Manhattan Beach Holiday Open House 2026: Date, Party Scene & Local’s Guide

A South Bay Tradition That Feels More Like A Social Scene Than A Shopping Event

Locals love the Manhattan Beach Holiday Open House which isn’t so much about shopping but socalizing. It unofficially kicks off the South Bay Christmas season.

By Kevin Wilkerson, Editor & Publisher, PubClub.com

If there is one event that signals the start of the holidays in Manhattan Beach, it’s the Holiday Open House. The first of the many November and December seasonal social events in the South Bay it starts with the pier tree lighting and is always held on a mid-Wednesday in November.

It is on Nov. 18 in 2026 and as people are walking through the blocked-off streets and going in and out of the stores they know that the holidays have arrived and the Beach Cities are one of the best places to be for them. There is a second, smaller, holiday stroll in North Manhattan on Thursday, Dec. 1 (32nd to 40th streets, 5-9 p.m.). The annual Manhattan Beach Fireworks are Sunday, Dec. 13.

At the downtown Holiday Open House are carolers singing on the sidewalks, live entertainment at Metlox Plaza from 6-8 p.m., the streets are blocked off, and there’s even a band on Manhattan Ave. If this doesn’t get you in the Holiday mood, you’re a real Scrooge!

Holiday Open House is an evening stroll through the shops and stores of downtown Manhattan Beach, CA, designed to showcase the merchants of the downtown area. The event runs from 5-9 p.m., starting with the lighting of the Pier. By 6, the event is will underway and the streets and stores are full of festival people.

And while many stroll with strollers, for the several single people of the South Bay, it’s a prime party experience, quite possibly the the best Wednesday night of the whole year.

That’s because some of the shops become bars, of sorts, with several of them pouring wine, champagne or, on occasion, cocktails, in small plastic cups. It is, as any savvy local knows, the eventual volume of those small plastic cups that makes it a party.

And do NOT walk outside with those cups; the cops will bust not only you but shut down the “offending” store.

Why It’s One Of The South Bay’s Best Singles Nights

Among the many single people in the South Bay, much of the fun is running into other single people and inquiring about whether this store or that store is serving alcohol. A sure sign of a “yes” is how crowded a place is; see people and go into it because most likely libations are being served. The unofficial dress code is professional casual. With a Santa hat or other holiday accessory, of course.

The trend the few couple of years has been that the shops along the blocked-off Manhattan Ave., from Manhattan Beach Blvd., to 8th Street, are the most fun places. It’s also on the corner where a band plays and there is a reindeer at the end of the stroll.

The Best Bars After The Holiday Open House

As you might expect, this is also a good night for the Manhattan Beach bars. Try Zinc Lounge at the Shade Hotel Shade’s sister establishment, Rock ‘n Fish, is packed afterward, due in large part to the fact it sells its signature Navy Grogs on special its  annual celebration of its November anniversary.

Other lively bars include Strand House, and the dive bars Ercoles and Shellback Tavern. The latter is especially popular during the lighting of the Pier and people bounce between Erc’s and Shellback after the stroll ends, up until about 11 p.m.

The Local Secret

First-timers wander into every store hoping for refreshments but not veterans. They simply look for the busiest shops because that’s usually where it’s found. It’s one of those unwritten local traditions that is pure South Bay.

Manhattan Beach Holiday Open House FAQ

• What date is the Manhattan Beach Holiday Open House? A mid-November.
• What time does it start? The tree lighting ceremony is at 6 p.m.
• Is it free? Yes.
• Is it fun? Very much so, yes, so mark it on your annual calendar.
• Are people my age there? Most likely. Holiday Open House attracts social-mined South Bay’ers in thier 20s-50s and even older (people in the South Bay grow older but not up!).
• Are streets closed? No.
• Do stores serve wine and champagne? That is up to the individual stores.
• Which bars are busiest afterward? Strand House, Shellback Tavern, Rock ‘n Fish. Ercoles and Zinc Lounge

Kevin Wilkerson is the founder of PubClub.com, an award-winning journalist and former South Bay resident who spent years living in Hermosa Beach and covering its nightlife scene. He has covered destinations, events and entertainment for more than two decades and received an Associated Press award for investigative journalism while working as a newspaper reporter.

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