Sacramento–Roseville–Folsom · November 15, 2026 – January 1, 2027
Christmas and holiday events for kids in Sacramento
45 tree lightings, Santa visits, light displays and holiday shows around Sacramento, November 15 to New Year’s Day. 9 are free.
Don’t miss
- Nov15SunTrain rides
Through Dec 21
THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride (Sacramento)
Central Pacific Passenger Station (California State Railroad Museum)
From $80
- Nov20FriNutcracker and shows
Fri, Nov 20 · 3:00 PM
Nutcracker Performance by El Dorado Dance Academy — El Dorado Hills Library
El Dorado Hills Library
Free
- Dec2WedCrafts and cookies
Through Dec 11
Gingerbread House Contest Display — Downtown Roseville
316 Vernon Street lobby
FreeAll ages
NovemberSun, Nov 15 – Mon, Nov 30
- Nov20FriNutcracker and shows
Fri, Nov 20 · 3:00 PM
Nutcracker Performance by El Dorado Dance Academy — El Dorado Hills Library
El Dorado Hills Library
Free
- Nov20FriNew Year’s Eve
Fri, Nov 20 · 4:00 PM
Hmong New Year Family Game Time — Southgate Library
Southgate Library
Free
- Nov23MonCrafts and cookies
Mon, Nov 23 · 3:00 PM
Holiday Card Workshop for Kids — South Lake Tahoe Library
South Lake Tahoe Library
Free
- Nov28SatTree lightings
Sat, Nov 28 · 10:00 AM
Dickens Street Faire and Old Town Christmas Tree Lighting
Old Town Elk Grove
DecemberTue, Dec 1 – Fri, Dec 18
- Dec2WedSanta visits
Wed, Dec 2 · 2:00 PM
Sensory Santa — Roseville Adaptive Programs
Maidu Community Center
From $15All ages
- Dec2WedMarkets and festivals
Wed, Dec 2 · 3:30 PM
Winterfest at Arden-Dimick Library
Arden-Dimick Library
FreeAll ages
- Dec2WedTree lightings
Wed, Dec 2 · 6:00 PM
Tree Grove Lighting on the Square — Downtown Roseville
Vernon Street Town Square
- Dec2WedCrafts and cookies
Through Dec 11
Gingerbread House Contest Display — Downtown Roseville
316 Vernon Street lobby
FreeAll ages
- Dec3ThuSanta visits
Thu, Dec 3 · 3:30 PM
Crafts & Cocoa with Santa — El Dorado Hills Library
El Dorado Hills Library
FreeAll ages
- Dec3ThuTree lightings
Thu, Dec 3 · 4:30 PM
Carmichael Holiday Tree Lighting
Carmichael Park
Free
- Dec3ThuChristmas
Thu, Dec 3 · 6:00 PM
A Night Before Christmas — Folsom Lake College Dance with MOSAIC
Harris Center for the Arts
Paid
- Dec3ThuTree lightings
Thu, Dec 3 · 6:00 PM
Downtown Roseville Christmas Tree Lighting
Vernon Street Town Square ("the Square")
Free
- Dec3ThuTree lightings
Thu, Dec 3
City Hall Annual Tree Lighting
Citrus Heights City Hall
- Dec3ThuSanta visits
Thu, Dec 3
Tot Thursday: Little Elves' Workshop — Roseville
Maidu Community Center
Paid
- Dec4FriChristmas
Fri, Dec 4 · 3:00 PM
Old Fashioned Christmas at the Elk Grove Historical Society
Elk Grove Historical Society
- Dec4FriTree lightings
Fri, Dec 4 · 6:00 PM
Historic Folsom Community Christmas Tree Lighting
Historic Folsom Ice Rink Plaza & Historic Sutter Street
- Dec4FriLight displays
Fri, Dec 4
Sunrise Lights the Night Tree Lighting — Citrus Heights
Rusch Community Park
All ages
- Dec4FriLight displays
Fri, Dec 4
Wild Nights & Holiday Lights at the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary
Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary
- Dec5SatSanta visits
Sat, Dec 5 · 8:00 AM
Breakfast With Santa (Roseville)
Mahany Fitness Center
From $20
- Dec5SatChristmas
Sat, Dec 5 · 11:00 AM
Sacramento Holiday Cruise (City Cruises)
L Street Dock, Old Sacramento Waterfront
Paid
- Dec5SatMarkets and festivals
Sat, Dec 5 · 1:00 PM
Winter Wonderland at Fairytale Town
Fairytale Town
From $15
- Dec5SatSanta visits
Sat, Dec 5 · 4:30 PM
Milk & Cookies With Santa
Mahany Fitness Center
From $18
- Dec5SatTree lightings
Sat, Dec 5 · 5:00 PM
Town Center Holiday Tree Lighting (El Dorado Hills)
El Dorado Hills Town Center
- Dec5SatTree lightings
Sat, Dec 5 · 5:30 PM
Loomis Family Christmas Tree Lighting
Loomis Train Depot
- Dec5SatLight displays
Sat, Dec 5 · 6:00 PM
Holiday Lights Parade (Illumination Festival)
Civic Center Drive parade route (Bighorn Road to Laguna Springs Drive)
- Dec5SatNutcracker and shows
Sat, Dec 5
Toyland! Pops Chorale and Orchestra Holiday Concert
Harris Center for the Arts
PaidAll ages
- Dec6SunSanta visits
Sun, Dec 6 · 9:00 AM
Breakfast with Santa — Sunrise Parks, Citrus Heights
Sunrise Patio Room, Rusch Community Park
- Dec8TueMarkets and festivals
Tue, Dec 8 · 3:00 PM
Cirque Musica Holiday Wonderland (Harris Center)
Harris Center for the Arts (Folsom Lake College)
PaidAll ages
- Dec11FriSanta visits
Fri, Dec 11 · 3:30 PM
Santa's Workshop (Roseville)
Maidu Community Center
From $18
- Dec11FriChristmas
Fri, Dec 11 · 4:00 PM
Holiday Carriage Rides at El Dorado Hills Town Center
El Dorado Hills Town Center
- Dec11FriSanta visits
Fri, Dec 11 · 5:00 PM
2026 Cameron Park Santa Parade
Cameron Park Fire Station 89 (start) and neighborhood routes
- Dec12SatSanta visits
Sat, Dec 12 · 1:30 PM
Adaptive Tot Spot: Santa's Little Elves Workshop — Roseville
Maidu Community Center
From $30Ages 2–5
- Dec12SatNutcracker and shows
Sat, Dec 12 · 2:00 PM
Sacramento Ballet: Nutcracker
SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center
Paid
- Dec12SatNutcracker and shows
Sat, Dec 12 · 4:00 PM
A Grinchy Grinchmas — Fair Oaks Community Clubhouse
Fair Oaks Community Clubhouse
- Dec16WedNutcracker and shows
Wed, Dec 16 · 1:00 PM
Sacramento Ballet: Sensory Friendly Nutcracker
SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center
PaidAll ages
- Dec17ThuNutcracker and shows
Thu, Dec 17 · 7:00 PM
Pamela Hayes Classical Ballet: The Nutcracker (Harris Center)
Harris Center for the Arts (Folsom Lake College)
Paid
- Dec18FriCrafts and cookies
Fri, Dec 18 · 5:00 PM
Gingerbread House Factory
Mahany Fitness Center
Paid
Christmas breakSat, Dec 19 – Fri, Jan 1
- Dec19SatChristmas
Sat, Dec 19 · 5:00 PM
Holiday at Hogwarts Yule Ball — Foothill Community Center
Foothill Community Center
- Dec19SatChristmas
Sat, Dec 19 · 5:00 PM
Jingle Ball Silent Disco — Roseville
Maidu Community Center
From $20All ages
- Dec19SatMarkets and festivals
Sat, Dec 19 · 5:00 PM
Winterfest 2026 — Mission Oaks
Swanston Community Center
All ages
- Dec21MonChristmas
Mon, Dec 21 · 7:00 PM
High Voltage Holiday Celebration (EDMT)
Harris Center for the Arts
Paid
- Dec31ThuNew Year’s Eve
Thu, Dec 31 · 10:30 AM
Noon Year's Eve
Central Library (Sacramento Public Library)
Free
All seasonLight displays, Santa visits, shows and exhibits that run for weeks. Check the organizer’s page for open nights and times.
- Nov15SunTrain rides
Through Dec 21
THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride (Sacramento)
Central Pacific Passenger Station (California State Railroad Museum)
From $80
- Nov27FriSanta visits
Through Dec 23
Elf on the Boulevard Scavenger Hunt — El Dorado Hills Town Center
El Dorado Hills Town Center
- Nov27FriSanta visits
Through Dec 24
Santa Photos at El Dorado Hills Town Center
Charm Photography studio, El Dorado Hills Town Center
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For organizers
Hosting a tree lighting, Santa visit or holiday show in Sacramento?
List it on Grassy Knees and it can show up on this Christmas page, in the metro’s weekend picks and in the app. Free to post until Oct 31.
How this list works
Tree lightings, Santa visits, light displays, Nutcrackers, menorah lightings and Noon Year’s Eve parties, beyond your own block. This page collects every event and program in our Sacramento listings whose title names Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Santa, holiday lights, the New Year or the like, dated between November 15 and January 1. 45 are still ahead. Each one opens its listing page, which links to the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. Dates are in Pacific Time.