Local artist’s works inspire ‘Portraits of Los Altos’

Portrait of a city

“Portraits of Los Altos” will be displayed at the Los Altos History Museum beginning Dec. 18. The exhibit documents early individuals and families through historic portraits, paintings and sculpture.

Local artist Anna Knapp Fitz served as the inspiration for the exhibit. Fitz lived in Los Altos for 74 years before her death in 1995 at age 82. The museum’s collection includes several terracotta busts she sculpted, along with portraits she painted of community members. “This got me thinking whether we had photographs of the same people Anna painted and  sculpted,” Sophia Lujan, curator of collections, said in a release.

The museum is open Thursday-Sunday, noon-4 p.m. For more information, visit losaltoshistory.org, email hello@losaltoshistory.org or call 650-948-9427, ext. 14.

Redwood City holidays

Redwood City’s annual Tree Lighting Ceremony is set for Dec. 13 at 5:30 p.m. in downtown Redwood City. The free event includes a special pre-lighting appearance by The Merrie Olde Christmas Carolers.

The carolers will be back on Dec. 18 and 23, 6-8 p.m. both evenings, to fill the streets of downtown Redwood City with harmonies. These strolling singers dress in Dickensian attire.

Also on Dec. 13, Hometown Holidays is back for its 19th year in downtown Redwood City. The free celebration features a parade, live entertainment, carnival rides for all ages and photo ops with Santa Claus.

The event runs from 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/4aq3TZO.