READY, SET, GO Yountville annual ceremony shines light on holiday season
Yountville’s 24th Annual Festival of Lights is a tree-lighting ceremony gone mad. Everything from its Michelin-starred restaurants to its imposing wineries to its lowly street trees fire up thousands of tiny white lights — all the better to see the carolers, horse-drawn carriages, live entertainment and Santa Claus working the crowd. Galleries, shops and restaurants will stay open late for early gift shoppers. And it’s only the brilliant beginning to the town’s Winter-Scape series of holiday events, continuing through December. Vitals: Friday, 2-6 p.m. Free. Washington Street, downtown Yountville. (707) 944-0904, www.yountville.com/around-town. Watch Santa surf: Santa Cruz County has its own way of doing things, and that goes for Santa, too, when he comes to town. The holiday season begins in earnest when the jolly one surfs to shore at Capitola Beach, escorted by his flotilla of reindeer. Once safely installed on the sand, he’ll settle in to review children’s Christmas lists and dispense candy canes to one and all. Saturday, noon. (831) 475-6522, www.capitolachamber.com. Sonora’s crafty Christmas: More than 150 artisans will offer handmade gifts for sale at the 38th Annual Sonora Christmas Craft and Music Festival, enhanced by a full lineup of live music. Storytellers, carolers, street performers and Santa with his elves will roam the grounds, and kitchens and bake shops will churn out treats. After Friday’s fair, visitors can catch the downtown Sonora Christmas Parade, stepping off at 5:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. next Sunday. $7 adults, $5 seniors/students, $2 ages 6-12, under 6 free. $1 off for canned food donation. (209) 533-3473, http://fireonthemountain.com.