Los Gatos Weekly-Times Los Gatos Weekly-Times file photograph by George Sakkestad The holiday season kicks off in Los Gatos with carriage rides on Thanksgiving weekend. Reservations are a must. Here come the holidays, and Los Gatos is ready By Shari Kaplan Although the snow is usually lacking, the Town of Los Gatos nevertheless becomes something of a winter wonderland during the month of December, with special holiday events almost every day. Carriage Rides Traditional horse-drawn carriage rides kick off the holiday season a bit early--the maiden voyage for 1998 takes place the day after Thanksgiving. Sponsored by the Town of Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce, the carriage rides begin Nov. 27 and run through Dec. 20. All rides take place Thursdays through Sundays in the afternoon and evening hours, although times vary. Carriages depart from the southwest corner of the Town Plaza and take patrons on 20-minute rides through downtown Los Gatos. The route also take riders through some of Los Gatos' most scenic residential streets. Each festively decorated carriage, which has lap blankets available in case of cold weather, seats four. Tickets are $50 for two adults wishing to take a private carriage ride; individual tickets for four-person carriages are $15 for ages 11 and older or $10 for children ages three to 10. Children younger than three ride for free on an adult's lap. For more information, call 354-9300. Tree Lighting A program of events climaxing with Los Gatos' annual tree-lighting ceremony begins on Friday, Dec. 4 in the Town Plaza. From 4:30 to 5:15 p.m., the Los Gatos High School Wildcat Marching Band, under the direction of new band teacher Jim Francisco, will perform holiday favorites. From 5:15 to 5:30 p.m., a local children's choir will sing. At 5:30 p.m., 7-foot-tall Kanga Roddy, the kangaroo and martial artist, will delight children of all ages with a stage show titled "Kanga Roddy and Friends." Kanga Roddy is the star of a weekly children's show produced by American Champion Media and KTEH-TV. Mayor Jan Hutchins is a producer of the show. Mayor Hutchins, in one of his first official duties in office, will introduce Los Gatos' 1998 Youth Citizens and whistle-blowers for the next day's parade--Kristen Bartlett, Jessica Eagan and Kelli Lueder. At 6:30 p.m., the mayor'll throw the switch that illuminates the town's giant Christmas tree. Following the tree-lighting, Santa Claus and his elfin entourage will arrive on a fire truck, accompanied by music and fanfare. Throughout the evening, the Los Gatos Community Foundation will sell food, hot chocolate and coffee from a booth in the Town Plaza. Those attending are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy to leave in the Toys for Tots containers throughout the Plaza. Christmas Parade On Dec. 5, the annual Los Gatos Children's Christmas and Holiday Parade begins at 11 a.m. This year's grand marshall is Joanne Benjamin who just left the Town Council after serving as a councilmember for 16 years. Fancy floats, marching bands, exotic and domestic animals, decorated vehicles, and members of local organizations will proceed down N. Santa Cruz Avenue. Some residential streets perpendicular to the parade route may be closed to traffic. For more information, call 354-8700 ext. 226. Christmas Cotillion Now entering its 14th year, the annual Los Gatos Christmas Cotillion, sponsored by the Los Gatos Christmas Foundation, takes place Dec. 11 at La Rinconada Country Club. The black-tie affair begins with no-host cocktails at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner, music and dancing to the Flash Back band from 8 p.m. to midnight. The event helps defray the cost of the parade. For tickets or more information, call John Lochner at 354-7896 or Jack Neal at 395-3708. [ Back to Contents Page | Los Gatos Weekly-Times Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, November 25, 1998. ©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.