December is packed with holiday cheer in Los Gatos
Tree lighting, parade, Fantasy of Lights all on tap.
Los Gatos is returning to pre-pandemic holiday festivity levels with a jammed-packed December calendar.
For many Los Gatans the true beginning of the season is the ceremonial lighting of the holiday tree, set for Friday, Dec. 1, at 6 p.m. This year marks 100 years since the women of the Los Gatos History Club donated and planted the tree in the town plaza. The Fisher Middle School Chamber Strings will perform at the centennial celebration, and there will be a Winter Wonderland Light Show. www.losgatosca.gov
Santa Cruz Avenue will come alive Saturday, Dec. 2, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., when the annual Holiday Children’s Parade takes to the streets. Rain or shine, bands will play, local clubs and sports teams will march and wave from floats, and even Santa will be there. This hometown holiday tradition is a sweet reminder that kindness and helping one another is something to celebrate. Bring your chairs to watch the parade that begins at the corner of Almendra and North Santa Cruz avenues, proceeding east on Main Street and ending at Church Street. Check the lineup of floats at www.lgsrecreation.org/parade/.
What better way to see the decorated historic homes of Los Gatos than in an elegant historic carriage pulled by a horse wearing holiday bells? The 15- to 20-minute ride starts in front of the Town Plaza nightly Dec. 7-9 and 14-23. Might be a good idea to buy tickets in advance at www.losgatoschamber.com
The public is encouraged to attend the annual Wreaths Across America Day Saturday, Dec. 16 at the Los Gatos Memorial Park Cemetery. After a ceremony that includes patriotic music, posting of the colors, messages by area leaders, the playing of bagpipes and taps, a 21-gun salute and a dove release, volunteers will place wreaths on the headstones of the cemetery’s veterans. The goal of the Los Gatos volunteer committee is for every veteran’s headstone to receive a wreath. 1,800 wreaths were purchased by donors in 2022; 2,800 veterans are buried in the cemetery. You can help by purchasing wreaths ($17 each) at www.WAALOSGATOS.ORG.
You may have noticed lighting displays appearing at Vasona Park. Fantasy of Lights will soon be back for its 25th year. The holiday tradition is bigger, better and brighter than ever thanks to environmentally friendly LED lighting. Drive-through tickets let families ooh and aah from their cars at the more than 50 themed displays along the 1.5-mile route while listening to holiday music on the car radio. The sounds in the Dinosaur Den alone will get your attention, and the 90-foot twinkling tree is a crowd favorite. There’s also a walk-through option on Dec. 2-3, 4-9 p.m. Tickets are available in advance only at https://parks.sccgov.org/fantasy-lights-2023-drive-thru. It’s a good idea to buy early since the event is usually a sellout. Vasona Lake County Park, Dec. 5-30 (closed Dec. 25), 6-10 p.m.
The Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce has launched a two-month holiday campaign to show all that is special in Los Gatos. A “Los Gatos Loyal” card will be sold to residents and visitors; cardholders will receive discounts and incentives from participating businesses to shop, dine, stay and be well in town. Putting a bow on the package, the Chamber will gift wrap Los Gatos Loyal member purchases at its office at 10 Station Way.
If you have business or social news about Los Gatos, please let me know: debby@debbyrice.com.