Holiday Lighting - 2008 - Extravaganzaaaaaaa.....

Hi All,


(Note1: Ineresting new locations added on Christmas Eve)

(Note 2: I will be adding only 1 update by 26th - MEANWHILE, please dont shy to leave a comment - all you need is a google account to leave a comment).

DISCLAIMER: All the information provided below is purely based on my experience and knowledge as of December 2008 - please use it accordingly and I do not guarantee any information provided here to be true or uptodate.

So, if you are planning to take your kids and big kids to Xmas-in the park (SJ) or the spend $12 per car (or so) for the Holiday lights in Vasona park, think again. Here is a better, I believe more interesting and fun way of enjoying the holiday lighting and experience more variety. And, if you have recently bought a new GPS (I did - last week), this is one of the best ways to put it to use (rather than just entering my home & work addresses and enjoying the sweet chinese lady's commands telling me how to go to work and come back).

My attempt here is to provide a single spot information about some of the best places to view the holiday lightings this year in south-bay - you might get similar information at other places on the web, etc., but here I have rated them too and providing a sequence to view to economise your car's fuel consumption. Further, there were many locations, for example, mentioned on mercurynews website for holiday lights, but around 40% of them are a waste of time (so far out of the ones I have visited). So, I wasted my time - better you don't.

The information provided here is based on my personal experience as well as the mercurynews website for holiday lightings & referrals by some of my friends in the recent years.

So, go with the following sequence:

Rating Key:

☺ = 0 star

☻ = 1 star

9. Lawrence & Saratoga (Campbell): Rating: ☺☺☻☻☻

Near Lawrence & Saratoga intersection, at 750 Harriet Ave., this is one of the best location to see holiday lights synchronized to FM radio music - here tune to 107.9 FM. Though this location does not have the maximum lights overall, but imo, has the maximum lights controlled through music. You will know what I mean after you see this and the location #2 towards the end of this blog which has perhaps one of the most lights, but less lights that are controlled by music.

Plus, this place has a unique lighted "baby elephant" - atleast I saw this for the first time - I have seen many lighted snowmans, reindeers, and name what - but a baby elephant for the first time - my kid got very excited on seeing it.

8. Lawrence & Saratoga (San Jose): Rating: ☻☻☻☻☻

Near Lawrence & Saratoga Ave. intersection, at 4983 Montreal Dr., this is another of those places with holiday lighting synchronized to FM radio - in this case 92.1FM. But please note that this place is lighted for viewing only from 5PM to 9PM. I reached later and could not see it. So, I went there again today (24th) and found to my amazement that this is perhaps one of the best lights/decors to see - so I give this 5 star. This has the maximum lights (infact ALL lights) that are synchronized to the music - and the way its synchronized - amazing !! You got to see to believe it.

7. Lawrence & Prospect (Saratoga): Rating: ☺☺☺☻☻

On 18960 Greenbrook Ct., this might not be the house with maximum lights, but a sure delight for the little ones fan of the Disney characters and Alvin the chipmunk. And, if you are lucky, you might be greeted by the "real" cat running around the lights some times.

6. Saratoga & Payne (San Jose): Rating: ☺☺☻☻☻

On 1370 Vallejo Dr., this location and the surrounding locations together provide a must see experience with the unique lighted gate across the road on Lamore Dr. (just next to this location). This also has perhaps one of the biggest natural tree nicely decorated with lights (though I could not get the picture of that tree).

5. Sloat Ave & Pruneridge (Santa Clara): Rating: ☺☻☻☻☻

On 345 Sloat Ct., this shall be the second to the last stop. With almost the maximum lights (>20,000) (than the last stop mentioned next), this location also features the lights synchronized to the X-mas music being continuously aired on radio on 104.1FM. Watch it atleast from the end of one song, through the next full song and till the start of next song to experience the synhronization fully.

4. Homestead & SanThomas (Santa Clara): Rating: ☺☺☻☻☻

On Layton Court drive, this is a collection of many houses (but worth watching are 3 houses) which give the whole street the looks of the holiday celebrations.

3. Los Padres Ave & Benton (Santa Clara): Rating: ☺☺☻☻☻

On the corner of Arlene & Madeline Ave, this is kind of hidden house but still a delight to see with its own uniquities to enthrall your kids (& adults alike). Of the unique things, the most fascinating ones he has is a "1/2 foot Santa" climbing up and down a 3 foot ladder attached next to a nice 4 foot Santa House (& this climbing is as close to natural as it can be), a nativity scene with snow flakes effect on the back drop wall, and lots of "lollipop lights" growing from the grass.

2. Los Padres Ave & Homestead (Santa Clara): Rating: ☺☺☺☻☻

Not too many lights here, but the reason I liked this place is because perhaps this is the "Most Secular" holiday lighting place as can be seen in the adjoining picture.

1. Los Padres Ave & Saratoga (Santa Clara): Rating: ☻☻☻☻☻

Next to Alvarez park on Los Padres & Rosita Ave. this household has perhaps won the maximum number of prizes for the best decorated house in Santa Clara every year (except one) since I think 1995. The Santa Claus comes to this location on his horse cart on SATurday before the Christmas (This year it was on 20th) and on that night, kids (& adults) can enjoy rides in the nicely decorated horse carts for about $5 per adult. Believe me, this house has sooo.... many lights that even if you go blind-folded, you shall be able to experience it. And yes, it has 3 additional sets of displays set in his car garage which are unique to this location - a Santa train really chugging across the displays, Xmas village scene, etc., etc.

* Few more locations I will be checking out today and tomorrow but I know are very good from past year experiences:

• El Camino Real & Bernardo (Sunnyvale)
• Behind Ramada Inn (AMC Mercado 20 area) in Santa Clara