Holiday Destinations (Dec. 2010)
Overview
Published: 11/18/2010
by Carrie McCarthy
Photos
- Christmas Creche Exhibit – See 450 hand-wrought nativities from a multitude of countries, continents and cultures at this 23rd annual Christmas Creche exhibit. 12-9pm, Dec. 4-8. Free. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 3865 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. 650-856-3781. christmascreche.org.
- Christmas in the Park – San Jose’s best-known holiday tradition is now in its 30th year, with 60 animated displays, hundreds of decorated trees and thousands of twinkling lights. Visit with Santa and enjoy live entertainment. 9am-midnight daily through Jan. 1. Free. Plaza de Cesar Chavez, Market St. (between San Carlos St. and San Fernando St.), San Jose. 408-794-6200. christmasinthepark.com.
- Holiday Lights: Nights of Fire – Gilroy Gardens is decorated for the holidays with laser lights and fireworks at Coyote Lake. Enjoy holiday-themed rides and hayrides through a winter wonderland. 4-9pm Fri.-Sun., Dec. 3-18, Mon.-Thurs., Dec. 20-30, and Sun. Dec. 26. $30, free 2 and under. Gilroy Gardens, 3050 Hecker Pass Hwy. (Hwy. 152), Gilroy. 408-840-7100. gilroygardens.org.
- Santa Cruz Holiday Lights Train – Ride vintage cars through Santa Cruz, while singing carols, sipping hot-spiced cider and enjoying a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. 5pm Sat.-Sun., Dec. 4-5. 6:30pm Fri.-Sat., 5pm Sat.-Sun., Dec. 10-19, 5pm Mon.-Thurs., Dec. 20-23. $17-25. Trains depart from Neptune’s Kingdom at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, 400 Beach St., Santa Cruz. 831-335-4484. roaringcamp.com.
- 12th Annual Fantasy of Lights – Enjoy a 1.5 mile drive through a magical wonderland of lights and animated displays, including an erupting volcano, blazing cannons and a 90-foot twinkling tree. 6-10pm, Nov. 26-Dec. 31. $10/car through Dec. 9, $15/car Dec. 10-31. Vasona Lake County Park, 333 Blossom Hill Road, Los Gatos. 408-355-2201. parkhere.org.