SoCal’s Holiday Season is Getting a Fun and Snowy Start

Downtown Culver City is pleased to welcome residents, neighbors, and guests to the 2025 Holiday Tree Lighting Sled-tacular, a beloved tradition for over 20 years that has been enjoyed by thousands of friends and families. This year’s holiday season will once again be magically ushered in with a winter wonderland festival – 50 tons of fresh snow plus sledding, snowmen, and carnival games. Plus visits with Santa in his first appearance of the season in Culver City!

Adding to the excitement is the wonderfully delightful half-hour Tree Lighting Ceremony with singing and music by 250 of the talented students from each of Culver City’s public schools, followed by a boisterous countdown to light the beautiful 25-foot Holiday Tree, led by the Mayor and special guests Zooey Deschanel ("New Girl") and Charlie Cox ("Daredevil") who are on hand to invite Culver residents to a free screening of their new Amazon MGM holiday film, "Merv". This year is extra exciting as the Celebration also highlights 30 years of the local Academy of Visual and Performing Arts (AVPA) – Culver City High School’s innovative arts program for young musicians, dancers, filmmakers, theatre folk, and visual artists that nurtures their creativity and creates life-long commitments to the arts.

“We’re thrilled to welcome our friends and neighbors to this joyous community celebration in Downtown and throughout the holiday season,” says Darrel Menthe, Executive Director of the Culver City Downtown Business Association. “This event is so important for family fun and creating memories that last a lifetime. We are especially excited to celebrate the AVPA, which has been inspiring our kids and the community for decades, and to welcome Zooey and Charlie to our stage. We invite everyone to come join us as we light up the season!”

Free popcorn and hot chocolate will be offered on Town Plaza after the tree is lit, graciously provided by The Culver Theater and The Culver Hotel, while dozens of great Downtown restaurants will also welcome families before or after all the fun. So bring your mittens, reindeer hats, and sense of joy and wonderment to join this seasonal hit for neighbors throughout the LA region!

For those at home and across the country, the Tree Lighting Ceremony and performances will also be live streamed at 6pm PT with the recording available online throughout the season https://DowntownCulverCity.com.

PRE-REGISTER FOR FREE SLEDDING WRISTBANDS at https://downtownculvercity.com/event/2025-annual-downtown-culver-city-tree-lighting-sled-tacular/

Sponsors and partners include the Culver City Downtown Business Association, Amazon MGM Studios, City of Culver City, The Culver Studios, Hackman Capital Partners, Culver Steps, The Culver Hotel, The Culver Theater, Kiwanis Club of Culver City, Westside Production Rentals, Del Rey Party Rentals, and local youth and adult service organizations.

(Author: Fiona Nagle)