Christmas at the Grove – Los Angeles

The Grove

Looking for somewhere different to spend the pre-Christmas or post Holiday time. Consider the destination mall, the Grove. The Grove is a retail and entertainment complex in Los Angeles, California. It was built, owned, and is operated by Rick J. Caruso and his company Caruso Affiliated. The complex is situated on parts of the historical Farmers Market. (Wikipedia)

TripAdvisor. com lists the Grove Mall as the #17 thing to do in LA out of 506.

The Grove features a large center park with an animated fountain designed by WET. Its music-fountain show plays every hour, though the feature has a non-musical program in between shows. The water’s choreography is reminiscent of the Fountains of Bellagio in Las Vegas. The design was also done by WET but on a much smaller scale. (Wikipedia)

The property also has a statue, The Spirit of Los Angeles. Live shows are often performed there – on the grassy area by the fountains. (Wikipedia)

The Grove is adjacent to the iconic Farmers Market. It is a modern contrast to the homey historic market with its collection of lower-end stores and common eating places. By contrast, The Grove is a collection of elite establishments. These include Nordstrom’s, Apple, Coach, Nike, and others among some very nice and swanky restaurants.

The Holidays

At Christmas time, the Grove becomes a beautiful place to hang out. There are thousands of decorations including the Grove Christmas Tree. Usually up to 100 feet or more, it is the tallest Christmas tree in Los Angeles. The tree is lit every evening starting in November, beginning with their annual Tree Lighting Ceremony. It remains lit every evening for the remainder of the holiday season.

During the holiday shopping season, fake snow is produced periodically every evening. The mall also features an elaborate parkway with a giant Santa House. You can tell the old man what your secret wish is. There are loudspeakers playing non-stop Christmas carols. There is free live music in the street and the double-decker trolley ride. An internal transit system uses electric-powered trolley cars to link The Grove and the adjacent Farmers Market. It is a nice 3-minute ride. It is great fun for kids and kids at heart. In truth, it is a great area for all ages with its good shopping area and eating facilities.

Enjoy! And Merry Christmas!!