Get out your scarf, gloves and down jacket -- and ice skates -- it's officially the holiday season.
Okay, the weather isn't so wintery but there are a few winter wonderlands of sorts in the Bay Area already open and opening in the upcoming weeks.
There's snow in the forecast in San Francisco -- faux snow, that is. Man-made white stuff will be falling on the Union Square ice rink for the opening day Wednesday. Members of the U.S. Firgure Skating team will welcome the public.
San Francisco's Holiday Ice Rink at Embarcadero Center, sponsored by something decidedly UN-winterlike -- Hawaiian Airlines -- is also ready for skaters. The ice opened Wednesday and is ready for skaters daily starting 10 a.m.
Downtown Walnut Creek on Ice opens for a fifth season Thursday. The traditional sights and sounds of the holiday season will brighten the city's historic Civic Park everyday and will be open for all ages.
San Jose's Downtown Ice opens on Nov. 20. The ice rink is located between the Fairmont Hotel and the Museum of Art. A week later, the annual Christmas in the Park kicks off. They'll have the Christmas trees and other traditional decorations, as usual, but this year's event will feature a new item -- a Christmas Village for arts and crafts vendors.
So, go ahead, hop aboard the bandwagon and get into the holiday spirit. Don't worry about the fact that we haven't even crossed the turkey off our calendars yet.
