By Khalida Sarwari
‘Don’t mess with a good thing,’ they say, and ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’ Those are the maxims the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce intends to follow this year as it prepares to bring back the Saratoga Holiday Tree Lighting and Wine Stroll to prime time Friday, Nov. 24 after its sudden—and unsuccessful—move last year.
“People are very pleased that it’s back” to Friday, said Pat Martell, an event coordinator and the Chamber’s former president. “A lot of people have family and friends that fly in from out of state and they make plans around the event, and so they were somewhat disappointed when the change was made.”
While residents were thrown off their routines, business owners fretted about losing business due to the date change. According to Martell, only about 400 people attended last year’s event—held during the day on a Saturday—a significant decrease from the 1,000-plus crowds the event typically draws.
“Having this event in the evening … it really showcases the beauty of the Village during that time of year,” said Martell. “Really, it’s so much more festive that way.”
Fortunately, there isn’t a whole lot to be disappointed about this year’s celebration, slated to take place Friday, Nov. 24, from 5 to 8 p.m. along Big Basin Way. Sponsored by the city of Saratoga and Saratoga Chamber of Commerce, the popular Dickens-themed holiday event and wine stroll is a tradition in Saratoga that goes back nearly two decades. Residents from Saratoga and neighboring cities usually gather in the Village to celebrate the beginning of the holiday season, taste local wines and start their holiday shopping.
Attendees can expect to see the street lined with decorated trees, windows brightly lit and carolers and people dressed in Victorian costumes strolling the Village. There will be photo opportunities with Father Christmas and Santa Claus, who will both be strolling the street welcoming visitors.
Free horse-drawn carriage rides, live bands and a children’s fun zone with a bounce house, face painting and cookie-decorating activities are also on the evening’s agenda. Mayor Emily Lo will kick off the event with the ceremonial tree lighting in Blaney Plaza.
The wine stroll will feature 21 local wineries based in and around Saratoga. Each will be pouring wine served with sweet and savory munchies at various locations. Some of the participating wineries include Ser Winery, Silvertip Vineyards, Guglielmo Winery, House Family Vineyards, Cooper-Garrod Estate Vineyards and Baccarossa.
In the spirit of the holidays, the wineries have agreed to allow the Chamber to donate their proceeds (estimated at about $2,000) to the Northern California fire relief fund, said Martell. Attendees are invited to contribute to the cause at collection boxes inside some of the retailers, she said.
Tickets for the wine stroll are $45 and can be purchased online at saratogachamber.org or at the event.
In conjunction with the event, the Book-Go-Round will hold its annual sale of gently used books.
The Saratoga History Museum will also be unveiling a new exhibit on Friday comprised of about 14 collections from residents. Titled “Holiday Fun,” the show features items such as mutoscopes, Chinese wine cups, Godzilla figures and marbles, along with a description of each item’s history.
Other items that are part of the display include heirloom holiday drink glasses and family holiday recipes, chess sets from different countries collected by an individual who took up the hobby at the age of 10 when he fell seriously ill and went on to become a chess champion, and Native American kachina dolls from the 1950s, which are wooden dolls created by Hopi artisans specifically for the tourist trade in the Southwest in the 1940s.
The exhibit, on display through January, will kick off with a reception on Nov. 24, complete with performances by the Marshall Lane Choir and the Skillet Likkers. The event will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. at the museum, 20450 Saratoga-Los Gatos Road.
In addition, the museum, which is housed in a historic 1850s McWilliams house, along with the one-room schoolhouse, will be decorated festively for the holidays. The gift shop will be open for those looking to snag antique items to give as gifts. Attendees are also encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy to donate to the city’s annual toy drive, which ends Dec. 15.
The museum is open Friday and Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 408-867-4311 or visit saratogahistory.com.
The chamber is also still looking for people who can volunteer at the holiday tree lighting event. For more information, call 408-867-0753 or email info@saratogachamber.org.
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