Experience the magic of the holiday season in Santa Clara, CA, where festive cheer and joyful traditions come to life. From the enchanting Winter Wonderland in downtown San Jose, offering over 60 rides and attractions, to the mesmerizing illuminations of the San Jose Holiday Lights Tour through beautifully decorated neighborhoods, there's something for everyone to enjoy.
Don't miss the cherished Christmas in the Park, a beloved event featuring over 500 decorated trees and animated displays. Whether you're a local or visiting, Santa Clara's holiday events promise an unforgettable celebration filled with warmth and community spirit.
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The Top Christmas Events in Santa Clara
See these and even more events listed below!Santa Clara Other Holiday Activities
Santa Clara Holiday Tree Lighting
What to Expect:
Community-focused event with local performances
Description:
Santa Clara's Holiday Tree Lighting ceremony brings the community together in a heartwarming celebration. The event showcases local talent with performances by school choirs and dance troupes. This tradition, which began in the 1960s, honors Santa Clara's diverse cultural heritage through various holiday customs. Attendees can participate in a community sing-along of classic carols. The highlight of the evening is the illumination of a majestic 60-foot tree, symbolizing the start of the holiday season in this historic Silicon Valley city.
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Santa Clara Holiday Tree Lighting
Great America WinterFest
What to Expect:
Theme park transformed into a winter celebration
Description:
Great America WinterFest reimagines the popular amusement park as a winter paradise. The park's iconic rides operate alongside holiday-themed attractions, creating a unique blend of thrills and seasonal cheer. Ice skaters perform elaborate routines on the park's frozen lagoon, a nod to the Bay Area's rich figure skating history. Visitors can decorate cookies in Mrs. Claus' Kitchen, adding a personal touch to their experience. The event also features towering Christmas trees adorned with thousands of ornaments, creating a stunning visual spectacle.
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Nearby Events
Christmas in the Park (San Jose)
What to Expect:
Massive walk-through holiday display in downtown San Jose
Description:
Christmas in the Park transforms downtown San Jose into a winter spectacle. This long-standing tradition, dating back to the 1950s, features over 500 decorated Christmas trees and 40 animated displays. Visitors can stroll through the 2-acre park, admiring intricate exhibits and twinkling lights. The event showcases local artisans and community groups, with many displays handcrafted by volunteers. You'll encounter the aroma of freshly roasted chestnuts as you explore this beloved San Jose institution.
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San Jose Holiday Lights Tour (San Jose)
What to Expect:
Guided tour of the best residential light displays
Description:
The San Jose Holiday Lights Tour illuminates the city's most impressive residential displays. This curated experience takes you through neighborhoods known for their elaborate decorations, some of which have been featured on national television. The tour highlights the unique stories behind certain displays, including multi-generational family traditions. As you travel, your guide will share interesting facts about San Jose's holiday history. Bring your camera to capture the dazzling sights that make this Silicon Valley city shine during the winter season.
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Winter Wonderland (San Jose)
What to Expect:
Carnival rides and games with a holiday twist
Description:
Winter Wonderland brings a unique blend of holiday cheer and carnival excitement to downtown San Jose. This annual event features over 60 rides and attractions, all adorned with festive decorations. Thrill-seekers can enjoy the Ferris wheel with panoramic views of the city's skyline. The event pays homage to San Jose's agricultural roots with displays showcasing the region's fruit-growing history. You'll hear the joyful screams from ride-goers mixed with holiday tunes as you explore this lively winter carnival.
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Los Gatos Children's Christmas/Holiday Parade (Los Gatos)
What to Expect:
Child-centric parade with unique floats and performances
Description:
The Los Gatos Children's Christmas/Holiday Parade celebrates the season through the eyes of its youngest residents. This charming event features creative floats designed and built by local schools and youth organizations. The parade route winds through the historic downtown, showcasing the town's Victorian architecture. Young performers showcase their talents, from dance troupes to marching bands. This tradition, dating back to the 1950s, reflects Los Gatos' commitment to fostering community spirit and creativity among its youth.
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Los Gatos Children's Christmas/Holiday Parade
Holidays at Filoli (Woodside)
What to Expect:
Historic estate decorated for the holidays
Description:
Holidays at Filoli transforms this early 20th-century country estate into a winter wonderland. The Georgian revival mansion and its 16 acres of formal gardens are adorned with elegant decorations that complement the property's historic character. Visitors can explore themed rooms, each telling a unique story of holiday traditions from different eras. The event honors Filoli's agricultural heritage with displays featuring heirloom fruits and vegetables. You'll be transported back in time as you wander through the candlelit halls and frost-covered gardens of this National Trust for Historic Preservation site.
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Palo Alto Christmas Market (Palo Alto)
What to Expect:
European-style outdoor market with local artisans
Description:
The Palo Alto Christmas Market brings a touch of European tradition to Silicon Valley. This open-air market features local artisans selling handcrafted goods, from intricate ornaments to gourmet treats. The event pays homage to Palo Alto's innovative spirit by showcasing tech-inspired holiday creations. Visitors can sample mulled wine while browsing the stalls, each uniquely decorated to reflect the vendor's craft. Live performances by local musicians add to the ambiance, creating a festive atmosphere that contrasts with the city's high-tech reputation.
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Downtown Ice Skating Rink (San Jose)
What to Expect:
Circular rink surrounded by palm trees
Description:
San Jose's Downtown Ice Skating Rink offers a unique California twist on winter traditions. This circular rink, surrounded by palm trees, creates a striking juxtaposition of tropical and winter elements. The rink's design pays tribute to San Jose's innovative spirit, with energy-efficient LED lighting creating a dazzling nighttime display. Skaters glide to a mix of holiday tunes and contemporary hits, reflecting the city's diverse culture. You can practice your figure eights while admiring the illuminated downtown skyline, a reminder of San Jose's urban charm.
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Mountain View Community Tree Lighting (Mountain View)
What to Expect:
Tech-inspired lighting ceremony
Description:
Mountain View's Community Tree Lighting ceremony blends holiday traditions with Silicon Valley innovation. The event features a high-tech countdown, with community members using a custom app to collectively illuminate the tree. Local tech companies showcase holiday-themed gadgets and interactive displays. The ceremony honors Mountain View's agricultural past with an heirloom apple cider pressing demonstration. Visitors can participate in a virtual reality Santa meet-and-greet, merging classic holiday experiences with cutting-edge technology.
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Mountain View Community Tree Lighting
Santana Row's Tree Lighting Ceremony (San Jose)
What to Expect:
Upscale shopping district transformed for the holidays
Description:
Santana Row's Tree Lighting Ceremony elevates the traditional event with a touch of luxury. This upscale shopping district dons its holiday best, featuring designer decorations and sophisticated light displays. The ceremony showcases the talents of local artists, with live performances ranging from opera to jazz. Visitors can indulge in gourmet hot chocolate from artisanal chocolatiers while watching the illumination of a grand 40-foot tree. The event reflects Santana Row's blend of European-inspired architecture and Silicon Valley chic, creating a unique holiday atmosphere.
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Santana Row's Tree Lighting Ceremony
Christmas at Winchester Mystery House (San Jose)
What to Expect:
Victorian-era holiday decorations in a famously eccentric mansion
Description:
Christmas at Winchester Mystery House offers a glimpse into Victorian holiday traditions with a supernatural twist. The infamous mansion, known for its bizarre architecture, is adorned with period-accurate decorations, creating a unique blend of the eerie and the festive. Visitors can explore candlelit tours, discovering how the Winchester family might have celebrated the holidays. The event features Victorian carolers, their haunting melodies echoing through the mansion's maze-like corridors. You'll encounter antique ornaments and vintage toys, each with its own story tied to the house's mysterious past.
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Christmas at Winchester Mystery House
Stanford Shopping Center Holiday Festivities (Palo Alto)
What to Expect:
Upscale outdoor shopping center with elaborate decorations
Description:
Stanford Shopping Center's Holiday Festivities transform this open-air mall into a sophisticated winter retreat. The center's lush gardens are adorned with thousands of twinkling lights and elegant decorations, creating a luxurious holiday atmosphere. Visitors can enjoy live performances by local musicians, their melodies drifting through the crisp evening air. The event honors Palo Alto's academic heritage with displays showcasing holiday traditions from around the world. You'll discover unique gift ideas from high-end retailers, each store offering its own festive flair.
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Stanford Shopping Center Holiday Festivities
Campbell Christmas Parade (Campbell)
What to Expect:
Small-town parade with a focus on local businesses and organizations
Description:
The Campbell Christmas Parade celebrates the holiday season with small-town charm. This community-driven event showcases local businesses, schools, and organizations, each contributing their unique flair to the procession. The parade route winds through Campbell's historic downtown, highlighting the city's well-preserved early 20th-century architecture. Spectators can enjoy the sounds of local marching bands and the sight of creatively decorated floats. The event pays homage to Campbell's agricultural roots with displays featuring vintage farm equipment adorned with holiday decorations.
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Holiday Light Displays at Vasona Park (Los Gatos)
What to Expect:
Drive-through light display in a county park
Description:
Vasona Park's Holiday Light Displays transform this natural oasis into a glowing winter spectacle. Visitors drive through a 1.5-mile route, encountering over 50 animated displays and tunnels of lights. The event incorporates themes from local wildlife, with illuminated deer and squirrels peeking out from the trees. You'll tune your car radio to a special station playing synchronized music as you journey through the twinkling landscape. The displays honor the park's history as a former orchard, with light sculptures depicting fruit trees and farm scenes.
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Holiday Light Displays at Vasona Park
Annual Bethlehem Walk (Park)
What to Expect:
Interactive reenactment of the Nativity story
Description:
The Annual Bethlehem Walk transports visitors to ancient Judea through an immersive reenactment. This living history experience recreates the sights and sounds of Bethlehem at the time of Jesus' birth. Participants interact with costumed actors portraying shepherds, wise men, and townspeople. The event features authentic period crafts and foods, allowing visitors to taste and touch elements of daily life in ancient times. You'll witness the bustle of a Roman census and the quiet wonder of the Nativity scene, bringing biblical history to life in the heart of Silicon Valley.
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San Jose Nutcracker (San Jose)
What to Expect:
Ballet performance with local historical elements
Description:
The San Jose Nutcracker reimagines the classic ballet with a distinctly Silicon Valley twist. This unique production incorporates elements of local history, setting the story against the backdrop of the 1902 Electric Light Tower. Dancers portray figures from San Jose's past, including Spanish colonists and early tech pioneers. The performance features innovative digital projections, blending traditional stagecraft with cutting-edge technology. You'll be captivated by the familiar Tchaikovsky score interwoven with sounds inspired by the region's natural landscape and diverse cultural heritage.
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Christmas Tea at Ainsley House (Campbell)
What to Expect:
Traditional tea service in a historic 1920s home
Description:
Christmas Tea at Ainsley House offers a refined holiday experience in a beautifully preserved 1920s estate. Guests enjoy a traditional English tea service amidst period-accurate holiday decorations that showcase the home's Tudor Revival architecture. The event features a curated selection of teas and seasonal treats, each with a story connecting to the house's history. Visitors can explore the mansion's rooms, each decorated to reflect different holiday traditions of the 1920s. The tea service honors Campbell's agricultural past by incorporating locally grown ingredients into its menu.
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Christmas Tea at Ainsley House