By Lookout Staff

December 10, 2015 -- A crowd of about 800 gathered for this year’s annual “Under the Fig Tree” holiday celebration at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel Sunday, donating an estimated 9,000 pounds of non-perishable food for Santa Monica’s needy.

The free festivities – which were once again centered on Santa Monica’s century-old Moreton Bay fig tree -- also brought in about $700 in collections, said Jacqueline Kerns, a spokesperson for the event, which was sponsored by Fairmont Miramar and MSD Capital.

The donations will be given to OPCC, a nonprofit community-services organization in Santa Monica that helps the homeless and other people in need. OPCC representatives gathered at the hotel to load the donated food onto their trucks, Kerns said.

The donations and contributions will be put to extensive use, directly helping thousands of families and individuals in need this holiday season, said OPCC Executive Director John Maceri.

Under the Fig Tree, one of the highlights of Santa Monica’s holiday season, usually attracts large crowds that include community and business leaders. This year’s celebration featured live performances by the Santa Monica High School Orchestra, Clare Means and pianist Bill Cunliffe, a Grammy-award winner.

Guests dined on pumpkin soup, grilled cheese sandwiches and apple cider from Fig Restaurant and hot chocolate from Zenbunni.

The celebration featured holiday cookie decorating, hair braiding, mini manicures by Exhale Mind Body Spa, a bounce house, a petting zoo, mural paints and a ginger bread house, plus “meet and greets” with members of the City’s police and fire departments. Kerns said.

Santa Claus was there for pictures with youngsters, the Los Angeles-based Best Friends Pet Adoption clinic brought some of its dogs and cats, and Heal the Bay’s Santa Monica Pier Aquarium hosted an interactive exhibition.

There was also a complimentary raffle that featured prizes donated by local businesses, including the hotel’s Exhale Spa and Fig Restaurant, as well as a two-night stay at the luxury hotel.