‘Tis the season to be jolly, as the old song says. But perhaps you’re in a more contemplative mood? Whether you’re feeling merry and bright, quiet and reverent or more “Bah! Humbug!” than “deck the halls,” there’s something for everyone happening on the Midpeninsula this holiday season.
Looking for a traditional concert of classic carols? Check out a cappella group Chanticleer’s annual performance at Stanford University’s Memorial Auditorium. The winter season itself will be honored by the beautiful voices of Kitka, an all-female vocal group singing songs of Eastern Europe, while Hanukkah (and Woody Guthrie) will be celebrated by the Grammy-winning Klezmatics.
There’s no shortage of local “Nutcrackers” for dance fans: Try Menlowe Ballet’s for a unique blend of the beloved ballet with the tear-jerking film “It’s a Wonderful Life” (with a few new, politically aware twists this year).
If it’s some snarky laughs you’re after, try TheatreWorks Silicon Valley’s “The Santaland Diaries” or the Pear Theatre’s “Millionth Production of a Christmas Carol.” Of course, plenty of festivities for kids and families are on the calendar, too.
Featured here are but a few of the many holiday-themed events happening locally in the coming month. So grab your scarf and cup of hot cocoa and start making your plans.
Go to AlmanacNews.com/calendar for information on more local events.
MUSIC
Live holiday music at the mall
What: Stanford Shopping Center is hosting a variety of free musical performances during the holiday season, including performances by Holiday Festival Strings, Dickens Carolers, Steel Pan Band, Musical Toy Solider Guard and Merry Mariachi Band.
Where: 660 Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto.
When: Afternoons, Saturdays and Sundays through Christmas Eve.
More information: bit.ly/StanfordHolidayEvents
Festival of Lessons
What: Stanford University’s Department of Music, Office for Religious Life will hold its annual Festival of Lessons and Carols service this holiday season. The Memorial Church Choir and Stanford Chamber Chorale will perform.
Where: Stanford Memorial Church, 450 Serra Mall, Stanford.
When: Friday, Dec. 8, 7:30-9 p.m.
More information: events.stanford.edu/events/710/71077/
‘Messyah’
What: The Bay Choral Guild and Redwood Symphony present Paul Ayres’ “Messyah,” a reimagined, light-hearted update of the Handel original choral masterpiece.
Where: First United Methodist Church, 625 Hamilton Ave., Palo Alto.
When: Saturday, Dec. 9, at 7 p.m.
More information: baychoralguild.org
Winter’s Warmth
What: Ragazzi Continuo, the adult a cappella choir for graduates of the Ragazzi Boys Chorus, presents its holiday concert “Winter’s Warmth.”
Where: First Congregational Church of Palo Alto, 1985 Louis Road.
When: Saturday, Dec. 9, at 7:30 p.m.
More information: ragazzicontinuo.org
‘The Hot Sardines’ Holiday Stomp’
What: The Hot Sardines present a concert of jazz versions of holiday favorites.
Where: Bing Concert Hall, 327 Lasuen St., Stanford.
When: Saturday, Dec. 9, at 7:30 p.m.
More information: live.stanford.edu
‘A Chanticleer Christmas’
What: Male a cappella choir Chanticleer returns to Stanford University for its annual holiday concert.
Where: Memorial Auditorium, Stanford.
When: Wednesday, Dec. 13, at 7:30 p.m.
More information: live.stanford.edu
The Klezmatics’ ‘Happy, Joyous Hanukkah’
What: The Grammy Award-winning Klezmatics fuse Klezmer sounds with melodies by Woody Guthrie in this holiday concert.
Where: Memorial Auditorium, Stanford.
When: Thursday, Dec. 14, at 7:30 p.m.
More information: live.stanford.edu
‘Winter’s Gifts’
What:The Choral Project performs its annual holiday concert, “Winter’s Gifts: Family,” with the San Jose Chamber Orchestra.
Where: First Presbyterian Church, 1140 Cowper St., Palo Alto.
When: Saturday, Dec. 16, 8 p.m.
Cost: General admission: $35; senior admission: $25; student/alumni: $10.
More information: choralproject.org/categories/winters-gifts
PACO Holiday Extravaganza with Anderson & Roe
What: The Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra will perform its annual holiday show with special guests piano duo Greg Anderson and Elizabeth Joy Roe, plus dancers from Pacific Ballet Academy.
Where: Smithwick Theater, Foothill College, 12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills.
When: Saturday, Dec. 16, at 3 p.m.
More information: pacomusic.org
The Gryphon Carolers
What: The Gryphon Carolers, a 30-voice ensemble, will perform its 36th-annual holiday concert.
Where: Canada College Theater, 4200 Farm Hill Blvd., Woodside.
When: Sunday Dec. 17, at 6:30 p.m.
More information: gryphoncarollers.com
Schola Cantorum’s holiday concerts
What: Schola Cantorum Silicon Valley will present two holiday concerts with sing-along opportunities: “Warmest Christmas Traditions” (a selection of favorite carols) and “51st Annual Messiah Sing.”
Where: Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St.
When: Sunday Dec. 17, at 3 p.m. (“Warmest Christmas Traditions”) and Monday, Dec. 18, at 7:30 p.m. (“Messiah Sing”).
More information: scholacantorum.org/home
Kitka’s ‘Wintersongs’
What: Kitka, the women’s Eastern European music vocal ensemble, will perform its annual concert of winter songs, featuring selections from its new seasonal album “Evening Star.”
Where: St. Bede’s, 2650 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park; Filoli, 6 Canada Road, Woodside.
When: Sunday, Dec. 10, at 4 p.m. (Menlo Park) and Wednesday, Dec. 21, at 5 p.m. (Woodside).
More information: Kitka.org
DANCE
‘It’s a Wonderful Nutcracker’
What: The professional company Menlowe Ballet and students from its ballet school, Menlo Park Academy of Dance, are performing their third annual “It’s a Wonderful Nutcracker,” which blends Tchaikovsky’s ballet with Frank Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life.” New this year: some nods to today’s political climate, plus a shorter, “sensory-friendly” version on Sunday, Dec. 10, especially appropriate for children and adults with developmental disabilities.
Where: Menlo-Atherton Performing Arts Center, 555 Middlefield Road, Atherton.
When: Dec. 8-10 and 15-17.
More information: menloweballet.org
‘The Christmas Ballet’
What: The 2017 edition of Smuin’s “The Christmas Ballet” features several new works choreographed by company dancers.
Where: Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St.
When: Dec. 6-10.
More information: smuinballet.org
‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’
What: Dancers Repertory Theatre is once again staging “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,” a colorful spectacle featuring a cast of 90 adults and children acting out Clement C. Moore’s poem of the same name.
Where: Woodside High School Performing Arts Center, 199 Churchill Ave., Woodside.
When: Sunday, Dec. 9 and 10.
More information: twasthenight.org
More ‘Nutcrackers’
What: More local dance groups offering versions of the holiday ballet include (names of the companies are in parenthesis):
• americanballet.com/home/perform/ (Ballet America)
• haoexpression.com/ballet.html (HaoExpression)
• ramonmorenoballet.com (Ramon Moreno School of Ballet)
•westernballet.org (Western Ballet)
• peninsulaballet.orgPeninsula (Ballet Theatre with The Tribe and Poise’n)
MISCELLANEOUS FESTIVITIES
Photos with Santa
What: Santa Claus will be at Stanford Shopping Center daily through Christmas Eve to take photos with children.
Where: Center Pavilion, 660 Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto.
When: Through Sunday, Dec. 24.
More information: bit.ly/SantaPhotosStanford
Gingerbread house decorating
What: Executive Pastry Chef Eric Keppler teaches parents and their children how to decorate a gingerbread house like a pro during “Quattro’s Perfect House.”
Where: Quattro at the Four Seasons, 2050 University Ave., East Palo Alto.
When: Sunday, Dec. 10, at 10:30 a.m.
More information: quattrorestaurant.com/quattros-perfect-house | 650-470-2889
Tropical Holiday Family Day
What: Free tropical art-making and performances for participants ages 5 to adult.
Where: Palo Alto Art Center, 1213 Newell Road, Palo Alto.
When: Sunday, Dec. 10, 2-4:30 p.m.
More information: bit.ly/HolidayFamilyDayPaloAlto
Christmas Tree Lane
What: Christmas Tree Lane has been a Palo Alto yuletide tradition since 1940, when homeowners spontaneously decided to decorate two blocks from Embarcadero Road to Seale Avenue with Christmas trees and lights for the community to enjoy.
Where: Fulton Street (off Embarcadero Road) Palo Alto.
When: Lights are displayed 5-11 p.m. nightly for two weeks during the holiday season, starting approximately the week before Christmas.
More information: christmastreelane.org
Hanukkah celebration
What: Hanukkah celebration with free musical performances, arts and crafts for children, face painting, dreidel games, candle lighting and a special Hanukkah puppet show and sing-along.
Where: The Plaza (near Neiman Marcus), Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto.
When: Thursday, Dec. 14, 5:30-8 p.m.
More information: paloaltojcc.org/Events/hanukkah-celebration-at-stanford-shopping-center-4
‘The North Pole Review’
What: The Fratello Marionettes perform “The North Pole Review.” The 30-minute holiday variety show will feature high-kicking antics of the Russian Trepak Dancers, the graceful ice skater Crystal Chandelier and the dazzling acrobatic penguins. There also will be arts and crafts, refreshments and goody bags for children.
Where: Gamble Garden Carriage House, 1431 Waverley St., Palo Alto.
When: Sunday, Dec. 17, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
More information: Tickets available at gamblegarden.org or 650-329-1356.
THEATER
‘Madeline’s Christmas: A Musical’
What: Madeline and her friends embark on a Christmas adventure in this musical adapted from Ludwig Bemelmans’ book.
Where: Main stage, Palo Alto Children’s Theatre,1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto.
When: Nov. 30 – Dec. 17.
More information: bit.ly/MadelineTickets
‘The Millionth Production of a Christmas Carol’
What: The Pear presents James Kopp’s satirical story of a small Northern California theater company struggling to pay the bills and begrudgingly putting on a production of the Dickens Christmas classic.
Where: Pear Theatre, 1110 La Avenida St., Mountain View
When: Nov. 30 – Dec. 17.
More information: thepear.org
‘Selected Shorts’
What: Kirsten Vangsness leads a cast of actors, including Tate Donovan and Christina Pickles, telling holiday tales by notable writers.
Where: Bing Concert Hall, 327 Lasuen St., Stanford
When: Sunday, Dec. 10, at 2:30 p.m.
More information: live.stanford.edu
‘The Santaland Diaries’
What: TheatreWorks Silicon Valley presents the staged version of David Sedaris’ humorous essay “The Santaland Diaries,” about his short tenure as a Macy’s elf.
Where: Lohman Theatre, Foothill College, 12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills.
When: Dec. 5-23.
More information: theatreworks.org
‘A Very Merry Dorktale’
What: Dorktale Storytime will present a comedic, fast-paced take on Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” for families.
Where: Dragon Theatre, 2120 Broadway St., Redwood City.
When: Dec. 15 and 17.
More information: dragonproductions.net
‘The 1940’s Radio Hour’
What: Los Altos Stage Company presents the musical story of a radio station preparing its holiday broadcast for overseas soldiers in 1942.
Where: 97 Hillview Ave., Los Altos.
When: Nov. 30-Dec. 23.
More information: losaltosstage.org
‘Oy Humbug!’
What: Theatrical burlesque company Curtains Cabaret presents a saucy variety show celebrating “the winter holidays that Christmas forgot.”
Where: Dragon Theatre, 2120 Broadway St., Redwood City.
When: Sunday, Dec. 24, at 7:30 p.m.
More information: oyhumbug2017.brownpapertickets.com
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