Holiday Event Guide: Santa Cruz & Nearby 2018

SOUTH BAY AND SANTA CRUZ, CA – Ho-ho-ho! Holiday time is here! Make the most of it, and enjoy community events that abound throughout your town and the South Bay region.

Peruse our annual event guide -- a round-up of the region's top festivities.

And Happy Holidays, from Patch!

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APTOS:

DEC. 4: Christmas with Dickens. Refreshments & meet the cast after the show.

DEC. 15-16: Nutcracker Santa Cruz: Experience the Magic! A family holiday tradition at Cabrillo's Crocker Theater.
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BELMONT:

DEC. 8 & 15: Holiday Wreath-Making Workshop 2018: Briar Shop. Fun event at cute store.

DEC. 9: Folksongs Of Winter Holidays With Adam Miller. Event is free!
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CAMPBELL

DEC. 8-9: 'A Winter Wonderland' Holiday Ballet. "A ballet that's a bit different from the typical holiday season."

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CAPITOLA:

Through DEC. 22: Holiday Music Series. Great concerts -- free! -- on Saturdays & Sundays.-----

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GILROY:

Through DEC. 31: Gilroy Gardens At Night Holiday. Twinkling lights, rides & ice skating, plus "Charlie Brown Christmas" show.

DEC. 8: Breakfast With Santa . Two seatings; save your spot!

DEC. 15: Wreaths Across America 2018: Cemeteries, Morgan Hill & Gilroy. Community invited to remember and honor veterans.
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HOLLISTER:

DEC. 31: New Year's Eve Party 2018-19: Casa de Fruta Music Hall.Always a sell-out, so get your tickets!

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LOS ALTOS:

Through JAN. 6: Christmas Gifts from Yesteryear on Display at Historic Home. Holiday-themed exhibit for young and old at Los Altos History Museum.

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LOS ALTOS HILLS:

Dec. 5—23: TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Presents "The Santaland Diaries." Written by David Sedaris. "Rollicking one-man cure for an overdose of holiday hype."

DEC. 9: PACO Holiday Extravaganza with Special Guest TwoSet Violin. With dancers from Pacific Ballet Academy for suite of Nutcracker favorites.
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LOS GATOS:

DEC. 4-30: Annual Fantasy of Lights Drive-Thru 2018: Vasona Lake. "A spectacular 1.5 mile drive-thru extravaganza of holiday lights and displays."

DEC. 8: Chanukah Latkes & Ladoos: Celebration of Light. RSVPs due Nov. 30.

DEC. 8: MakerSpace Open Studio | Salt Dough Snow. At NUMU.

DEC. 9: Holiday Boutique. "Enormous Selection of Arts, Crafts, Handmade Items and Surprises."

DEC. 14: CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS - a musical experience. Features William Jessup University Choir and Orchestra.

DEC. 15: MakerSpace Open Studio | Canning Jar Wreaths. At NUMU

DEC. 29: Maker Space Open Studio | Snow Globes. Yule have a ball!
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MILPITAS:

DEC. 8: Milk & Cookies With Santa. Always popular, so don't delay in getting tickets.

Through DEC. 24: Make Magical Memories At Great Mall. Many holiday events, including pet photos with Santa.
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MONTEREY:

Through DEC. 16: Christmas on Monterey's Old Fisherman's Wharf. Festivities each weekend.

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MORGAN HILL:

DEC. 15: Wreaths Across America 2018: Cemeteries, Morgan Hill & Gilroy. Community invited to remember and honor veterans.

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MOUNTAIN VIEW:

DEC. 5-9: Smuin Presents "The Christmas Ballet." Beloved Bay Area tradition with two acts of classical & cool.

DEC. 7-8: Peninsula Youth Theatre's 'Elves & Shoemaker'. Ideal theater for little ones at only 45 minutes long.

DEC. 8: 6th Annual German Holiday Market (Weihnachtsmarkt). Open-air Bavarian market & festivities right in MV.

DEC. 16: Schola Cantorum's Annual Holiday Concert. Joy to the World!

DEC. 17: Schola Cantorum's Annual Messiah Sing. "Conducted by Gregory Wait in his final season as music director, this is an event not to be missed!"
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PALO ALTO:

DEC. 4: Klezmer Khanike w/ the gonifs klezmer band Hanukkah Music at Noon. Celebrate Hanukkah with traditional foods and music.

DEC. 5: Menorah Lighting At City Hall. With special presentation to honor public servants.

DEC. 6: Hanukkah Celebration 2018: Stanford Shopping Center. Entertainment, lighting ceremony, crafts for the little ones and more.

DEC. 6: Pet Photos With Santa 2018: Stanford Shopping Center. Fido loves Santa!

DEC. 15: The Choral Project's WINTER'S GIFTS: JOURNEYS. Music from cultures and faith traditions from around the world.
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REDWOOD CITY:

DEC. 7 & 9: Ballet America's Nutcracker 2018: Fox Theatre. "A first-rate production of this ballet favorite."

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SAN JOSE:

DEC. 4: Hammer Theatre Center Presents "Cool Yule." With the SJSU Jazz Orchestra.

DEC. 7-9: Tandy Beal's JOY Holiday Show - Circus, Dance & Music. An exuberant, family-friendly holiday spectacular.

DEC. 16: Symphony Holiday Pops Concert. "Dance is the inspiration for this jovial concert."

DEC. 22: The Jingle Ball - Singles Dance Party. Co-sponsored by The Society of Single Professionals.
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SAN MATEO:

DEC. 6: SMHS/BHS "Season of Song" Winter Chorale Concert. Join Choirs of Burlingame and San Mateo High Schools.

DEC. 8: Gingerbread House Decorating 2018: Hillsdale. Great family activity.

DEC. 8-9: Holiday Festival of Dance. "This year's production is entitled 'The Snow Tree' and is sure to warm hearts both young and old."

Through JAN. 13: 'San Mateo On Ice' Holiday Skating Rink 2018-19. Cool family fun at Central Park!
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SANTA CLARA:

DEC. 16: The Choral Project's WINTER'S GIFTS: JOURNEYS. Music from cultures and faith traditions from around the world.

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SANTA CRUZ:

Through JAN. 6: 'Boardwalk Holiday Ice' Outdoor Skating Rink. Lights, firepits, holiday movies, special treats & more.

Through DEC. 2: Tandy Beal's JOY Holiday Show - Circus, Dance & Music. A magical madcap holiday circus.

DEC. 8-9 & 15-23: Roaring Camp Railroads' Holiday Lights Train. Great time for the young and young-at-heart.

DEC. 7: Boardwalk Holiday Bash 2018: Cocoanut Grove. Celebrate the holidays Boardwalk-style.

DEC. 8: Winter Artisan Fair 2018: Westlake Elementary School. Find one-of-kind gifts!

DEC. 17: Seasonal Kids Craft Days. Holiday fun at the library for ages 3 and up.

DEC. 21: An ABBA-Solutely Christmas Show 2018: Rio Theatre. ABBA with a seasonal sprinkling of Christmas music.

DEC. 21-23: The Nutcracker With Live Orchestra. An annual treat from the Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre.
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SARATOGA:

DEC. 8: Prospect High School Holiday Craft Faire 2018. Join high School Music and Sports Boosters along with your favorite local crafters.

DEC. 9: San Jose Wind Symphony Presents "Visions of Sugar Plum Fairies." Concert features Christmas classics, Hanukkah hits, audience sing-a-longs and rollicking Sleigh Ride.

DEC. 13: Ugly Sweater Party 2018: Mountain Winery. Rock that ugly winter garment!
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SCOTTS VALLEY:

DEC. 8: Friends of the Scotts Valley Library Holiday Book Sale. Need gift ideas?

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WATSONVILLE:

DEC. 8: Holidays in the Plaza - Jingle Bell Rock. Music, Santa, cookies & cocoa.

DEC. 15: Holiday Movie in the Plaza. Bundle up for outdoor movie.
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WOODSIDE:

DEC. 9, 11, 16, 18, 23: Afternoon Holiday Tea 2018: Filoli Estate. A luxurious experience with delicious treats at famed house & gardens.

DEC. 8, 15, 22: Santa Saturdays 2018: Filoli. Photos, crafts, sing-alongs & storytime with Mrs. Claus.

DEC. 20: Winter Solstice 2018: Filoli. Celebrate shortest day of year with lighting ceremony & musical entertainment.
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FOR PATCH'S ENTIRE SF BAY AREA HOLIDAY GUIDE: Holiday Tree Lightings, Parades & Events: SF Bay Area 2018

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If we missed your organization's or city's event, email details and online links to susan.schena@patch.com
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TRAVELING OVER THE HOLIDAYS?

• Holiday Tree Lightings, Parades & Events: Riverside County 2018

• Holiday Tree Lightings, Parades & Events: O.C. 2018

• Holiday Tree Lightings, Parades & Events: San Diego County 2018

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--Image via Phil Walter Getty Images

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