Bay Area, a winter wonderland during this holiday season

By Coco Bator

Although most Santa Clara students may be traveling home this holiday season, locals and out-of-towners alike can all experience the holiday festivities in the Bay Area before heading home.

Both San Jose and San Francisco offer an abundance of festive events geared towards getting you in the holiday spirit.

San Jose annually hosts Christmas in the Park, a month-long celebration of the holiday season whose activities are enticing to holiday enthusiasts as well as those simply looking for something entertaining to do.

The festival is located in Plaza de Cesar Chavez, San Jose's two-acre downtown park. According to eHow.com, the festival includes "countless musical and animated exhibits, a 60-foot Community Giving Tree, Victorian Village and even a cozy forest festooned with ornaments and decorations."

"I am definitely a veteran of Christmas in the Park" said sophomore Jessica Massey, who has visited the festival every year since she was born. "Surrounding the entire park is a Christmas village that looks like scenes out of a Christmas storybook."

This village includes little kids dressed as elves making toys in Santa's workshop. The scene is made all the more realistic through the employment of fake snow machines located on every block.

Downtown Ice at the Circle of Palms is another popular event in the park that attracts figure skaters of all ages and skill levels.

Skating enthusiasts and those looking to experience an unusual attraction for the Bay Area can glide along the ice under both the stars and palm trees on an outdoor rink that attracts over 40,000 skaters each holiday season.

Christmas in the Park is open from Nov. 27 through Jan. 1. The park's hours are 9 a.m. until midnight every day including Christmas and all events, with the exception of the skating rink, are free to the public. The ice rink is open daily from Nov. 20 until Jan. 18 as long as the weather permits. Prices are: 12-younger: $13, 13-older: $15. Price includes skate rentals and unlimited ice time.

Another of holiday's most beloved traditions located in our backyard is "The Nutcracker," presented by Ballet San Jose. The ballet holds its performances at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts.

This holiday season marks Ballet San Jose's 30th Anniversary Production of "The Nutcracker", which The San Francisco Chronicle declared "one of the most entertaining versions of Nutcracker anywhere in the country."

Ballet San Jose returns for another year of the classic holiday tale, this time with an "extended run with full orchestra, stunning lobby decorations, festive carolers and unforgettable Nutcracker characters who will meet and greet guests before every performance," said The Mercury News online.

Two special festivities are offered in addition to the traditional show. The Opening Night Celebration on Dec. 10 begins at 5 p.m. and includes live music and catered food preceding the performance. The Nutcracker High Tea includes high tea snacks and beverages for all ages following each matinee production.

The Nutcracker runs from Dec. 10 until Dec. 27. Prices are: Regular performance admission: $30 - $85, High Teas: $50, Opening Night Celebration: $165 - $250

For those who choose to visit San Francisco during the holiday season, the city boasts a plethora of seasonal decorations and events.

While many stores in Union Square transform their storefronts with elaborate and festive decorations, one of the crowd favorites is Macy's Great Tree and its lighting ceremony in Union Square.

The tree will be lit on Nov. 27 at 6 p.m., when thousands of twinkling lights will illuminate the square along with 1500 red and gold ornaments that will be visible atop the 85-foot tree from the streets.

The ceremony will also include musical performances and a tree-lighting countdown led by Santa Claus.

"It reminded me of New York's Rockefeller Center," said sophomore Lauren Saint, who visited Union Square last year with a group of friends to see the festive decorations and to get into the holiday spirit. "It was one of the highlights of my Christmas last year."

Many students share the same opinion and look forward to seeing all that Union Square has to offer during the holiday season.

"Union Square is the place to be for Christmas in the Bay Area," said junior Kelly Buckley.

While the tree lighting ceremony is free, anyone can sponsor a light bulb on the tree for $5, with all proceeds going directly to the University of California San Francisco Children's Hospital and benefitting children with life-threatening illnesses.

With the holiday season fast approaching, grab a cup of hot chocolate and some friends and experience the holiday magic offered by any of these festive events.

Although Santa Clara never sees snow, you can still experience a winter wonderland without leaving the Bay Area.

Contact Coco Bator at nbator@scu.edu.