Vasona’s Fantasy of Lights returning
Though we all have been waiting this week for a certain decision to get figured out — you didn’t actually think we’d know Tuesday night, did you? — one thing that has actually been decided should bring smiles to the faces of South Bay residents next month: the popular Fantasy of Lights show at Vasona Lake County Park is going forward as planned.
The drive-thru event, now in its 22nd year, opens Dec. 4 and runs through Dec. 30. Unfortunately, the Santa Clara County Parks department called off the increasingly popular walkthrough preview this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, marking the second year of disappointment after it was partly washed out by heavy rain last year.
On top of a 90-foothigh twinkling tree, there are more than 50 displays in the park, animated by thousands of colorful lights that create dinosaurs milling about a volcano, a hoops-shooting Santa and a pirate ship firing canons. There’s even something new this year, with a camping Santa.
You can reserve a spot during 30-minute windows running from 6 to 9:30 p.m. nightly (except Dec. 25) at parkhere.org for $25 for a standard vehicle and $50 for an oversized one.
BUY ART TO HELP THE HUNGRY >> Silicon Valley Open Studios was forced to cancel its annual tour of artist studios this spring because of the pandemic, but it’s staging a different kind of event this month to help beat back food insecurity in the Bay Area.
More than 130 Bay Area artists have contributed more than 600 pieces of art to be sold, with 15% of the proceeds benefiting Second Harvest of Silicon Valley.
The art sale, which can be viewed at shop.svos.org, runs through Cyber Monday on Nov. 30 and includes paintings, photography, sculpture, ceramics, prints, jewelry and digital art.
NEIGHBORHOOD TREAT >> Remember Shelly Glennon, the San Jose mom who started front-porch dance parties at the start of the pandemic to keep up the spirits of her kids and her neighbors? Well, she’s still doing her part to keep her neighborhood together, even as we endure a ninth month of COVID-19 restrictions.
When trick- or-treating for Halloween became a casualty of COVID-19, Glennon went into high gear to make sure her neighborhood in San Jose’s Northside remained spirited with illuminated arches on the sidewalk. A grateful neighbor told me she set up Google forms, collected money, ordered supplies and even set up a fund so neighbors could donate to help others buy what they needed.
TALKING STEM AT THE TECH >> The Tech Interactive is hosting a virtual event with Oscar-winning actress Geena Davis that explores at the challenges women face in tech fields Saturday, which is National STEM Day.
Davis will share research done by the Geena Davis Institute on Gender and Media about the importance of female role models, and she’ll be joined by three women in science and technology careers who will talk about their journeys and the projects they’re currently working on.
The 1:30 p.m. webinar is aimed at girls and young women ages 13 and up, but it’s free and open to the public. Go to thetech.org/ events/becoming-womentech-what- does-it-take for more details and to register.