December
Friday 12/11
HOLLISTER
Trees of Life tree lighting
The Hospice Foundation will host its Tress of Life tree lighting
ceremony in Hollister Dec. 11, at 5:30 p.m., at the Veterans
Memorial Plaza, 649 San Benito St. The event will include a
performance by Oriana Chorale. Hot chocolate, cider and other
refreshments will be served. Money raised from the tree lighting
sponsorships benefit end-of-life care and services, including
Hospice in Monterey and San Benito Counties. Children’s
Commemorative art will also be on sale. To dedicate a light call
333-9023 or visit www.HospiceGiving.org. The suggested minimum
donation is $25 per light. Other tree lighting events will be held
in Salinas, King City and Monterey.
December
Friday 12/11
SAN JUAN BAUTISTA
‘La Pastorela’
El Teatro Campesino presents its biennial Christmas show, “La Pastorela” through Dec. 20, at the Mission San Juan, 406 Second St., in San Juan. Performances are Thursdays, Fridays at Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $32/Priority, $22/adults, $18/seniors and students, and $14/children under 12. Tickets will be $15 Dec. 10 at 8 p.m., Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 17 at 8 p.m.. The show is directed by Adrian Torres with Jillian Mitchell, Eduardo Robledo and Christy Sandoval in key roles, with music by Tim and Frances Tompkins and choreography by Janet Johns. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 623-2444 or visit www.elteatrocampesino.com.
HOLLISTER
Trees of Life tree lighting
The Hospice Foundation will host its Tress of Life tree lighting ceremony in Hollister Dec. 11, at 5:30 p.m., at the Veterans Memorial Plaza, 649 San Benito St. The event will include a performance by Oriana Chorale. Hot chocolate, cider and other refreshments will be served. Money raised from the tree lighting sponsorships benefit end-of-life care and services, including Hospice in Monterey and San Benito Counties. Children’s Commemorative art will also be on sale. To dedicate a light call 333-9023 or visit www.HospiceGiving.org. The suggested minimum donation is $25 per light. Other tree lighting events will be held in Salinas, King City and Monterey.
Photography and painting show opens
A new exhibition featuring the work of Edward Dobson, as well as Carol Belleviaux and Chase Wood, will open at the Blak Sage Gallery, 727 San Benito St., in Hollister Dec. 11 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The show will feature paintings and photography, with a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the pieces benefiting Social Vocational Services, Inc. An artist reception is scheduled for Dec. 18 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and the show will be on display through Jan. 9.
Mars Hill Art show
Mars Hill will be hosting art pieces by Shell’s photography through Dec. 30. Shell is a local artist who specializes in nature and wildlife photography.
MORGAN HILL
‘Bugsy Malone Jr.’
The South Valley Civic Theater will be presenting, “Bugsy Malone Jr.” on Dec., 11 and 12 at 8 p.m. The play will be held at Morgan Hill Community Playhouse, 17090 Monterey Rd. Tickets are $14 for children and seniors, and $18 general admission. For more information, call 408-842-show or visit www.svct.org.
MONTEREY
‘Reindeer Monologues’
“The Eight: Reindeer Monologues” will be held at the Paper Wing Theater at 320 Hoffman Ave. Showtimes are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. through Dec. 19. Tickets are $15 general admission, $12 for seniors, students, and military. For more information, call Paper Wing Theater at 905-5684 or Vendini, Inc. at 1-800-901-7173.
MONTEREY
MPC’s ‘A Christmas Carol’
“A Christmas Carol” will be performed at 7 p.m. on Thursdays, 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays, through Dec. 20 on the Morgan Stock Stage at Monterey Peninsula College, 980 Fremont Street. Recieve one free ticket with the donation of a child’s toy, DVD, book set., new pair of children’s or young adult shoes, bag of non-perishable groceries $10 to $25. For more information, call 646-4213 or visit www.mpctheater.com.
Saturday 12/12
HOLLISTER
Spring Grove School Boutique
Spring Grove will host its Santa’s Breakfast and holiday boutique Dec. 11 from 8 a.m. to noon. The pancake breakfast is $6 and includes all-you-can-eat pancakes, sausage, milk, juice and coffee. The event is at Spring Grove School, 500 Spring Grove Road, in Hollister.
Cookies and Coffee Boutique
Local businesses and shops that have made donations to the nonprofit Mars Hill Coffeehouse will be hosting a Cookies and Coffee Boutique Dec. 12, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be jewelry, local cards and calendars, beauty and spa items, a raffle and more. The event is sponsored by the Women’s Networking Group of Hollister. For more information, call Rochelle Fischer at 637-4879 or visit www.vistanotes.net
MONTEREY
Cannery Row Pet Parade
The second annual Pet Parade on Cannery Row is Dec. 12, at 11 a.m., starting from the American Tin Cannery along the Coastal Recreation Trail and traveling to Cannery Row’s Steinbeck Plaza. The parade is free to the public, and pre-registration is required. Check in will begin at 10:30 a.m., at the American Tin Cannery, 125 Ocean View Blvd. The SPCA of Monterey County and Animal Friends Rescue Project will be offering on-site adoptions at the Plaza. There will be a doggie costumer contest and prizes from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. For more information, call Shelley Gesicki at 372-2259 or e-mail
sg******@ar*******.com
or visit www.canneryrow.com.
MPC Storybook Auditions
MPC Storybook Theatre will be holding auditions for its upcoming performance of “Treasure Island” on Dec. 12 and 13 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the MPC Music Hall. Casting: 6 males and 4 females ages 18-70, and the ability to play a musical instrument is a plus. For more information, call Gary Bolen at 646-4085 or e-mail
GB****@mp*.edu
Christmas in the Adobes
Experience nearly twenty historic buildings and gardens in Old Monterey, including the Monterey Museum of Art-Pacific Street during Christmas in the Adobes Dec. 12 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. A highly anticipated annual event in Monterey, Christmas in the Adobes is celebrating its 25th Anniversary with music and dance performances, refreshments and entertainment. Proceeds support educational and children’s programs at Monterey State Historic Park. Tickets are $15 for adults, $2 for children 6-17 and free to children under 6. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 831-649-7118 or visit www.parks.ca.gov/events/event_detail.asp?id=2258.
Thursday 12/17
HOLLISTER
Santa visits the Library
Santa Clause will visit the San Benito County Free Library, 470 Fifth St., in Hollister, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 17. The event will feature holiday crafts, a visit with Santa and a free book for every child. The program is sponsored by the Mercury News Gift of Reading Program and the Friends of the San Benito County Library. For more information, call 636-4107.
Friday 12/18
SAN JOSE
San Jose Wind Symphony
The San Jose Wind Symphony, under the direction of Edward D. Harris, will present its second concert of the 2009-2010 season Dec. 13, at 3 p.m. at the McAfee Center, at Saratoga High School, 20300 Herriman Ave., in Saratoga. The concert, “Chicago: My Kind of Town,” will feature excerpts from their planned performance at the 2009 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago. Tickets are $20 general admission, $15 for seniors 65 and older and $5 for students with a valid ID card. One child 12 and under is admitted free with each paid general admission or senior ticket. For more information, call 408-927-7597.
MONTEREY
Monterey Symphony
The Monterey Symphony Holiday concert will be held at Carmel Mission Basilica at 3080 Rio Road. The concert will include music of the season as well as Tchaikovsky, Mozart, Holst and Finzi. The event will begin at 8 p.m. on Dec. 18 and 19. Prices are $60, $40, $15, and $10 for children under 12. If tickets are ordered online the tickets will be $5 less. For more information, call 646-8511 or visit www.montereysymphony.org.
Saturday 12/19
GILROY
San Benito Dance Academy’s
‘The Nutcracker’San Benito Dance Academy presents second annual production of “The Nutcracker.” Performances will be held at the Gavilan College Theater, in Gilroy, Dec. 19 and 20 at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. The performance will include local dancers as well as professional dancers from the San Jose Ballet – Maria Jacobs and Ramon Moreno will perform Saturday and Mirai Noda and Maykel Solas will perform Sunday. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at the San Benito Dance Academy, 1950 Maple St., by calling 408-425-1063 or by visiting the Web site at www.sanbenitodanceacademy.com. Free lap passes are available for children 3 and under with the purchase of admission.
Monday 12/22
GILROY
‘A Christmas Carol’
Limelight Productions presents Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” Dec. 21-23 at 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., at the Gavilan College Theater, 5055 Santa Teresa Blvd. Tickets are $10 for general admission or $35 for a family four pack. For tickets, call 635-0553 or visit www.showclix.com.
Thursday 12/31
MONTEREY
First Night Monterey
The 17th Annual First Night Monterey New Year’s Eve celebration will feature 25 venues, 70 performances, eight art stations and plenty of activities. Tickets are $12 for adults or $10 for youth 5-15 if purchased before Dec. 12. From Dec. 13-30, tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for youth 5-15. Day-of-event tickets will be $20 for adults and $15 for youth 5-15. Children 4 and under are free. For more information on locations to purchase tickets or the performers, visit www.firstnightmonterey.org or call 373-4778.
January
Tuesday 1/5
HOLLISTER
YMCA Health Seekers Workshop
The YMCA Health Seekers workshop on ‘Keeping Balanced with Chiropractic Care’ will be Jan. 5, at 7 p.m., at the YMCA office on Fifth Street in Hollister. Speakers will include Sam Breger, of Breger Chiropractic, and John Red Eagle Valenzuela D.C. and Alfred Valenzuela D.C, of Red Eagle Chiropractic. Upcoming workshops are scheduled for the first Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. and will feature topics such as Real Food, alternative approaches, and how mind, body and spirit affect one’s health. For more information, call Rochelle Callis at 637-8600 or e-mail
rc*****@ym**************.org
Thursday 1/14
HOLLISTER
Alzheimer’s caregiver support group
Jovenes de Antano, the Health Projects Center, the Alzheimer’s Association and the San Benito County Behavioral Health department sponsor an Alzheimer’s caregiver support group on the second Thursday of every month. The next meeting will be Jan. 14, from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., at the Hollister Community Center, 300 West St., in Hollister. The meetings offer support from professional and other caregivers in a similar situation. It allows family or friends who are caring for a loved one with memory impairments to develop good coping skills and an understanding of the disease process. The class is free is available to unpaid caregivers who are caring for an adult loved one suffering from memory impairments. For more information, contact Kim Harman at 636-8838 or 636-4977.
Calendar items for events in and around San Benito County are accepted via e-mail to
ca******@pi**********.com
, fax to 637-8174 or at the Pinnacle office, 350 Sixth St., Ste. 102, in Hollister. Calendar items are run on a space available basis, and priority is given to events within San Benito County. The deadline for calendar items is Monday at noon for Friday publication.
