Santa Monica Christmas Nativity Scene - Images by Fabian Lewkowicz

The 58^th annual Santa Monica Christmas Nativity Scene. (Abridged Version)  Due to a lottery imposed by the City of Santa Monica, only three nativity scene of the customary 14 nativity scenes remain on displayed at Palisades Park this year. Most of the remaining spaces have been claimed by out of town atheist groups.

The annual Santa Monica Nativity Scene was an annual display of the Christmas story which has been staged at Palisades Park since 1953. The interdenominational display used to stretch along Ocean Avenue from Arizona Avenue to Santa Monica Boulevard and included 14 scenes with life-size figures depicting events surrounding Christ’s birth staged by 13 local churches and the Santa Monica Police Officers Association.

LA POSADA - Images by Fabian Lewkowicz

Mariachis lead  a candlelight procession along 22nd Street during the Pico Neighborhood Community Posada on Thursday, December 15, 2011. A Posada is a celebration which commemorates the journey of Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem in search of a room.

Its a Wrap - Images by Fabian Lewkowicz

Community leaders, volunteers from the Police Activities League (PAL), Bayside District Corporation and Santa Monica Place, wrap  gifts  during the  'Its a Wrap Party' at Santa Monica on Thursday, December 15, 2011.  The toys will be distributed this Saturday at Santa Monica PAL’s Holiday Workshop.

Beverly Hills K-9 Police Officer Finn McClafferty and his partner, Max, a five year-old German Shepherd, search the Santa Monica Pier during a weekly training session on Wednesday, December 14, 2011.

A giant paint brush and can promoting the renovation of the MGM Grand Hotel in Los Vegas is being featured at the Third Street Promenade. (December 11, 2011)

Santa Monica Police Lieutenant Calisse Lindsey and SMPD Police Activities League (P.A.L) Officer Austin Brown transport toys from Shutters at the Beach to Santa Monica Police Activity League during the annual Share the Holidays Reception and Gift Drive on Monday, December 12, 2011. The toys will be distributed this Saturday at Santa Monica Police Activity League’s Holiday Workshop. 

Former Santa Monica Police Department Chief, Inglewood Mayor and MC, James T. Butts oversees as the Palisades Optimist Club counts their money during Salvation Army's  Red Kettle Day Counting Party at the Santa Monica Family YMCA on Friday, December 9, 2011. The Red Kettle campaign, the oldest annual charitable fundraiser of its kind in the United States helps raise money for those who need it most in communities nationwide - providing toys for kids, coats for the homeless, food for the hungry and countless social service programs year-round.

Reina Alvarez, 31, and Sandy Gallardo, 21, jump into the ocean from the Santa Monica Pier while participating in a Santa Monica Harbor Patrol rescue drill on Friday, December 9, 2011.