GILROY
– The Chamber of Commerce has trimmed down Santa Claus’ local
visiting schedule this year, but the jolly chubster still will be
available throughout much of the day and evening Saturday in
Gilroy.
GILROY – The Chamber of Commerce has trimmed down Santa Claus’ local visiting schedule this year, but the jolly chubster still will be available throughout much of the day and evening Saturday in Gilroy.
St. Nick will be the highlight of the second annual downtown Jolly Walk Parade and will be available for photos and gift requests afterward. The parade begins at 5:30 p.m. at Monterey and Sixth streets, culminates at the Fifth Street Christmas tree – where the tall pine will be lit – and ends at Lewis Street.
Bonfante Gardens characters, a decorated Gilroy Unified school bus, the Hometown Buffet mascot bee and several other parade entries will join Santa for the two-and-a-half-block festive stroll. Local celebrity reindeer, such as Mayor Al Pinheiro and other city leaders, will carry Santa on his sleigh down Monterey Street.
Although the parade is only two years old, the tradition of carrying Santa down Monterey Street atop a sleigh has gone on for about a decade. The highlight, literally, of the evening will be the annual lighting of the Christmas tree, a downtown event with more than two decades of tradition.
County Supervisor Don Gage will be the master of ceremonies for the gathering and Santa will light the tree.
The Grinch will also take part in the parade, but organizers promise he won’t steal Christmas.
“He’ll be riding in on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle,” event organizer Marsha Becht said.
Before the parade begins, the Gilroy Elementary Schools Student Choir and the Gilroy High School Chamber Singers will carol downtown, Becht said.
After the parade, Santa will head over to the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce foyer to take free pictures with his fans and let children sit on his lap to tell him what they want for Christmas. As families wait in line for Santa this year, they will be entertained by two marionette shows put on by The Puppet Company, a Garlic Festival entertainment veteran.
Also, a balloon-maker will be on hand to craft balloon figures.
“These are something new this year. We thought some entertainment while they wait was a good idea,” said Becht, who is the director of membership and programs for the chamber.
The chamber is sponsoring the shows and Al Pinheiro’s Farmers Insurance Group is sponsoring the picture taking.
As in past year’s some downtown businesses will keep their doors open longer Saturday night for Christmas shoppers.
Santa Claus also will be available at two McDonald’s locations earlier in the day, the one at Tenth and Chestnut streets (11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.) and the one on First Street (1 to 2:30 p.m.).
Last year, Santa made a total of four stops around town. Becht said having two Santa outings makes it easier to organize volunteers and allows Santa to stay at the locations longer.
The Chamber of Commerce is also organizing the annual Home Decorating Contest, open to all residences inside Gilroy’s city limits. As of Wednesday, only eight homes had entered the contest, so organizers are hoping people take advantage of a Monday 5 p.m. entry deadline.
“I’d love to have 20 or 30 homes in the contest,” organizer Tim Day said. “The more the better.”
Contest categories are single-family home, apartment/condominium and neighborhood street. For the neighborhood competition, at least four contiguous homes must apply. Winners receive $75 and second place and third place finishers receive $50 and $25 respectively.
Interested residents can call the chamber at 842-6437.
For Gilroyans wanting an old-fashioned holiday, the Gilroy Historical Museum will host a Victorian Christmas celebration Saturday. The museum opens at 10 a.m.
The event includes a special treasure hunt tour of the museum, a quilting demonstration and quilt sale and a book signing by Claudia Salewske, author of “Gilroy.” A Victorian Tea time with quiche, scones, preserves and creams will also be part of the event. Registration for the tea event has ended.
The museum is located in the 1910 Carnegie Library Building on Fifth Street between Church and Eigleberry streets.
Gilroy holiday events are not stopping at the city’s border. Rebekah Children’s Services is holding a three-day holiday fund-raiser event at the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center, called the Festival of Trees Family Fun Days.
On Friday, from 6 to 10:30 p.m., there will be a gala dinner and live auction. After cocktails and the unveiling of decorated Christmas trees for sale, local celebrity hosts will serve dinner. Bidding on the trees – as well as prizes such as trips and other holiday decorations – begins at 7:30 p.m.
Friday won’t be the only day to make bids. A silent auction runs through the weekend. On both days, the event will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Santa will be on hand for photos and gift requests both days, and children can participate in cookie decorating, holiday craft making and video game contests.
The silent auction closes at 2 p.m. Sunday. For ticket information or to offer volunteer help, call 846-2400.
