#holiday-events

#holiday-events

Holidays at the Disneyland Resort is back and happening now through January 7, 2026! And one of the best parts of this magical time of year is the seasonal treats, of course. So, let's indulge a little and have ourselves a festive feast - let's go!

The pressure to do all the holiday things is in full force this year. Even now, I am in at least three different group chats regarding Christmas light sightings , price checking seats for a Rockettes show and finding the best holiday bar for a bit of cheer. If you, too, are feeling overwhelmed by it all, we've just rounded up a festive lineup of events, from family-friendly ones to whiskey tastings. Even better? It is all going down in one place.

Join us this Monday, December 1st at 6pm at the Bank of America Plaza as we kick off the holiday season in true Castro style, the Castro Merchants Association says in an Instagram post. The evening will be emceed by the fabulous Donna Sachet, the tree will receive a special blessing from Sister Roma, and, of course, we'll have a visit from Santa!

Consider Do This, Do That your holiday advent calendar this month, where you'll pry open one of those little perforated cardboard doors (read our weekly round-ups) to reveal a foil-wrapped piece of chocolate shaped like a star (find events you should check out each day). If anything, Do This, Do That is a bit better than a physical advent calendar. It's less packaging-dense, just as joyous, and also, it doesn't cost you anything. Let's get into some glad tidings.

Each December, Greenville, South Carolina, feels like the set of a holiday movie. Downtown glows with thousands of lights, a motorized Santa's sleigh makes nightly runs down Main Street, and skaters can twirl around an ice rink modeled after the one in NYC's Rockefeller Center, looping beneath strings of white bulbs. Main Street is the center of it all, lined with garland-draped storefronts and decorated trees.

A series of small earthquakes struck an area near Gilroy Friday morning. The largest was a 3.4 magnitude, and these followed a trio of quakes in the North Bay on Thanksgiving morning, east of Mercuryville on the Sonoma-Lake County border. [KTVU] Trump is using Wednesday's shooting of two National Guard members in DC as a reason for tightening immigration rules from "third world countries."

Paint and Pints: 6-8 p.m. Dec. 3, Gilman Brewing Co., 912 Gilman St., Berkeley. Sip craft beer, paint something festive and mingle with friends. $25. eventbrite.com Brewery Yoga: 6 p.m. Dec. 3, Woodhouse Blending & Brewing, 119 Madrone St., Santa Cruz. Treat yourself for getting over halfway through the week with this vinyasa flow session, then stay for the beer and community. $18. eventbrite.com

Handel with care: There are many Messiah's to choose from this season, and we're looking forward to this one, with Director Lawrence Kohl leading the Pacific Chamber Orchestra in Handel's great oratorio. Four fine vocalists soprano Raven McMillon, alto Sara Couden, tenor Ricardo Garcia, and bass Matt Boehler are the soloists. Details: 3 p.m. Nov. 30; Bankhead Theater, Livermore; $25-$85; livermorearts.org.

Wine tasting never felt so cozy. The charm of apres-ski takes a decadent twist at Bricoleur Vineyards in Windsor in a decked-out winter greenhouse overlooking the winery's lake. Thanks to a partnership with Pendleton, cozy blankets and pillows aboundthere's even a dog bed for folks who want to bring along their pooches. The tasting flight highlights include French onion soup paired with chardonnay, tableside raclette (atop potatoes, wild mushrooms, and more) paired with pinot noir,

"After a year of mayhem, Stich is on a mission to secure a spot on Santa's nice list, and spreading holiday magic to family and kids all around the world," said Shannon Smith-Conrad, a Walt Disney ambassador. Ellie is recovering from a recent injury. "Seeing Stitch kind of made our day, made us feel a bit more normal after last couple of days," her father Gabriel Orelov said.

The historic Southern California resort first opened in February 1888, and entering the landmarked Victorian building feels like stepping into a storybook. I could just imagine why an author as whimsical as Lyman Frank Baum, the man behind The Wizard of Oz series, felt so inspired there. Baum wrote at least three Oz books at "The Del," as it's affectionately known, between 1904 and 1917.

Santa Claus is making a special stop at the Campbell Community Center on Dec. 5 to share a holiday story and spread some cheer. The story time is followed by a family visit and photo opportunity with Santa; parents are welcome to bring their own cameras or cellphones. Children are encouraged to wear their coziest pajamas and to make holiday crafts while waiting for their turn with Santa. Families will be seen in the order they arrive. Story time starts at 6:30 p.m.