17 Winter Break Activities in Sacramento for Kids 2025
With kids off from school during winter break, there is plenty to do in Sacramento to entertain and occupy them for two weeks. From museums to indoor playgrounds, free ice skating days, and a mini golf holiday lights glow-up, kids will love these winter break activities in the Sacramento area. When you’re feeling cabin fever after Christmas, take the kids out to these events and activities.
Interested in more events? The Sactown Supermom Events Calendar is updated daily with the best events in Sacramento for kids.
1. Tutu School Elk Grove Nutcracker Day Camp
December 22, 2025
Start winter break with little ones twirling into a Nutcracker-themed Day Camp. Tiny dancers can whirl and twirl at Tutu School Elk Grove on Monday, December 22, 2025. In addition to a Nutcracker ballet lesson, kids will play games, listen to a storytime, and do crafts.
2. Read Move & Groove: The Snowy Day
December 23, 2025
Little ones ages 4 months to 5 years old can enjoy Read Move & Groove: The Snowy Day at the Little Gym in Elk Grove on Tuesday, December 23, 2025. Kids will enjoy a reading of The Snowy Day, create a craft, have a snack, and participate in open play time at The Little Gym. Non-members of the gym are welcome to register.
3. Unlimited Bowling on Christmas Day at Country Club Lanes
December 25, 2025
If you want to get out of the house on Christmas Day, Country Club Lanes has the best activity in town: free bowling! I repeat, free bowling. Unlimited free bowling will be available on Christmas Day from 9am to 4pm. Families only pay for shoe rentals, which will cost $6.75 per person. There will also be a deal on laser tag for $5 per person per game.
4. Noon Year’s Eve Celebrations
Kids can ring in 2026 at the more reasonable time of 12pm at many Sacramento area Noon Year’s Eve Celebrations. There are so many, I have a whole separate list of where to celebrate Noon Year’s Eve in Sacramento for kids. Let the kiddos have fun at balloon drops and dance parties while still having early bedtimes.
5. SMUD MOSAC Snowflake Exhibit
SMUD MOSAC is one of the most underrated museums in Sacramento for kids. This incredible, interactive science museum has many fun activities for kids to explore. Elementary-aged children will likely get the most out of all the many things they can build and tinker with here. That said, there is a wonderful toddler area for younger kids. Right now, SMUD MOSAC has a brand-new winter geometry snowflake exhibit. Kids can build snowflakes with the help of blocks and mirrors to craft unique geometric shapes and patterns.
6. Winter Wonderland Mini Golf at Roseville Golfland Sunsplash
One of the best holiday activities in Sacramento for kids is Winter Wonderland at Golfland Sunsplash. The mini golf course transforms into a literal winter wonderland with decorations and thousands of sparkling lights synced to holiday music. The lights turn on at 5pm each night through New Year’s. Take the whole family mini-golfing over winter break on a spectacular course.
Love mini golf? Check out the best mini golf courses in the Sacramento area.
7. Brunch at The Pantry in Roseville
If you just hosted a bunch of holiday parties and don’t feel like cooking, it’s the perfect time to bring the kids to brunch. Sure, there are many places you could go, but The Pantry in Roseville is a restaurant you should especially go to over winter break. Why? Their delicious seasonal menu items. The Peppermint Mocha pancakes are the ultimate holiday brunch menu item. Then, there’s also the Eggnog French Toast. Portions are enormous, and it’s very family-friendly.
8. $10 Sacramento Zoo Community Day
December 23, 2025
The Sacramento Zoo will have discounted admission on Tuesday, December 23, 2025. See the lions and giraffes at the last $10 Sacramento Zoo Community Day of the year. Haven’t been to the Sacramento Zoo in a while? Here’s everything you need to know about visiting the Sacramento Zoo with kids.
9. Indoor Play Spaces
With rainy weather ahead over winter break in Sacramento, restless kids will need to burn off energy. One of the many indoor play spaces in Sacramento will help with that. Expect indoor playgrounds to be busy over winter break, but it will be worth it when the kids aren’t jumping off your couches and living room walls anymore.
10. Sacramento Kings Family Day
December 27, 2025
For kids who are sports fans, take them to the Golden 1 Center on Saturday, December 27, 2025, for the Sesame Street-themed Sacramento Kings Family Day. From a Cookie Monster scavenger hunt through the arena to the first 7,000 fans receiving Elmo bucket hats, kids can enjoy a Saturday afternoon rooting on the Kings in a family-friendly environment.
11. Princess & Me Royal Tea
December 27, 2025
If your little ones love to get dressed up in princess attire, they’ll love attending the Princess & Me Royal Tea on Saturday, December 27, 2025, at the Sotherton Tea Room in Lincoln. Have tea and treats with a princess. Reservations to this event are limited and must be made by phone.
12. Escapology at DOCO Sacramento
Winter break means quality family time, so why not try to do an escape room together? Escapology is a brand-new escape room franchise that recently opened at DOCO. A unique aspect is that there is a Kids’ Mode where kids receive a detective checklist that helps guide them through some of the games. The most popular kid-friendly game is Scooby-Doo and the Spooky Castle Adventure. The Kids Mode option is ideal if one parent has several kids with them. However, sticking to just trying to solve a regular escape room is the way to go if the whole family plans on playing along.
13. Sunset Ridge Fine Fruits U-Pick
You might not think of picking fruit as a wintertime activity, but it’s prime season for mandarin picking. Sunset Ridge Fine Fruits has u-pick with plenty of available dates over winter break. In December, they usually have Satsuma Mandarins and Navels for u-pick. Reservations are encouraged for u-pick.
14. Ice Skating Rinks
If you haven’t yet checked off ice skating on your holiday bucket list, winter break is the ideal time to consider doing that. Several ice skating rinks will have fun events for families over winter break. Skatetown in Roseville will have a Christmas Eve Pajama Party, while the Historic Folsom ice rink will have Rudolph’s Christmas Party on Christmas Day.
Want to go ice skating for free over winter break in Sacramento? The Downtown Sacramento ice rink will have free skate days on December 27, 2025, and January 3, 2026.
15. The BLVD! Kids Pizza Making Class
December 30, 2025 & January 1, 2026
Kids can take the reins in the kitchen at a pizza-making class at The BLVD! over winter break. There will be two workshops: Tuesday, December 30, 2025, and Thursday, January 1, 2026. Both days will have two time slots to choose from at 11am and 6pm. The hour and 30-minute class will not only include kids making pizza, but also creating their own ice cream sundae. They’ll also receive a $15 gameplay card to use at The BLVD! arcade.
Haven’t been yet? Here’s what you can expect at The BLVD! in West Sacramento with kids.
16. Roseville Utility Exploration Center
I only recently took my kids to the Roseville Utility Exploration Center for the first time and was really impressed. However, I do think it’s best for kids ages three and up. There are some really fascinating interactive games and activities for kids while they learn about the role of utility vehicles in Roseville. The best part? It’s completely free. It’s right next to the Martha Riley Community Library, which has a lovely children’s area with a large tree towering in the center.
Plus, there’s a fantastic playground out back at Mahany Park. The playground for older children includes unique elements, and the toddler one is fully fenced. Between the Utility Exploration Center, library, and playground, it’s easy to make a day of it here during winter break.
17. Day Trip to Walnut Creek for Garden of D’Lights
Walnut Creek is full of fun, kid-friendly things to do. And at only an hour and 20-minute drive, it’s an easy day trip from Sacramento. Over winter break, go check out Garden of D’Lights at the Ruth Bancroft Garden. The gorgeous gardens glow under bright lights with mellow mood music. My kids loved exploring the wonders around every corner of the garden. There’s nothing like this in Sacramento, so it’s worth the drive to check out this stunning nighttime lights event. Garden of D’Lights takes place on Fridays to Sundays through January 11, 2026.
