This article originally produced and appeared on Danville San Ramon.
Old Oak Tree | Small business Saturday | Fun on the Farm | Tri-Valley mom on ‘Jeopardy!’
Also: Bah Humbug! run | Contra Costa Youth Hall of Fame nominations | Youth cricket showcase
by Jeanita Lyman and Christian Trujano / Danville San Ramon
Lighting of the Old Oak Tree
The town of Danville is set to usher in the holiday season this week with the 48th annual Lighting of the Old Oak Tree, in partnership with the Danville Area Chamber of Commerce.
“This year, we invite the community to shop and dine local and enjoy entertainment in three locations in Downtown Danville,” chamber CEO and President Judy Lloyd said in a press release last week. “Retail and restaurant owners are available to help with every gift need and culinary delight. We hope you will enjoy the festivities and celebrate our wonderful community.”
Festivities are set to kick off at the Old Oak Tree on Diablo Road between West El Pintado and I-680 at 5:15 p.m on Friday (Nov. 29). with performances from the Danville Girls Chorus and choirs from Monte Vista and San Ramon Valley high schools. Starting at 6:15, additional special guests – Father Christmas and the Snow Angel, Mayor Karen Stepper, and other town and chamber leaders, are set to make appearances and mark the official tree lighting.
Starting at 6:45, numerous downtown businesses are set to offer open house hours and annual holiday discounts for shoppers seeking an alternative to major retail outlets for Black Friday shopping. More information is available here.
Small Business Saturday
The town of Danville and Danville Area Chamber of Commerce are set to continue efforts to encourage shopping locally this holiday season, with Small Business Saturday coming on the heels of the signature tree lighting this week, aimed at supporting local downtown businesses.
Select stores will be offering free “I love Danville” tote bags to shoppers as a means of encouraging local pride and support of downtown businesses.
Tri-Valley mom on ‘Jeopardy!’
A Pleasanton woman will be putting her knowledge to the test as one of the contestants on Wednesday night’s broadcast of “Jeopardy!”
Julia Schan, a stay-at-home mom and treasurer of Valley View Elementary School’s Parent Teacher Association, announced her upcoming appearance in a Facebook post on Nov. 12 that being on the show is “both the coolest and dorkiest thing I’ve ever done”. The “Jeopardy!” website confirmed her air date.
“Tune in Wednesday November 27 to watch me be slightly(?) rude to my close personal friend Ken Jennings,” Schan said in the Facebook post.
The episode is scheduled to air in the Bay Area at 7 p.m. on ABC7.
Saturday Fun on the Farm
Forest Home Farms is hosting its final Saturday Fun on the Farm event this week prior to a months-long Saturday closure that will extend through early next year, as well as the final opportunity to visit the park’s gift shop before the closure.
The upcoming event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday (Nov. 30) is set to focus on Holiday Happenings in the historic San Ramon Valley.
“In the early 1900s and for centuries before, people prepared for winter holidays weeks in advance,” organizers said in the event description. “Join us in making some early holiday crafts for the winter such as holiday cards, candles, and ornaments.”
The park’s Saturday programming is set to be suspended from Dec. 7 through Feb. 15 due to the city’s budget shortfall, according to the park’s page on the City of San Ramon website, and the park is set to remain closed on Saturdays during that time. It is set to remain open during regular hours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays.
Bah Humbug! run
The city of San Ramon’s annual Bah Humbug! run and walk is returning next weekend, with registration now open for participants.
“The 2024 Bah Humbug! presented by the City of San Ramon and Chevron is a great way to start the holiday season off with a healthy fun run or walk through San Ramon,” organizers said in the event description. “Participants will receive a holiday long-sleeved shirt and the famous Bah Humbug! Ornament.”
The main 5k run is open to all ages, with registration priced at $40 through Dec. 6 before going up to $55 for same-day registration.
Children ages 4 to 9 are also invited to participate in the Kids Dash, with the $25 registration fee being waived for those already registered for the 5k.
The event also features a virtual run, which is open through Dec. 2.
More information and registration is available here.
Youth Hall of Fame nominations
Nominations are now open for the annual Contra Costa County Youth Hall of Fame Awards, with awardees set to be honored as part of the county’s annual César E. Chávez Commemorative Celebration on April 1.
Nominees should be between the ages of 12 and 18 years old, and serve as exemplars in one of the following six award categories: Good Samaritan, Volunteerism, Teamwork, Leadership and Civic Engagement, Perseverance, and Innovation and Empowerment. More information and nomination forms are available here.
Cricket showcase
Some of the best young American cricketers are coming to the Tri-Valley this holiday weekend to compete in the seventh annual Thanksgiving Youth National Cricket Tournament.
Hosted by Cricket for Cubs, Dublin Cricket League and San Ramon Cricket Association, the tournament will feature 20 teams across three age groups for boys and girls (U11, U13 and U15), starting the day before Thanksgiving and running through Sunday (Dec. 1).
More than 40 matches are on the schedule between the Stanford Medicine Sports Complex at Bernal Community Park in Pleasanton and Sycamore Valley Park in Danville.
For more information about the 2024 Pleasanton-San Ramon-Dublin Youth Cricket Tournament, visit psdyct.org.
— Christian Trujano and Jeremy Walsh contributed to this story.
