Holiday Happenings in Sacramento and Beyond!

2018 Holiday Event Guide

Rocklin Historic Quarry District Tree Lighting Celebration December 1 at Rocklin Quarry Park, 3pm This charming event features activities, carolers, vendor booths, food and more, plus the traditional tree lighting ceremony. www.Facebook.com/RocklinTreeLighting

Annual Holiday Lights December 1 at High Hand Nursery, Loomis, 5:30pm Stroll through the Nursery and Fruit Shed to shop for unique decor and holiday gifts. At 5:30pm, the flip is switched and the nursery sparkles with thousands of lights. www.Facebook.com/ events/636944366720597/

Breakfast with Santa December 1 at Elk Grove Regional Park, various times Eat breakfast with Santa and talk with him in his sleigh. Pre-registration recommended. www.YourCSD.com

Christmas in the Village & Tree Lighting Ceremony December 1 at Plaza Park, Fair Oaks, 3pm Event includes the Christmas tree lighting, a parade, wreath and yule log decorating workshops, craft vendors, pictures with Santa and more. www.Forpd.org

Lincoln Hometown Christmas Craft and Vendor Fair December 1 at Downtown Lincoln between 5th St. & McBean, Lincoln, 2:30pm Enjoy a fun evening featuring the Lincoln Hometown Christmas Parade, a tree lighting and shopping at the Downtown Lincoln Association Craft and Vendor Fair. www.Facebook.com/ events/1975649029195881/

Christmas Tree Lighting December 1 at El Dorado Hills Town Center, 4pm Play the ‘Stuff Your Stocking Game’ (for the first 200 kids beginning at 4pm), listen to live music and caroling contests, visit with Santa and stay for the tree lighting. https://EDHTownCenter.com

Steampunk-Victorian Holiday Faire December 1 & 2 at High Hand Art Gallery, Loomis, 10am The artists of High Hand Gallery invite you to this fun event with Steampunk-Victorian Santa. Kids can wear Steampunk-Victorian costume pieces and pose with Santa. www.HighHandArtGallery.com

Cinderella Carriage Rides December 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22 & 23 at Fountains at Roseville, times vary Take a magical ride around the festive center. Dates subject to change due to inclement weather. www.FountainsAtRoseville.com

Santa’s Whistlestop Adventure December 1, 2, 8, 9, 15 & 16 at Placerville & Sacramento Valley Railroad, Folsom, times vary Take a short trip to Santa’s grotto. Motorcars depart every 20 minutes. www.Facebook.com/events/913409358851933/

Wild Nights & Holiday Lights December 1, 7, 8, 14-23 & 26-30 at Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary, 5pm Thousands of colorful lights illuminate the zoo’s grounds and animal exhibits. Santa and carolers visit nightly as well. www.Folsom.Ca.Us/Parks/Zoo_Sanctuary/ Default.asp

Christmastime at Bass Pro Shops December 1-24 at Bass Pro, Rocklin, times vary Free holiday activities, games, crafts and a visit with Santa. Times and activity schedules vary daily. www.BassPro.com

Sacramento Chanukah Wonderland December 2 at Folsom Community Center, 2pm Recognized as the premier family Chanukah event in the region, this event includes crafts, games, a build-a-menorah workshop, music, face painting, a Chanukah gift shop, a traditional Israeli food court, hot latkes and more. www.JewishFolsom.org

51st Annual Folsom Christmas Crafts Fair December 2 at Historic Sutter Street, Folsom, 9am With over 200 artisan crafters, you’re sure to find unique gifts for the holidays. Live music and food trucks add to the fun. www.HistoricFolsom.org

Menorah Lighting Ceremony December 3 at Roseville Galleria Mall, 6pm The Chabad of Placer County hosts a Menorah Lighting Celebration on the second night of Chanukah in the Promenade. www.Westfield.com

Cinnamon Rolls with Santa December 4 at Roseville Galleria Mall, 8am Meet Santa and friends, make a craft and enjoy fresh cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate. Limited tickets are available for this sell-out event. www.Westfield.com

Polar Express Train Ride December 5-20 (Wednesdays to Sundays) at California Railroad Museum, times vary Enjoy hot cocoa and cookies as you ride toward the North Pole, where Santa will come on board and give each passenger a silver sleigh bell. You’ll also meet other characters from the “Polar Express” book. www.CaliforniaRailroad.Museum

Carmichael Tree Lighting December 6 at Carmichael Park, 5pm Live music, arts and crafts, vendors, food trucks and a visit with Santa make this annual tree lighting a joyful time for all. Donate one canned good per child and get a free photo with Santa. www.CarmichaelPark.com

13th Annual Orangevale Community Tree Lighting December 7 at Orangevale Recreation & Park District, 6pm Bring a canned food item to donate to the Orangevale Food Bank. Entertainment includes photos with Santa, “Polar Express” train rides, holiday activities, refreshments and the annual tree lighting. www.Facebook.com/events/307116280055421/

Winter Wonderland Ice Skate Party December 7 at Skatetown Ice Arena, 7pm A Christmas sweater contest, snow play, holiday music, a live DJ and more as you ice skate with family and friends. All ages. www.SkateTown.biz

Carriage Rides at El Dorado Hills Town Center December 7, 8 14, 15 & 21 at El Dorado Hills Town Center, 6pm Take a horse drawn carriage ride through the magical town center. Proceeds benefit Hands4Hope and 3Strands. https://EDHTownCenter.com

Breakfast with Santa December 8 at Clubhouse Auditorium, Fair Oaks, 8am Eat a yummy continental breakfast, make holiday crafts, write letters to the North Pole and take pictures with Santa. Pre-registration required. www.Forpd.org/Calendar.aspx

Roseville Christmas Craft & Gift Market December 8 at Roseville Veterans Memorial Hall, 10am Find unique gifts for the holiday season at this oneday pop-up market. https://www.facebook.com/ events/552200711903186/

Winter Wonderland December 8, 9, 15 & 16 at Fairytale Town, 1pm Starting at dusk each night, Fairytale Town dazzles with holiday lights. Fun points include Charlie Brown themed activities, strolling Victorian carolers and a nightly snowfall at 7pm. Daytime activities include visits with Santa and more. http://bit.ly/FTTWinterWonderland

Ring In The Holiday December 9 at The Fountains at Roseville, 5pm Carolers, a visit from Santa, costumed characters, live entertainment and more. www.FountainsAtRoseville.com

Jingle Bell Run December 9 at Crocker Park, Sacramento, 7:30am Race to raise funds for arthritis wearing holiday costumes and jingle bells. There is a Reindeer Games Kid Run at 8:15am, a 5k Timed Run & Fun Run at 8:30am and an ugly sweater contest at 9:30am. https://Events.Arthritis.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.event&eventID=659

Nevada City Victorian Christmas 2018 December 9, 12, 16, 19 & 23 at Nevada City Downtown Historic District, times vary A must-do holiday event, featuring lamp-lit, decorated streets filled with vendors, carolers in Victorian costumes, live shows, roasted chestnuts and hand-crafted candy, jewelry, pottery, perfume, dolls and more. www.NevadaCityChamber.com

Magical Christmas Train Through December 23 at Sacramento River Train, times vary A 90-minute train ride through a storybook wonderland with cookies, hot cocoa and a visit with Santa. Come dressed in pajamas. www.SacramentoRiverTrain.com

Pajama Party December 24 at Sacramento Zoo, 9am Zoo admission is free for the whole family. Wear your pajamas. www.SacZoo.org

Theatre of Lights Spectacular Through December 24th at Old Sacramento Waterfront District, 6pm & 7:30pm Go back in time to the 19th century with a spectacular light show and unique retelling of the American classic “Twas the Night Before Christmas.” Two nightly shows are held Thursday-Sunday, with only one show at 6pm on December 24. http://OldSacramento.com/SpecialEvents

Photos with Santa Through December 24 at Westfield Galleria at Roseville, times vary Santa will be at the mall to hear Christmas wishes and take keepsake photos. www.Westfield.com

Christmas Lights Drive-Thru 2018 Through December 31 at Bayside Adventure Church, times vary Drive through a magical wonderful filled with lights and illuminated Christmas scenes. Register online to reserve a time. https://Adventure.BaysideOnline.com

Noon New Year’s Eve Family Festival December 31 at Crocker Art Museum, 10am Countdown to 2019 with live music, dance performances and festive art activities throughout the museum. www.CrockerArt.org

New Year’s Eve Sky Spectacular December 31 at Old Sacramento, 6pm Sacramento’s largest fireworks show includes music, food and entertainment. Fireworks take place at 9pm. http://NYESacramento.com

Global Winter Wonderland Through January 6 at Cal Expo, times vary This year’s wonderland features Santa’s village, a polar village, desert dragons and “The 12 days of Christmas” lantern display. Also included is holiday ice skating, carnival rides and more. https://Global- Wonderland.com

Sacramento’s Downtown Ice Rink Through January 21 at Downtown Sacramento Ice Rink, times vary Make cherished holiday memories ice skating with your children. www.GoDowntownSac. com

Skatetown’s Holiday Ice Rink Through January 21 at Skatetown, times vary Skate inside or outside. The outside holiday rink features music and light shows. www.Skatetown.biz/Public-Skating/ WINTER-HOLIDAY-Sessions

Historic Folsom Ice Rink Through January 21 at Folsom Historic Ice Rink, times vary Head outdoors to this charming seasonal ice rink. www.FolsomIceRink.com