The annual Los Gatos carriage rides are in December, to the delight of many in and near town to celebrate the holiday season. To me there are few things so festive as seeing and hearing the horses clippity-clop down Main Street and North Santa Cruz Avenue each December.
The dates run from Dec 9 to Dec 23, but not every single night:
December 8-10, 5:00-9:00pm
December 14-18, 5-9:30pm
December 20-23, 5-9:30pm
What do the Los Gatos Carriage Rides cost?
This year, the horse drawn carriage ride will set you back $125 for a regularly sized carriage (4 adults, 2 kids under age 8 max) or $150 for a larger one that accommodate up to 6 adults.
Where to book a reservation & pay for the Los Gatos Carriage Ride
This fun experience is sponsored by the Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce, and you can purchase your tickets and read all the requirements and rules on this page.
Downtown Los Gatos is adorned with holiday lights and décor, and I’d encourage everyone to enjoy some time there, even if it’s just a socially distanced drive through the business district and nearby historic residential districts. If you can manage the horse drawn carriage rides, so much the better, but all visitors are in for a visual treat no matter how they see the area.
Two of the best attended and most celebrated holiday events in town are the Los Gatos tree lighting and the parade, both of which usually happen the first weekend in December.
Annual Los Gatos Tree Lighting
This year, the Los Gatos Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place Friday, December 2nd, at the Town Plaza Park (located at Main & Santa Cruz). Per the town’s website:
The event will begin at 5:00 p.m. with the lighting at 6:00 p.m. sharp. Free photos with Santa in the park will immediately follow the lighting until 7:00 p.m.
Normally there are snacks for sale and live music plays from local schools or from professional musicians. There aren’t many details on the town’s webpage, but no matter what, it is sure to be a very joyful event.
The annual holiday parade will take place the next morning. Details below.
The 66th Annual Los Gatos Children’s Christmas/Holidays Parade!
On the morning following the tree lighting, return to the downtown area to watch the annual Los Gatos Children’s Christmas/Holiday Parade travel down E Main Street and N Santa Cruz Avenue. It begins at 11am rain or shine December 3rd. Parking and seats go quickly so plan to arrive early! Or skip the traffic and road closures and arrive by bike, with a free bicycle valet service provided from 8:45am – 2pm at Municipal Lot #1 behind Hercules Draft House and Cantina (formerly Flights or Hult’s Restaurant).
Sponsors include LGS Recreation, Los Gatos Lions club, and the Los Gatos High School.
The Glenridge and Bachman Park neighborhood of Los Gatos is one of the most scenic residential areas anywhere in Silicon Valley. It features beautiful, custom, mostly historic homes on meandering streets.
Set just above the Almond Grove neighborhood on a gentle hill it, too, is close to town but with a little more altitude and better vistas. The other nearby neighbor is the Fairview Plaza. So much history in such a close area!
These are really two separate neighborhoods or districts, but they are similar in many ways and are directly adjacent to each other, so we are covering them together.
Bachman Park is set in in the middle of this area and includes several acres alongside a creek. The park offers picnic tables, a playground, basketball courts and a large grassy field for picnics or play. A paved path follows the creek on one side of it – making a wonderful place just for strolling. (Bachman Park refers to both the park and its immediate neighborhood.)
Where is the Glenridge and Bachman Park neighborhood?
This charming older Los Gatos neighborhood is set just up the hill from the Almond Grove Historic District and adjacent to Fairview Plaza. (more…)
The Promenade in Los Gatos brings the summer music events we love to North Santa Cruz Avenue on several Thursdays this summer. Tonight is the last one!
The Promenade details
You can enjoy a car-free N. Santa Cruz Avenue with music, strolling, shopping, drinks, and dining between 5 pm and 9 pm. If you want to bring folding chairs to sit closer to the band, it’s allowed.
Tonight’s performers are Lavender Falls and FLO.
You’ll be able to purchase alcohol (1 drink at a time, with wristband at an ID station) up to 8 p.m.
Today’s weather will be mild – it should be a perfect evening to be outdoors!
The tree December tree lighting ceremony is back, the parade is not, and the Holiday Promenade steps in to add some festivity to Los Gatos on the first Saturday of December this year.
On Saturday, December 4th, North Santa Cruz Avenue will be shut down to motor vehicles while town residents are treated to music, dance, and more at the Holiday Promenade.
The Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce shared this about the Holiday Promenade:
Presented by Linda L. Lester, Lester Square Los Gatos
The Promenade is a street festival that will combine the flair of the Los Gatos Summer Promenades, with a few elements of the holiday parade and a European-style artisan and crafts market. Delight in the performances of local youth groups on two stages, such as Los Gatos Ballet, Los Gatos Youth Theatre, the LGHS band, R.J. Fisher band and more. Holiday giveaways and activities courtesy of Los Gatos Lions Club and Los Gatos-Saratoga Recreation. Festivities will begin around noon and run until 9pm. Stay tuned for a performance schedule.
N. Santa Cruz Avenue will be closed for the day from Bachman to Main Street.
Special thanks to our presenting sponsor, Linda L. Lester, Lester Square Los Gatos. Her generosity and love for Los Gatos is truly one of the best holiday gifts of all.
Please check for updates and info on other sponsors at the webpage for this event on the Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce’s site.
Looking to purchase a Los Gatos fixer property with upside potential? Please check out 39 Reservoir Road, a stone’s throw from downtown. It’s new to the market this week!
Situated in a scenic hillside area full of multi-million dollar homes, this historic property includes the original house plus two accessory dwelling units, or ADUs. One is attached (a “junior” ADU or JADU) and the other is detached.
Each of these enjoys 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, and laundry. Each one has about 1000 – 1100 square feet of living space.
Unit A is the house, closest to the street, built sometime between 1876 and 1888. It is historic, and it is listed as such with the town. Unit B appears to be historic as well, but we don’t know the age. (These two are classic Los Gatos fixers and do need a substantial amount of work.)
Unit C is far younger, built in the late 80s. This home provides a large, sunny deck off of the main floor – it tremendously expands the livable area. Inside, there’s a valley view visible from the living room. Downstairs are the bedrooms, bathroom, garage, and laundry.
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The annual Los Gatos carriage rides are in December, to the delight of many in and near town to celebrate the holiday season. To me there are few things so festive as seeing and hearing the horses clippity-clop down Main Street and North Santa Cruz Avenue each December.
The Promenade in Los Gatos brings the summer music events we love to North Santa Cruz Avenue on several Thursdays this summer. Tonight is the last one!
December 2021 info:
