new item----simple medium 3 inch hair bow----little dancer--ballet shoes--ballerina

Many onlookers setup chairs early on parade day so they’re guaranteed a good view. By 11 a.m. the crowd is usually three deep along North Santa Cruz Avenue and at Main Street, where the parade turns left. The parade ends at Main and Church streets. There are 238 entries in this year’s parade, including favorites like the Cucuzza Squash Drill Team, who are members of the Italian Gardeners’ Association. They dance around with giant  squashes, performing hysterical routines in sleeveless undershirts and Santa hats.

Even so, it could be a while before the world-renowned Ballet Nacional de Cuba — last new item----simple medium 3 inch hair bow----little dancer--ballet shoes--ballerina seen in Berkeley in 2001 — visits the Bay Area again, But this weekend, audiences can experience “Giselle” — as choreographed by the Cuban company’s celebrated artistic director, Alicia Alonso — at the newly rechristened Silicon Valley Ballet (formerly Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley), whose “Giselle Project” runs Oct, 16-18, Recently I visited the troupe’s San Jose headquarters to speak with Havana-born artistic director José Manuel Carreño and others about “The Giselle Project” and to watch its dancers (six of them from Cuba) in their daily technique class as well as rehearsal..

• • • • •. Trans-Siberian Orchestra, “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve,” SAP Center, 525 W. San Carlos St., San Jose. The acclaimed Trans-Siberian Orchestra presents “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve,” which tells the story of a runaway seeking shelter from the cold only to experience visions of an abandoned concert hall’s past. 7:30 p.m. $28-$66.50. 800.745.3000. • • • • •. Carriage Rides, Downtown Los Gatos. The annual Los Gatos Carriage Rides are back and will run through Dec. 23. Horse-drawn carriages take riders through the historic downtown area. For more information or to schedule a ride, visit losgatoschamber.com or call 408.354.9300.

Gallery Saratoga: Works by local artists, The gallery is open 11 a.m.-5 p.m, Tuesday through Sunday, Gallery Saratoga, 14435A Big Basin Way, Saratoga, 408-867-0458 or gallerysaratoga.com, new item----simple medium 3 inch hair bow----little dancer--ballet shoes--ballerina Saratoga History Museum: Exhibits focusing on local history, Admission and parking are free, Museum is open Friday-Sunday, 1-4 p.m, 20450 Saratoga-Los Gatos Road, 408-867-4311 or saratogahistory.com, Silicon Valley’s Got Bollywood: Perform your favorite Bollywood songs and dances, First Friday of each month, 7:30-10:30 p.m, Blue Rock Shoot, 14523 Big Basin Way, Saratoga, Check for event updates at facebook.com/SiliconValleyBollywood or siliconvalleybollywood.com..

Old Woodside Store Day. Noon-4 p.m. May 4. A volunteer docent group, the Woodside Storekeepers, will invite visitors to experience life in the 1880s. Woodside Store, corner of Tripp and Kings Mountain roads, Woodside. Woodside Store is a San Mateo County Park operated by the San Mateo County Historical Association. www.historysmc.org or 650-299-0104. Old-Fashioned Fourth of July for Children. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. July 4. San Mateo County History Museum. Food, crafts. Museum admission will be half-price that day: $2.50 for adults, $1.50 for seniors and students, free for kids 5 and under. www.historysmc.org or 650-299-0104.