Twas the third night of Chanukah and all through the mall Dreidels were spinning- the Gimmel takes all.  A balloon artist sculpted dreidels and a huge Menorah which signified the Chanukah tradition. Happy Chanukah to one and all.

There was no need to dream of a White Christmas.  Adults and children were skating on an outdoor skating rink next to a colorfully decorated Christmas Tree. A Marimba trio added to the festive afternoon with a mix of holiday favorites and music from Brazil and Latin America.

 

There was a Caribbean Christmas at a Tree Lighting at a Northern California shopping center. As a warm-up in anticipation to Santa's arrival, this Steel Pan trio played Christmas favorites with upbeat music from St. Martin, Jamaica, and Trinidad.

 "Smile and the Whole World Smiles with You" was one of the hit songs from the 1940's by a Jump Jive Swing Quartet.  And of course, make sure to "Dance on the Sunny Side of the Street." Enjoy classic hits made famous by Louis Armstrong, Tex Beneke, Count Basie, and Les Brown's Band of Renown. Plan your Speakeasy/Roaring Twenties theme with Jump Jive music, a Gangster with his Gun Mole, Gatsby Girls, Cigarette Girls. and a Cigar Roller.

 If a family shopped on Halloween at a Northern California shopping center they were in for a huge surprise. "Shiver me Timbers!"  There was Captain Jack the Pirate with his treasure map of hidden gold bars and coins. Two mad scientists were juggling clubs; lifting a 200 pound suitcase; and tossing a rubber fish into their crowd.

                                      Raise 'em High, Keep 'em Cold

Country and Western singer Tom T. Hall would be a huge fan of the 16 day Munich Oktoberfest festival.  His beer drinking song I like Beer, it makes me feel Jolly and Mellow is the favorite drinking song in beer gardens worldwide. An Oktoberfest trio, dressed in traditional lederhosen and wearing Alpine hats, played German songs and polkas while partygoers enjoyed beer, sausages, and pretzels.

 Aloha! We're all family and Hawaii was the theme for a luau. Two Hula dancers greeted guests with flower leis while the band Hawaiian Breeze featured authentic music with hula dancing from the four Hawaiian islands and Tahiti.  Mahalo!