Forget surfboards and sunscreen — Santa Monica is bringing the spirit of the Alps to the Pacific this holiday season.
asserted
Monica → forget → Pacific
The city’s iconic pier is set to transform into a sprawling Swiss-inspired winter market, bringing a taste of the snow-covered peaks to one of Southern California’s famously sunny beaches.
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pier → set → beaches
The European-style holiday bazaar will transform the space into a festive wonderland, with more than 100 wooden chalets serving up fondue, raclette and other regional treats.
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chalets → transform → fondue
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Sign → sign → California
Visitors will also be able hit a faux ice-skating rink, take part in festive crafts and soak up a boatload of holiday cheer.
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Visitors → hit → cheer
Santa will even be on-site for photos, with a beautifully decorated European backdrop setting the scene for a little Christmas magic.
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backdrop → decorate → magic
Reservations for those pictures are slated to open soon.
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Reservations → slat → pictures
The event will run from Nov. 27 through Jan. 3, with operations running from noon until 11 p.m. daily — even stretching until 1:30 a.m. for a New Year’s Eve blowout.
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operations → run → blowout
General admission tickets are slated to run about $15 a pop.
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tickets → slat → 15
The Santa Monica City Council voted unanimously to ink a deal with Swiss Xmas Inc. to bring the “Swiss Winter Village” to the pier’s parking deck in June, according to the Santa Monica Daily Press.
uncertain
Council → vote → Press
Under the deal, the city is guaranteed a minimum payout of $320,200, or an 8% cut of the net ticketing revenue, whichever is more.
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whichever → guarantee → revenue
Officials reportedly insist that taxpayers won’t be on the hook to subsidize the oceanfront winter wonderland.
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taxpayers → insist → wonderland
Organizers are betting big on the holiday spectacle, predicting between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors will flock to the village for spiced cider, festive treats and a spin around the rink.
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visitors → bet → rink
To get the celebration set up in time, the council waived standard municipal restrictions on noise, signage, and construction hours through its new Major Special Events framework.
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council → get → framework
In return, operators promised to aim sound systems inward so the festive chorus doesn’t drown out neighboring pier vendors.
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chorus → promise → vendors
The project includes several community carve-outs, including 1,000 free tickets earmarked for nonprofit groups, underserved youths and foster families.
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project → include → groups
A weighted application system will also be in place, giving booth preference and discounts to local businesses.
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system → give → businesses
The yuletide transformation comes amid a larger shakeup at the pier.
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transformation → come → pier
In a companion move, the council reportedly extended its operating deal with the Santa Monica Pier Corporation by a single year through June 2027, as city brass look to reshape how seaside spectacle are managed, and how to cash in on the coastal events.
uncertain
spectacle → extend → events
The Aporia
