A cautious but cheerful approach
Town plans holiday celebrations with COVID modifications.
Mental health experts say bright lights can lift spirits, which is especially important as we move into a socially distant holiday season.
To that end, the Town of Los Gatos and the Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce have partnered to “Light Up
Los Gatos” with light displays. The animated, interactive displays were slated to started appearing at various locations in mid-november and stay up through January.
Vasona Lake County Park’s wildly popular Fantasy of Lights will be open for drive-through business Dec. 4-30, 6-10 p.m. Kids love the Dinosaur Den, the basketball-playing Santa and of course, the Tunnel of Lights. Tickets are for specific times and are known to sell out. https:// www.sccgov.org/sites/ parks/fol.
Los Gatos Carriage Rides will also be back this year beginning Dec. 4, thanks to sponsor Linda Lester of Lester Square. COVID protocols will be in place, so the carriage rides
will be a “bring your own blanket” affair. The elegant horse-drawn ride begins in Town Plaza and takes passengers by beautifully decorated historic homes and along North Santa Cruz Avenue. Tickets are on sale at losgatoschamber.com.
The Chamber’s 2020 Shop Local Passport Program runs Nov. 25-Dec. 31 and rewards buyers for supporting local restaurants and shops. Custom
ers who spend $20 at a participating business get their passports marked accordingly. Full passports with 20 boxes checked can be dropped off at a participating business for a chance to win during a Jan. 4 drawing. Prizes are gift cards and merchandise from Los Gatos businesses. The grand prize is $1,000, second prize is $500, and third, $250. Passports will be available starting today at the
Chamber office at 10 Station Way and at participating locations.
Across the Saratoga border, Montalvo’s Yuletide Marketplace is virtual this year. The Montalvo Service Group’s proceeds go the maintenance and preservation of Montalvo’s historic villa and grounds. Vintage treasures, homemade jams and hand-sewn crafts are available online through Nov. 30. All purchases must be picked up at Montalvo Dec. 5-6, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. montalvoarts.org/ yuletide
The well-loved Cornucopia Fruit Stand at 14288 Winchester Blvd. is closing but will still be offering holiday goodies. 408374-6453.
In Saratoga, Novakovich Orchards’ fruit stand at 14251 Fruitvale Ave. is getting ready for its popular holiday apricot turtle sales. 408-867-3131.
Manresa Bread Commissary is offering holiday goodies for pre-order at https://www.pre-ordermanresabread.com, with pickups at 605 University Ave. Delectables from Avery Ruzicka’s oven include breads, laminated pastries, apple butterfilled Kouign-amann, pies, pumpkin mousse cheesecake and triple chocolate orange panettone. Pies this year are spiced apple crumble and rye pecan, and there’s gluten free pumpkin cake, whole wheat walnut chocolate chip cookies and butter buns.