Annual Palisades-Malibu YMCA Tree Lot Opens at Simon Meadow

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

The annual Palisades-Malibu YMCA Tree Lot at Simon Meadow has officially opened for business on December 1, offering a selection of about 1,300 trees of all shapes and sizes to community members.

“We have everything from 14 feet all the way to two to three feet,” YMCA Executive Director Jim Kirtley shared with the Palisadian-Post on Monday, November 29, ahead of the lot’s official opening. There will also be tabletop trees, Kirtley said, which are smaller than the two to three feet.

The 2022 selection includes a variety of trees, like nobles, Nordmann and Silvertips—which Kirtley said he calls “vintage nobles.”

“Those look like Charlie Brown trees,” he shared. “People love them because they leave space for large ornaments.”

This year, for the first time, the lot will host a tree lighting ceremony on December 3.

“Light up the night and kickoff the holiday season with the Palisades-Malibu YMCA,” according to an event flyer about the ceremony. “Enjoy hot cocoa, popcorn and festive music at this free community event.”

The event is slated to begin at 4 p.m., with the tree lighting scheduled for 5 p.m.

Then, two weeks later, on December 17, the 73rd annual Pacific Palisades Holiday HoHoHo will return to the Tree Lot from 2 to 4 p.m.

Festivities for the day are expected to include Santa’s arrival atop the Los Angeles Fire Department Station 69 ladder truck, foods, crafts and entertainment. There will be free photos with Santa and his reindeer, hot chocolate from Palisades Garden Café and dance performances by Fancy Feet.

There will also be “delicious European pancakes from BlinBlin,” Gerry Blanck Martial Arts demonstrations, a crafts table, holiday photo booth, magic, balloons and surprise appearances.

“The first HoHoHo took place on December 2, 1949,” according to information shared by event organizers. “It featured a communitywide square dance, a film showing at the Bay Theater and prizes from local shops. In 2018, when the original organizers decided to halt the event, a group of Palisades residents banded together to keep the tradition alive.

“The Palisades-Malibu YMCA soon stepped up to host the event at the Christmas Tree Lot at Simon Meadow and now organizes the afternoon through the YMCA ‘Fun Committee,’ along with local residents and businesses.”

In addition to hosting events for the community, Kirtley shared that all proceeds from the Tree Lot stay at the Palisades-Malibu YMCA to fund financial assistance programs.

“It goes to helping programming be able to happen, such as day camp and T-ball and things like that,” Kirtley explained. “It helps with keeping Simon Meadow beautiful and helps with keeping the Y operational. It really gives back to the community—100%.”

The lot is open Monday through Friday from 3 to 7 p.m., as well as Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.