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From wreath-adorned lampposts to a cardboard snowman and fake snow, from carolers to Santa Claus, and from candy canes to hot apple cider ... it's beginning to look a lot like the holiday season.
And Saratogans wasted no time in getting the season under way as couplessome walking their dogsand families with young kids and grandparents made it out to Big Basin Way for the annual Holiday Open House the day after Thanksgiving.
"Thanksgiving's over; now we're thinking about Christmas," said Eric Johnson of Los Gatos. Now with a family of his own, the Saratoga High School alumnus has returned each holiday season for the past 15 years to share in the delights.
Johnson wasn't the only out-of-towner drawn into the Village that night, which sparkled with twinkle lights strung among the trees. Visitors from other cities included Christy Majchrowicz of Sunnyvale, who's been coming for the past three years to treat her kids to a horse-drawn carriage ride and to sample the bread pudding at Bella Saratoga, along with the opportunity to run into many of her friends in the city.
"Even if (our friends) don't come here, we'd probably still come. It's a nice night to walk down the streets," said Majchrowicz, as she stood in line for the carriage ride, which, at $5 per person, was one of the most popular features of the night.
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Photograph by George Sakkestad
At $5 per person, the horse-drawn carriage ride was one of the main attractions of the night, as families waited in a long line for their turn to take a leisurely trip down Big Basin Way.
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As families waited their turn to mount the carriage, some soaked in the music that drifted out onto the street played by a harpist inside Coldwell Banker. Further up Big Basin Way, band members from Saratoga High School soothed passersby with their renditions of classic holiday tunes. Across the street, an accordion player entertained those walking past Henrietta Hen's.
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Photograph by George Sakkestad
Rusty Rupprecht, 7, and Katie Marie Felch, 8, search through a basket for their preferred Beanie Baby at Henrietta Hen's. The storeowner, Donna Collins, helped organize the Open House.
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But the night had more to offer than simply street entertainment. Families gathered to witness the tree lighting ceremony at Blaney Plaza earlier that evening. Others caught a live Nativity scene at the Federated Church on Saratoga Avenue, which featured Tazi, a goat borrowed from Jim and Teri Baron of Saratoga, and Betsy the donkey, which belongs to Councilwoman Ann Waltonsmith.
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Photograph by George Sakkestad
Leslie Davis holds daughter Marnie up as the 2-year-old points in awe at the tree decorations. The evening kicked off with a tree lighting ceremony at Blaney Plaza.
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Inside the church, kids like 8-year-old Alyssa Peck made wreaths and other Christmas ornaments. When asked what she is thankful for, Peck said, "For all the things: the sun and the moon, food, for my mom and dad and brother, friends and family."
Back outside, one of the largest crowd-pleasers turned out to be the group from Redwood Middle School. According to music director Vicki Wyant, approximately 75 middle schoolers performed, with about half singing tunes in front of Patrick James and the rest playing in the woodwind and brass ensemble down the street.
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Photograph by George Sakkestad
Elizabeth Chang (left) and Claire Yon of the Redwood Middle School woodwind and brass ensemble play Christmas tunes. Meanwhile, just down the street, their fellow classmates sing carols to passersby.
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Listening to their daughter sing among the carolers was what drove Michael and Marie Gipe out to Big Basin Way, the first time the couple has participated in the event in their 16 years of living in Saratoga.
"I never realized that it was such a big party. It's nice to see all your neighbors and friends out," Michael Gipe said. Before the night was over, the couple had dined at a local restaurant and succeeded in doing some Christmas shopping.
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Photograph by George Sakkestad