Santa Monica Pier hosts Swiss Winter Village on 18 November
Published on 11/07/2026 at 11:16 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSSwiss market and winter programme
- Swiss Winter Village opens on 18 November 2026 at the Event Deck, with Fever and Swiss Xmas, Inc. behind the market.
- The Santa Monica Pier programme includes seasonal food, live entertainment, visits with Santa Claus and Hanukkah celebrations.
- The pier extends into the Pacific at Ocean and Colorado in Santa Monica and remains open during construction.
- The village continues through 3 January 2027 at 200 Santa Monica Pier.
Santa Monica Pier will host Swiss Winter Village from 18 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, bringing a European-style holiday market to the Event Deck in Santa Monica. The programme combines seasonal food and drinks with live entertainment, visits with Santa Claus, Hanukkah celebrations and activities for different age groups.
The announcement gives travellers a new reason to include the California landmark in a winter itinerary, while the pier remains open during bridge construction. The market also links the visitor programme with the city’s wider effort to support activity around the waterfront.
Swiss Winter Village opens on 18 November
The City of Santa Monica announced the opening on 2 November 2026. Swiss Winter Village begins on 18 November and continues through 3 January 2027, making it an ongoing event that spans the main winter travel period. The city names Fever and Swiss Xmas, Inc. as the organisers behind the experience.
The European-inspired market is planned to include handcrafted gifts, seasonal food and drinks, live entertainment, visits with Santa Claus, Hanukkah celebrations and festive activities for all ages. A city announcement of the programme also describes community benefits connected with local creators, Pier businesses and nonprofit organisations.
Regional reporting says the Event Deck will be transformed into a village of wooden chalets with an outdoor ice rink. The same report places the attraction at 200 Santa Monica Pier and confirms its opening on 18 November 2026. It also describes the market as open to visitors of all ages and wheelchair accessible, although the event is largely outdoors. Regional details about the village provide further context for the visitor experience.
The winter market meets a changing landmark
The pier extends into the Pacific at the intersection of Ocean Avenue and Colorado Avenue. Its setting gives the new market a direct connection with the coast rather than a conventional inland town square, while the Event Deck places the seasonal programme on the landmark itself.
The market arrives while the bridge serving the pier is being replaced. City information says the pier and its surrounding attractions remain open during construction, so the winter programme does not mean that the main destination is closed. This places seasonal activity alongside an infrastructure project that is changing how visitors approach the waterfront.
The city describes the bridge as the key connection between Ocean Avenue and the pier. Work is intended to improve long-term safety, access and mobility, while the pier continues to offer attractions, dining, shopping and family activities. Swiss Winter Village therefore uses the Event Deck as a temporary seasonal setting within a destination that remains active beyond the market dates.
Visiting Santa Monica Pier: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Swiss Winter Village runs from 18 November 2026 through 3 January 2027 at the Event Deck, 200 Santa Monica Pier.
- The pier remains open during construction, and the winter market adds seasonal programming rather than replacing the wider attractions.
- The landmark stands at Ocean Avenue and Colorado Avenue in Santa Monica, with the Metro E Line and multiple Big Blue Bus and Metro lines serving the pier.
- The market is largely outdoors, and the programme includes an outdoor ice rink, so visitors should plan for an open waterfront setting.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Santa Monica Pier
When does Swiss Winter Village take place at Santa Monica Pier?
Swiss Winter Village begins on 18 November 2026 and continues through 3 January 2027 at the Event Deck.
What is Swiss Winter Village at Santa Monica Pier?
It is a European-inspired holiday market with seasonal food and drinks, live entertainment, visits with Santa Claus, Hanukkah celebrations and an outdoor ice rink.
Where is Santa Monica Pier and how do you get there?
The pier is at the intersection of Ocean Avenue and Colorado Avenue in Santa Monica. Multiple Big Blue Bus and Metro lines, including the Metro E Line, serve the destination.
