By Khalida Sarwari
On the day after Thanksgiving, Saratoga will once again resemble Victorian England with the city’s popular Dickens-themed holiday event and wine stroll.
The 13th annual Holiday Tree Lighting and Wine Stroll, sponsored by the city of Saratoga and Saratoga Chamber of Commerce, will kick off at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 28 in Blaney Plaza with an introduction by city dignitaries and a performance by Marshall Lane Elementary School’s Mustang Chorale.
“Every year, Saratoga families, neighbors and friends come together to ring in the holidays with this wonderful event,” said Mayor Emily Lo. “This year, our community will also celebrate the completion of the Blaney Plaza renovation at the tree lighting and wine stroll.”
The Chamber’s wine stroll starts at 5 p.m. and includes an open house of Village businesses. Visitors will have an opportunity to enjoy light refreshments or sample products while looking for one-of-a-kind holiday gifts at the Village’s shops, many of which will be holding extended hours for shoppers. Craftspeople will also be selling unique handcrafted items.
More than 20 local wineries based in and around Saratoga are participating in the wine stroll, pouring wine paired with sweet and savory munchies at various locations.
Elsewhere, live holiday music and carolers in Victorian attire will greet visitors all throughout the Village while Father Christmas strolls the streets, welcoming young and old alike and stopping to take requests and photos. Free horse-drawn carriage rides, a children’s fun zone with a bounce house and cookie-decorating activity are also on the day’s agenda.
The fire station will hand out cookies and hot cider along with the opportunity to meet local firefighters, and the Book-Go-Round will have its much anticipated annual sale of gently used books and special holiday books. The store will be open from 5 to 9 p.m.
Just around the corner, the Saratoga History Museum will be unveiling a special holiday exhibit for the first time, featuring toys from the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s. The exhibit, which runs through Jan. 25, includes Hula Hoops, Frisbees, Silly Putty, Tonka trucks, Yahtzee, Barbie dolls, little green army men, Mr. Potato Head, Chatty Cathy dolls, GI Joe, Operation and Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots.
These are popular toys that baby boomers were raised with and are a reflection of the times, said Annette Stransky, president of the Saratoga Historical Foundation. Children of the ’50s, for example, enjoyed gender-based toys, which meant dolls for girls and cars and construction sets for boys. Toys of the ’60s reflected the race to the moon along with a heavy influence of children’s TV shows, pop music and culture, according to Stransky. And in the 1970s, the effects of the digital age began showing with the debut of the Atari computer.
From 6 to 8 p.m. on Nov. 28, the museum will have cookies and hot cider for guests, and the Skillet Lickers will sing Christmas carols. The gift shop will also be open and the museum will be accepting unwrapped toys to donate to Sacred Heart Community Service for children in need.
Registration for the wine stroll is $40 in advance and $45 on the day of the event. For more information and to register, visit saratogachamber.org or call 408.867.0753. For more information about the tree lighting and wine stroll, visit saratoga.ca.us/treelighting.
Link: Saratoga kicks off the holiday season with annual tree lighting, wine stroll
