Santa, all I want for Christmas . . .
Photo: RICH SCHMITT/CTN
By HENRY KAMER
The 76th Annual HO!HO!HO! holiday event returned to Simon Meadow on December 13 in a community celebration hosted by the Palisades Malibu Lowe YMCA. Following tradition, two Station 69 firetrucks (lights and sirens off) kicked off the event by pulling into the entrance at Sunset Boulevard and Temescal Canyon Road. This year, Santa and Mrs. Claus, played by YMCA staff favorite, Memo, as Santa and Palisades native and current Mrs. Asia USA, Michelle Villemaire, as the Mrs, arrived in a beautifully decorated VW Bug, driven by former Citizen of the Year Sharon Kilbride.
Event organizers and volunteers (known as elves) selected this year’s motto as “Return to Joy,” and the event was successful in its goal. Even if it was just a few hours of a Saturday, the community was given a great opportunity to temporarily be free from all the worries of rebuilding and the effects of the fire to just connect and catch up with fellow Palisadians.
As always, the event featured live and diverse performances from the dancers from Fancy Feet, the students at Gerry Blanck’s iconic Martial Arts Center and the carolers in Palisades High School’s High’s Friday Night Live (Pali’s comedy review) group.
Emcee and a past Palisades “Citizen of the Year,” Jimmy Dunne, made sure everything was running smoothly on the stage. Pali High Ambassadors were diligently working, serving popcorn, Garden Cafe hot chocolate, Flour pizza, Cinque Terre West meatballs (delish!), and snow cones.
Talking about snow, actual snow was featured at the event for the first time! Bringing snow was approved by the metropolitan YMCA two weeks before Santa arrived, but the North Pole team was having trouble finding a company who could supply in time. Eventually, “one persistent Elf reached Acton Ice and Christmas magic happened when a “no” was changed to a big “yes.”
Two girls are “skiing” in Simon Meadow during HO!HO!HO!
Photo: RICH SCHMITT/CTN
In addition to the small, yet extraordinary square of snow for all to enjoy (but especially the little kids), attendees could complete arts and crafts, have faces painted or even get palm readings done.
Many key community organizations and groups were spread out in a loop towards the Sunset side of the meadow, including Boy Scouts Troop 223, Resilient Palisades, the Palisades Historical Society and the Pacific Palisades Community Council, just to name a few.
Continuing tradition, kids took pictures with Mr. and Mrs. Claus and dropped off their wish lists for Santa to gauge their naughtiness when he got back to the North Pole. What did the kids ask for in 2025?
This writer took a sneak peek and there were lots of wishes for electronics, clothes and wanting “World Domination!” plus “a toilet” if there was extra room in the sleigh.
The event perfectly mirrored what one girl asked Santa for – love, kindness and joy. Simon Meadow served once again as a place to bring the town and community warmth and connection when it needed it most.
Santa couldn’t write this article because he’s busy preparing for the big day, but he told me his big wish is for the Palisades. He knows how much everyone wants to leave 2025 behind and wants residents to have a good holiday season and a much, much better 2026. HO!HO!HO! indeed!
Palisades residents and friends gathered around the arts and crafts table and the food tables in Simon Meadow during the annual HO!HO!HO!
Photo: RICH SCHMITT/CTN
So sweet! The event was just wonderful. So full of happy. And promise.
Cheers to all the organizers and volunteers to make this such a great afternoon for so many kids, parents, and Palisadians of all ages.