December
Friday 12/18
HOLLISTER
Artists’ reception at Blak Sage
A new exhibition featuring the work of Edward Dobson, as well as
Carol Belleviaux and Chase Wood, is showing at the Blak Sage
Gallery, 727 San Benito St., in Hollister, through Jan. 9. 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’s reception is scheduled for Dec. 18 from
6 to 9 p.m.
December
Friday 12/18
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
Artists’ reception at Blak Sage
A new exhibition featuring the work of Edward Dobson, as well as Carol Belleviaux and Chase Wood, is showing at the Blak Sage Gallery, 727 San Benito St., in Hollister, through Jan. 9. 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’s reception is scheduled for Dec. 18 from 6 to 9 p.m.
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.
SAN JUAN BAUTISTA
Annual Holiday Bonfire
Enjoy fellowship and the warmth of a very large fire at this event located on the corner of San Jose and First St. next to Casa Maria and the Community Center. Santa will be on hand to visit with children. The event is sponsored by SJB Service Club. Call 623-2033 for more information.
GILROY
‘The Nutracker, with puppets’
The community is invited to attend “The Nutcracker…with Puppets,” a production of the Music Academy, Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. at the United Methodist Church, in Gilroy, at the corner of Fourth and Church St. Families are welcome at the one-hour program. Eight Music Academy students will perform with various puppets, all accompanied by a suite of selections from Tchaikovsky’s ballet. Students will assist with the musical accompaniment and narration. Elizabeth Fazzio is directing the play. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted. For more information, call 848-1064.
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. Receive 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.
‘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 800-901-7173.
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.
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.
LOS GATOS
Fantasy of Lights
The Fantasy of Lights will be held nightly from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Vasona Lake County Park, 333 Blossom Hill Road, in Los Gatos. The magical wonderland of thousands of colorful twinkling lights and exciting animated displays, can be enjoyed from the comfort of visitors cars. Cost is $15 through Dec. 31., $25 for small buses holding up to 25 people. For more information, call 408-355-2201 or see www.parkhere.org.
Saturday 12/19
HOLLISTER
Downtown Holiday Marketplace
A Holiday Marketplace will be held on Saturday, Dec. 19 in downtown Hollister from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the former Brother’s Market on the corner of San Benito and South streets. Items from local vendors, ranging from jewelry and candles to food and gift baskets, will be offered. Vendors include Silpada and Cookie Lee jewelry, Sassy Diva handbags, Snazzy soaps, Scentsy, Bray’s Honey, S&S Jerky, Vista Notes, Kelly’s Gift Place (Cornerstone), Goats Soaps, many varieties of poinsettias and hand-crafted scarves, quilts and ornaments. Refreshments will be available throughout the day and evening. For more information, call 902-5099.
‘Camel Lot’
Hillside Christian Fellowship will be hosting two performances of the original Christmas musical “Camel Lot – Don’t Miss the Manager,” on Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 20 at 10:30 a.m., 281 San Felipe Road. Admission is free.
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 titled “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 scheduled for the first Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. 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 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 and 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.
Saturday 1/16
HOLLISTER
A Dinner for Jessica
A Dinner for Jessica fundraiser will be held Jan. 16 at the Ridgemark Golf and Country Club, in Hollister, at 6 p.m., with a no-host bar and dinner to be served at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $40 and are limited to the first 200 people. RSVP by Jan. 10. The dinner will support the family of Jessica Huse, who has been in a coma since Aug. 2 when she was in a car accident on the way to services at Twin Oak Church in San Jose. She has been unconscious at Valley Medical Center, where she is listed in critical, but stable condition. Tickets or details: Martha Wasler at 636-8536, Jennifer Kivlehan at 252-1196, or Diane Guthery at 636-6396.
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.
