Festivals & Events
Downtown Ice
Fri. Nov. 20 - Mon. Jan. 18
at Circle of Palms
Skate with Shark's mascot Sharkie for an hour under the palms on Saturday November 21st at Downtown Ice, the South Bay's largest seasonal outdoor skating rink. The rink opens on Nov. 20 and will close on Jan. 18. Hours of operation vary, but there is no time limit, so you can skate from open to close if you so chose.
San Jose Holiday Parade
Sun. Dec. 6, 8:30am
at Downtown San Jose
Celebrate the 28th anniversary of San Jose's annual Holiday Parade. Recognized as one of the United State's top 25 parades, the San Jose Holiday Parade features helium balloons, floats, Santa Claus, celebrity guests, drill teams, equestrians and more. This year's honorary grand marshal will be a special Bay Area native, Olympic gold medalist, Kristi Yamaguchi. This is the largest holiday parade in Northern California. Whether it be downtown or in the comfort of your living room via NBC Bay Area, don't miss it.
ParadeFest
Sun. Dec. 6, 11am
at Plaza de Cesar Chavez Park
Once the San Jose Holiday Parade concludes, continue the celebration at Christmas in the Park with food, music and your favorite characters from the parade. There will be a meet and greet with special guests, an appearance of the San Jose Fire Department Sharks Engine, free giveaways and a free health screening with the San Jose Lions Club, in addition to the beautiful lights, Christmas trees, community performances, and holiday displays.
Fantasy of Lights 2009
Fri. Nov. 27 - Thu. Dec. 31, 6-10pm
at Vasona Lake County Park
For the 11th year, the park is filled with fantastical lighted displays, with everything from dinosaurs to pirate ships. A drive through the park at night is transformed into a magical holiday experience. Everyone is encouraged to bring a donation of canned goods to help out Second Harvest Food Bank.
Willow Glen Santa Parade
Fri. Nov. 27, 1pm
at Lincoln Avenue in Willow Glen
Lincoln Avenue lights up with classic holiday festivities this week in anticipation of a parade in honor of the Jolly Old Elf himself. Santa photos will be available for the kids after he takes a trip down Lincoln Avenue in Willow Glen's Santa Parade. Neighboring retailers will keep their doors open, and free refreshments will be available. Willow Glen will also hold a tree-lighting ceremony on the following evening, during which horse-drawn carriages will be available for 20-minute trips up and down Lincoln Avenue
Heritage Holiday - Past and Present
Sat. Dec. 5, 10am-4pm
at History Park
History San Jose will be hosting "Heritage Holiday - Past and Present" in History Park. History San Jose's goal is to bring back that good old-fashioned holiday experience. There will be traditional high tea served by costumed performers, food tasting, face painting, trolley rides, tours of historic homes, and live musical performances by Relative Insanity and Wayne Jiang. Don't miss this unique experience complete with Santa Claus and carolers from Lyric Theatre.
Christmas Tree Ligthing & Carriage Rides
Fri. Dec. 4, 6pm
at Los Gatos Town Plaza
Before the tree lighting ceremony there will be festivities to partake in as early as 4pm. The tree lighting ceremony will take place at 6pm, promptly followed by Santa's arrival in a red fire engine at 6:01pm. At 7pm enjoy a 15-minute horse-drawn carriage ride through decorated North Santa Cruz Street and the Almond Grove district. Embrace the holiday spirit as you pass bright lights and historic homes.
Cozzolani's Christmas Mass
Fri. Dec. 4, 8pm
at St Patrick's Seminary
Written almost 400 years ago and nearly destroyed by fire in WWII, some of composer Chiara Margarita Cozzolani's lost works will be brought to life by Bay Area baroque vocal ensemble Magnificat. Working with his knowledge of Cozzolani's work, director Warren Stewart has "re-composed" the missing pieces of her work and will premiere never-before-heard movements with his ensemble this holiday season. In addition to the Christmas Mass series, Magnificat will perform five of her motets and a Gregorian chant. Magnificat will use only female voices to preserve the "angelic" quality of the work, as it would have been performed in 17th-century Italy. Come hear Cozzolani's Christmas Mass as it was meant to be heard.
Light It Up!
Sat. Dec. 12, 9pm
at Oshman Family Jewish Community Center
Silicon Valley Hillel presents Light It Up, a Chanukah celebration for the 21+ crowd. Bring a nonperishable food for donation and enjoy music, raffle prizes, and an open bar. Donations will benefit local branches of Second Harvest Food Bank. One raffle ticket will be given per item donated. This event is open to young adults from all corners of the Bay Area.
Hanukkah Hullabaloo
Sun. Dec. 13, 3pm
at Oshman Family Jewish Community Center
The Palo Alto JCC is ringing in the holidays with a Hanukkah Hullabaloo! Tailored toward families with small children, tons of games, activities, and food will fill the Oshman Family JCC for an afternoon of family-friendly fun. Try your hand at latke-flipping, decorate a picture frame, and munch on sufganiot to welcome Hanukkah to the Bay Area. This event will be held in the Preschool clasroom at the Oshman Family JCC, but kids of all ages are invited to attend.
Latkepalooza
Sun. Dec. 13, 1pm
at Peninsula Jewish Community Center
Latkepalooza! Is the Peninsula JCC's way of welcoming Chakukah. Always a hit with the community, this year's Latkepalooza! will feature crafts and games for kids, and live music and wine tasting for adults, and latkes galore for all! On the bandstand will be local ensemble Klezmania, led by Ben Brussell. Described as 'a musical pep pill' by the San Francisco Chronicle, Klezmania fuses contemporary jazz with traditional Jewish and Yiddish music. Close the afternoon with a community sing-along to usher in Chanukah in style. Admission is free with donations of canned goods.
Music Events
A Chanticleer Christmas
Thu. Dec. 10, 8pm
at Stanford Memorial Church
WThe acclaimed San Francisco men's chorus performs its much-loved holiday program with traditional carols and contemporary pieces, along with samples of Gregorian chant and American gospel. This show is presented in the acoustically excellent Memorial Church by Stanford Lively Arts.
You-Sing-It Messiah
Mon. Dec. 7 , 7:30pm
at California Theatre
San Jose Symphonic Choir has been raising its voice for 85 years. The 110-member ensemble, under the direction of Leroy Kromm since 1985, presents its annual sing-along version of Handel's glorious masterpiece.
QUADRE Concert
Tue. Dec. 8, 8pm
at Graham Theater
QUADRE—four French horn artists—will be performing their fifth annual "Horns for the Holidays" concert at Graham Theater this December. Both traditional and original compositions will be performed, including songs from their holiday CD, Horns for the Holidays. QUADRE will be accompanied by a 100 member band made up of students from Los Altos High School, Mountain View High School and Saint Francis High School. Support the music of South Bay schools by being apart of this lovely holiday event.
Second Harvest Food Bank Concert
Sat. Dec. 5, 12:30-4pm
at Santana Row
Saturday will mark Second Harvest's Fourth Annual Food Bank Concert. Attend this free and wonderful day concert and help those in need by bringing canned goods, cash, or check. The concert will feature The Robert Berry Band, including Robert Berry, guitarist Paul J. Keller, Pete Adams on the drums, and the original bassist from Hush, Gene Perrault. Robert Berry is an award winning songwriter and producer and has worked with well-known names like Ambrosia and Sammy Hagar. The concert will take place on the main stage in front of Maggiano's
El Camino Youth Symphony
Sun Dec 13, 7pm
at California Theatre
The El Camino Youth Symphony will perform its annual "Holiday Concert." The concert will feature the Sleigh Ride by Anderson, as well as works from Saint-Seans, Tchaikovsky, Reinecke, Kabalevsky and Bruch. The spotlight will be on three young ladies, Deborah Ahn, senior at Mills High School, on the violin, Alice Park, sophomore at Mission San Jose High School, on the violin, and Pavitra Rengarajan, sophomore at Harker High School, on the flute. Ahn, Park, and Rengarajan have all won numerous musical competitions and awards. The music director, Dr. Camilla Kolchinsky, has been ECYS's director and conductor of the Symphony Orchestra for over ten seasons. She has also worked with the National USSR State Orchestra, the Philharmonic Orchestra in London, the Swedish Radio Orchestra in Stockholm, and many others.
Ragazzi Boys Chorus Holiday Concert
Sat. Dec. 5, 5pm
at First Congregational Church - Palo Alto
Sun. Dec. 13
at St Matthews Episcopal Church
The Ragazzi Boys Chorus is a group of more than 100 boys between the ages of seven and 11 who sing songs from a large variety of musical genres, ranging from 80s and rock to Broadway hits and classics. These boys also enjoy singing college level material in a variety of foreign languages including Welsh, Japanese, German, and French. They have traveled worldwide and performed with the San Francisco Symphony, Opera San Jose, and the Stanford University Symphonic Chorus. For their holiday concert, An Old Fashioned Christmas, they will perform classics such as "The Glory of The Father" by Hovland in addition to traditional Christmas carols. The Ragazzi boys won't be the only ones singing; the audience will be invited to sing along to familiar tunes.
Chanukah Palooza 2009
Sun. Dec. 13, Noon
at Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley JCC's Chanukah Palooza is by far the coolest Chanukah celebration you've ever seen, offering many ways to celebrate Chanukah. Chanukah Palooza features holiday vendors, miles of good food, and bounce houses for kids of all ages. There's even a Guitar Hero tournament for teens (and a few brave adults, too)! No matter how you want to ring in the festival of lights, Chanukah Palooza has got you covered.
Rock Shabbat
Fri. Dec. 11, 7pm
at Temple Emanu-El
Celebrate Chanukah with a decidedly different service this holiday season. San Jose's Temple Emanu-El will celebrate the first night of Chanukah with a twist on the traditional. In addition to readings of Jewish liturgy, Temple Emanu-El will also incorporate classic rock tunes such as "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" and "Imagine" into their worship service. This reading is open to everyone, and attendees are encouraged to sing along!
Performances
Another Night Before Christmas
Check listing for dates & times
at City Lights Theater Company
A woman befriends a homeless man who might be Santa in a different kind of seasonal play from City Lights. This is the West Coast premiere of Sean Grennan (book and lyrics) and Leah Okimoto's (music) work. Stars Lisa-Marie Newton and Michael Johnson.
A Christmas Carol
Check listing for dates & times
at Northside Theatre Company
For the 27th year in a row, Northside Theatre offers the gift of a traditional version of Charles Dickens' classic "A Christmas Carol." The tale of Ebenezer Scrooge and the lessons he learns from the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future—not to mention from Tiny Tim—are designed to enthrall the whole family. Directed by Nita Lambert and Melinda Marks.
A Civil War Christmas
Check listing for dates & times
at Lucie Stern Theatre
"A Civil War Christmas" pays homage to the American experience through fact and fiction, old-time carols and traditional tunes. The story is set in snowy Washington on a Christmas Eve in 1864 and imagines celebrated historical figures like, Abe Lincoln and Walt Whitman rubbing elbows.
A Christmas Story
Check listing for dates & times
at San Jose Repertory Theatre
The San Jose Repertory Theatre will bring one of the most popular and beloved Christmas stories to life this holiday season. "A Christmas Story," adapted for the stage from the Jean Shepherd tale, shows you Christmas through the eyes of Ralphie Parker, a young boy whose sole wish for Christmas is to receive a Red Ryder BB gun. Enjoy this hilarious and touching Christmas story with the entire family.
Scrooge!
Check listing for dates & times
at Cabrillo College Crocker Theater
Cabrillo Stage in Santa Cruz is closing their 2009 season with a production of Scrooge!, their very first holiday production. Stage adaptations of A Christmas Carol crop up everywhere this time of year. Scrooge! is a musical retelling of Dickens' story, packed with singing and dancing for the whole family.
The Seafarer
Check listing for dates & times
at San Jose Stage Company
This year's season at the San Jose Stage Company contained all angles of the spectrum, from freaky to fun. It represents the evolution of these past 26 years. This season closes out with The Seafarer By Conor McPherson—a Christmas Eve card game opens the door to a supernatural end that will leave you breathless.
The Christmas Ballet 2009
Check listing for dates & times
at Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts
San Francisco's Smuin Ballet is once again taking its popular Christmas show on the road this holiday season. Combining tap, jazz, swing and many more styles, Smuin's Christmas Ballet is a welcome break from the onslaught of Nutcrackers that besiege the Bay Area during the month of December. The Christmas Ballet features old and new Christmas classics, taking on everything from Bach to the blues to "Baby, It's Cold Outside."
The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker
Check listing for dates & times
at San Jose Center for the Performing Arts
Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the first Cleveland/San Jose production of the seasonal classic, Ballet San Jose presents its popular and colorful version of Tchaikovsky's wondrous tale as choreographed by Dennis Nahat. The music will be supplied by Symphony Silicon Valley. The Dec. 12 and 22 matinees will be special one-hour versions especially designed to entrance younger audiences.
The Nutcracker
Fri. - Sun., Dec. 4-6, 7:30pm
at San Jose Center for the Performing Arts
A South Bay holiday tradition, the San Jose Dance Theatre's interpretation of The Nutcracker has kept audiences coming back every holiday season for the last 44 years. San Jose Dance Theatre performs an elegant, classic version of Tchaikovsky's famous ballet alongside the Silicon Valley Symphony. SJDT's Nutcracker s equipped with extravagant costumes and lavish sets fit for The Mouse King himself.
The Nutcracker
Fri. - Sun., Dec. 4-6, 7:30pm
at Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts
Western Ballet puts Mountain View in the holiday spirit with their rendition of The Nutcracker. The company and school have been training young performers in Santa Clara for 30 years. Choreographed by Yanis Pikeris and staged by Alexi Zubiria, this production is carried by both students and professionals at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts. Past Nutcrackers by Western Ballet have earned high praise throughout the Bay Area.
The Nutcracker
Sat. Dec. 5, 2 & 7pm
Sun. Dec. 6, 2pm
at Ohlone College - Smith Center
Yoko's Performing Arts Academy has teamed up with the Fremont Symphony Orchestra to bring the East Bay a modern take on The Nutcracker. Director Yoko Young's stylish choreography is paired with the classical sounds of the Fremont Symphony Orchestra in a stunning production. After each matinee performance, children in the audience are invited to attend The Sugar Plum Party to meet and greet the cast.
The Nutcracker
Fri. Dec. 11, 7pm
Sat. Dec. 12, 1:30 & 7pm
at Sequoia High School
Every year, students of Redwood City's Academy of American Ballet are given the chance to perform The Nutcracker alongside Ballet America's professional cast. Performed this year in Sequoia High School's Carrington Hall, this Nutcracker is truly a community production, put together by locals of all ages. This year's roster features Alec Lytton of Company C, and a surprise guest as The Sugar Plum Fairy.
The Nutcracker
Check listing for dates & times
at San Mateo Performing Arts Center
Peninsula Ballet Theatre will close its 2009 season with Director Emeritus Carlos Carvajal's interpretation of The Nutcracker. PBT's 2009 version of the holiday standby features a full live orchestra led by Chris Christensen, and is under the direction of Bruce Steivel. Ticket purchases made in November will receive a 10% discount on their order.
The Nutcracker
Check listing for dates & times
at Lucie Stern Theatre
The Palo Alto Children's Theatre presents a decidedly different take on a Christmas classic. Performed by South Bay kids of all ages, this scripted version of The Nutcracker by June Walter Rogers breaks away from the traditional ballet interpretation of the holiday tale. PACT's production has been choreographed and directed by their staff of instructors, and is recommended for the whole family.
