"The essence of the best of all the shopping centers of the world." The Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce used that line for Rodeo Drive in 1978, about a year after a group of merchants set out to make the world see the street that way. By 1980, the city estimated the Rodeo Drive shopping district brought in as much as 25 percent of its sales tax revenue. The street was built to impress people who didn't live here. In 2026, which this year's event materials are calling its 50th-anniversary year, two of the biggest additions are a free sculpture show that stays up for a year and a holiday stage with spots for performers picked from an open call. Both are things you can use on a Tuesday, not just watch on a postcard.
Here's what's on the calendar from the day this post goes up through the end of the year.
| Date | What | Where | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon., Nov. 9, 11 a.m. | Unveiling of Monuments of Stillness, 10 sculptures by Carole Feuerman | Rodeo Drive | Free |
| Thu., Nov. 19, 5–8 p.m. | Rodeo Drive Holiday Lighting Celebration, "50 Years of Brilliance" | Rodeo Drive | Free |
| Mon., Dec. 7 | City Menorah Lighting Celebration | Lily Pond, Beverly Gardens Park | Details to come |
| Sun., Dec. 20, 4 p.m. | LA Chamber Orchestra, "Bach: The Christmas Oratorio" | Bram Goldsmith Theater, The Wallis | Ticketed |
A street that was built on purpose
According to the Rodeo Drive Committee's own history, the group began forming in 1976 and was founded in 1977. Fred Hayman, who built the Giorgio boutique, was its driving force and first chairman. Donald Tronstein, who owned property on the 400 block, was part of the founding group and served as Committee president from 1984 to 1987. Colleagues called him the "Mayor of Rodeo Drive."
They stated the goal plainly: make Rodeo Drive America's answer to Rome's Via Condotti, London's New Bond Street and Paris's Faubourg St-Honoré. At the time, the street had about a decade of luxury retail behind it. Today its three blocks hold more than 100 luxury brands. They run past Frank Lloyd Wright's Anderton Court Shops, finished in 1952, before the luxury era started.
Most of the Committee's best-known projects were made to draw visitors. In 2003 it created the Rodeo Drive Walk of Style, sidewalk plaques honoring fashion figures. Robert Graham's sculpture Torso marks the corner of Rodeo Drive and Dayton Way. The Concours d'Elegance, now in its third decade, is described as the largest single-day car show of its kind in North America.
The founding dates explain why the celebration is so long. The Committee started taking shape in 1976 and was formally founded in 1977, and its history page says 2027 marks the 50th anniversary of that founding. The 2026 holiday materials already use the anniversary theme, and the Beverly Press reported in April that anniversary events, activations and toasts would continue "through the end of 2027."
The anniversary so far was mostly for the industry
Until now, most of the 50th-year programming has looked like the Rodeo Drive people already know. The fourth annual Rodeo Drive Celebrates Fashion ran in August as a tribute to 50 years of fashion, with street-pole banners supported by CELINE. On Aug. 12, the Beverly Press reported, the Committee honored Fred Hayman at a reception at the Beverly Wilshire, and his son Robert accepted.
October brought Rodeo Drive Celebrates Timepieces & Fine Jewelry, with in-store previews and Harry Winston banners along the street. The Beverly Press noted that Harry Winston has been on Rodeo Drive for 40 years, 20 of them at its current address.
These were boutique events, receptions and banners. November changes the format.
Ten sculptures that stay for a year
On Monday, Nov. 9, at 11 a.m., Carole Feuerman will unveil 10 monumental sculptures on Rodeo Drive. The show is called Monuments of Stillness, and it's her first major public outdoor exhibition in the Los Angeles area. Melissa Morgan Fine Art, which is presenting it with the City of Beverly Hills, says the sculptures will stay up for one year. The figures are her well-known swimmers and quiet, thoughtful figures, many with their eyes closed. Before Beverly Hills, her large public shows went up on New York's Park Avenue and at the Seaport, and earlier in 2026 along Chicago's Magnificent Mile.
The gallery's announcement quotes Feuerman on why outdoor work suits a street like this:
"Public sculpture allows my art to become part of a city's daily life, creating unexpected moments of beauty, reflection and human connection. It does not wait for an audience. It meets people where they are."
In the same announcement, Mayor Craig A. Corman calls the show a chance for "residents and visitors" to see major contemporary art in one of the city's best-known public spaces. A shopping event lasts a weekend. A year-long sculpture show is there on every errand, every walk and every time out-of-town guests want to see the street. The Love Beverly Hills listing gives the run as Nov. 9, 2026, through Dec. 31, 2027. The gallery lists an end date of Dec. 1, 2027, so check the official page before planning a late visit next year.
An open call put new names on the holiday stage
The Holiday Lighting Celebration has been around long enough to feel routine. Last year's theme was "Enchanted Holiday Dreams," inspired by the Nutcracker, with ballerina ornaments, costumed mice, stilt walkers, carolers, Santa and fireworks. Headliners included Chris Mann, Hugh Sheridan, James Tormé and Bei Bei.
This year the Committee took applications first. The "Rodeo Drive Has Talent" open call ran Sept. 14 through Oct. 12 and asked for an audition video no longer than one minute. The judges were the event's entertainment director, its executive producer and a member of the Committee's executive board. The Beverly Hills Courier covered the call when it opened in September.
The call said one act would be chosen. The Committee's Oct. 22 announcement named two winners: Ortal Edri, a Los Angeles singer, songwriter and recording artist, and Marianna Kriuchenkova, an eight-year-old vocalist whose heroes are Whitney Houston and Jennifer Hudson. They'll perform alongside host Ali Ward, featured vocalist Dani Armstrong, six-time GRAMMY winner Daniel Ho with his "Island Holidays" set, and DJ Lady Sha.
Rodeo Drive Committee President Kathy Gohari summed up the year in the event announcement on Love Beverly Hills. "We are proud to honor Rodeo Drive's legacy while welcoming a new generation to discover the magic of this very special street."
How to do Nov. 19
The evening has the usual pieces. Mayor Corman, the City Council and the Committee's executive board lead the countdown, the decorations light up with jewel-inspired displays for the anniversary, and fireworks close the night. Food trucks, wine gardens, holiday characters and photo backdrops run along the street. No set times have been posted for 2026. Last year, the Beverly Press reported welcome remarks at 6:55 p.m., headliners at 7:30 p.m. and fireworks at 8:05 p.m. The 2026 schedule may be different.
A simple plan for the evening:
- Park early or park late. The city's 9510 Brighton Way structure lists the first two hours free, then $3 per half hour, with a $5 flat rate for cars entering after 6 p.m. Love Beverly Hills also lists 345 N. Beverly Drive, 438 N. Beverly/439 N. Canon and 242 N. Beverly among the two-hours-free structures. The Committee's parking page warns that rates and hours can change on event days.
- Use the sculptures as your meeting spot. By the 19th the Feuerman figures will have been up for 10 days, so you can arrange to meet friends at a sculpture instead of a store window.
- Coming by train works, with a bus at the end. Metro's D Line station at Wilshire/La Cienega opened May 8, 2026, but it isn't a Rodeo Drive stop. Metro says the 20 and 720 buses run along Wilshire with stops near the new stations, which gets you toward Rodeo and Wilshire.
- Stay for the fireworks. The fireworks are billed as the finale, and they come after the countdown and lighting.
December keeps going
The street's lights stay up after the 19th. On Dec. 7, the city's Menorah Lighting Celebration takes place at the Lily Pond in Beverly Gardens Park, on Santa Monica Boulevard between Wilshire and Doheny. Love Beverly Hills says more details are coming. On Dec. 20 at 4 p.m., the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra performs Bach's Christmas Oratorio at The Wallis in the Bram Goldsmith Theater.
When the holidays are over, Feuerman's ten swimmers and quiet figures will still be on Rodeo Drive, and they're scheduled to stay through most of 2027.
If you head out for the countdown on the 19th and want to talk about the street, the sculptures or what's next on Rodeo, I'd love to hear from you. I'm always happy to talk about the neighborhood, and about homes too if you're curious. When you're ready to look at places within walking distance of all this, Danny Hizami can help you start your home search.
