Third Thursdays on Ellis, or just "On Ellis," launched first as a pre-Portola block party in September, and the events in October and November, featuring electro DJs Wax Motif and Joel Corry have been pretty lit, as the kids say, with thousands in attendance. The event happens outside the historic John's Grill, and it seems to have caught on with a younger party crowd in a much bigger way than the similar Fridays on Front Street, likely because of the music acts who have been booked and the more rave-y atmosphere.
SantaCon is here, as the Claus-clad masses gather for bar crawls in Delray Beach and Fort Lauderdale to celebrate in public displays of, um, holiday spirit? Not to sound like your mom or Father Christmas, but can we remember that when you don the red-and-white you are repping a cherished brand and an image. Nobody wants to see stumbling drunk Santa, especially when there are kids around. Be jolly, not Blitzened.
The 26th annual Holiday Tree Lighting in downtown Sunnyvale is set for Dec. 6, 5-8:30 p.m., on Murphy Avenue. The event features performances by local schools, games and crafts, and a visit from Old St. Nick. There will be collection barrels at Redwood Square for unwrapped toys and $25 gift cards for teens clients for Sunnyvale Community Services. Cityline Sunnyvale is hosting a Sip Shop Eat Holiday Market at Redwood Square prior to the tree lighting, starting at 3 p.m.,
Save the date for the 6th Annual Pho for the People event at Monster Pho! This will be a fantastic community event with free pho and lots of connecting with the community. Seiji Oda will be performing, so come for the pho and stay for the music! This is also a community toy drive, so remember to bring a new toy to donate. Pho will be available from 10am until 3pm, or until they run out.
"Ancestral Home," a quilted work by mother-son duo Mik and May Gaspay, is on display at the Redwood City Art Kiosk, 2208 Broadway St., through Jan. 4, 2026. The installation centers on their family's home in Enrile, The Philippines, which was destroyed by a typhoon. Through cutting, stitching and layering, the Gaspays reconstruct the house as both a personal and collective monument that honors family histories while reflecting on broader experiences of home and displacement.
