Festivals, Feasts & Fairs

SAN JOSE--The holiday whirs to life Dec. 5 at Christmas in the Park. The Plaza de Cesar Chavez will be filled with hundreds of decorated trees and about 70 animated displays. A ceremony, 5:30-6:30 p.m., will include singing, speeches and the lighting of a 60-foot-tall tree. Free. 9 a.m.-midnight through Jan. 2 at Market and San Carlos streets. There will also be dance, theater and music performances, nights and weekends, from Dec. 8 to 23. On Dec. 7, a procession billed as Northern California’s largest holiday parade starts at 11 a.m. at California 87 and Santa Clara Street. Free. (408) 277-3303.

OAKLAND--About 100 decked-out sailboats, motorboats--and even rowboats--will cruise down the estuary at Jack London Square on Dec. 6 during the Lighted Yacht Parade. There will also be food vendors, live music, free crafts for kids and more. 3-9 p.m. at Broadway and Embarcadero streets. Free. (510) 208-4646.

HUMBOLDT REDWOODS STATE PARK--Santa will arrive in a park ranger’s truck with sirens blaring Dec. 10 at the 12th annual Christmas tree lighting, beginning at 6 p.m. at the park’s Visitor Center. A 70-foot-tall tree will be lighted to the accompaniment of caroling, hot cocoa, cookies and candy canes for the kids. Free. (707) 946-2263.

SAN DIEGO--An array of ethnic fare--including Hungarian, Italian, French and English--will be sold at Balboa Park’s Christmas on the Prado, Dec. 5-6. A Swedish Santa Lucia procession, featuring young women wearing crowns of lighted candles, will begin at 6 p.m. There will be a Kwanzaa exhibit (the holiday is on Dec. 26 this year), with African dancers, drummers and food, as well as gospel choirs, Polynesian and folklorico dancers and strolling carolers. Free. 5-9 p.m., off California 163 at Park Boulevard. (619) 239-0512.

COLUMBIA STATE HISTORIC PARK--Roasted chestnuts, apple cider and carolers in Victorian costume will set the mood at Miner’s Christmas, Dec. 6, 7, 13 and 14. Santa’s arrival kicks off activities at 11 a.m. each day of the event, followed by the breaking of a pin~ata at 1:30 p.m. There will be demonstrations of candle dipping and candy-cane and ribbon-candy making. (209) 536-1672.

Call listed phone numbers for directions.