Hermosa Beach events calendar fills December and next year as Friends of the Parks and Santa Stroll organizers outline plans

Organizers of the California Great Santa Stroll and representatives from Friends of the Parks appeared before the Parks and Rec Community Resource Advisory Commission on Dec. 3 to review planned events and reflect on 2024 activities.

Jillian Turkmani and Paige Sachs, representing the Santa Stroll, described the sixth annual walk scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 14, a family- and dog-friendly stroll from the Hermosa Pier to Manhattan Beach and back. They said the event expects about 1,000 attendees this year, up from roughly 900 last year, and that funds raised benefit Michael's Learning Place, an organization providing programs and employment for people with developmental disabilities. The Stroll will include booths and a kids zone on Pier Plaza and a costume contest; the start/finish will be adjacent to the strand near the stage.

Friends of the Parks outlined their 2024 signature events and plans for 2025. Laura, speaking for Friends of the Parks, reviewed Movies at the Beach (held in September in partnership with the city and production partner Vox), noting shared infrastructure with the concert series reduced production costs. She said sponsorship this year included the Hermosa Beach Friday Farmers Market, Hermosa Beach Rotary, Beach Cities Health via Alcove, Open Water Vacation and the Hermosa Beach Chamber Foundation. Friends of the Parks said it covered remaining costs from their nonprofit budget due to a later ramp-up for sponsorship development.

Pumpkins in the Park, held at Edith Rodaway Friendship Park, drew an estimated 150 attendees this year, Friends of the Parks said, and included face painting, a marionette show and games supported by local partners. Friends of the Parks said it did not activate Pets in the Park this year due to scheduling conflicts but plans to hold it in May.

Commissioners and Friends of the Parks discussed event logistics and recurring issues. Organizers and staff noted that unauthorized vendors sometimes appear on the sand during large gatherings; Community Resources staff said event producers are provided the non-emergency dispatch number in permit materials and that staff will further clarify reporting procedures so unauthorized vendors can be reported and inspected. The commission also confirmed the city will continue to support community-hosted events such as the sand snowman contest (Dec. 7 at 9 a.m. at Fifteenth Street), the Santa sleigh parade (departing the community center at 3:30 p.m. with stops at Valley Park, Edith Rodaway Friendship Park and South Park), and a holiday movie screening of The Nightmare Before Christmas at the community center; the movie is free but organizers request advance sign-up at hermosabeach.gov/recreation and ask attendees to bring a new, unwrapped toy for a holiday toy drive.

Friends of the Parks said they will also support a replacement shade structure at South Park and remain engaged with city staff on upcoming projects identified in the parks master plan.