Our Favorite Holiday Events In and Around Sacramento

The staff here at Northern California Fertility Medical Center has been diligent about ignoring holiday displays that began cropping up just after Labor Day weekend. In our minds, Halloween spiders and little elves don’t go together. But now, as Thanksgiving is officially here, we’re reveling in the magic of the holiday season. Of course, part of that magic involves running around like crazy, trying to accomplish a million things while enjoying a very full calendar of family gatherings and social events. In and among that frantic, festive runaround – we recommend taking a little time out to enjoy some of the Sacramento regions most enjoyable holiday events.

5 Holiday Events You Won’t Want to Miss

Below are 5 holiday events that are worth a little calendar time, and we made sure to choose things that are enjoyable for everyone – “…for kids from one to 92…”

1. Participate in one of the area’s popular Thanksgiving Day runs

Are you a runner? An enthusiastic walker? Just like to get together with family and friends to support a good cause? If so, we recommend checking out one of Sacramento’s Thanksgiving week runs – or walks – (participants’ choice) that support local non-profits. For example, the Run to Feed the Hungry. This event was born in 1994 and has become the largest Thanksgiving Day run in the nation! All of the proceeds from event participants are donated to the Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services. This is now their biggest fundraising event, and every dollar makes a big difference to those who are hungry in our community. Another option to run for non-profits is the Folsom Turkey Trot, which offers 5 and 10-K options. Like the Run to Feed the Hungry, the Folsom Turkey Trot has become quite the event, with an average of 4000 participants. Funds raised from this event are divided between multiple area non-profits, including Twin Lakes Food Bank, Folsom Athletic Association, and the Johnny Cash Trail.

2. Trans-Siberian Orchestra

While most people are very familiar with the synthesizer music of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, most have never seen a show. And they do put on quite a spectacular show. This year, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s (TSO) show is titled, The Ghosts of Christmas Eve: The Best of TSO and More. They’re performing performed at the Golden 1 Center on December 2. TSO’s shows have become a holiday tradition for millions of people around the planet, and we highly recommend attending one if you haven’t seen them live before. Attendees can choose between the matinee (3:00 p.m.) and evening performances (7:30 p.m.) but get your tickets soon as these shows often sell out. You can Click Here to watch a video and get a taste of the incredible audio/visual show in store for you.

3. Old Sacramento’s Theatre of Lights

The Theatre of Lights takes place in Old Sacramento on the waterfront. It kicks off on November 23rd with the annual tree lighting. From there, nightly performances run Thursday through Sunday from Thanksgiving Eve – Christmas Eve (no show on Thanksgiving) at 6:00 p.m. and again at 7:30. The exception is Christmas Eve when the Theatre of Lights puts on the final performance at 6:00 only. The show includes a live-action retelling of Moore’s 1823 poem — “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” more popularly known as “’ Twas the Night Before Christmas.” The highlight of the 20-minute production is a live dramatization on the balconies above K Street, complete with a special appearance by Jack Frost and the lighting of the 60-foot Christmas tree by St. Nick himself. Discover how early pioneers experienced the calamities — and revelry — that befell the new city in the 1850s, the sounds of the fires, floods, and parties will surround the audience as the 150-year-old building facades light up with color.

4. Lighted Boat Parade

The Lighted Boat Parade is another holiday tradition taking place on the waterfront of Old Sacramento. Sponsored by the Capital City Yacht Club, boats line up at about 5:00 p.m., and the parade starts at 5:30. The parade heads upriver, passing Old Sacramento, Riverbank Marina, Virgin Sturgeon, and Riverview Marina, and then turns around to head back. Whether you’re a Sacramento-area native or here for a fertility treatment appointment, this event is the perfect excuse to make a reservation and plan a romantic date night! Do you have a boat you’d like to enter? Click Here to register your boat.

5. Watch Holiday-inspired Dance Performances

There are two different performances on our radar this year. The first is Navidades!, presented by the Calidanza Dance Company. Their performance is on December 4 at 6:00 p.m. at The Sofia theater. The Calidanza Dance Company seeks to become Sacramento’s first professional Mexican folk-dance company presenting annual programs in the region, as well as touring nationally and internationally. Their goal is to create a vibrant cultural art center in Sacramento that promotes Latino dance and other art forms. The second is The Nutcracker, performed by The Sacramento Ballet, which is offered on three separate weekends from 12/10 to 12/24. The Nutcracker is a beloved annual holiday tradition set to Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker suites. If you are more of a fan of choral performances rather than dance, you may prefer two upcoming concerts offered by the Sacramento Choral Society and Orchestra. The first is their Home For the Holidays concert on December 10 at 2:00, performed at Memorial Auditorium. Their second event is a Messiah Sing-Along, taking place on December 26th, 2:00 p.m., at the First United Methodist Church on J Street. Your Hallelujahs will never sound as powerful as when you sing with the Sacramento Choral Society and the exuberant support of the other sing-alongers. Each of these holiday offerings provides the opportunity to press pause, be present, and deepen into the meaning and magic of the season.

We Wish You a Happy & Healthy Holiday Season

The team at Northern California Fertility Medical Center wishes you a peaceful and joyful holiday season. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you find yourself in Sacramento for fertility treatments and would like recommendations for other seasonal events and must-sees in the area.