Christmas within the Park, San Jose’s beloved vacation custom for greater than 40 years, will open as traditional Friday night time at downtown’s Plaza de Cesar Chavez with the lighting of its 65-foot excessive tree at 6 p.m.
However there are some adjustments price realizing about this yr to each Christmas within the Park and the Winter Wonderland occasion that runs on the similar time.
To begin with, Winter Wonderland’s signature big Ferris wheel nonetheless will probably be on Park Avenue, however that would be the solely carnival type trip there for the primary two weeks of the occasion. As an alternative, the weekends-only Tradition Evening Market Vacation Reward Truthful will happen on Paseo de San Antonio from 5-10 p.m. Nov. 29-Dec. 1 and Dec. 5-8.
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The carnival rides will arrive Dec. 13, offering some family-friendly thrills by New Yr’s Day. You’ll be able to test www.winterwonderlandsj.com for ticket info and hours.
Annie Hermes of Messenger Occasions, which produces Winter Wonderland, mentioned that change stemmed partly from suggestions from San Jose State College, which has college students residing within the new Spartan Village on the Paseo. Is sensible, as they’ll in all probability be learning for finals or at the least dashing to courses and having youngsters and carnival rides is actually a distraction (although one some could recognize).
“Our goal is to make this year’s Winter Wonderland bigger and more magical than ever,” Hermes mentioned. Teaming up with Tradition Evening Market and the individuals behind San Jose Day is an effective begin — and a great way to get extra publicity for native distributors and artisans.
Christmas within the Park has some adjustments of its personal. Santa’s home has moved for the primary time in endlessly nearer to the middle of the park, taking the place of the data sales space. And the Jingle Bell Stage is now on the massive stage on the north finish of Plaza de Cesar Chavez, which may assist draw extra crowds for nightly performers.
Nearly all the pieces else is identical — the Park Tavern, which serves beer and wine, is making a comeback — however there may be one actually sharp new characteristic within the park: The tunnel that goes by the centerpiece tree is now illuminated by a whole lot of colourful blinking lights.
Take the sleigh to www.christmasinthepark.com for hours and different occasion info.
FOWL WEATHER: I’m unsure how the forecast seems to be for Wednesday, however it’ll be raining turkeys on the Hiller Aviation Museum in San Carlos, as they’re dropped from a helicopter.
If this sounds acquainted, you’re in all probability of a sure age to recollect a well-known episode of “WKRP in Cincinnati” when an identical stunt ended poorly since turkeys can’t fly. Hiller Aviation Museum has recreated that stunt — with one key distinction — for the previous few years, pointing to the TV present as its inspiration.
The Hiller model is extra enjoyable and fewer horrifying since they’ll drop about 500 little foam turkeys as an alternative of dwell birds. Youngsters — and adults — are welcome to take residence the squeezable fowl as a memento, and there’ll even be a turkey hunt contained in the museum. Tickets are required, and you will get extra info at hiller.org.
MUSICAL NOTES: Robert Plamenco shared the information that his son, Hayden Plamenco, will probably be marching within the 98th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York Metropolis as one in all 185 highschool musicians who make up the Macy’s Nice American Marching Band. Plamenco, a junior at Santa Teresa Excessive College in San Jose, performs the euphonium, which is a low-brass instrument (however you knew that). Take into account this a observe of congratulations from a fellow ST alum.
San Jose’s favourite Italian tenor Pasquale Esposito, in the meantime, began final weekend serenading a residing legend, as he carried out for display goddess Sophia Loren at her ninetieth birthday celebration in Santa Monica on Friday night time. Esposito’s Notable Music and Arts Group joined forces on the sold-out live performance with the Los Angeles Virtuosi Orchestra, which is led by Carlo Ponti Jr., a famous conductor and Loren’s son.
Emmet Cahill, one other tenor however of the Irish selection, is returning together with his band, Celtic Thunder, to carry out their “Celtic Christmas” live performance at St. William Church in Los Altos for the third yr in a row on Nov. 30. The Greene Academy of Irish Dance from San Jose will even carry out in the course of the 1 p.m. present. Tickets can be found for $40 at emmetcahill.com or at St. Nicholas Church, 473 Lincoln Ave. in Los Altos.
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