It’s never too early to start thinking about Christmas.

At least if you are a retail destination in areas like Santa Monica or Glendale or the Fairfax District in Los Angeles it’s not.

Downtown Santa Monica Inc., a nonprofit that works with the city, is presenting this year, as in years past, a tree lighting celebration and other holiday-themed activities now through the end of the year.

Caruso, meanwhile, is doing the same at many of its properties, including The Grove in the Fairfax District, the Americana at Brand in Glendale and the Promenade at Westlake in Thousand Oaks now through the end of the year.

According to a consumer survey study by Deloitte Insights, consumers are expected to spend on average $1,778 this holiday season, an 8% increase over last year.

“The uptick in spend is attributed to a rosier economic outlook, perceived higher prices, and an increase in spend by the 100k to 199k income group,” the study said.

The events are a way for the retail centers to get shoppers into their stores.

In Santa Monica, the community will gather from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 21 for the official City of Santa Monica Tree Lighting Ceremony on the Third Street Promenade. Santa Claus will light the tree.

After the ceremony, guests can take free photos with Santa, create holiday crafts and drink free hot chocolate while experiencing “snow” just blocks from the beach. A disc jockey will provide festive music, supplemented by performances from the Westside Ballet, Lincoln Middle School Madrigals, Santa Monica High School Choirs and the Santa Monica College Emeritus Concert Band.

Then starting on Dec. 5 and continuing for the next two Thursdays is Holiday Thursday.

Each day from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. will bring a festive celebration on the 1300 block of Third Street Promenade and Santa Monica Boulevard, featuring live music and pop-up markets.

Guests can enjoy the lively tunes of Toyland Brass, participate in holiday-themed crafts and write letters to Santa, hand-delivering them to Mr. Claus himself. Local Girl Scout troops will also be on hand to offer gift wrapping services.

Then on Christmas is the start of Hannukah, featuring menorah lightings at sundown in the 1200 block of Third Street Promenade. This event invites community members to enjoy a festive celebration of lights. Each evening will be hosted by a different local congregation, honoring this long-standing tradition. Hannukah in Santa Monica runs through Jan. 1.

At the corner of 5th Street and Arizona Avenue, guests will find Ice at Santa Monica presented by Disney+ and operated by Willy Bietak Productions.

Open through Jan. 20, the ice-skating rink features DJs on select Wednesdays, Classical KUSC Sundays now through Jan. 19, a birthday celebration for Taylor Swift on Dec. 13 and a New Year’s Eve East Coast Countdown on Dec. 31.

At Caruso’s properties, there will be tree lighting ceremonies on Nov. 22 at The Promenade at Westlake, featuring a holiday show, musical performances, snow, fireworks and a visit from Santa Claus himself. Also, on Nov. 25 at the Grove is another tree lighting event. The celebration will include live entertainment, a drone show, the arrival of Santa Claus and more.

Then at the Americana at Brand, guests can meet and greet with Santa now through Dec. 24; at The Promenade at Westlake starting Nov. 23; and at the Grove beginning on Nov. 26. All three are done in partnership with Disney+ and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and run through Dec. 24.