Parade marches into downtown
The 28th annual Festival of Lights Parade is scheduled for 7 p.m. Sunday along Main and State streets in downtown Los Altos.
The parade, put on by volunteers, draws approximately 20,000 spectators every year, according to organizer Nancy Schneider. This year’s parade, themed “A Child’s Holiday Fantasy,” features floats, costumed characters from holiday fairy tales, entertainers and local high school bands.
Parade organizers hold two major fund-raisers every year to make the parade possible: “Rock Back the Clock,” the 1950s festival at Rancho Shopping Center, and the Antiques and Collectibles Fair held downtown.
The Festival of Lights Parade was the brainchild of downtown merchants Marion Jackston and Hope Higbee, who were inspired by Disneyland’s electrical light parade. The merchants planned a parade after Thanksgiving that would get people in the holiday spirit.
“Our mission statement is to bring our community together to share the warmth of the holiday season,” Schneider said.
Holiday home tour for St. Francis
The Women’s Club at St. Francis High School hosts its 17th annual holiday home tour, “Christmas at Our House,” in Atherton Dec.1-3. Festivities begin at 4 p.m. Dec. 1 with the twilight tour and gala preview party. The homes are open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 2 and 3.
Five homes in Atherton are included in this year’s holiday home tour.
Tickets are $100 for the preview party and twilight tour. A day tour, including tea, is $40 in advance, $50 at the door, if available. For more information and reservations, call 968-1213, ext. 701, or visit www.womensclub.sfhs.com.
Tree lighting ceremony Dec. 2
The Los Altos Village Association has scheduled the annual tree lighting ceremony, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Dec. 2 at the Community Plaza, corner of State and Main streets in downtown Los Altos.
In addition to the ceremonial lighting of the plaza tree, the Mountain View High School Madrigal Singers and the Pinewood choir will perform.
Activities include a face painter, balloon artist and craft table by FasTracKids. Santa is scheduled to make a special appearance.
Carriage rides available downtown
Downtown Los Altos visitors will have the opportunity to travel around local retail stores in a horse and carriage.
Rides will be available Dec. 9-11 and Dec. 16-18.
Reservations can be made through the Los Altos Village Association office, 949-5282, ext. 122.
‘Be a Santa to a Senior’
Area retailers, along with agencies that serve older adults, have joined forces with Home Instead Senior Care to deliver gifts to isolated seniors in the “Be a Santa to a Senior” program during the holiday season.
The Los Altos-area office of Home Instead has teamed with Rite Aid in Mountain View, among other businesses, to provide presents to seniors who otherwise might not receive a gift this holiday season.
The program, running through Dec. 15, requested that non-profit organizations identify needy seniors and provide their names to Home Instead. Christmas trees at participating businesses, such as Rite Aid, display ornaments with the first names of the needy residents and their gift wishes. Holiday shoppers can pick an ornament and purchase the requested gift with the ornament and name attached. Volunteers wrap and distribute gifts to the seniors.
If you are interested in volunteering to help on the citywide gift-wrapping day, call 691-9671.
Breakfast with Santa at Aldo’s
The annual Breakfast with Santa is scheduled for 9 a.m. Dec. 10 at Aldo Los Altos. Aldo’s is located at 388 Main St.
Each child will be given a gingerbread person and some icing and candy decorations to make his or her own personalized cookie. There will be holiday pictures and crayons for coloring. The menu will feature scrambled eggs, pancakes, bacon, fruit and juice or milk.
Tickets are presale only and may be purchased at: Adventure Toys, 173 Main St.; FasTrac Kids, 941 Fremont Ave.; Lin’s Toy Cupboard, 237 State St.; Los Altos Recreation Department, 97 Hillview Ave.; Los Altos Village Association, 319 State St.; and Marion Jackstons, 163 Main St.
Holiday harp concert at United Methodist
Harpeggio Music presents its seventh annual holiday harp concert 4 p.m. Dec. 10 at Los Altos United Methodist Church. The program includes a selection of traditional carols, classical music and a variety of holiday music featuring harp solos and ensembles, including the studio ensemble of more than 20 harps.
Celtic harpist and singer Barbary Grant will be joined by flutist and singer Aimee Aul, with whom she performs and records as the duo Brigit’s Well.
Tickets are $10-$15. For more information and tickets, please call Stephanie at (408) 366-8810 or e-mail events@harpeggio.com.
Los Altos United Methodist Church is located at 655 Magdalena Ave.
Gingerbread showcase exhibit Dec. 5
The city of Los Altos showcases a gingerbread house exhibit 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 5 featuring the edible art of food artists from kindergarten to adult. The event is held at Hillview Community Center, 97 Hillview Ave.
For more information, call 947-2790.
