This year, 25 special events will be held in and around town
Published in the November 27, 2013 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Terry Moriyama
Terry Moriyama and Gizmo
During this time of year, one of my favorite things about Morgan Hill is how our community comes together to make our town a magical winter wonderland. You can see the joy in the eyes of little children as well as adults when the holiday season arrives and the celebration of Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas and other year-end festivities bring people together in a spirit of community camaraderie.
It’s this spirit that makes me proud to be part of the Hometown Holidays of Morgan Hill, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the goal of promoting events that foster a sense of community and encourage families and friends to gather and enjoy a festival holiday season.
Hometown Holidays celebrates this year a decade of involvement with various groups and businesses in Morgan Hill in making our winter community festivities extra special. It was started by local residents Bob and Nancy Foster to help the Morgan Hill Kiwanis Club organize its annual downtown Holiday Lights Parade that kicks off the holiday season.
I first got involved with Hometown Holidays when I helped out the Rebekah Children’s Services Festival of Trees fundraising event in 2004. I realized there was something special about this group of dedicated volunteers who work hard throughout the year to make sure Christmas in Morgan Hill is a fun-filled experience for everyone.
This year’s Hometown Holidays’ calendar presents 25 special events. Our winter celebrations kick-off on Friday Nov. 22 with the opening of the South Valley Civic Theater’s play “Miracle on 34th” at the Morgan Hill Community Playhouse.
From Dec. 1 to 24, the Music Tree will take Letters to Santa and Betsy’s Restaurant will hold a “Giving Back Tree” for people who want to drop off toys to deserving children. Dec. 3, our community joins with Congregation Emeth at the Third Street Promenade to celebrate Hanukkah with a candle lighting, story-telling, and songs.
The fun continues on Dec. 5 with the annual Holiday Ladies Night Out sponsored by the Morgan Hill Downtown Association in which women — and men, too! — can visit downtown shops looking for the perfect presents for friends and loved ones. Dec. 6 and 7, the historic Villa Mira Monte Event Center will hold its popular Victorian-themed holiday tea. Also on Dec. 6 and 7, the South Valley Dance Art will perform the holiday classic “Nutcracker Ballet” at the Ann Sobrato Performing Arts Center at Sobrato High School at 401 Burnett Ave.
Saturday evening Dec. 7 is a big day for celebrating the holidays. The blockbuster event is the annual Holiday Lights Parade starting at 5:30 p.m. in downtown Morgan Hill — everyone always loves Lana’s Dance Studio’s dancers performing “Jingle Bell Rock.” After the parade, everyone will gather around Santa’s Magic Ship for the Tree Lighting Ceremony at the Downtown Amphitheater.
Also, everyone is invited to the festive Gallery of Trees exhibit at the Community Center’s Downtown Plaza where local schools put up trees sponsored by the Rotary Club of Morgan Hill. The South Bay Singers will perform “Hallelujah un to Ya Choral” at the Advent Lutheran Church at 16870 Murphy Avenue.
Among other community holiday events, Dec. 13 will bring Santa to the downtown Granada Theater for its festive open house open to all families with children who want to meet the jolly old elf in the movie theater’s lobby.
The morning of Dec. 14, children can have breakfast with Santa at San Martin/Gwinn Elementary School in San Martin. That same day, Jackson Academy of Math and Music will hold its holiday boutique fundraiser.
Bringing in the first weekend of winter on Dec. 20 and 21, GVA Cafe in downtown Morgan Hill will hold a community Christmas and dance party during the evening — the Saturday event is a benefit dinner and dance for the Granada Theater.
We’re fortunate in Morgan Hill to have such a vibrant spirit of fun, family-friendly celebrations during the winter season. Hometown Holidays encourages all our residents and visitors to Morgan Hill to join in the festivities our dedicated nonprofit organizations and businesses put on.
And if you have ideas for next year’s holiday celebrations — or would like donate funds to help sponsor these events — let me know at [email protected].
