Rabbi Eli Levitansky,  from the Chabad House, lights the giant Menorah at the Third Street Promenade on the first night of Chanukah on Tuesday, December 20, 2011.

A Toyota Prius tries to jump-starts another Toyota Prius at Bay Street. (Thursday, December 15, 2011)

Monopoly mascot, Rich "Uncle" Pennybags, tries to collect $2000.00 in rent from passerbys for landing their ‘Hotel’ on the ‘Boardwalk’ while filming a commercial for the new board game at the Santa Monica Boardwalk on Thursday, December 15, 2011.

‎Santa Claus is escorted down the Santa Monica Pier in a dory boat by the Santa Monica Police Department Harbor Patrol and the Los Angeles County Lifeguards during the Santa Monica Pier's Holiday Open House on Saturday, December 17, 2011.

Santa Claus rides the historic 1922 Merry-Go-Round (Carousel) with Alejandra Cabanas, 7, (left) and Madeline Mayer, 6, at the Santa Monica Pier during the Holiday Open House on Saturday, December 17, 2011.

Santa Claus gives a brand new bicycle to Justin Becerra, 13, during Santa Monica PAL's (Police Activities League) Holiday Workshop on Saturday, December 17, 2011.

Santa Monica Fire Department Deputy Chief Bruce Davis (center) makes pancakes while Santa Monica Fire Chief Scott Ferguson (right) and Santa Monica Police Department Chief Tim Jackman lend their support during Santa Monica PAL's (Police Activities League) Holiday Workshop on Saturday, December 17, 2011.

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.