The holidays are upon us once again, and with them come a blizzard of vacations, family gatherings, community events and every opportunity to shop until you drop.
To make the unending barrage of fun more manageable for everyone, we have pulled together an early list of holiday events scheduled in and around Pleasanton, from Thanksgiving celebrations to holiday decorating.
Even if your feelings about this time of year are more of the Scrooge persuasion, November and December promise to be filled with opportunities for holiday shopping, family fun and magical celebrations sure to put a smile on your face.
Crossroads Doll and Bear Show
This event features antique to modern dolls, teddy bears and miniatures, books, supplies, and more this Saturday at the Alameda County Fairgrounds, Building C, 4501 Pleasanton Ave. Bring up to two dolls or bears for a free informal appraisal. Cost is $8, $4 for children under 12. Contact (775) 348-7713 or info@crossroadsshows.com.
Holiday Spirit Stroll
The Pleasanton Downtown Association (PDA) will hold its third-annual Holiday Spirit Stroll from 5-8 p.m. this Saturday. More than 25 downtown merchants will be paired with local breweries, wineries and bars for a festive night sampling beer, wine and cocktails. Wear your ugliest holiday sweater to participate in the Ugly Holiday Sweater contest during the event. Go to www.pleasantondowntown.net.
Turkey Bingo
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6298 will hold the annual Turkey Bingo at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the Veterans Memorial Building, 301 Main St. Bingo cards are $10 each for all games. $50 prize and turkey for games 8 and 16. Have fun while supporting veterans. Call Dave Ham at 455-1488, David Caldwell at 462-7893, Bill Danko at 548-7051, or Phil Stage at 872-2639.
‘Finding Refuge’ Interfaith Thanksgiving Service
Interfaith Interconnect will hold its third annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service at 4:30 p.m. this Sunday at First Presbyterian Church, 2020 Fifth St., Livermore. See and hear how different faiths express thankfulness. Contact interfaith.interconnect@gmail.com. Space limited.
Downtown Pleasanton’s Magical Holiday Evening
Celebrate the holidays at Downtown Pleasanton’s Magical Holiday Evening from 4-7 p.m. this Sunday. The streets will come alive with the sights and sounds of the holidays.
Downtown shops and restaurants will welcome in the holidays with festive decorations, twinkling lights, banners, window displays and holiday treats. Get a free photo with Santa Claus at Museum on Main along with a special visit from Disney’s “Frozen” characters, Elsa and Anna, and other favorite characters from “Storybook Smiles.”
Enjoy carolers, bell ringers and flutists performing to your favorite holiday tunes. Visit www.PleasantonDowntown.net for more details.
Tri-Valley Thanksgiving Prayer Breakfast
Come to the 3rd Annual Thanksgiving Prayer Breakfast from 7:30-9 a.m. Monday at DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Pleasanton at the Club, 7050 Johnson Drive. Focus on the Tri-Valley family and community needs while highlighting what the nonprofit organization City Serve has done this past year to meet those needs and how you can help.
This year’s guest speak is Bay Area resident Nancy Ortberg. Cost is $40 for breakfast, free to attend. Contact 452-8276 or info@cityservetrivalley.org. Go to cityservetrivalley.org.
Hometown Holiday Parade
Come to Pleasanton’s biggest event of the season, the Hometown Holiday Parade, from 5-9 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5.
More than 2,500 participants line up dressed as reindeer, snowmen, angels, holiday packages, and more in this festive, community-based parade down Main Street, followed by musical entertainment, and the lighting of a holiday tree in front of the Museum on Main. Look for a special appearance by Santa Claus.
Go to www.hometownholiday.com for more information.
Friends of the Dublin Library Holiday Book Sale
Friends of the Dublin Library will hold a Holiday Book Sale from 12-3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5 at the Dublin Library, 200 Civic Plaza, Dublin. You will find a great selection of beautiful hardcover books in excellent condition, ideal for gift giving. Call 803-7252 or go to www.dublinfriends.org.
Paws In Need Photos With Santa
Want a festive photo with Santa? Photos with Santa will be held from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5 at Pet Extreme, 4500 Arroyo Vista, Livermore. Use your camera or our photographer for $10 donation to Paws In Need. No reservations. Dogs on leashes, cats in carriers. Call Gay at 447-8903 or go to Paws-In-Need.org.
Children’s Holiday Tea Party
Children can experience a real tea in a historic barn from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5 at Dublin Heritage Park and Museums, 6600 Donlon Way, Dublin. Child-friendly menu, table amusements and a merry sing-a-long. Old St. Nick will a visit and take photos with the children. Cost is $25. Call 452-2100.
All-American Holiday Concert
The Pleasanton Community Concert Band will perform seasonal music composed or arranged by American musicians about American traditions at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 6 at the Firehouse Arts Center. Free. Call 846-5897 or go to pleasantonband.org.
Holiday Storefront Decorating Contest
Downtown Pleasanton visitors are invited to vote for their favorite storefront in the inaugural Downtown Pleasanton Holiday Storefront Decorating Contest, sponsored by the Pleasanton Downtown Association and the Pleasanton Weekly.
Voting will be now through Dec. 7. One vote per email address. Two voters will be randomly selected to win a $50 Downtown Pleasanton Gift Card. Winning business and gift card recipients will be announced on the Pleasanton Weekly website Dec. 14.
Ballot available at www.PleasantonWeekly.com/decorating_contest.
Museum Holiday Tea
Take a break from the holiday hustle-and-bustle for a traditional holiday tea, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 6, and at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 8 at Dublin Heritage Park and Museums, 6600 Donlon Way, Dublin. Featuring classic tea sandwiches, scones, delectable desserts and peaceful holiday music. Cost is $25. Call 452-2100.
Rotary Holiday Dinner Ticket Distribution
Tickets for the annual Rotary Holiday Dinner will be distributed on Tuesday, Dec. 8 on a first-come, first-served basis at the Pleasanton Senior Center. One ticket per senior, 62 years of age and older. Open to Pleasanton residents, proof of residency required. To pick up a ticket for a spouse bring their ID.
Call 931-5365 or go to www.pleasantonseniorcenter.org.
Museum on Main Reading Time
Preschoolers (ages 2-5) and their families are invited to meet at the Museum on Main for books and crafts at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 9. The theme is “Hanukkah Celebration.” Admission is free. No reservations required. Call 462-2766 or go to http://www.museumonmain.org/moms-reading-time.html.
Chanukah Under the Stars
This free event in front of the Bankhead Theater in Livermore runs from 7:30-8:30 p.m. Dec. 12 featuring holiday latkes and donuts, live music, ‘glow in the dark Chanukah fun,’ greetings from Livermore’s Mayor and government officials and a menorah-lighting at 8 p.m. For more info, visit www.JewishTriValley.com or call 846-0700.
Sleep Train’s Toy Drive for Foster Kids and Photo Contest
Christmas is an exciting time of year, but foster children often have the added worry of wondering whether Santa will find them. To help ensure every foster child wakes up with a gift on Christmas morning, Sleep Train is hosting its Toy Drive for Foster Kids and #SleepTrainSecretSanta photo contest, now through Dec. 13 at any Sleep Train location.
Candlelight Starlight
Let 200 children brighten your holidays with the “Choir of Angels.”
The International Award-Winning Cantabella Children’s Chorus presents a choral celebration of light for Christmas, Hanukkah, and Diwali with two concerts; K-5th children perform at 1 p.m., 5-12th graders perform at 4 p.m., on Saturday, Dec. 12 at St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church, 4001 Stoneridge Drive.
Tickets are $22, children under 18 free. Contact president@cantabella.org or go to www.cantabella.org.
Valley Dance Theatre Nutcracker
See Tchaikovsky’s magical holiday classic “The Nutcracker” at 7 p.m. Fridays, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays, Dec. 12-20 at the Bankhead Theater, 2400 First St., Livermore. No 2 p.m. performance Dec. 12. Tickets are $25-$38, $19 for students 17 and under. Call 373-6800 or go to www.livermoreperformingarts.org.
Grief Support Workshop: Handling the Holidays
Hope Hospice will offer a special workshop for those experiencing grief from the loss of a loved one, from 2-4 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 15 at Hope Hospice, 6377 Clark Ave., Dublin. Learn about ideas and choices that can make a difference in handling the holidays. Call 829-8770 or go to http://hopehospice.com.
Holiday Luncheon at the Dublin Senior Center
Enjoy delicious food, close friends and songs sung by Janice Reid at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 17 at the Dublin Senior Center, 7600 Amador Valley Blvd., Dublin. With holiday chicken roast, cornbread stuffing, roasted vegetables, sweet potato mash, gravy and apple cinnamon cobbler.
Register in person, by mail or online by Dec. 11. Cost is $15 for Dublin residents, $18 for non-residents. Call 556-4511 or go to seniorctr.dublin.ca.gov.
Note: If you have an event you would like to see listed in a future Pleasanton Weekly, or know of one we’ve left out, send event information to srhodes@pleasantonweekly.com.
