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German Holiday Market returns to downtown Mountain View
The plaza outside Mountain View City Hall is slated to transform into a festive European market on Saturday, Dec. 13.
For the 12th year, the German International School of Silicon Valley is scheduled to host its annual German Holiday Market, or Weihnachtsmarkt, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at 500 Castro St. The family-friendly event will feature hand-crafted gifts from Germany and local artists, as well as traditional German food and drink. There will also be live performances.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the German International School of Silicon Valley, which is a pre-K through 12th grade bilingual school with campuses in Mountain View and San Francisco.
Admission to the event is free, but refreshments and gifts will be available for purchase. For more information, visit gissv.org/gissv-home-english.
Bike group hosts local holiday light ride
The Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition is inviting locals to join its third annual Holiday Lights Bike Ride through Mountain View and Palo Alto.
The 13-mile adventure will start at the Mountain View Transit Center shortly after 5:15 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13. According to the Eventbrite listing, “this is not just a bike ride; it’s a chance to spread joy, positivity and the holiday spirit throughout the community.”
Attendees are encouraged to decorate their bikes with lights. Riders will stick together throughout the event, pedaling down roadways, looking at holiday lights and occasionally stopping for photos, the event listing said.
To help manage the group of bicyclists, the coalition is looking for some ride volunteers. Any “somewhat experienced rider with a cell phone” who can arrive at 5 p.m. could qualify and those who are interested can reserve a Volunteer Ride Support ticket on the registration page.
Ticket reservations are free for everyone. Questions can be sent to bkengland@gmail.com.
Mountain View asks for community input on planned dark sky ordinance
The city of Mountain View is seeking community feedback on its development of a Dark Sky Ordinance, which aims to reduce light pollution, protect local wildlife and preserve the appearance of the night sky.
According to the online survey, which is open through Wednesday, Dec. 10, the city is looking for input to help establish clear standards for lighting levels, fixture specifications and operational standards for private projects throughout Mountain View.
The survey asks questions about demographics, personal experiences in the city and lighting priorities. Community feedback will be used to help ensure that the new regulations align with Mountain View’s values and environmental goals, a recent city newsletter said.
This project has been in the works since June 2025 and is expected to be completed in mid-2026.
