Pops Chorale: “Journey to the Season” | 2 p.m. | Sofia Tsakopoulos Center for the Arts | $42 | The Pops Chorale and Orchestra lead this concert filled with festive music + harmonies that will leave you feeling merry and bright.
Wild Nights and Holiday Lights | Through Sunday, Dec. 22 | 5-8 p.m. | $10 | Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary | The annual holiday event returns with bright lights and festive displays throughout the zoo, plus local caroling groups, musicians, and special nighttime rides on the Folsom Valley Railway mini train.
Sunday, Dec. 8
Holidays at Koobs | 12-3 p.m. | Koobs Nature Area, Carmichael | Free | Enjoy ornament-making, cookie-decorating, live holiday music, and a visit with Santa.
Sacramento Kings vs. Utah Jazz | 6 p.m. | Golden 1 Center | $30+ | Cheer for the Kings on their home turf — yes, purple looks amazing on you.
Tuesday, Dec. 10
Honesdale Beer & Wine Fest | 1-5 p.m. | Wayne County Fairgrounds | $80 | Sip your way through beer, wine, and spirit samples while enjoying food trucks + live music.
Thursday, Dec. 12
“Hadestown” | Thursday, Dec. 12-Sunday, Dec. 15 | Times vary | Harris Center, Folsom | Catch the local run of the Tony Award-winning musical that intertwines two mythical tales — that of young dreamers Orpheus + Eurydice, and that of King Hades and his wife Persephone.
Friday, Dec. 13
Sacramento Ballet Presents “Nutcracker” | Friday, Dec. 13-Sunday, Dec. 15 | Times vary | SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center | $57+ | The local company performs the classic holiday tale accompanied by the Sacramento Philharmonic and Opera.
Queermedians | 9-10:30 p.m. | Sacramento Comedy Spot | $15 | This LGBTQ+ stand-up comedy show features top-notch comics from Sacramento and the Bay Area.
Saturday, Dec. 14
Folsom Skate & Bike Park Tree Planting | 9:45 a.m.-1 p.m. | Cummings Family Skate & Bike Park, Folsom | Free | Help plant new trees at the skate park that will help clean the air for years to come.
Polar Express Vintage Market | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Old Town Plaza, Elk Grove | Price of purchase | Browse one-of-a-kind holiday gifts for everyone on your list.
Old Sacramento Waterfront hosts festive lights, markets + more during holiday season. | Photo by @downtownsac
The days are getting shorter, the nights colder, and the drinks warmer. We all know what this means — holiday season is here, so bring on the pretty lights. Here are some of our favorite winter wonderland spots in Sacramento:
If you missed the frighteningly good decorations for Halloween, you definitely don’t want to miss this East Sacramento neighborhood’s holiday light displays. Pro tip: Park nearby and walk through the neighborhood to avoid getting stuck in traffic.
View a 60-ft tree adorned with ornaments + lights and browse the 50+ locally owned shops at the landmark. This year’s seasonal activities include Theatre of Lights, a 20-minute, live retelling of “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” Thursday-Sunday at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Each performance features the lighting of the giant Christmas tree by St. Nick himself.
Finally, it’s official: Sac’s new mayor is Kevin McCarty. In the final election results this week, McCarty narrowly edged out opponent Flojaune Cofer, who ultimately conceded. McCarty said it’s “time to get to work” — his priorities include auditing the city’s homelessness response and bringing more business, jobs, and housing. (The Sacramento Bee + ABC 10)
Traffic
Several temporary road closures are in place this weekend in downtown, midtown, and East Sacramento due to the California International Marathon. The race starts at 7 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 8 at Folsom Dam and ends at the California State Capitol. See the traffic impact.
Trending
Those powerful earthquakes that shook NorCal’s coast and triggered a tsunami warning earlier this week were felt by folks working in downtown Sacramento. Some locals in high-rises reportedly felt the swaying and saw “the blinds shaking,” while some construction workers were told to evacuate their work sites. (ABC 10)
Coming Soon
The Village — a new Elk Grove shopping center set to open in 2025 — just scored another tenant. Popular burger chain Shake Shack will open its fourth Sacramento area restaurant at The Village likely at the end of 2025 or early 2026. It’ll join tenants like Whole Foods Market and Mendocino Farms. (The Sacramento Bee)
History
There’s no place like this historic home. Sacramento City Council recently designated a Tudor Revival-style home in East Sac as a historic landmark. The two-story house at 1341 45th St. was built by George Pollock in 1925 and was once home to prominent business leaders and US President Ronald Reagan.
Community
The Department of Youth, Parks, and Community Enrichment will host an open forum on Thursday, Dec. 12, 6-8 p.m., at Clunie Community Center Auditorium to gather public input on the design of Sutter’s Landing Regional Park. The feedback will help shape the park’s future improvements and amenities.
Seasonal
It’s feeling festive in South Sacramento.Winter Fest — a holiday attraction on Florin Road — is now open through Jan. 11. It features a new ice skating rink that benefits the Florin Road Foundation and is open Thursday-Sunday. Tickets cost $15-$23. (ABC 10)
The Word
Oxford University Press announced its pick for Word of the Year — “brain rot.” Other finalists included “lore,” “dynamic pricing,” and “slop.” Counter the brain rot by going on a local hike or heading to one of these Sacramento museums. (Time Magazine)
Sports
Whew. The Kings really needed that 120-111 win over the Houston Rockets, and the struggle was real. Hear from the local experts on the Sacramento Kings with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Fun Fact
SACtoday does not have paywalls because we believe access to essential local news is priceless. You can support our free, daily newsletter with a donation. Think of it like buying us coffee — or tea, if that’s more your style. Thank you for your support.
Plan Ahead
Don’t let those leftovers go to waste. Use the remainder of your end-of-year budget + get your business in front of thousands. For a limited time, take 25% off ads in our self-service ad portal when you use promo code “2025" at checkout.
Shop
Looking for a last-minute gift? We found one that’s more than 60% off, can be delivered instantly + will last forever. That’s speaking our language. Shop the sale.*
Tech
Want to turn four-hour tasks into 15-minute wins? Download your free ChatGPT mastery guide for 100 battle-tested prompts you can copy/paste ASAP — no coding required. Plus, the guide explores how to use AI ethically at work.*
City Guide
City Guide
🌧️ It’s a winter-ful life
A rainy day in Sacramento doesn’t have to be gloomy. | Photo by SACtoday staff
We know the question on your mind, Sacramentans — how is winter in the City of Trees shaping up?
Thanks to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center, we know what temperatures and precipitation trends to expect in our city for December, January, and February. While exact weather conditions typically can’t be predicted more than a week in advance, here’s a seasonal outlook to help you prepare for what winter will bring.
Reminder: The first day of winter is on Saturday, Dec. 21.
Temperature
We’re keeping our favorite coat handy, just in case. Sacramento is expected to experience typical winter temps for the area.
Precipitation
Same with rainfall here — our city will likely experience ordinary amounts of precipitation for the season.
Drought
Drought conditions in Sacramento County will likely be kept at bay this season. January-October 2024 was the 57th wettest year to date in our county in the past 130 years, and October 2024 was the 32nd driest October on record.
Damp December
Historically, Sac gets its highest amount of rainfall in December — an average of 9.3 days of rainfall and 1.3 inches. The coldest temps of the year also come during this month with an average of low of 41.4° and average high of 54.5°.
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