This month we’ll be up to our eyeballs in holiday carols. For anyone who needs a break, San Jose Stage offers up a jukebox musical packed with songs that are just as memorable but with a more infectious beat. Two weeks still remain on the company’s production of The Broadway Musical Inspired by a True Story—Million Dollar Quartet, which tells the true story of an impromptu jam session at Sun Record Studios featuring Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash. Written by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux, the musical hit Broadway in 2010 and toured the next year. San Jose Stage Artistic Director Randall King, who helms the production, says the show “is not just a celebration of rock ’n’ roll, it’s a testament to raw creativity, risk, and rebellion that defined a generation.”
Playing the four rising stars are Bryant Cobb as Cash, Cody Craven as Presley, Nick Kenbrandt as Lewis and Tarif Pappu as Perkins, all faithfully working to showcase the hard work of music director Nick Kenbrandt and choreographer Monica Moe. The production also benefits from support by associate producers Cheryl Booten and Robert Mannell, and Richard and Peggy James. The Stage’s current season is supported by Robert J. Bettencourt and Swenson. Matinees and evening shows are scheduled Dec 3-7 and 10-14; For tickets ($49-$64), visit thestage.org.
Thu, Dec 4
Choreographers’ Gallery—Dec 4, 8pm; Dec 5, 7 & 9pm. Louis B. Mayer Theatre, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara. Santa Clara University’s student dance community presents an evening of contemporary work. $10-$16; SCU students free. scupresents.org
Fri, Dec 5
When Santa Was a Baby—Dec 5, 9:30 & 11am; Dec. 6, 11:30am & 1:30pm. Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St, Mountain View. Peninsula Youth Theatre’s young actors perform this world-premiere adaptation by Carol Doup Muller, based on the children’s book by Linda Bailey. $7 Friday, $20 Saturday. 650.903.6000. tickets.mvcpa.com
Los Gatos in Lights—Dec 5, 5–7pm, at Town Plaza Park, Los Gatos. Kick off the winter season with the annual tree-lighting ceremony, plus balloon artists, an interactive light show, a visit from Santa, and music from the Fisher Middle School Chamber Strings and the Harker School “Downbeat” Show Choir. losgatosca.gov
Cupertino’s Community Tree Lighting—Dec 5, 6–8pm at Quinlan Community Center, 10185 N Stelling Rd. In addition to illuminating the city’s communal fir, the even features a visit with Santa, a snowball room, holiday movie watching, and activities for children. Free. cupertino.org
Western Ballet’s Nutcracker—Dec 5, 7pm; Dec 6, 1 & 7pm; Dec 7, 1pm. Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St, Mountain View. This ballet company serves up four suite servings of its holiday show. $47-$55.50. tickets.mvcpa.com
Finding Neverland—Opens Dec 5, 7pm; runs through Dec 14. Montgomery Theater, 271 S Market St, San Jose. Children’s Musical Theater presents nine performances of Finding Neverland, based on the true events that led J.M. Barrie to create Peter Pan. $46-$51. sanjosetheaters.org
Festival of Lights—Dec 5-6, 7:30pm. Mission Santa Clara, 500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara. Celebrate the season with a decades-long holiday tradition as the SCU Chamber Singers and Concert Choir perform a diverse repertoire amid the glow of candlelight. $28-$32; SCU students free. scupresents.org
México Eterno—Dec 5, 8pm. Hammer Theatre Center, 101 Paseo De San Antonio, San Jose. Grupo Folklórico Los Laureles and Mariachi Tapatio present an evening of music and dance celebrating Mexican tradition, pride and artistry. $35-$51. hammertheatre.vbotickets.com
Flow—Dec 5, 9pm. Civic Auditorium, 135 W San Carlos St, San Jose. The Japanese rock band, formed in 1998, is touring with songs from the hit anime Naruto. $78.15-$198.70. sanjosetheaters.org
Sat, Dec 6
Breakfast with Santa—Dec 6, 8:30-11:15am at Quinlan Community Center, 10185 N Stelling Rd, Cupertino. Families must pre-register for one of the three seatings at this annual celebration featuring Old Saint Nick and elves cooking up North Pole Pancakes. $18 ($22 nonresidents). cupertino.org
Los Gatos Children’s Christmas—Dec 6, 11am-1pm. Rain or shine, the city’s 69th annual parade will start on North Santa Cruz Avenue and head toward Main Street—and everybody who’s anybody will be there to follow along. Free. lgsrecreation.org/parade
Holiday Maker Market—Dec 6, 11am-5pm. Maker Nexus, 1330 Orleans Dr, Sunnyvale. Browse gifts from local craftspeople and tour this large makerspace while enjoying traditional holiday music, snacks and hot mulled cider. eventbrite.com
Willow Glen Holiday Bubbly Walk—Dec 6, 2-5pm. Visit various locations along Lincoln Avenue for a little sip-and-shop action, with sparkling wine served at participating businesses. $60-$65. willowglen.org/willow-glen-bubbly-walk
Fall Festival Concert—Dec 6, 2pm. Hammer Theatre Center, 101 Paseo De San Antonio , San Jose. Golden State Youth Orchestra conductors Kristin Kunzelman and Mariya Borozina lead the Chamber Players, Camerata, and Galbraith Honor Strings in a program featuring Respighi’s Ancient Dances and Airs, Grieg’s Holberg Suite, Corelli’s La Follia, Britten’s Simple Symphony, Gounod’s waltz from Faust, and holiday favorites. $18-$25. hammertheatre.vbotickets.com/event
Holiday Musicale—Dec 6, 2:30pm. Memorial Church, Stanford University. Department of Music soloists and small ensembles present a program filled with holiday spirit. $27-$32; free for Stanford students. live.stanford.edu
Holiday Spectacular—Dec 6, 2:30 & 7:30pm; Dec 7, 2:30pm. California Theatre, 345 S 1st St, San Jose. Conductor Elena Sharkova takes Symphony San Jose through a seasonal program of holiday carols and classics, flashy dance numbers, audience sing-alongs and the always-popular “12 Days of Silicon Valley.” The program includes performers from Symphony San Jose Chorale, Cantabile Youth Singers and New Ballet. $24-$121. symphonysanjose.org
Holiday Festival & Parade—Dec 6, 3pm in downtown Gilroy. What’s on tap for South County holiday revelers? Grand Marshals Erwin and Barbara Boggs will preside over the parade, and other festivities include a Trail of Treats and petting zoo for kids, a float contest, tree lighting, both Grinchville and Santa’s Village, and two stages with entertainment from 3 to 5pm. Free. downtowngilroy.com.
Holiday Market and Tree-Lighting Celebration—Dec 6, 3-8:30pm. Cityline Redwood Square, Murphy Avenue, Sunnyvale. A day of holiday shopping fueled by seasonal cocktails and snack, live performances, photos with Santa, and games and crafts. Free or $35 for VIP tickets. eventbrite.com
Carol of Lights Celebration—Dec 6, 4pm, in downtown Campbell. This festive gathering checks a lot of holiday boxes: festive lights, enthusiastic caroling, and a visiting Santa, plus much more: a petting zoo, slides and bounce houses, crafts, face painting, and live dance and performances. Free. downtowncampbell.com
The Nutcracker—Dec 6, 6pm; Dec 7, 12:30pm. Heritage Theatre, 1 W Campbell Ave, Campbell. South Bay Dance Center performs the quintessential holiday ballet. $34/$39. heritagetheatre.showare.com
Ángela Aguilar—Dec 6, 8pm. Civic Auditorium, 135 W San Carlos St, San Jose. With nearly over 7 billion streams across her catalogue, Mexican-American singer and songwriter Ángela Aguilar has redefined the Regional Mexican genre, becoming one of the youngest artists to obtain Grammy and Latin Grammy nominations. $37-$241. sanjosetheaters.org
Fantasy of Lights—Dec 6–30. Vasona Lake County Park, 333 Blossom Hill Rd, Los Gatos. Fantasy of Lights, a popular event for the past 27 years, invites visitors to enjoy more than 50 themed and animated displays from the warmth of their vehicles. $30+. parks.santaclaracounty.gov/fantasyoflights
Sun, Dec 7
Menorahs and Miracles—Dec 7, 11am–3pm. Children’s Discovery Museum, 180 Woz Way, San Jose. Play dreidel games, go on a miracles scavenger hunt, savor a traditional treat, and listen to songs performed by Yavneh Day School students. $16–$18. 408.298.5437. cdm.org
Gabby’s Dollhouse Live!—Dec 7, 1 & 4pm. Center for the Performing Arts, 255 Almaden Blvd, San Jose. The new musical brings to life an original story featuring puppets, dynamic staging, and songs. $39-$92. sanjosetheaters.org
Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale—Dec 7, 2:30pm. Bing Concert Hall, 327 Lasuen St, Stanford. The orchestra and chorale pair 18th-century classics choral classics by Vivaldi and Corelli plus a world premiere by British composer Roderick Williams and a U.S. premiere by Caroline Shaw. live.stanford.edu
The Longest Night—Dec 7, 3pm. Hammer Theatre Center, 101 Paseo De San Antonio, San Jose. The San Jose Metropolitan Band presents its annual holiday concert, inspired by the winter solstice. $13-$29 (children free). hammertheatre.vbotickets.com/events
Golden State Youth Orchestra Holiday Concert—Dec 7, 7pm, California Theatre, 345 S 1st St, San Jose. Under the batons of Dr. Yun Song Tay and Dr. Richard Roper, the youth orchestra rings in the season with festive favorites, including Zimmer’s Lion King orchestra suite, Stravinsky’s Suite No. 1 for Small Orchestra, and selections from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite. $18–$25. gsyomusic.org
Willow Glen Trolley Rides—Dec 7–18, starting at Bank of America, 1245 Lincoln Ave, San Jose, Riders take 30-minute rides aboard old-fashioned cable cars. Trolleys can also be reserved for private parties. $22.13-$43.14. willowglen.org/trolley-rides
Mon, Dec 8
Community Tree Lighting Celebration—Dec 8, 5:30-8pm at Civic Center Plaza, 500 Castro St, Mountain View. Learn about holidays around the world while enjoying train rides, visits with Santa, holiday crafts and games, and live entertainment from Bayer Ballet, the Peninsulaires, Osipova Ballet Academy, and choirs from local schools. Free. mountainview.gov
Tue, Dec 9
Stanford Medicine Orchestra Winter Celebration Concert—Dec 9, 7pm. Bing Concert Hall, 327 Lasuen St, Stanford. Holiday classics and cinematic favorites, featuring Korngold’s Cello Concerto with Christopher Costanza and The Polar Express medley with the Stanford Medicine Chorus. $24. live.stanford.edu
Continuing
Ada and the Engine—Playwright Lauren Gunderson turns her talents to the story of Ada Lovelace, daughter of Lord Byron, who finds beauty in numbers instead of words. Her connection with inventor Charles Babbage led her to be considered the world’s first computer programmer. The Pear’s production is directed by Miller Liberatore. $43-$45. Nov 21-Dec 7. The Pear Theatre, 1110 La Avenida, Suite A, Mountain View. thepear.org
Blinky’s Drive Thru Christmas Light Show—Through Dec 31, 5–10pm daily. Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, Gate F, 250 Umbarger Rd, San Jose. Now in a new location, Blinky’s Drive Thru features more than 200,000 lights illuminating tunnels, displays and giant candy canes, all synchronized to holiday tunes. And ticket purchases raise funds for Christmas in the Park. $25–$40. christmasinthepark.com/blinky-drive-thru
A Christmas Carol—Through Dec 21. Bus Barn Theater, 97 Hillview Ave, Los Altos. Based on the story by Charles Dickens and adapted for the stage by Michael Wilson, this version of the holiday classic performed by Los Altos Stage Company brings the phantasmagoric elements of Charles Dickens’ classic to life, featuring a dancing chorus of ghosts. Runs Nov 29-Dec 21, plus a Pay-What-You-Can Preview Night on Nov 28. $28-$51. 650.941.0551. losaltosstage.org
Christmas in the Park—Through Jan 1, 6–11pm nightly. Plaza de Cesar Chavez in downtown San Jose. The original source of holiday cheer in DTSJ, Christmas in the Park has entertained generations of local children and adults alike with more than 40 musical and animated exhibits and a 50-foot yuletide tree, plus smaller evergreens decorated by local groups. In addition to the exhibits, which are a nostalgic flourish, there will be visits with Santa, live entertainment and holiday refreshments. But most of all, it’s a chance to marvel at the community spirit that keeps this event popping for 45 years. Free. christmasinthepark.com
DOCA Festival—Through Jan 11, 4:30–10:30pm daily. Discovery Meadow, 180 Woz Way, San Jose. Step into a world of snowflakes, reindeer and twinkling lights at this brand-new light show and holiday exhibit. $19–$29. docafestival.com
Downtown Ice—Through Jan 19. Circle of P alms, 124 S Market St, San Jose. Feel like a true Californian, blades flashing in the sun as you zoom by under the palm trees for an hourlong skating session. $24.15. skateunderthepalms.com
A Few of Our Favorite Things—Through Dec 24. Gallery 9, 143 Main St, Los Altos. member artists return to their favorite themes and mediums, offering up a collection of ceramics, photography, paintings, jewelry, and more. The opening reception will be held on First Friday, Dec 5, from 5 to 8pm. gallery9losaltos.com
Georgiana and Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley—Through Dec 28. Lucie Stern Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto. TheatreWorks artistic director Giovanna Sardelli directs this play by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon. Inspired by Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, this is the playwrights’ third Christmas at Pemberley trilogy, mixing in new characters with old ones. $39-$59. theatreworks.org
Winter Wonderland—Through Jan 3 in downtown San Jose. It’s a carnival, it’s a night market, it’s a food truck fiesta. Winter Wonderland offers family fun in the form of a Ferris wheel, a carousel and other amusement rides on Paseo de San Antonio starting on Nov 28, with additional rides on Park Avenue starting Dec 18. A Culture Night Market Holiday Gift Fair will be held on Paseo de San Antonio through Jan. 3 with vendors selling handmade goods and food from 5–10pm. Free, though some rides require tickets. winterwonderlandsj.com
Yuletide Oddities Show—Saturdays, through Dec 27. Winchester Mystery House, 525 S Winchester Blvd, San Jose. This gift show of “weird and strange purveyors selling extraordinary wares” returns to San Jose’s oddest abode. Entry is included with admission to the Winchester Mystery House, or tickets to the show can be purchased separately. themenagerieodditiesmarket.com/yuletide
