Festivals
Monterey’s Christmas in the Adobes festival evokes the celebrations of 19th century Alta California.
Christmas in the Adobes
Head for the coast — and a different century — for Monterey’s Christmas in the Adobes festival, which evokes the celebrations of 19th century Alta California. Stroll among the adobes, decorated for the holidays with candlelit luminaria. Enjoy festive music, living history presentations and plenty of interactive fun. Try a fandango lesson at the Custom House and enjoy bagpipes and shortbread cookies at Robert Louis Stevenson House as you explore more than 20 other historic sites.
DETAILS » 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 7-8 at Monterey State Historic Park, 20 Custom House Plaza, Monterey. Admission is $2-$25; www.parks.ca.gov.
Great Dickens Christmas Fair
The last stop on the roasting-chestnuts and festivalflashback tour is the enormous party set among the winding, twilight-lit lanes of 1860 London. The annual Great Dickens Christmas Fair offers hundreds of Victorian characters and street vendors, music halls and authentic pubs, serving up hearty foods and high teas. There are seven stages with nonstop performances, dance halls and 100 Christmas shops to tempt. And kids will love the Tinsley Green Children’s Area, Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, Father Calistoga’s annual Lighted Tractor Parade brings the spectacle of extravagantly decorated tractors, vintage trucks and fire engines.
Christmas Stage and the Toy Parade.
DETAILS » 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekends through Dec. 23 at the Cow Palace, 2600 Geneva Ave., Daly City. Admission is $10-$30; dickensfair. com.
Lighted Boat Parade
In Santa Cruz, the holiday spotlight shines on the annual parade of illuminated, decorated boats gliding through the harbor on Saturday. Christmas trees, Santas, reindeer and elves adorn the boats, creating a colorful holiday wonderland. Families love this event, which includes hot drinks and snacks at sites around the harbor, and a canned-food drive for Second Harvest Food Bank.
DETAILS » 5:30 p.m. Saturday at Santa Cruz Harbor, 135 Fifth St. Free admission; Applaud the high kicks of the Can-Can Bijou at Mad Sal’s Dockside Ale House, at the Great Dickens Christmas Fair.
www.santacruzharbor.org/events and club.scyc. org/cruising/lighted-boatparade
Calistoga Christmas Faire and Lighted Tractor Parade
Set aside Saturday for a full day of Calistoga holiday fun, starting with breakfast with Santa. There are horse, carriage and trolley rides, and plenty of live entertainment. Join the cookie swap and cake walk, and check out the crafts stations for kids and adults. Top off the day with the grand spectacle of the 23rd annual Lighted Tractor Parade. At 7 p.m., extravagantly decorated tractors, vintage trucks and fire engines take to Lincoln Avenue in all their illuminated splendor.
DETAILS » The Christmas Faire runs from 9 a.m. to 4
p.m. Saturday at the Napa Valley Fairgrounds, 575 Third St., Napa. The tractor parade begins at 7 p.m. visitcalistoga.com.
Theatre of Lights Spectacular
Old Sacramento’s Waterfront transforms into a 19th century winter fantasy each year for the live-action retelling of “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.” Using stateof-the-art technology, the spectacular entertainment unfolds on balconies and rooftops on K Street. Keep your eyes open for Jack Frost and other surprises.
DETAILS » 6 and 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Sunday through Dec. 24. Free admission; www.godowntownsac.com.