the neighborhoods around them start to sparkle, and this year the season opens with a 50th-anniversary celebration on Rodeo Drive, a brand-new Swiss holiday market on the Santa Monica Pier and plenty of chances to give back. Here are the community events, holiday kickoffs and Thanksgiving traditions my partner Brandon Sen and I are putting on our calendars this month, each one checked against the city's or organizer's own 2026 listing.
Whether you've lived here for decades or you're just getting to know a neighborhood before you buy, local events are one of the best ways to feel the rhythm of a community. Here's the month at a glance, with details, times and links below.
- Thu, Nov. 5 — Frost on 5th ice rink grand opening, Downtown Santa Monica
- Wednesdays, Nov. 4–25 — Gratitude Storytime & CHLA book drive, Brentwood Country Mart
- Wed, Nov. 11 — Veterans Day ceremony by the beach, Santa Monica
- Fri, Nov. 13 — Novemberfest at Palisades Towne Hall, Pacific Palisades
- Nov. 18–Jan. 3 — Swiss Winter Village on the Santa Monica Pier
- Thu, Nov. 19 — Rodeo Drive Holiday Lighting Celebration, Beverly Hills
- Sun, Nov. 22 — Holiday Craft Fair & Gingerbread House Contest, Beverly Hills Farmers' Market
- Thu, Nov. 26 — Pacific Palisades Turkey Trot
- Thu, Nov. 26 — Westside Thanksgiving Community Dinner, West LA Civic Center
Santa Monica Holiday Events: Ice Skating Downtown and a New Winter Village on the Pier
Frost on 5th Ice Rink Grand Opening — Thursday, November 5
Santa Monica's favorite holiday rink returns to the corner of 5th Street and Arizona Avenue, steps from Third Street Promenade. The Frost on 5th Grand Opening starts at 5 p.m. on November 5, with opening remarks and special performances at 5:45 p.m., followed by free skating (skate sessions are first-come, first-served). After opening night, Frost on 5th is open weekdays from 3 to 10 p.m. and weekends and holidays from noon to 10 p.m., with admission and skate rental at $22. According to Downtown Santa Monica, the rink stays open through January 18, 2027.
Swiss Winter Village at the Santa Monica Pier — November 18 to January 3
This is the big new addition to the season. The City of Santa Monica announced that Swiss Winter Village debuts on the Pier's Event Deck from November 18 through January 3, with more than 60 chalets, handcrafted gifts, seasonal food and drinks, an ice rink, live entertainment, visits with Santa Claus and Hanukkah celebrations. Opening night on November 18 runs from 5 to 11 p.m.; after that, the official Swiss Winter Village site lists hours of 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, with tickets available there. I love that the city's agreement includes 1,000 donated tickets for Santa Monica nonprofits serving children and foster families, plus priority spots for local creators.
One more Santa Monica tradition on the calendar: the Regent Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration at Regent Santa Monica Beach (1700 Ocean Avenue) lights its 45-foot tree on Thursday, November 19, from 4:30 to 7 p.m.
Veterans Day in Santa Monica — Wednesday, November 11
The city's annual Veterans Day ceremony has a new beachside home this year. According to the City of Santa Monica, the city joins the U.S. Army at 11 a.m. on November 11 in Beach Parking Lot 4, between Santa Monica Beach and Crescent Bay Park. The ceremony runs from 11 a.m. to noon, with music and entertainment from noon to 1 p.m. The program includes a Chinook/C-130 flyover, the 300th Army Band, remarks from Medal of Honor recipient Gary Littrell and a future soldier swearing-in, plus free Pacific Park ride tickets and free meals for veterans and active military members. November 11 is also the official 100th anniversary of Route 66, which ends right here in Santa Monica.
Nearby, the City of West Hollywood holds its own Veterans Day ceremony at 11 a.m. the same morning at the Sal Guarriello Veterans' Memorial, at Santa Monica Boulevard and Holloway Drive.
Beverly Hills Holiday Events: Rodeo Drive Lights Up for Its 50th
Rodeo Drive Holiday Lighting Celebration — Thursday, November 19
This is the night Beverly Hills officially kicks off the holidays, and 2026 is extra special. The City of Beverly Hills and the Rodeo Drive Committee are hosting the annual Rodeo Drive Holiday Lighting Celebration from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, November 19, themed “50 Years of Brilliance” in honor of Rodeo Drive's 50th anniversary. Expect music, dance, dazzling holiday installations, the arrival of Santa Claus and a countdown led by the Mayor that sets off a fireworks finale. It's free and open to the public across all three blocks of Rodeo Drive, and the city's holiday decor stays up through January 3, 2027.
A tip from someone who works on Wilshire: plan ahead. The city's event plan calls for closing Rodeo Drive between Santa Monica Boulevard and Wilshire, along with parts of Dayton Way and Brighton Way, from 9 p.m. on Wednesday, November 18 until 6 a.m. on Friday, November 20.
Holiday Craft Fair & Gingerbread House Contest — Sunday, November 22
The Sunday Beverly Hills Farmers' Market on the 9300 block of Civic Center Drive turns festive on November 22 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The city's Holiday Craft Fair brings artisan vendors selling jewelry, essential oils, clothing, pottery, florals and candles, alongside the market's regular farmers and holiday specialty items. There's also a Gingerbread House Contest with adult and youth categories, and the winners take home a holiday gift basket. If you're cleaning out before the holidays, the market also hosts a free shredding, compost and pumpkin recycling event on Sunday, November 8, from 8 a.m. to noon.
Brentwood and Pacific Palisades Community Events
Gratitude Storytime & CHLA Book Drive at Brentwood Country Mart — Wednesdays, November 4–25
Every Wednesday in November at 11 a.m., Brentwood Country Mart (225 26th Street) hosts a Gratitude Storytime in the courtyard with Diesel, A Bookstore and Toy Crazy, in partnership with Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Families can buy a book from the hospital's requested reading list and drop it in the donation bin for young patients at CHLA. On November 11, children's author Dan McCauley will read from his Thank You, World series. It's a sweet way to teach little ones about giving back.
Novemberfest at Palisades Towne Hall — Friday, November 13
It's wonderful to see the Palisades community gathering again. Palisades Towne Hall (861 Via de la Paz) hosts Novemberfest from 5 to 8 p.m. on November 13, with German beers, sausages from Würstküche Venice, live entertainment and prizes for the two best dirndl and lederhosen outfits. Tickets are required: early bird admission for ages 21 and up is $45 through November 9, general admission is $55, and under-21 admission is $20.
Thanksgiving in LA: Turkey Trot and Ways to Give Back
Pacific Palisades Turkey Trot — Thursday, November 26
The Pacific Palisades Turkey Trot celebrates its 12th year on Thanksgiving morning at Palisades Charter High School's Dolphin Stadium football field (15777 W. Bowdoin Street). Festivities start at 7 a.m., the 5K and 10K start at 8 a.m., and the program wraps by 11 a.m. Registration is open now, and prices go up after November 13. Organizers suggest parking in and around the Alphabet Streets, or walking if you live near downtown Palisades. More details are on the race website.
Westside Thanksgiving Community Dinner — Thursday, November 26
Since 1982, volunteers have hosted a free Thanksgiving Day celebration at the West Los Angeles Civic Center (1645 Corinth Avenue). The Westside Thanksgiving Community Dinner & Celebration offers a sit-down dinner (typically served from 11 a.m.), clothing, a free “Mercado” market, haircuts and live music, open to all with no reservations needed. It runs entirely on volunteers and donations, so this is a great one to support: volunteer sign-ups include setup on Wednesday, November 25, from 3 to 5 p.m. and Thanksgiving Day shifts starting at 6 a.m., and organizers are collecting non-perishable food and clothing (note that they can't accept cooked turkeys this year).
Why Community Events Matter When You're Choosing a Neighborhood
When Brandon and I show homes, buyers often ask what a neighborhood actually feels like on a weekend or a holiday. Events like these are a big part of the answer. A morning at the Beverly Hills Farmers' Market, a skate near Third Street Promenade or a Thanksgiving run through the Palisades tells you more about a community than any listing sheet. If you're thinking about a move, I always recommend spending a few of these days in the neighborhoods on your list.
Let's Talk About Your Next Move
Thinking about buying or selling in Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades or nearby, or wondering what your current home is worth before the new year? Brandon and I would love to help. Call me at (415) 509-7871 or contact us online. Curious about your home's value? Request a free home valuation, with no pressure, just real numbers.
Warmly,
Alina Mekk & Brandon Sen | Alina Mekk Real Estate Group | Beverly & Company Luxury Properties | 9350 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills | CA DRE 02157204
Event details are from the City of Beverly Hills, the City of Santa Monica, the City of West Hollywood, Santa Monica Travel & Tourism, Downtown Santa Monica, the Rodeo Drive Committee, Swiss Winter Village, Brentwood Country Mart, Palisades Towne Hall, the Pacific Palisades Turkey Trot and Westside Thanksgiving, checked November 3, 2026. Times, prices and plans can change, so please confirm with the organizer before you go. This post is not sponsored.
Photos: Cover photo of the Santa Monica Pier on a sunny day by muhammad nadeem (Pexels License); Christmas tree beside an ice rink by Lena Suvorova (Pexels License); palm trees in holiday lights by Allen Boguslavsky (Pexels License); pumpkins at an outdoor market by Rose Shipp (Pexels License). Inline photos are illustrative and do not show the events named.
