Christmas in the Park, San Jose’s beloved holiday tradition for more than 40 years, will open as usual Friday night at downtown’s Plaza de Cesar Chavez with the lighting of its 65-foot high tree at 6 p.m.
But there are some changes worth knowing about this year to both Christmas in the Park and the Winter Wonderland event that runs at the same time.
To start with, Winter Wonderland’s signature giant Ferris wheel still will be on Park Avenue, but that will be the only carnival style ride there for the first two weeks of the event. Instead, the weekends-only Culture Night Market Holiday Gift Fair will take place on Paseo de San Antonio from 5-10 p.m. Nov. 29-Dec. 1 and Dec. 5-8.
The carnival rides will arrive Dec. 13, providing some family-friendly thrills through New Year’s Day. You can check www.winterwonderlandsj.com for ticket information and hours.
Annie Hermes of Messenger Events, which produces Winter Wonderland, said that change stemmed partly from feedback from San Jose State University, which has students living in the new Spartan Village on the Paseo. Makes sense, as they’ll probably be studying for finals or at least rushing to classes and having kids and carnival rides is certainly a distraction (though one some may appreciate).
“Our goal is to make this year’s Winter Wonderland bigger and more magical than ever,” Hermes said. Teaming up with Culture Night Market and the people behind San Jose Day is a good start — and a good way to get more exposure for local vendors and artisans.
Christmas in the Park has some changes of its own. Santa’s house has moved for the first time in forever closer to the center of the park, taking the place of the information booth. And the Jingle Bell Stage is now on the big stage at the north end of Plaza de Cesar Chavez, which could help draw more crowds for nightly performers.
Just about everything else is the same — the Park Tavern, which serves beer and wine, is making a comeback — but there is one really sharp new feature in the park: The tunnel that goes through the centerpiece tree is now illuminated by hundreds of colorful blinking lights.
Take the sleigh to www.christmasinthepark.com for hours and other event information.
FOWL WEATHER: I’m not sure how the forecast looks for Wednesday, but it’ll be raining turkeys at the Hiller Aviation Museum in San Carlos, as they are dropped from a helicopter.
If this sounds familiar, you’re probably of a certain age to remember a famous episode of “WKRP in Cincinnati” when a similar stunt ended poorly since turkeys can’t fly. Hiller Aviation Museum has recreated that stunt — with one key difference — for the past few years, pointing to the TV show as its inspiration.
One of the soft foam turkeys that will dropped by a helicopter on Wednesday, Nov. 27, at the Hiller Aviation Museum in San Carlos in 2022. The stunt is a tribute to a famed 1978 episode of “WKRP in Cincinnati.” (Photo courtesy Hiller Aviation Museum)
The Hiller version is more fun and less horrifying since they’ll drop about 500 little foam turkeys instead of live birds. Kids — and adults — are welcome to take home the squeezable fowl as a memento, and there’ll also be a turkey hunt inside the museum. Tickets are required, and you can get more information at hiller.org.
MUSICAL NOTES: Robert Plamenco shared the news that his son, Hayden Plamenco, will be marching in the 98th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City as one of 185 high school musicians who make up the Macy’s Great American Marching Band. Plamenco, a junior at Santa Teresa High School in San Jose, plays the euphonium, which is a low-brass instrument (but you knew that). Consider this a note of congratulations from a fellow ST alum.
San Jose’s favorite Italian tenor Pasquale Esposito, meanwhile, started last weekend serenading a living legend, as he performed for screen goddess Sophia Loren at her 90th birthday celebration in Santa Monica on Friday night. Esposito’s Notable Music and Arts Organization joined forces on the sold-out concert with the Los Angeles Virtuosi Orchestra, which is led by Carlo Ponti Jr., a noted conductor and Loren’s son.
Emmet Cahill, another tenor but of the Irish variety, is returning with his band, Celtic Thunder, to perform their “Celtic Christmas” concert at St. William Church in Los Altos for the third year in a row on Nov. 30. The Greene Academy of Irish Dance from San Jose will also perform during the 1 p.m. show. Tickets are available for $40 at emmetcahill.com or at St. Nicholas Church, 473 Lincoln Ave. in Los Altos.