This Sunday, December 11, is Children’s Day at History San José with holiday festivities from noon to 4:00 PM.

Children can ride the trolley with Santa Claus on the 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM runs. A highlight every year is that children can experience operating the hand-cart along the tracks.

Festivities include arts and crafts projects at the Umbarger House, the Markham House, the Hill House and the Associated Oil Service Station. Some of the participants include the Hellenic Heritage Institute, the Portuguese Historical Society of California and the Chinese Historical and Cultural Project.

Also open, the Print Shop and Trolley Barn, along with the Leonard and David McKay Gallery.

Admission is $8.00 per family of four, $2.00 per additional person. Parking is $6.00; seniors, active military, and handicap parking $2.00.

Children’s Day at History San José 2011
History San José
1650 Senter Road
San José, 95112
408.287.2290

Sunday, December 11, 2011
12:00 PM to 4:00 PM

December is a lighter month in terms of scheduled shows, but that just makes it easier to attend them all!
These are the shows Metblogs plans to attend and review this month:

Backwards in High Heels
The San Jose Repertory Company
November 24 – December 19
The remarkable life of the legendary actress Ginger Rogers comes to life onstage!
This intimate musical dances its way through Ginger’s life with unforgettable music, show-stopping dance numbers and a captivating story that chronicles her journey from hometown to Hollywood and from one love affair to another. Best known as Fred Astaire’s dance partner, Ginger defied her overly-protective mother to become one of Hollywood’s biggest stars and one of the industry’s first women to demand equal pay. Funny, moving and a visual feast, Backwards In High Heels is a toe-tapping, swirling, gliding account of her ambitious public and private life.

A Wonderful Life (Musical)

A Wonderful Life (MUSICAL)
Hillbarn Theatre
December 2 – 19
Frank Capra’s film classic has been brought to vibrant theatrical life through the remarkable collaboration of Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winner Sheldon Harnick and Grammy and Emmy Award-winner Joe Raposo. The story of George Bailey and his wonderful life in Bedford Falls remains a timeless fable of dreams, disillusionment and the power of love. An uplifting chronicle of the extraordinary lives of ordinary folk, A Wonderful Life exhilarates the mind and heart as it celebrates the innate goodness in us all.  Memorable songs include One of the Lucky Ones, In a State and Christmas Gifts.

San Jose Short Film Festival
Camera 3 Cinemas
December 9, 11, 12
If you can’t wait for Cinequest 21 to begin (March 1) here is a great festival that will feed your film hunger: Presented by Emerging Artist Productions, the Second Annual San Jose Short Film Festival is dedicated to honoring and promoting short films while providing an outlet where local and national filmmakers, scriptwriters and all-around movie mongers can showcase their creative talent.

Nutcracker
Ballet San Jose
December 11 – 26
I don’t believe we will be attending this show, but no Holiday show list is complete without mentioning our own beautiful Nutcracker ballet.   This triumphant tale of Maria and her beloved nutcracker will delight audiences, young and old alike.  The theater itself is a wonderland of surprises, replete with lavish lobby decorations, a boutique of ballet and holiday treasures, choirs singing carols, the “Pocket Lady” passing out free toys, and characters from the show posing for photos and patrons.  A Not-to-be-Missed Treasure of the Season, and a Gift for the Holidays!

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The Winter Movie Series, featuring holiday themed and classic films, begins this Wednesday December 17 and runs through December 28 at the California Theatre downtown San Jose.

Built in 1927, the 1,119-seat California Theatre was transformed into a major performing arts center by adding state-of-the-art audio and video technology in 2004.

A new Wurlitzer Organ has been fully restored and will play each night before the main feature.

Dec 17 – 18
Home Alone – 5:35
Funny Girl – 7:30

Dec 19 – 21
White Christmas – 3:35 & 7:30
A Christmas Story – 5:45 & 9:40

Dec 22 – 23
The Polar Express – 5:40
The Music Man – 7:30

Dec 24
It’s a Wonderful Life – 9:00

Dec 25 – 26
Swiss Family Robinson – 7:30

Dec 27 – 28
Mary Poppins – 3:00 & 7:30

All tickets are $5.00 and you will receive a coupon for free popcorn. Children under 12 admitted free with paying adult to special 1:40 pm matinees Saturday and Sunday Dec. 20 & 21.

The California Theatre
345 South First Street, San Jose 95113

December 17 – 28
408-277-3535

Parking is available on South First Street in back of Eulipia Restaurant. You can access this lot from South Second Street. Parking garages are also available at the San Jose Convention Center accessible from both Market Street and North Almaden Avenue. Other parking options include the garage above the Camera Cinemas accessible from Second or Third Streets, and a lot at the corner of San Carlos and Market Streets.

This weekend the Caltrain Holiday Train will be making stops at eight different Peninsula Caltrain stations; four on Saturday and four other stations on Sunday.

This special non-passenger train decorated with more than 40,000 lights arrives at each station about 30 minutes after festivities begin at each station; see the schedule below.

This free, family event gives you a chance to sing along with live holiday music and meet Santa and Mrs. Claus along with Rudolph and Frosty. Visitors are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy or book to drop into toy barrels at the stations.

Visitors are invited to visit the stations and view the Holiday Train show but are not permitted to board or ride on the train.

Entertainers will give a brief performance at 4:30 p.m. before the Holiday Train departs from the San Francisco station on both days.

Saturday, December 6 (Entertainment begins at the time indicated):

Burlingame Caltrain Station – 5:05 p.m.

Redwood City Caltrain Station – 5:45 p.m.

Menlo Park Caltrain Station – 6:35 p.m.

Sunnyvale Caltrain Station – 7:20 p.m.

Sunday, December 7 (Entertainment begins at the time indicated):

San Bruno Caltrain Station – 4:58 p.m.

San Mateo Transit Center – 5:32 p.m.

Mountain View Caltrain Station – 6:50 p.m.

Santa Clara Caltrain Station – 7:35 p.m.

This Tuesday is Santana Row’s 7th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony beginning at 6:30 pm.

Festivities include live music, choirs, carolers, stilt walkers, hot chocolate sampling and activities for children.

The annual (40-foot) Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place at approximately 6:30 pm in Park Valencia; also, the lighting of more than 500,000 twinkling lights throughout Santana Row.

Scheduled on the Celebration Stage on Olin Avenue: San Jose native Katee Shean (So You Think You Can Dance), The Nutcracker performed by The Joy of Dancing, also a sneak peek of San Jose Repertory Theatre’s holiday production Around the World in 80 Days.

Santana Row
368 Santana Row, San Jose

Tuesday, November 18, 2008
6:30 pm – 9:00 pm

Free event