The Malibu Times gathered a list of fun events to enjoy with your families beginning this weekend

By Barbara Burke

Special to The Malibu Times

Malibu is getting ready for another festive holiday season. There’s breakfast with Santa, snow on the pier, concerts of all varieties, a holiday boutique, a Woodie Parade, and a toy drive, and merrymakers of all ages can write a letter to Santa or a special loved one. Here’s an overview of some of the fun activities.

Let it Snow & Celebrate the Merriment on the Pier

​Malibu Farm gets locals ready for the season with “Let it Snow!” Every evening at 5 p.m. throughout December, eco-friendly artificial snow will glisten the pier, providing fun for all ages. 

Make sure to also book reservations for the establishment’s wildly popular annual Santa Lucia event. The restaurant’s proprietor, Helene Henderson, is a native of Sweden and brings the glowing, culturally intriguing Christmas celebration to Malibu on Dec. 9 at 5 and 7 p.m. (two seatings). Finally, make sure to enjoy Breakfast with Santa from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Christmas Eve.

Snow Much Fun!

​Malibu Pacific Church invites all members of the community to Snow Much Fun! The Dec. 1 event from 6 to 9 p.m. features real snow! Kelli Fangmann, the church’s representative, describes the experience as “the most epic Christmas party, with sledding and dinner.” The event is completely free, but the church asks for attendees to register at www.snowinmalibu.com.

The Adamson House

​Enjoy the annual holiday goings-on at the architectural gem of Malibu, the historic Adamson House, located right next to the Malibu Lagoon. Docent-led tours cost only $7 for adults, $2 for ages 6-17, and admission is free for children under 5 years old. Visitors must pay in cash only for the tours and the last tour begins at 2 p.m. The property closes at 3 p.m. A complimentary garden tour is offered at 10 a.m. on Fridays and includes an Adamson House tour. 

“We hope that visitors consider shopping for holiday gifts at the wonderful gift shop,” said John Mazza, a member of the Adamson House Foundation. His wife, Robby Mazza, volunteers at the gift shop, and she noted the shop offers original Malibu pottery tiles as well as tile reproductions, unique gifts, and other keepsake items. They make for ideal gifts for that special someone, Robby Mazza added. The shop is open from Thursday to Saturday from 12 to 3 p.m. 

Toys for Tots

​Everyone in the community is cordially invited to join in the fun on Thursday, Dec. 7, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. as Malibu’s Navy League celebrates “A Malibu Community Celebration,” the organization’s 14th annual Toys for Tots toy drive for needy children. Hosted by First Bank, the event will feature snacks and beverages with Rocky Oaks Estate Vineyards providing great wine.

Try to attend the traditional community gathering, which is hosted by Sandy Cordova, branch manager at the bank. However, if you can’t attend the event, consider sharing holiday joy by dropping off a new and unwrapped toy at First Bank, which is the toy drive’s community drop-off site. The U.S. Marine Corps’ last pick up of donated items will be by Dec. 17, to ensure the toys are delivered in time for the holiday. 

Annual Malibu Creche

​Happy 60th anniversary to the Keep Christ in Christmas committee which has offered the Malibu creche at Webb Way and Pacific Coast Highway for six decades! An interfaith effort, the creche beautifully celebrates the season. This year, make sure to join in the fun by attending the community caroling and candle-lighting events on one or all three of times. The events are offered on Sundays Dec. 3, 10, 17, and 24 at 1 p.m. Festive, fun and free — this is one of Malibu’s strongest and longest-lasting holiday traditions.

Our Lady of Malibu’s Annual Christmas Marketplace

​On Dec. 2, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Our Lady of Malibu School’s annual holiday community event — a wonderful Christmas marketplace, will provide arts and crafts for kids while parents shop. The market features terrific vendors. There is a tree lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. Photos with Santa are available from noon to 4 p.m. for $20.

ABC Christmas Tree Lot: Community Night 12/9

On Friday, Dec. 9 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., the Malibu High School Athletic Booster Club, sponsor of the annual ABC Christmas Tree lot, welcomes all residents to its community night at the lot. Buy your Christmas tree at the Athletic Booster Club’s lot and support athletics at our schools! Also for sale are Shark Wear, ornaments and wreaths. Stock up and decorate for Christmas.

The tree lot is at the Chili Cook-Off Site and will feature a food truck, the MHS choir, entertainment, arts and crafts, and cider — it will be fun for the whole family! Visit the Christmas tree lot through Dec. 10. It is open to share its fresh trees, wreaths, ornaments, and MHS apparel Mondays to Thursdays from 3 to 7 p.m., Fridays from 3 to 8 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 8 p.m. 

Chanukah at Point Dume

​Begin your Chanukah celebrations at the Malibu Pier on Dec. 7! Enjoy delicious Chanukah delicacies, and a Grand Menorah lighting with a special guest appearance by Malibu’s own Brandon Jenner. The festivities begin at 3:30.

“I’m so happy to be part of the celebration!” Jenner says.

Also, consider joining the community and celebrating Chanukah at Point Dume Village Plaza on Dec. 14 at 3:30 p.m. The wonderful experience will include great food and entertainment, with multiple activities, including face painting, kids activities, a donut menorah, and more. The Chabad of Malibu would love to see you there.

Postal Annex offers its first holiday event: ‘A Letter to Santa and Loved Ones’

​The Postal Annex in Trancas Country Mart is launching a new tradition. Dubbed “A Letter to Santa and Loved Ones,” residents can join in the fun on Dec. 2, 9, 16, and 23, from noon to 3 p.m. Attendees can write a letter to Santa and put it in his special mailbox! Or, if you’re an adult, you can handwrite a special note for a loved one or friend. 

​“I wanted to create a space where one will want to take the time to write a handwritten letter to a friend,” said Jasmind Jones, co-owner of Postal Annex. “I noticed that when customers who come into our postal business open up a handwritten note, they thoroughly appreciate getting it.” 

Jones noted that the Postal Annex will provide all the stationery and writing materials and will certainly not forget the stickers for the little kiddos.

​The four Saturday gatherings will also support local small businesses, including Plush Luxury Events, which is providing the decor and set-up for the event.

​“We are looking forward to participating in this small community event,” said T’Shani DeRouen, owner of Plush Luxury. “Jasmind wants to create an environment to create nostalgic memories during the holidays! Come shop and enjoy products from local businesses as well.”

Allens Berries and Treats, a local chocolatier, will join in on the fun on Dec. 2. Malibu baker Jenefer Taylor of Bluem Malibu will provide organic cake bites on Dec. 9. 

“This is my absolute favorite time of year!” Taylor exclaimed. “I love pouring my heart into the desserts I bake, but the real joy is in seeing families and loved ones enjoying them together.”

Cakes by Christina will provide delicious delicacies made with almond flour on Dec. 16. Trendy Treats will share their scrumptious items on Dec. 23. Follow the Sun Soaps, made right here in Malibu, will be on show as well. 

​The Postal Annex and all the vendors invite all of Malibu to join in the celebration. 

Santa Paws

​On Sunday, Dec. 10 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., the City of Malibu invites community members to its complimentary event, Santa Paws at Bluffs Park. Come celebrate the joy of the holiday season with a morning full of tail wagging, festive cheer, and precious memories with your pooch as they pose with Santa. Please ensure that your pet is on a leash and under control at all times during the event for the safety of all attendees. For more information, visit MalibuCity.org/Santapaws, or call (310) 317-1364.

Breakfast with Santa

​The big guy will also visit with wee ones and families who can enjoy a tasty breakfast box, hot chocolate, and a chance to visit Santa’s North Pole friends. On the morning of Dec. 16, visit City Hall from 9 to 11 a.m., and for $10 per person, one can eat, meet, and greet as well as enjoy an art activity, story time, and photo opportunities. Reservations are highly recommended as limited walk-ups will be accepted. To enjoy the merry morning in Malibu and secure a spot, visit Malibucity.org/Santa, or call (310) 317-1364.

The 20th Annual Woodie Parade 

“Yes it’s that time of year again! The air is filled with the smell of pine, hot apple cider, sawdust, 30 weight oil, and burned clutches. Yes, it’s time for the 20th Annual Malibu Woodie Parade.

For 20 years, Malibu’s — and the local band Malibooz’s — John Zambetti has organized the annual Woodie Parade, a celebration that features the wonderful vehicles harkening back to when Malibu put surfing on the map. Woodies usually carry surfboards and bikes. However, for the parade, they’re showcasing Christmas decorations and lights as they travel throughout the city with great fanfare. 

​“John’s done it all!” said Bill Sampson, owner of a 1948 Mercury Woodie. “We’ve been doing this for 20 years and I’ve been to all the Malibu Woodie Parades. John founded the parade and he has organized each one. He’s dispensed goodies, gotten bands to appear, arranged all the stopping places, and ensured we all had a wonderful time.”

​This year, the parade begins at Paradise Cove Restaurant at 1 p.m. on Dec. 17. The celebratory entourage will arrive at Dreamland between 1:30 and 1:45. Come join the fun as a spectator and watch — or follow — Malibu’s wonderful Woodie parade. 

Make Musical Memories with Student Music Groups​

​The orchestra from Malibu High School and Malibu Middle School will perform on Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. and will sing a wide variety of classical selections with numerous guest appearances. 

The school’s band will have a concert performance on Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. On Dec. 14, the school choir will perform at 6 p.m. All events are in the Malibu High School auditorium and are open to the public.

​Happy Holidays and Happy Chanukah from The Malibu Times!

Many participating enterprises are female-owned, Malibu-based businesses

By Barbara Burke

Special to The Malibu Times

​They gathered with glee, celebrating their entrepreneurism and aiming to make this holiday season extra special for purchasers of their locally curated items, all to benefit Malibu Middle and Malibu High schools.

That was the scene on the MMS/MHS campus as the Shark Fund held its annual Holiday Boutique on Thursday, Nov. 16. The Shark fund is a group that financially supports educational and extracurricular programs at Malibu Middle and High schools.

​Of course there were school-related booths: “Go Manta Rays!” exclaimed the middle school booth’s sign, featuring merch with the school’s insignias.

​“Go Sharks!” the high school booth proclaimed, offering sweatshirts, cozy flannels, shorts, and hats. 

​Many of the local vendors at the annual event co-sponsored by the PTSA and the Shark Fund, parent-led organizations, share their creations and unique fashions at the boutique every year. Many participating enterprises are female-owned, Malibu-based businesses.

​Two school parents shared a booth, smiling broadly as they showcased their items. 

“Atlas Ranch features local, handmade trucker hats and vintage patches,” said Molly Marler, parent of MHS senior Charlie Marler. “We’re so happy to support the community and the kids.”

​Jewelry designer Gisselle Borress, parent of sons Levi, a sophomore, and Rylan, a freshman, chimed in to share details about her beautiful gemstones. 

“They are inspired by Malibu’s ocean, mountains and the sun,” she said.

​Charlie Solomon’s Malibu Homegrown offered delicious homemade strawberry jams, sweet pickled red onions, sweet cucumbers, and, for a more spicy option, some tasty jalapeno carrots. 

​Crown Boutique, whose Malibu Country Mart venue is full of gorgeous fashion designs, kindly shared some of its best inventory to support the school, while Barbie Herron Conkling’s Coconut Haus showcased its globally sourced textiles made from repurposed saris. 

“What’s amazing about these quilts is they are made using Kantha, a type of embroidery craft made in India,” Conkling said. “Each quilt is made of five to seven layers of old sari material and has only one running stitch throughout the entire piece, and women in the towns gather in circles and stitch the quilts for as long as 28 days, a full moon cycle.” 

Some of the vendors had new businesses, including Samantha Firestone’s LELUXE clothing line. 

“We’re grateful to be here!” Firestone said. “Our business is new and we love to be a part of giving back, especially at the holidays. We’re new, excited, and wide-eyed.”

Krishna Jaret was at the boutique for the 27 Miles clothing line, which features soft, cozy cashmere knits, is always a hit at area boutique fundraisers. 

“My mom went to Juan Cabrillo and I went here,” Jaret said. “It’s part of my DNA, it’s community, and it’s our roots.”

Of course, it’s not a Malibu gathering unless something surf-related is on show.

“My husband Patrick Jensen has Freedom Artists, which is an art surf/skate line that is sold locally at Drill,” said Katie Jensen. “Patrick grew up here and went to Malibu High and we now have two kids.” 

​Generations of Malibuites have walked the school halls and the parent-led organizations have supported the students. Heather Gardner’s offering provided some context amidst the joyous annual event, exemplifying Malibu’s unique confluence of grit and grace.

​“As a Woolsey Fire survivor, I designed my Phoenix Rising Necklace, a commemorative piece in yellow gold and in gold-filled form to mark the five-year Woolsey anniversary,” Gardner said. “The phoenix, a legendary mythical creature, symbolizes a powerful story of renewal and resurgence and it emerges from the ashes, representing hope, vitality, and the promise of brighter things to come. My necklace serves as a symbol of resilience and recovery, encapsulating the spirit of our community that has demonstrated remarkable strength in the face of adversity.” 

​Although locals cannot predict fires, mudslides, floods, or even a tsunami, one thing they can count on is that traditions are integral to Malibu, including the annual school boutique.

A percentage of all store purchases benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu

Two years in the making, the “Third Space” project of the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu has opened its doors to the Malibu community. 

Situated in the Malibu Village, Third Space is a storefront, gallery, and innovation space for youth to be mentored and inspired.

Malibu BGCM family, friends, and Malibu High School alumni attended the grand opening on Thursday, Nov. 16, to see the space unfold. 

“We have a beautiful board who have been on this journey with us for the last two years to talk about what is this space, what are we aiming for, what are we trying to achieve for our community and our youth,” Boys & Girls Club of Malibu Chief Executive Officer Kasey Earnest said. “We also have an amazing team of Boys & Girls Club staff members, they also have gone on this amazing journey for the last two years to create what Third Space is and you will see reflected in the store and various different space, maybe through representation through vendors, or just the own touches they put in the store, their impact.” 

First space is home, second space is work/school and the “Third Space,” is considered a place to care, connect and create. 

Earnest was excited to welcome the artists and their families and friends to this space. 

“It’s been two-plus years, with a lot of ideation and a lot of brains of what this space should be, so it feels really good to get kids in here, workshopping and innovating,” Earnest said. “When I came to them [board members] a few years ago with this idea, they were all very excited; it took a lot of time because we relied on a lot of support from the community.”

The gallery will host brands, products, entrepreneurs, and artists to facilitate an exchange with youth through workshops, events, and mentorship.

“It is a retail store, a gallery and innovation space, but it is part of our organization and our values that show up in our club house will also show up here at the store,” Earnest said. 

Thursday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony spotlighted young entrepreneurs, Malibu BGCM alumni, Malibu High School alumni, and local artists.

Earnest thanked her partners and board members for attending the ceremony and also acknowledged parent Jose Alvarez for helping with the project. 

“It didn’t feel like work, I just felt like I had to help because they helped me so much through my hard times with my kids, I have four, some of them went through college, and it’s all thanks to them [BGCM],” Alvarez said. “I’ve been in the community for about 35 years and as soon as they [Malibu BGCM] opened at the high school, I can count on them. It was a secure place for my kids to be there, it’s hard to describe how important the Malibu [BGCM] is. It makes me so happy that I can help.”

Multi-media artist and Malibu High School alumnus Austin Daniels has abstract acrylic paintings, art pieces and surfboards on display at the gallery. 

“I’m excited to have artwork here, I’m excited to teach the kids. There’s a really cool printer here so that means we can directly print photos onto T-shirts, so it’s going to be really special,” Daniels said. “I’m happy to give back to the kids; the Malibu community is so tight and it’s gone through a lot since I’ve grown up here in Point Dume. I love it.”

2016 Malibu High School graduate Arielle Ross, who was also featured in The Malibu Times earlier this year, had her new makeup line, called Relevation, on display at the gallery. 

“It really does feel like a sense of community to be around so many different entrepreneurs doing amazing things, and Malibu has always been a root for me, a place where I always come back and I feel really grateful to have our first retail experience be in Malibu and be with all these entrepreneurs,” Ross said. “To be able to work with a company that does good in this world and have a positive impact is the best thing I could possibly ask for; the Boys & Girls Club has been so impactful for me and my upbringing, and being a part of it has been an important part of my childhood that to be able to impact the kids in the BGCM is really special.”

The store features items from young entrepreneurs and creators such as Malibu High School’s Zanmi Club, Boyso Soaps, C & the Moon, From the Ash Studio, and Stapelstein. Vendors showcasing their work at Third Space include a diverse array of brands, artists, and creators contributing to the ethos of sustainability, creativity, and youth engagement. From ceramics and skincare to books, jewelry, and environmental projects, it serves as both a marketplace and a platform for youth to interact with local entrepreneurs, artists, and creators through mentorship opportunities.

Workshops at Third Space cater to grades K-12, offering imaginative sessions for younger children to explore products like Stapelstein and creative workshops for older teens to transform their ideas into reality. The venue serves as a hub in the Malibu community, fostering care, connection, and creativity outside traditional spaces.

Third space is located at 23359 Pacific Coast Highway, hours vary, visit thirdspacemalibu.org.