(1,2) Santa Monica College and California State University Northridge world music professor, Dr. Ric Alviso, director of the Masanga Marimba Ensemble, performs  with his students at the Santa Monica Farmers Market on Sunday. The Masanga Marimba Ensemble plays music from the Shona people of Zimbabwe, much of which is centuries old and has been passed down by oral tradition from generation to generation. Playing on Shona-style marimbas from Zimbabwe, the ensemble performs music largely based on the mbira dzavadzimu, a hand-held instrument with 22-28 metal keys often used for sacred ceremonies to call, honor, and ask for advice from ancestral spirits. (3) Nicole Hill, 30, hold up her 20 month old son Kailean Ryan while he plays on the Marimba  during an intermission of the Masanga Marimba Ensemble (4) David Emerson, 27, dances during the performance.

(1) Seventh grader Kirra Kehoe, 12, (aka Shirley Good) walks down the catwalk sporting a Etnies Girl Ski Vest on Saturday during the Winterlit Holiday Fashion Show audition at Santa Monica Place. The winners will be featured in next weeks Fashion Show on Saturday, December 2., 2006.

A man sits with his dog next to the 'Edgemar Holiday Tree' during the holiday tree lighting ceremony on Friday, November 24, 2006. The tree  is constructed by Anthony Schmitt from 83 shopping carts and is 33 foot tall.

The Dickens and Company Christmas Carolers sing "Carol of the Bells" at the Third Street Promenade on Friday, November 24, 2006. Carolers from left to right are; Kevin St. Clair, Corinn Kipczynski, Celeste Torres and Paul Cummings.

Staff from  Santa Monica Place installs the kids artwork from the  Santa Monica Police Activities League onto the Winterlit "Best Gift Ever" wall space on  Friday, November 24, 2006 at the mall. The art pieces are wish lists from PAL kids to show what they are hopping to receive for the holidays.