As the strains of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite fill Santa Clara Valley, other seasonal treats take place from the peninsula to South County.
Thu, Dec 11
Cirque Musica Holiday Wonderland—Dec 11, 6:30pm. San Jose Civic, 135 W San Carlos St, San Jose. Circus performers from around the world perform acrobatic feats of strength and skill to a mix of seasonal music. $61-$202. sanjosetheaters.org
A Chanticleer Christmas—Dec 11, 7pm. Memorial Church, Stanford University. The San Francisco men’s vocal ensemble takes advantage of the church’s sublime acoustics with a new Christmas program each year. $76.68-$102.60. live.stanford.edu
Virtual Artist Talk—Kathryn Polk, whose work is on display at Cura, creates prints that are an expression of her perspective growing up as a woman in the 1950s and ’60s and a response to contemporary issues that concern the female experience. Free. Dec 11, 6-7:30pm. Cura Contemporary, 17395 Monterey Rd, Morgan Hill. 408.778.1800. curacontemporary.com
Fri, Dec 12
Iliza Shlesinger—Dec 12, 7pm. San Jose Civic, 135 W San Carlos St, San Jose. This comedian has done it all—seven comedy specials, a TV series and multiple film roles, a podcast and even two books of essays. sanjosetheaters.org
Annual Sing/Play Along Messiah—Dec 12, 7:30pm. Memorial Church, Stanford University. The Department of Music presents Handel’s masterwork, conducted by Stephen M. Sano. Orchestral parts will be provided, and singers can purchase a score from the Stanford Bookstore. $27-$32; free for Stanford students. live.stanford.edu
Visits with Santa—Dec 12, 4–7pm; Dec 13, 1–6 pm; Dec 14, noon–5pm. Old Town Los Gatos. Santa will greet children in his festive workshop, with Los Gatos Rotary elves on hand to help take photos. Enjoy live entertainment and a holiday goodie bag courtesy of Lester Square, the presenting sponsor. Free. losgatoschamber.com
San Jose Dance Theatre’s Nutcracker—Dec 12–14 & 20-21. Center for Performing Arts, 255 Almaden Blvd, San Jose. Audiences will be transported into Clara’s dream, brought to life by over 100 dancers from San Jose Dance Theatre’s Academy and accompanied by the Cambrian Symphony, conducted by Scott Krijnen. There will be six full-length productions of The Original San Jose Nutcracker and one presentation of Once Upon a Nutcracker (for the youngest audience members) at 10:30am on Dec 12. sjnutcracker.com
Sat, Dec 13
New Ballet’s Nutcracker—Dec 13-14 & 20-23. California Theatre, 345 S First St, San Jose. This joyful holiday production transports the familiar story to turn-of-the-century San Jose. An added bonus: Symphony San Jose will accompany all performances. In addition to eight performances of the full-length ballet, a one-act presentation aimed at families with young children—My Very First Nutcracker, which is centered on the festive party scene—will be presented at 11am on Dec 14, 15 and 22. 408.286.2600 or newballet.com
The Bit-Cracker—Dec 13, 12:30 and 2:30pm. Louis B. Mayer Theatre, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara. Center Stage Dance Company reboots the classic holiday ballet, moving it to the early 1990s, when young Clara receives her first computer for her birthday. She discovers a bug in the code and falls asleep, dreaming herself into a magical digital world. Tickets on sale at the Center Stage studio; email st********@***il.com. centerstagewillowglen.com
Grand Kyiv Ballet’s Snow White—Dec 13, 7pm, at Hammer Theatre Center, 101 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose. Expect bright costumes, lavish scenery and exacting balletic technique in this retelling of Snow White’s travails. $40–$112. hammertheatre.vbotickets.com
A Winter Wonderland—Dec 13, 7pm. Heritage Theatre, 1 W Campbell Ave, Campbell. The Academy of Classical Ballet presents the story of Beatrice, who explores the enchanted forest and celebrates the joys of winter with the Peppermint Princess, the Winter Fairy, Jack Frost and other magical friends. $35. 408.866.2700. heritagetheatre.showare.com
Sing in the Season—Dec 13, 2pm. Campbell First United Methodist Church, 1675 S Winchester Blvd, Campbell. All the choirs from Vivace Youth Chorus demonstrate the skills they’ve learned. $25 ($5 students, free under age 5). vivaceyouthchorus.org
Fiesta Navideña—Dec 13, 5:30–9:30pm. Mexican Heritage Plaza, 1700 Alum Rock Ave, San Jose. All lit up with twinkling lights and an 18-foot Christmas tree, La Plaza invites the public to enjoy a free concert of norteño and conjunto sounds by Carlos y Charlos, dances presented by Los Lupeños de San Jose and an interactive posada presented by Teatro Vision. There are also local vendors selling handmade crafts and hot tamales. Free. eventbrite.com
Stravinsky Pulcinella—Dec 13, 7:30pm. Cubberley Theatre, 4120 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto. Palo Alto Philharmonic performs contemporary composer Reena Esmail’s Avartan; Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto, featuring soloist Geoffrey Burr; and the suite from Stravinsky’s Pulcinella ballet. Pre-concert talk begins at 7pm. $10-$25. paphil.org
Holiday Concert—Dec 13, 7:30pm. Church of the Ascension, 12033 Miller Ave, Saratoga. Nova Vista Symphony presents holiday favorites plus a Sound of Music medley, Humperdinck’s Overture to Hansel and Gretel and Prokofiev’s Lieutenant Kijé Suite. $25-$30; under 21 free. novavista.org
Children’s Heritage Holiday—Dec 13, 11am–3pm. History Park, 635 Phelan Ave, San Jose. History Park will transform into a winter wonderland, with activities, crafts, seasonal treats, and cultural performances. $6-$11. historysanjose.org
Hometown Holidays—Dec 13, 10am–6:30pm. Downtown Redwood City. A parade dancing in the streets, live entertainment, carnival rides and photo ops with Santa keep families entertained. Free. redwoodcity.org
Magical Holiday—Dec 13, 2–5pm. Magical Bridge Playground, 171 W. Edmundson Ave, Morgan Hill. A holiday event with face painting, crafts, balloon art, live performances, and a visit with Santa. morganhill.ca.gov
Local Artist Street Fair—Dec 13, 11am–6pm. 377 Santana Row, San Jose. Makers Market brings together local artisans, makers, and small brands for an open-air marketplace with 60-plus local makers showing off handmade jewelry, ceramics, woodwork, apparel, accessories, crafts, glass art, candles, pet treats, and more. Free. eventbrite.com
Santa’s Workshop—Dec 13, 11am–4pm. 1330 Orleans Dr, Sunnyvale. Under the guidance of Maker Nexus instructors, create one-of-a-kind gifts modeled on a variety of projects, from metalworking to folk crafts. Plus, enjoy treats, warm cider and holiday music. Free admission; projects cost between 1 and 4 tickets to make ($3 each, or four for $10). eventbrite.com
Los Gatos Holiday Market—Dec 13–14, 10am–5pm. Civic Center Lawn, 110 E Main St, Los Gatos. Shop for handmade gifts while enjoying wine, hot beverages, gourmet fare from food trucks, and live music by Phil & Rob. Free. lgkiwanisgives.org
San Jose Winter Wonder Market—Dec 13–14, 11am–6pm, South Hall, 435 S Market St, San Jose. After three years, this huge gift fair has become a local tradition, bringing more than 250 makers, artists, designers, culinary creatives and independent entrepreneurs together to show off their goods. And there’s a bonus for cat lovers: Mini Cat Town’s Kitten Lounge offers $15 tickets for 15 minutes of access to 30 adoptable felines. Free. sanjosemade.com
Sun, Dec 14
San Francisco Boys Chorus—Dec 14, 5-6pm. Cura Contemporary, 17395 Monterey Rd, Morgan Hill. A festive performance featuring classical hymns and Christmas songs sung by the San Francisco Boys Chorus, a Bay Area cultural cornerstone that involves more than 240 singers from 50 Bay Area cities and 120-plus schools across four locations. $35. 408.778.1800. curacontemporary.com
An Italian Christmas—Dec 14, 7:30pm. Hammer Theatre Center, 101 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose. Accompanied by SJSU Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Fred Cohen, Italian tenor Pasquale Esposito embarks on a musical journey involving Christmas carols, seasonal songs and storytelling. $72-$94. hammertheatre.vbotickets.com/event
Season of Hope: Music at the Cathedral—Dec 14–17, 7:30pm. St. Joseph Cathedral Basilica, 80 S Market St, San Jose. This Silicon Valley Arts Coalition fundraiser for Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County and Cathedral Social Ministries raises money to provide hospitality, meals, healthcare and reentry support to people rebuilding their lives. Schedule: Dec 14: Sandra Wright Shen; Dec 15: San Jose Symphonic Choir; Dec 16, Vivace Youth Chorus; Dec 17, 7:30pm: Altos Brass Quintet. Free. artssiliconvalley.org
Mon, Dec 15
James Lanman: The King of Christmas—Dec 15–16, 7:30pm. Bus Barn Theater, 97 Hillview Ave, Los Altos. Backed by a four-piece band, James Lanman belts out vintage jazz and soul favorites and his own originals, joined by singer Ren Geisick. $43. losaltosstage.org
Christmas at the California—Dec 15–18. California Theatre, 345 S. 1st St, San Jose. Across four evenings, students from Valley Christian Schools Conservatory of the Arts perform songs that make the season shine. $17.50-$21.50. sanjosetheaters.org
Wed, Dec 17
Winter’s Gifts—Dec 21, 7:30pm. Mission Santa Clara, Santa Clara University. San Jose Chamber Orchestra and the Choral Project join forces for the annual Winter’s Gifts holiday concert, under the direction of conductors Daniel Hughes and Barbara Day Turner. sjco.org
Blues Jam—Dec 17, 6-9pm. Club Fox, 2209 Broadway St, Redwood City. The Delta Wires offer up a West Coast blues grove, followed by a pro jam. 21 and over. $13.38. clubfoxrwc.com
Continuing
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 Palms, 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
Fantasy of Lights—Through Dec 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
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
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
Willow Glen Trolley Rides—Through Dec 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
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
