25 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

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Sometimes it can seem like as soon as the Thanksgiving leftovers are put away it’s a mad dash towards Christmas. The whirlwind of shopping, wrapping, cooking and decorating can make it hard to actually slow down and enjoy the holiday season.

We’ve found 25 events happening in the 209 that we hope will boost the Christmas spirit.

Travel back to Victorian times for the Sonora Victorian Christmas Festival held Nov. 26 to Nov. 28 at the Mother Lode Fairgrounds. Come shop art, crafts, clothing, jewelry, woodcraft, photography, Christmas decor, toys, and much more. Additionally, there will be entertainment, music, door prizes, food and artisans dressed in Victorian attire.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

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Experience the magical journey of The Polar Express on an hour-long train ride to the North Pole. Enjoy hot chocolate and cookies on this train ride with many of the story’s characters. At the final destination, the jolly old elf – Santa himself – will come on board to give each passenger a silver sleigh bell, the first gift of Christmas. The Polar Express runs every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Dec. 18. Departures are at 4:30 p.m., 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The location is at 18115 5th Ave. in Jamestown.

For tickets visit railtown1897.org.

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Baker Street West in

Jackson will be performing “A Christmas Carol” from Nov. 26 to Dec. 12.

Visit bakerstreetwest.com for more information and tickets.

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The holiday classic “Meet Me in St. Louis” will be performed as a live 1940s radio broadcast by Sierra Repertory Theater in Sonora in December.

With the help of an ensemble that brings a few dozen characters to the stage, the story of the Smith family unfolds just before the 1904 World’s Fair took over St Louis’ and the nation’s imagination. Visit sierrarep.org for more information and tickets.

Fourth Wall Entertainment will present “A 1940’s Christmas Carol” at the Metropolitan in San Andreas. The show runs from Nov. 26 to Dec. 19.

Dicken’s classic story of Scrooge and the Cratchit family has been adapted to the 1940’s during WWII. While Bob Cratchit is away in the war, Mrs. Cratchit is busy doing her part to make ends meet while raising a family and helping with the war effort at home. Visit 4thwalltroupe.com for more information.

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Come enjoy spectacular dance from the cast of Riverdance principals and World Champion Dancers, the singing of traditional Christmas Carols from the Kerry Voice Squad and superb music from the Kerry Traditional Orchestra in a celebration of the international spirit of the holiday season. An Irish Christmas will be at the Turlock Community Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 1.

For tickets visit turlocktheatre.org.

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Modesto’s annual Celebration of

Lights parade is set for 5:30 p.m. Dec. 4 on I and 14th streets. This year’s theme is Hometown Traditions. 11

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The Lodi Parade of

Lights will be from 6:15 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. Dec. 2 in downtown Lodi. Admission is free. Visit

visitstockton.org/ events/lodi-parade-of-

lights for parade route.

The Grand Theatre Center for the Arts in Tracy and Central West Ballet will be staging “The Nutcracker” on Dec. 3 and 4. Shows are at 7 p.m. Dec. 3 and 1 p.m. Dec. 4. Tickets are $23 to $65 and available at bit.ly/ nutcrackerTIX.

The Modesto Film Society will present a showing of “Holiday Affair” at 4 p.m. Dec. 4 at The State Theatre in Modesto.

Visit thestate.org for tickets. 12

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The City of Stockton will host their annual tree lighting ceremony at Weber Point Event Center from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 4. The event center is located at 221 N. Center St. Bring the family to enjoy the live performances, snow fall, Christmas caroling, horse carriage rides, cookie decorating and an array of food trucks.

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The San Joaquin County Historical Museum will host the Festival of Trees on Dec. 4 and 5 at Micke Grove Regional Park. This family holiday event features more than 60 uniquely decorated Christmas trees, children’s activities and make and take crafts, entertainment, food, photos with Santa, historical exhibits and demonstrations of pioneer or handcrafted work. The event takes on a historic flair with docents dressed in Victorian and pioneer clothes. The Festival of Trees is held at the San Joaquin County Historical Museum, 11793 Micke Grove Road in Lodi.

The event begins at 10 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m. each day. General admission is $15; Children aged 2 to 12 are admitted for $5 each and those under 2 years are free. For tickets visit visit sanjoaquinhistory.org.

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Stockton Yacht Club and Roger Hahn will sponsor the 38th Annual Lighted Boat Parade on Dec. 4 on the Stockton waterfront.

The parade will begin at 5 p.m. up river at Windmill Cove, reaching the downtown Stockton Marina and Weber Point at around 6:30.p.m. and then will return to Light 39 in the Stockton Deep Water Channel where the parade will end. The parade will once again be led by the Port of Stockton fireboat, Sunrise.

The Stockton lighted boat parade may be viewed from anywhere on the downtown waterfront, with the best locations being on the north shore behind Banner Island Ballpark and the Stockton Marina, the south shore near the marina and waterfront warehouse and from Weber Point.

The Modesto Symphony Orchestra’s Holiday Pops concert will be at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 3 and 2 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Gallo Center for the Arts in Modesto. The show, which will be led by Associate Conductor Ryan Murray, is an opportunity to bask in some holiday spirit as the Modesto Symphony Orchestra and Chorus perform some holiday classics.

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The Christian Worship Center in Manteca will be staging “Grinchmas” on Dec. 10, 11 and 12. Shows are at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 10 and 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Dec. 11 and Dec. 12.

Tickets for the musical are $10. Tickets are limited, seating is first come first serve. Doors will open 30 minutes before showtime.

The Center is located at 786 Button Avenue in Manteca.

Visit cwcmanteca.org for tickets and more information.

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Peter Rothstein’s musical, “All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914,” will be playing at the Gallo Center for the Arts in Modesto on Dec. 10, 11 and 12.

The show is based on real-life events during World War I, when soldiers from France, England, and Germany called a battlefield truce on Christmas Day for a single night of camaraderie, music, and peace before both sides returned to fighting in the morning.

For tickets visit galloarts.org.

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Christmas at the Castle

will be held on Dec. 11 at the Preston Castle in Ione.

The event will bring together vendors with arts, crafts, jewelry, unique gifts and food.

Time has not been announced yet. Visit prestoncastle.org/ christmas-at-the-castle for updates.

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The Bob Hope Fox Theatre in Stockton will present a showing of “White Christmas” at 1 p.m. Dec. 12. Live music will be performed in the lobby starting at 1 p.m. Tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for children and students with ID. Tickets are available at the door.

For more information visit foxfriends.org.

The Merry Mountain Parade and Christmas Tree Lighting will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 12 in Mariposa. The time 19 and date are tentative. The night starts with a parade through Old Town Mariposa. After the parade, guests make their way to Mariposa County’s 20 historic courthouse for the annual tree lighting. Hot cocoa and popcorn are complimentary and served to all in attendance. To check status on time and date, visit the Mariposa Chamber of Commerce at mariposachamber.org. Gustine’s Henry Miller Park will be turned into a winter wonderland when the community celebrates “Christmas in the Park.” This year’s event starts at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 15. Those strolling through the park can visit with Santa Claus, make Christmas crafts, enjoy free s’mores, hot chocolate, coffee and hot cider, browse a variety of food and craft booths, enjoy non-stop entertainment and help decorate a Christmas tree in the park. This year the theme will be “Twas the Night Before Christmas” and guests are encouraged to come in their warmest pajamas.

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The Ballet Folklórico Mexicano’s primary and most popular production is Navidad En México, which has been entertaining audiences each December since 1971.

This production takes the audience through the traditions of music and dance during the Mexican Christmas season.

This production will be at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 17 at the Grand Theatre Center for the Arts in Tracy. Tickets are $20. Visit

atthegrand.org/events/

navidad-en-mexico for tickets.

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Ugly sweaters will abound on Dec. 18 in downtown Stockton for the Ugly Sweater Pub Crawl.

At the Ugly Sweater Pub Crawl, participants will get drink specials and no cover charge with their wristband at all participating locations. Food specials will also be available with participating vendors. There will also be contests, games, prizes, and different atmospheres at all locations.

For tickets and more information visit

dothecrawl.com/

Stockton/Ugly-Sweater.

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Modesto Symphony Orchestra’s Holiday

Candlelight Concert at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church will be held at 8 p.m. Dec. 21. MSO Chorus Director Dr. Daniel R. Afonso Jr. once again leads the Modesto Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, plus the Opus Handbell Ensemble performing traditional Christmas hymns and carols in a special concert that has become a treasured community tradition.

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The Festival of Lights in

Turlock is planned from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Nov. 26 at Central Park in downtown Turlock. The festival will feature vendors, food, holiday activities and the lighting of the downtown Christmas tree.

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Oakdale’s 13th annual Old Fashion Downtown Christmas Market

will be from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 4 on North 3rd Avenue. Guests can sip on hot chocolate and stroll through the stores while enjoying holiday music from local carolers. Santa also will be in the area for pictures. In addition to the downtown shops there will be vendors with food, crafts and homemade gifts.