'Tis the Season To Be Jolly

By Cara Wilson

‘Tis the season to be jolly – I needed some help in the jolly department. Things – big and little – have been getting to me. LIFE! In all it’s glory has been doing its number on me. I have to throw an extra lump of yeast in my health drink to simply face the morning paper. And then to get through that madness of lies and injustices, cop-outs, put-ons – ‘the whole reflection of pollution I feel and see hitting us daily – I’ve got to grab another handful of Vitamin C’s!

It’s seeing my boys. Loving them more as I know them more. Being overwhelmed by this great sense of hopelessness that the world we brought them into is nothing but a charade. Ethan’s joyous “It’s morning in my room!” And Jesse’s ritual categorizing of the day and night that fascinates him so: “Sky! Dark! Moon! Nighttime! Cold!” (the list is endless) – their great exuberance for everything their senses touch only makes it harder for me when I replay it late at night when the whole house is sleeping and I can feel my pulse quietly keeping time.

I needed an upper in the tra-la-la swing of things. I called up Madge. I asked her about hopelessness. How can you feel ‘up’ after knowing what you know surrounds you? Madge understood my despair. She answered in a voice that was rich with Hungarian vibrato > > >

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ALL the Events!

Farley's Christmas Wonderland, through Dec. 31, Details

Art Factory: Ornament Making Workshops, Saturdays from 10 - 11am and 3 - 4pm, All ages are welcome! Details

Holiday Lights Train & New Years Train, December 9-10, 16-23, AND 26-31, 2023, plus January 1-3, 2024, Details

Community Menorah Lighting, Thursday, Dec 7, 4:30pm, Details

Zoppé An Italian Family Circus, December 1 – 11, Available times 1pm, 4pm, 6pm, 7pm, “Carnavale di Venezia” theme. Circus connecting with Commedia, the oldest two performance artworks. The Zoppé Family Circus welcomes guests into an intimate, 500 seat tent for a one-ring circus that honors the history of their old-world Italian circus tradition. Details

Chanukah Train, December 5, 5pm & 6:30pm, We’ll share in Chanukah traditions and ride the train through the streets of Santa Cruz listening to Chanukah music and enjoying warm latkas and hot apple cider provided by Chabad by the Sea. Play festive games and win prizes! Security will be present. Details

Escape This! Thursday, December 7, 5:30 – 7:30pm, Have you ever wanted to visit an escape room? Join us for “Escape This!” our quarterly escape room program where you will get to meet new people and collaborate and solve puzzles together to reach an end prize. Patrons will work together in groups to find hidden clues within the gallery (and possibly the art) to unlock a box with some surprises inside. Ages 8 and up. Details

Book Sale Watsonville Library, Friday, December 8, 3 – 5pm, Looking for books to enjoy during the holidays? Our first-ever book sale will take place on Friday, December 8 from 3:00-5:00pm at the Main Library, Lobby. This event is presented by the Teen Action Council with support from the Friends’ of Watsonville Library. Details

Frozen JR by All About Theatre, 6:30pm: Friday & Saturday, December 8, 9, 15 & 16; 1:30pm, Saturday, December 9 & 16, The enchanting modern classic from Disney is ready for your Broadway Junior stars! The show features all of the memorable songs from the animated film, with music and lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, plus five new songs written for the Broadway production. Details

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, December 8 and 9, 7:30pm; December 9 and 10, 2pm, Scotts Valley Performing Arts, Join this hilarious romp. The six Herdman children – Imogene, Ralph, Claude, Leroy, Ollie, and Gladys – are considered to be juvenile delinquents and misfits notorious for their rowdy behavior. They go to Sunday school for the first time after being told that the church offers free snacks and proceed to hijack the pageant by volunteering for all the lead roles in the Christmas pageant. Details

Elf the Musical Jr by Mount Madonna Students, Saturday & Sunday, December 9 & 10, 2pm, Based on the beloved holiday film, “Elf The Musical Jr.,” a hilarious fish-out-of-water comedy – as embodied onstage by Mount Madonna School’s (MMS) middle school cast – follows Buddy the elf in his quest to find his true identity. Join Mount Madonna students to let the laughter roll, the joy overflow and the merriment run wild its going to be a jolly good time! Details

A Home for Christmas, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm; Sunday Matinees at 2pm; through December 17, A Home for Christmas is both heartfelt and funny. When a group of people without homes seek shelter from a Thanksgiving blizzard, they not only find a house but create a home to help them weather through their emotional scars. They then discover that a jealous neighbor is willing to destroy the home and family that they have worked so hard to create. Join us as we light up the theater and the community with laughter, love, and the true meaning of family. Details

Yule, Brightening the Dark!, Saturday, December 9 · 4 – 6:30pm, In our final Yuletide gathering, we’ll delve into the pagan origins of Christmas, then enjoy crafting and baked goods! Let us gather to explore how those in pre-Christian Europe marked the darkest depths of winter with light, festivals, and rituals. Details

Cookie Decorating at MOD, Friday, December 8, 5 – 7pm, Kick off your holiday season with a fun-filled evening of cookie decorating! Skip the messy kitchen and maximize the fun here at MOD! Christmas, Hanukkah, and fun winter-themed cookies available with a large spread of frosting and sprinkles! Details

Holiday Tree Walk, December 9-10, 16-17 – 5pm, 6:30pm, and 8pm for a 60-minute round-trip excursion. Get in the holiday spirit by bringing the family to ride the Redwood Forest Steam Train through the wintry redwoods to Bear Mountain. Sip hot cocoa while greeting Santa Claus. Santa Cruz Holiday Lights Trains depart and return in front of Neptune’s Kingdom on the Boardwalk of Santa Cruz. Details

Tannery Arts Center Winter Art Market 2023, Saturday, December 9, 10am – 5pm, A Festive Celebration of Local Art and Culture, Discover local artistry, engage with our vibrant community, and support the creative entrepreneurs who make our town flourish. Details

Local, Handmade Holiday Market, Saturday, December 9, 10am – 5pm, One-day-only market! Come meet lots of your favorite local artists and artisans at our special local, handmade at The Art Factory, Details

Glass Ornament Making Workshop with AnnieGlass, Saturday, December 9, 11am – 12:30pm or 1 – 2:30pm, Join us at an extra special Annie Glass Workshop with our DIY Christmas ornaments! ! Decorate 4 frosted glass holiday-shaped ornaments with gold & silver decorations and take them home with you that day! Details

Wilder Ranch Victorian Holiday History, Saturday, December 9, 11am – 3pm, Celebrate the winter holidays as folks did in Californio, Victorian, and early 20^th century Santa Cruz. Enjoy performances featuring the Lyric Victorian Carolers, sample Victorian-era holiday goodies, watch live demonstrations in the blacksmith and machine shop, explore the historical houses, and participate in wreath and candle making and wood oven baking. Details