December 7, 2024
11:00am
Get ready to celebrate the season at the Los Gatos Holiday Parade! This festive tradition brings the streets of downtown Los Gatos to life with colorful floats, lively marching bands, and joyful performances. Taking place each December, the parade is a family-friendly extravaganza that fills the town with holiday spirit. Watch as local schools, businesses, and community groups come together to create a dazzling display of holiday cheer. With twinkling lights, whimsical costumes, and plenty of surprises along the route, the Los Gatos Holiday Parade is the perfect way to make lasting memories with loved ones. Don’t miss this magical celebration of community, creativity, and holiday fun!
December 6, 2024
06:00pm
Kick off the holiday season in style at the Los Gatos Annual Tree Lighting! Join us in downtown Los Gatos for a magical evening filled with festive cheer. Experience the excitement as we light up a beautifully decorated tree, marking the start of the holiday season. Enjoy live music, heartwarming carols, a special visit from Santa, and a variety of family-friendly activities. With local food vendors, charming shops, and the glow of holiday lights, it’s the perfect way to make memories and celebrate with friends and family. Don't miss this joyful community tradition – we can’t wait to celebrate with you!
November 29, 2024
06:00-09:00pm
Join the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce for an unforgettable evening of wine tasting with 18 local wineries. Stroll through the Historic Saratoga Village, glowing with holiday lights, and filled with joyful laughter. Sip exquisite wines, explore charming new shops, and enjoy festive cheer.
November 16, 2024 - January 12, 2025
'Tis the season to make special memories, bask in the vibrant landscape, and spend time together. Step into the magic of the House decked in holiday cheer and explore the winter Garden, where inspiration glows. During the day, bask in the winter sunlight as it brings out the hues of splendid decor, enchanting Garden displays, and sets the tone for the perfect family photo. Indulge in daytime delights with warm drinks by a firepit or stop for a hearty lunch at the Quail Café. In the evening, enter a dazzling world of holiday cheer as immersive displays and historic, natural beauty bring magic to returning favorites and new experiences.
December 7-8, 14-15, 21-22.
Get in the holiday spirit by bringing the family to ride the Redwood Forest Steam Train through the wintry redwoods to Bear Mountain. Sip hot cider while greeting Santa Claus. In town, enjoy winter themed activities.
December 7-8, 14-23.
A seasonal tradition returns to Santa Cruz with the Santa Cruz Holiday Lights Train. Vintage excursion cars, adorned with thousands of colorful lights, roll through city streets past homes of Santa Cruz.
December 1, 2024
06:00pm
Come out for one of the most popular events in Los Altos! Marvel at lighted costumes and floats to ring in the Christmas season.
Christmas in the Park runs from November 29-January 01, 2025
This 40+ year tradition is back in downtown San Jose’s Plaza de Cesar Chavez Park. There are a few surprises including new light displays, a brand new 65’ tall walk-through Christmas tree and Blinky’s Tavern – an all-new inflatable beer and wine garden! Admission is free.
December 7, 2024 02:00-05:00pm
Join for our most popular wine walk of the year! Visit 25 locations along Lincoln Ave and have some amazing sparkling wine to sip and savor as you browse some awesome holiday finds. Don't forget to get into the holiday spirit and wear your favorite holiday garb this year!
November 29-January 05, 2025
The Bay Area’s most immersive holiday event returns this year, sparkling brighter than ever before. WinterFest brings holiday cheer to California’s Great America as the park is magically transformed into a winter wonderland and holiday festival. Guests can ice-skate in front of the iconic Carousel Columbia, take in the dazzling sights, sip on crafted hot chocolate and marvel at spectacular live shows. With more than 60 rides and holiday attractions, such as sending letters to the North Pole, checking out Santa’s workshop and baking cookies in Mrs. Claus’ kitchen, and all the scrumptious holiday fare at numerous dining locations—WinterFest has something for guests of all ages and appetites. This enchanted wintery world and Christmas celebration is dominated by one of the Bay Area’s tallest Christmas trees adorned with thousands of twinkling lights accompanied by giant toy soldiers greeting guests. This amazing event features millions of lights, creating a Christmas event for the entire family.
November 16-January 26, 2025
Inspired by the science of light, IlluminOdyssey is an immersive, interactive installation that will mesmerize kids and adults of all ages*. CuriOdyssey’s four-level Redwood Hall will transform into a glowing forest of science—light your way through a maze of luminous botanical geometry, play with rainbow refraction and swirling projections, paint with light on phosphorescent surfaces, and dance with your shadow. Explore the physical properties of light, such as photoluminescence, color, additive light mixing, waves, fluorescence, fluid dynamics, subtractive color mixing, and refraction.
December 7 (4pm-9pm) - Walk-Thru
December 10 (5pm-10pm) - Drive-Thru
First presented in 1999, Fantasy of Lights is now in its 26th year and has become a cherished Holiday tradition. Enjoy a magical evening in the warmth of your vehicle as you drive through large animated displays while listening to holiday music on your car radio, or bask in the warm glow of the holiday lights as you leisurely stroll through the park with family and friends. See the sights and sounds of an erupting volcano in the dangerously fun Dinosaur Den, cheer on Santa shooting hoops, wave at a pen of playful penguins, watch blazing pirate cannons and sail through tunnels of moving lights. Over 50 themed displays and a 90-foot twinkling tree will have you “oohing and aahing” throughout your adventure.
December 14, 2024 6:00-07:15pm
The Sausalito Lighted Boat Parade is a festive annual event where local boat owners decorate their vessels with holiday lights and sail through the waters of Sausalito. Spectators gather along the waterfront to enjoy the dazzling display, creating a magical holiday atmosphere. The parade typically takes place in December and is a beloved tradition, offering a unique and charming way to celebrate the season.
December 8-9, 2024
A family-friendly tradition that takes place each December in the heart of Willow Glen, San Jose. Participants board a beautifully decorated trolley for a scenic tour through the neighborhood, where they can admire stunning holiday light displays and seasonal decorations. The event often features carolers, warm drinks, and a cheerful atmosphere, offering a charming way for the community to come together and celebrate the holiday season.