11.30.2023

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Today’s Forecast

57º | Mostly sunny | 5% chance of rain | Sunrise: 7:22 a.m. | Sunset: 5:06 p.m.

❄️ Winter fun in the 408

Winter events happening in and around San Jose, CA

We’re ready for all of the winter activities this season. | Photo via Enchant

Get your fuzzy socks and hot cocoa ready, San Jose. From light displays to holiday performances and festive parties, winter is where the great 408 thrives.

Gather the family and friends and celebrate what makes the holiday season special with this guide featuring 40+ winter events happening between December and January.

Festivals and markets

Two kids pose with Santa. — It’s all smiles with Santa.
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Photo via @kellygravett and @bayarea.moms

Fun for the little ones

A gif of holiday lights in Blinky's Holiday Light Drive-Thru. — All of the lights...
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Video via @christmasintheparksj

Light displays

San Jose Brew Bike Holiday Tour | Select weekends through Sunday, Dec. 24 | Times vary | Goosetown Lounge, Willow Glen | $45-$450 | Take a 60-minute pedal tour through the lit-up streets of Willow Glen + feel free to bring snacks and non-alcoholic beverages — minors 13+ are welcome to join.

Fantasy of Lights Drive-Thru 2023 | Tuesday, Dec. 5-Saturday, Dec. 30 (excluding Christmas Day) | 6 p.m. | Vasona County Park | $30-$100 | A holiday tradition since 1999, experience larger-than-life light displays along a 1.5-mile road.

Goombahs Christmas Lights Cruise | Saturday, Dec. 16 | 5-7 p.m. | 1261 Lincoln Ave. | Free | This car show, toy drive, and cruise takes place in the bright neighborhood of Willow Glen.

More holiday happenings + NYE events

Asked

The most wonderful time of year to get out and explore the city is…

A. Spring
B. Summer
C. Fall
D. Winter
E. All of them

Let us know

Events

Thursday, Nov. 30

San Jose Downtown Ice | Through Jan. 15, 2024 | 11 a.m.-9 p.m. | Circle of Palms, 120 S. Market St., San Jose | $21 | Skate under the stars with holiday classics.
Jingle Jam | Through Friday, Dec. 22 | 6:30 p.m. | Nomikai, 48 S. First St., San Jose | Free | This bar’s newest holiday pop-up brings festive cheer with holiday performances + drink specials.
Prism Party | Thursday, Nov. 30 | 9-11:30 p.m. | 386 Lounge, 386 S. First St., San Jose | $5-$10 | This new show brings a rotating lineup of the Bay Area’s up-and-coming drag artists.
Enchant Christmas | Through Sunday, Dec. 31 | Times vary | PayPal Park, 1123 Coleman Ave., San Jose | $25-$33 | Enjoy the larger-than-life light maze, with photo ops, a holiday gift village, an ice skating trail + more.

Friday, Dec. 1

Evergreen Hills Market | Friday, Dec. 1-Saturday, Dec. 2 | 2-7 p.m. | 3777 Quimby Rd., San Jose | Free | Checkout this market showcasing local makers’ offerings of food, drinks, homemade items, clothes, and more.
IndiviDúo Holiday Show | Friday, Dec. 1 | 8 p.m. | The Art Boutiki, 44 Race St., San Jose | $25-$30 | See the dynamic Latin pop duo perform a night of music, laughter, and storytelling.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Shop

🚲 ~~Black~~ Bike Friday: Score $1,200 off an e-bike for the cyclist on your list

Every Upway e-bike is eligible for a 14-day return and backed by a one-year warranty. | Photos by Upway

Have an active loved one on your shopping list? We’ve got you.

Upway delivers rigorously inspected, certified, and 99% pre-assembled e-bikes from top brands (think: Specialized, Aventon, and Super73) directly to your doorstep — so your favorite person can get rolling right after unwrapping.

E-bikes are typically more expensive than bicycles, but you can score yours for up to $1,200 off.

(Order before Wednesday, Dec. 20 and use code TREE for free express shipping.)

Shop Upway e-bikes

News Notes

Development

Core Companies and Eden Housing plans to develop 64 senior affordable housing units, 113 multi-family affordable units, and 36 below-market-rate townhomes on a county-owned site. The project meets certain requirements for streamlined development under Senate Bill 35, so no approval is needed from City Council. (The Mercury News)

Outdoors

Walk along Guadalupe River and you may see scores of salmon. The South Bay Clean Creeks Coalition removed 1.3 million pounds of trash from the waterway over 10 years, and now the fish — native to the river — are swimming by the hundreds. See them before spawning season ends in January. (KTVU Fox 2)

Cause

This holiday season, Sacred Heart Community Service is hosting “Winter Wonders of San Jose: A Charitable Scavenger Hunt,” which encourages you to visit different donation spots around town. Some locations, like Academic Coffee or Crema, even offer a discount. Start hunting through Thursday, Dec. 14.

Legacy

San Jose State alumna Margaret Huntley Main — who was known for being the oldest living Tournament of Roses queen — died at 102 years old. In 1940, Main was chosen by the Pasadena Tournament of Roses to stand as queen in the New Year’s Day parade. (The Mercury News)

Try This

The San Jose Sharks are hosting a Sharkie-Claus holiday photo opportunity this Sunday, Dec. 3, 1:30-3:30 p.m., by reservation only. You’ll receive 2 digital photos, a Sharkie bobblehead, and a Sharks photo frame — register before the end of today, Nov. 30.

Plan Ahead

Award-winning journalist + SJ aficionado Gary Singh will release his newest book, “The Unforgettable San Jose Earthquakes: Momentous Stories On & Off The Field,” on Feb. 24, 2024. Read up on 50 years of our city’s MLS team — pre-orders will be available soon.

Featured Deal

Last call for this exclusive deal: Score 50% off everything online at Harlestons — the Golf Digest/Golfweek/Golf Channel-featured premium men’s apparel brand — with code BF50. (We especially love their performance polos.) Bonus: Free shipping on $125+ and easy returns, always.*

Development

🛎️ Checking in: Class of 2024-2025

San Jose hotel tower sale greenlit for SJSU student housing

The front entrance of the Signia by Hilton Hotel in downtown San Jose.

The Signia by Hilton Hotel in San Jose | Photo by Signia by Hilton San Jose

Early October, City Council approved a sale between SJSU and downtown’s Signia by Hilton Hotel to convert its south tower — containing 264 rooms — into student housing.

As of this month, more details have surfaced concerning the lease agreement + construction timeline.

The $89 million deal will convert the hotel’s south tower into housing for more than 700 students starting in fall 2024. About 120 of those will be affordable beds for students in need.

Throckmorton Partners purchased the south tower for $73.1 million + immediately leased it to SJSU — an additional $40 million will be used fund renovations.

The lease expires in 2056, but the university’s vice president for administration and finance, Charlie Faas, says they’re planning to purchase the tower in December 2025.

Renovations are expected to be finished by August 2024, and rooms will be open for students admitted for the 2024-2025 academic year.

The Buy

The Buy 11.30.23 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

That thing for your bathroom you’ve always thought about but never actually gone for. Yeah, that one.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Alyson

From the editor

Don’t get me wrong, I love the holiday lights in Willow Glen. But, do you know of any other neighborhoods that get into the festive spirit? Let us know.

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