Entertainment

  Seasons greetings to one and all!  I'm getting merrier by the day and I hope you are too!  I thought I'd share some great holiday happenings to get you in the true spirit, with a few activities that are great for some wholesome holiday family fun.  And many of my picks this week center around lots and lots of LIGHTS!

My best to each and everyone of you.
Cheers, Liam.


1 - LIVERMORE WONDERLAND OF LIGHTS
352 Hillcrest Avenue, Livermore
Deacon Dave Rezendes puts together one of the most stunning, single home displays of Christmas lights at his Livermore property. Dave is a deacon at Saint Michael's Church in Livermore and together with a host of dedicated volunteers throughout the year, put forth a different themed display each year. Some 300,000 plus lights cover not only the home, but over bridges and around waterfalls and adorn several displays. Guests can even peek inside the windows of this house to check out some 42 decorated trees. Donations are in the form of coins that can be tossed into several waterways.  All proceeds benefit Santa's Secret Service, an organization that provides presents to hospitals, nursing homes, the homeless and various shelters. Check this place out! 
casadelpomba.com

2 - ALAMEDA'S BIG ELECTRICITY BILL
3200 block of Thompson, Alameda
(between High Street and Fernside Avenue)
Thompson Avenue is running a high electricity bill as almost every home on this long block is decorated. The giant trees in the center of the street are all lit up too! This is a great street to take a stroll on, while interacting with a number of passionate homeowners who are out and about!

3 - PENINSULA LIGHT SHOW
1900 block of Eucalyptus Avenue, San Carlos
(between Orange and Tamarack Avenues)
One of my favorite holiday films is National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. It's sillier than all get out, but it's the antics of good ol' Clark Griswold and his dumbfounded persistence of getting all those lights on the house that always render a giggle out of me. Well it's not much different on Eucalyptus Avenue. Home after home is crazily adorned in lights. One owner, see if you can guess who that might be, really goes all out. We did a story there a couple of years ago and rumor has it that he owns the house next to his and possibly the one on the other side, In his garage, he'll have "Miracle on 34th Street" playing on the tube!  Peninsula residents make your way there, you'll be glad you did!



4 - HOLIDAY LIGHTS FINDER
Want to find a house or block of houses in your area that are lit to the hilt? There's a great website created by Alex Dourov of Livermore, that locates current light happy residents. 
lightsofthevalley.com

5 - A VERY MERRY MERRY-GO-ROUND
Tilden Park, Berkeley
Kids will love the old carousel atop the Oakland Hills in Tilden Park even more during the holidays….and on Tuesday nights, they'll even get to get the last word in with Santa, who brings along a few of his hard-working reindeer. (He also visits on Monday nights, sans reindeer). This annual event with lights adorning the merry-go-round, runs nightly through December 23rd, from 5:30 to 8:30pm. 
tildenmgr.com/christmas.html

6 - A SOUTH BAY FANTASY DRIVE
333 Blossom Hill Road, Los Gatos
The Santa Clara County Parks Department puts on a wonderful grouping of lighted displays that will definitely keep you warm as you watch! That's because you drive through the lovely Vasona Lake County park in your car. Fill up the Thermos with cider and take a drive! The drive runs nightly through December 31st from 6:00 to 10pm. Admission is $15 per car. 
parkhere.org

7 - ANIMALS LIKE CHRISTMAS TOO
Oakalnd Zoo
9777 Golf Links Road
Zoo Lights 2009 is the place to check out great LED displays shaped like animals, candy canes and Santa himself. This is a way to see this wonderful zoo like never before and you can also hop aboard on the Snowball Express, which is the zoo's train that has been dosed with yuletide delight! The festivities run through January 3rd. Tickets can be purchase on the Oakland Zoo's website or at the door. Ticket prices are $5.00 for Children, $7.00 for adults, or you can purchase a family pass for $20.00, which includes two adult and two child's admissions. 
oaklandzoo.org

8 - SKATE UNDER THE SKYSCRAPERS
Embarcadero Holiday Ice Rink
Justin Herman Plaza, San Francisco
This is an annual activity that everyone must try, and a bunch of us from CBS5 do so every year. Lace up your skates and enjoy a skate at this spot in Justin Herman Plaza, under the lights of the city buildings. Skating runs through January 3rd and is open daily from 10:00am to 10:00pm Sunday through Thursday, and 10:00am to 11:30pm Fridays and Saturdays. And the great thing is, you can park for free in the Embarcadero parking garage. 
embarcaderocenter.com

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