Don't miss out on Santa Clara's Holiday Events

Santa Clara will rejoice in the holiday spirit this holiday season with a variety of events. The following events are listed by date: December 6 – “Handel’s Messiah” Sing-along Concert – Holiday music event includes the conductor of the Mission City Opera Orchestra and featured soloists. December 7 – Annual Holiday Tree Lighting features refreshments, live music and Teddy, the stuffed bear that has graced the City Holiday Tree since the early 1900’s. December 7-8 – Holiday Historic Home Tour – Tours of private homes of various Victorian styles includes the Franck Mansion, a California Colonial Revival home, and a recently restored Queen Anne.
December 7-9 – Christmas with the Chorale – Holiday Concert with the Santa Clara Chorale features joyous carols and other holiday favorites. December 9 – “The Nutcracker” – This full-length traditional version is performed by the Santa Clara Ballet and features guest dancers in the principal roles of Cavalier and the Sugar Plum Fairy.

Santa Clara - Silicon Valley FREE Visitor Attractions

Millions of visitors come to Santa Clara each year to ride roller coasters and have fun at California's Great America theme park. What they may not realize is that minutes away there are some great visitor attractions that are FREE to visit. The “Top Five” list includes the Intel Museum, Mission Santa Clara de Asis and Mission Gardens, Triton Museum of Art, de Saisset Museum, and the city’s “Stroll into the Past.” All are free with no admission charge.

The Intel Museum is located at the computer giant’s headquarters and offers interactive exhibits that describe the technology and history of the chip-making industry and Intel. The museum is open 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Monday – Friday and 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. on Saturday. Another free visitor attraction is Mission Santa Clara de Asis. The historic mission is the eighth of 21 in California and is located on the picturesque campus of Santa Clara University.
Other no cost visitor attractions include the de Saisset Art Museum, also located at Santa Clara University and the Triton Museum of Art. In addition, the city’s “Stroll into the Past” is a self-guided tour of Santa Clara history located on the grounds of Santa Clara City Hall. If you're on tight budget or just want to have some fun, these attractions are a great bargain. They're FREE!

Convention Center Team Shines During Recent Emergency Response

Two Santa Clara Convention Center security officers on normal patrol of the facility came across an unidentified man laying face down in front of Exhibit Halls B & C at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 1, 2007 during the Coin, Stamp and Collectable Show.

Security Officers Phil Ortega and Lester Johnson immediately called 911 and initiated the Emergency Response Team. Officer Ortega and a female vendor exhibiting at the show then turned the man over and began CPR. Ortega, assisted by the vendor, performed three rounds of chest compressions and rescue breathing. The Fire Department from Station 10 (less than a mile from the center) then arrived and administered one AED shock, which revived the man.

Convention Center Officers Ortega and Johnson were at the right place at the right time and their efforts certainly assisted the fire department with reviving this man. Kudos go out to the security team for a JOB WELL DONE!

Professional Sports Comes to Santa Clara, no not the 49ers yet, but the MLS expansion team the San Jose Earthquakes

The San Jose Earthquakes MLS expansion team will play home games at Santa Clara University’s (SCU) Buck Shaw Stadium for the 2008 and 2009 seasons with an option for 2010. As part of their agreement with SCU, the Earthquakes will make upgrades to Buck Shaw Stadium, including adding 5,000 temporary seats which will increase the stadium’s capacity to 12,000 seats, reconfiguring lights specifically for soccer, and installing a portable state-of-the-art digital video board.

The Earthquakes will begin playing in April 2008. Besides serving as home for the SCU men’s and women’s soccer teams, Buck Shaw Stadium was home to Santa Clara football until 1992 and baseball until 2005. The stadium also served as a practice site for the Brazilian and Romanian National Teams during the 1994 FIFA World Cup.

California's Great America

Here's some exciting news regarding Santa Clara's 100-acre theme park..... Great America will be transformed in 2008 starting with a new name, California's Great America. The park will also be open longer operating hours, staying open as late as 10:00 p.m. the majority of the summer. In addition, an all new Ice Show Spectacular will debut in the newly name "Great America Theatre." The Ice Show Spectacular will feature a professional ensemble of skaters, dazzling sets, colorful costumes, and plenty of surprises.
Also new in 2008 will be the head-over-heals thrill ride, "FireFall." The ride will take 40 brave riders to a height of 60 feet, then subject them to 360 degree vertical arcs as they twist, turn, and spin through both fire and water effects. See you at the park!