The Holiday Parade festivities in Downtown Gilroy are scheduled on Dec. 3 from 3-7pm.
The event, organized by the Gilroy Downtown Business Association, will start with performances by local youth groups from 3-5pm.
The parade, which is expected to have a record number of entries, will begin at 5pm. This year’s Grand Marshal is Sam Bozzo, long-time Gilroy resident, who will ride in Santa’s sleigh with Santa and help with the tree lighting ceremony at 6:30pm.
Photos with Santa at KW Gilroy, 42 Martin St., will immediately follow the tree lighting ceremony.
Attendees are also encouraged to make some time for holiday shopping as many of the local shops, restaurants and other establishments will be open along with many craft vendors on Fifth Street.
This year’s Holiday Parade in Downtown Gilroy is presented by the Gilroy Downtown Business Association, with “Star of Light” sponsor Silicon Valley Clean Energy, along with sponsors from Pinnacle Bank, Visit Gilroy, Starritt Realtors and Los Cuates Restaurant.
Dinner event benefits Lions’ project
The Gilroy Lions club will host its 48th Annual Vic Lase Memorial Omelet & Pancake Supper at Gilroy Presbyterian Church, 6000 Miller Ave., on Dec. 2 from 5-7:30pm.
This is a fundraiser for the club, with the proceeds going toward sight conservation, assisting those in financial need for eyeglasses.
For a donation of $13 for adults, and $5 for children 12 and under, attendees will be served custom-made omelets and pancakes along with coffee and other beverages at the all-you-can-eat event.
For advance tickets, call Lee Kalpin at 408.607.2051.
Christopher High choir presents premiere
On Dec. 7 at 7pm, the Christopher High School Chamber Choir presents a world premiere choral composition entitled “I Am An American.”
This multifaceted choir piece tells the story of the 120,000 Japanese American citizens imprisoned and relocated to internment camps during World War II.
Christopher High School Choirs Director Kira Dixon’s maternal grandparents, Roy and Eiko Shimizu, were both subjected to imprisonment. Eiko Hayashi Shimizu and her family, based out of Los Angeles, were sent to the internment camp in Jerome, Ark. Roy Shimizu and his family, based out of San José, were interned at Heart Mountain in Wyoming.
In honoring the life and strength of her grandparents, Dixon “hopes to shine a light on the egregious injustices our country imposed on its citizens…in an effort to stay true to [her] craft of being an impactful educator, so that present and future generations grow, learn and effectuate positive change.”
This 16-minute composition combines music, dialogue and visual artistry.
In addition to this world premiere, the choirs of Christopher High School and South Valley Middle School will perform a variety of music for their annual winter concert “Journey Home” at the Gilroy High School Student Center. This concert is open to the public. General admission is $5. Tickets can be purchased in advance at bit.ly/3GCphfP or at the door.
For information, contact Dixon at ki********@gi***********.org .
