The Annual Santa Storytime and Pajama Party at Arden Fair takes place on Saturday, November 8, 2025. Kids can wear PJs and participate in an early holiday celebration with festive hands-on activities, a light breakfast, and storytime with Santa.
The Annual Dickens Street Faire in Elk Grove takes place on Saturday, November 29, 2025. Old Town Elk Grove will be full of festive fun and vendors over Thanksgiving weekend. Santa will be rescued by the fire department. There will be free entertainment, a kids' craft corner, and live performers. After the vendors close, the event switches to Christmas with carolers and a storytime with Santa. A Christmas tree lighting will take place at 6pm.
The annual Candlelight Parade and Winter Wonderland in Davis will take place on Thursday, December 4, 2025. The Candlelight Parade will begin at 6pm from the Davis Food Co-op Parking Lot and end at G Street (between 2nd and 3rd Streets). The winter wonderland event will begin after the parade and will include horse and carriage rides, photo opportunities with characters and a fire truck, free showings of the short film, Olaf's Frozen Adventure at the Varsity Theatre, and more holiday fun.
The City of Galt gets into the holiday spirit with Lighting of the Night on Saturday, December 6, 2025. The free holiday festivities will include Santa photos, a tree lighting ceremony, Christmas parade, and a holiday market.
Enjoy the holiday season with a horse and carriage ride to celebrate Santa's arrival at Loehmann's Plaza on Saturday, December 6, 2025. Carriage rides last for 5 minutes and are $5 per person with proceeds benefitting Sacramento SPCA. Advance tickets are required, and are limited. Children ages 2 and under ride free on a lap.
The annual Illumination Holiday Festival will take place on Saturday, December 6, 2025. This favorite free holiday event in Elk Grove will have a special one day ice skating rink, Santa photo ops, bounce houses for kids, and winter carnival games. The tree lighting ceremony will take place at 6pm which will be followed by a snowfall finale.
The Old Sacramento Lighted Boat Parade floats down the Sacramento River on Saturday, December 6, 2025. This annual boat parade is put on by the Capital City Yacht Club. The parade begins at 5pm.
Woodland Wonderland of Lights is a brand-new holiday lights experience in 2025 in Yolo County. The experience begins on Saturday, December 6, 2025 and runs through Sunday, December 14, 2025. This is a 2-mile holiday lights car drive-thru event.
Chanukah Wonderland takes place on Sunday, December 7, 2025 at the Folsom Community Center. All families are welcome to attend. There will be carnival games, interactive crafts, a build-a-menorah workshop, latkes, face painting, live shows, and more holiday fun.
This year's Santa Parade will take place on Saturday, December 13, 2025. This free holiday parade will circle Capitol Park beginning at 10am. Expect to see marching bands, horses, vehicles, clowns, and Santa Claus.
The Popcorn Store in Elk Grove will have its free annual Popcorn with Santa event on Saturday, December 13, 2025. In addition to free photos with Santa, there will be free bags of gourmet white popcorn and a kids art activity table.
Celebrate Christmas at 40 Acres on Saturday, December 13, 2025. This free community event at Guild Theater and Underground Books will have photos with Santa, hands-on activities, face painting, crafts, treats, and more. There will also be cookies and hot cocoa. While this is a free event, registration is required.
Holidays at Koobs will take place on Saturday, December 13, 2025. This free holiday event in the Koobs Nature Area will have visits with Santa, and crafts for families that include ornament making, and cookie decorating.
Muggles can attend the Holiday at Hogwarts Yule Ball on Saturday, December 13, 2025. The evening will include sweet treats from Honeydukes, crafting a wand from Ollivander's learning potion-making, making a patronus necklace, and comraderie in the great hall. An adult/parent ticket is $20 and includes food/drink only.
Enjoy breakfast with Santa aboard the Delta King Riverboat in Old Sacramento on Sunday, December 14, 2025. The morning will include visiting Santa, breakfast, writing letters to Santa, a build-your-own hot cocoa bar, and festive holiday music.
The free D1 Winter Wonderland takes place on Sunday, December 14, 2025 at North Natomas Regional Park. There will be free ice skating, games, holiday workshops, and vendors. Santa will also make an appearance.
Celebrate Posada Navideña at a free event with the Franklin Boulevard District on Sunday, December 14, 2025. Families can enjoy festive music, food, traditional drinks, kid-friendly activities, a visit from Santa, and more.
The Chabad of Elk Grove will have its annual free Hanukkah celebration, Light Up Elk Grove on Sunday, December 14, 2025. There will be latkes and donuts, balloon twisting, face painting, cookie decorating, caricatures, a 9-ft LED menorah, and more at this free community event.