Great America is ready for the holiday season with Christmas decorations, lights and an outdoor ice rink. The amusement park is themed for the season with 20 rides open as well as other holiday attractions from Santa’s workshop to performances from the Peanuts crew and yummy holiday treats, cider, hot cocoa and warm popcorn.

The holiday tradition continues with the Nutcracker. The Ballet Stars of Moscow Company from Russia featuring dancers, Oksana Bondareva and Andrei Bolotin presents the classical story of a young girl who’s nutcracker toy comes to life and they engage in a high energy adventure at a magical kingdom with dolls and toys all around. Symphony Silicon Valley performs Tchaikovsky's music conducted by Maestro George Daughtery in a joyful holiday performance. The Nutcracker runs from Dec. 16- 24.

Polar express comes to life in Santa Cruz with lights and holiday cheer. In a recreation of the sights and sound of the polar express story, families are invited to participate in a holiday train ride departing from the Santa Cruz boardwalk on a journey to the “North Pole.” Children in pajamas with smiling faces and golden tickets fill the train with dancing chefs while Santa greets guests, music from the soundtrack blasts the ride, and hot chocolate and warm cookies fill bellies until returning back to the station. Christmas carolers also sing to end the trip. Polar express runs Dec. 10, 14-23 and 26-28.

What is the holiday season without lights and decorations? Since 1998, Los Gatos has kept the tradition going with its 1.5 mile drive thru light show with sights and sounds of erupting volcanos in the dinosaur den, Santa playing basketball, and penguins on lawns. Families are invited to drive thru or walk thru the park with carolers, cocoa and more. Fantasy lights runs from Dec. 6- 30 but is closed on Dec. 25.

Downtown San Jose’s Cesar Chavez Park has been transformed into a winter wonderland with Christmas trees decorated by the community, amusement park rides and holiday displays from Santa’s reindeer to Santa’s workshop and nightly performances. Christmas in the Park is until Jan. 1.

Across the street from Christmas in the Park sits downtown ice, San Jose’s own outdoor ice skating rink. Just because it’s “Sunny California” doesn’t mean we can’t have a piece of a white Christmas with a ice rink surrounded by palm trees lit with Christmas lights. Downtown Ice is open daily until Jan. 16.

In a collaborative event of the arts, Season of Hope is an annual event hosted by Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph, the 12 days before Christmas.The multicultural, musical event is family friendly and engaging for all ages gathering for the music. Performances are held nightly with different organizations every night including, San Jose Jazz, San Jose State Choraliers, San Jose Symphonic Choir, Opera San Jose and more. Season of Hope is Dec. 13- 23.

Each year the Winchester Mystery house transforms for the holidays with its Spirit of Christmas holiday tours. The tours of the mansion are in the evening with holiday treats and drinks as guests go through the decorated home featuring 20 themed Christmas trees and carols heard throughout the house. In a change from the daily historic tours, the idea is that Mrs. Winchester is throwing a holiday party and guests are invited to the mansion to experience the joy of the holidays in an era of the past. The Spirit of Christmas is only for nine days Dec. 16-17, Dec. 23-24 and Dec. 26-30.

The holidays aren’t complete without a little ghost story. Northside Theater Company presents the Charles Dicken’s classic in its 34th year of this production. Northside depicts its stage adaptation of the story of Ebenezer Scrooge who is visited by three spirits of his past, present and future who transform his attitude about Christmas from grumpy and rude to generous, kind and loving. Performances run until Dec. 24.

This marks the 50th anniversary of Nuestra Navidad, a gala performance celebrating different art forms in song and dance as well as various forms of expression that reflect Chicano culture. This long standing tradition is family friendly and produced by Aztlan Academy, a San Jose non proft focused on the advancement of Mexican and Chicano arts. Students in the Santa Clara County school systems are encouraged to attend for free. Nuestra Navidad is Dec. 16 at Montgomery Theater.

San Jose Made hosts a holiday craft fair with more than 120 craft makers, vendors, artists, designers and small businesses. The holidays and decorating go hand in hand and this craft fair is just the place to do some local shopping with handcrafted gifts such as jewelry, paper goods and household objects and treasures that will fit nicely under the tree for a loved one. Local coffees, teas and foods will also be available through team san jose’s pop up cafe alongside team san jose’s craft beer garden. The San Jose Craft Fair is Dec. 17-18.

Tabard Theatre presents a re-telling of the holiday classic, a Christmas Carol. The young cast performs the traditional carols with a modern twist; contemporary lyrics, upbeat music and dance. This show is family friendly and engaging for all ages. Guests are invited to grab a cup of hot chocolate and enjoy the show in the cozy theater in the middle of San Pedro Square. A Dickens of a Christmas Mashup runs until Dec. 16.