Marvel at the Holiday Lights
Redding Garden of Lights, Turtle Bay Exploration Park and Botanical Gardens
Nov. 17-Jan.9. Wed-Sun, 11am-9pm. $15-$25, free for children under 4.
Walk down winding paths through 10 acres of artfully illuminated and immersive displays exhibiting world-class design. Celebrate the natural world and wildlife with plant-themed exhibits unique to our region. Over one million lights, new glowing swinging lights, music, animation, and a new model train exhibit. Food and drink by Mosaic. For tickets and information:
reddinggardenoflights.org
Beautifully lighted holiday scenes are featured on the Lights of Hope free Magical Light Walk in Oroville.
Lights of Hope: Free Christmas Light Walk
Dec. 1-3, 8-10 and 13-23. Sun-Thu, 6-9pm; Fri-Sat, 6-9:30pm. Oroville.
A Magical Light Walk, (free and open at 5pm each day), scavenger hunt, meet Santa, family games, affordable paid attractions, delicious food and beverages. fathershouseoroville.com/lights-of-hope
Yreka Night of Lights
Dec. 4, 4-7 pm.
Shop local for the holidays at the festive street fair on Miner & Broadway Streets while listening to carolers and holiday cheer. Food, drinks and activities for the kids including a scavenger hunt, Frosty the Snowman, photos with Santa, and live tree lighting at 6:30pm add to the festivities! yrekanightoflights.com
Wildlife and plants are breathtakingly illuminated in Redding Garden of Lights.
Gridley’s Winter Wonderland Festival & Parade of Lights
Dec. 6, 5-9pm
Vendors and music will fill the streets of downtown Gridley. explorebuttecounty.com/events/winter-wonderland-festival-gridley
Oroville Parade of Lights
Dec. 9. 6-7pm, downtown Oroville.
Watch the parade float by while the marching band performs through downtown Oroville.
explorebuttecounty.com/events/parade-of-lights
Avenue of Lights in Orland
Dec. 13-17, 5:30-9pm. $20 per car, carpooling encouraged.
A spectacular drive-thru holiday light show. With a mile of Christmas scenes and thousands of twinkling lights, it offers a safe and comfortable way for families to enjoy the holiday magic from their own vehicles. Purchase tickets at the gate or in advance at glenncountyfair.org/getyourtickets.
Holiday Concerts and Performances
A Cascade Christmas 2023
Dec.1, 7:30pm; Dec 2, 12pm; Dec 3, 2pm: Cascade Theatre, 1731 Market Street, Redding. $5-$35.
Dancing, singing and everything in between happens as you travel back in time to discover how Santa and Mrs. Claus came to be. See some of your favorite Christmas characters and meet some new faces, as we learn the magic of believing, both in the spirit of the holidays and in ourselves. Tickets at cascadetheatre.org.
Chico Performances and the Chico Community Ballet: “A Very Chico Nutcracker”
Dec.1, 7pm; Dec 2, 1pm & 6pm; Dec 3, 1pm. Laxson Auditorium. $17-$30.
Featuring more than 80 performers from Chico Community Ballet, Inspire School of The Arts and our community. Sixty of the performers are local dancers from the ages of 5-25. With a revised story and sets based on Dr. Oscar Stansbury’s family in Chico and pre-show entertainment, historical Chico visuals and more, this signature event is not to be missed! Tickets at chicoperformances.com
Performances of the magical holiday story of the Nutcracker by local companies of talented dancers and musicians can be seen this month throughout the North State. Scarlet Frankum is getting ready for her role as Clara in Flare’s Nutcracker performance by visiting the Perfectly Festive Holiday Shoppe in Red Bluff.
Photo by @thistleandquillphotography
The Nutcracker with Flare
Saturday Dec. 2, 11am & 5:30pm. The State Theatre, 333 Oak Street, Red Bluff. $25, $15 child 6 and under
Flare Dance and Acrobatics presents The Nutcracker for their fall recital. Don’t miss this performance of these extraordinarily talented young people.
Redding City Ballet Nutcracker
Dec. 8, 7pm; Dec. 9, 1pm & 7pm; Cascade Theatre,1731 Market Street, Redding. $15-$25.
Get swept up in the delight of the holiday season with Redding City Ballet’s Nutcracker, featuring all local dancers! Young Clara, the Nutcracker Prince, a beautiful Sugarplum Fairy, toy soldiers, waltzing flowers and an evil Rat Queen all dance to Tchaikovsky’s timeless score. Tickets at Cascadetheatre.org.
Shasta Studios School of Theatrical Dance and Mt. Shasta Children’s Theatre presents Santa Frosty Follies
Dec. 10, 2pm, COS Kenneth Ford Theatre, 800 College Ave., Weed. $15, children free.
This holiday spectacular and dessert potluck is fun for the whole family. Come see some of the finest young performers in Siskiyou County. Tickets available at the door.
Children’s Choir of Chico Winter Concert, A Cup of Cheer
Dec. 10, 3pm at Faith Lutheran Church, 667 E. 1st Avenue. $15/adult, $10/youth and seniors.
Featuring Ready, Set, Sing!, Preparatory Choir, Caniamo, Belle Canto and Bella Voce choirs. Tickets available at the door. childrenschoirofchico.org
Nochebuena: A Christmas Spectacular features beautifully costumed dancers in thrilling musical performances that capture the spirit of the holidays in Mexico.
Nochebuena: A Christmas Spectacular
Dec. 10, 2-5pm & 7:30-10 pm. Laxson Auditorium, Chico. $15-$50.
Features an all-star cast of music and dance, with the esteemed Ballet Folklórico de Los Ángeles and Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuéllar, presenting traditions and customs that people in Mexico celebrate during the Christmas season. This spectacular show focuses on Nochebuena (Christmas Eve). Tickets at chicoperformances.com
California Dance Company Presents Sleighing with CDC
Dec.16, 1pm, 4pm, & 7pm. Cascade Theatre, 1731 Market Street, Redding. $13-$25.
A holiday dancing treat, featuring amazing dance performances in ballet, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip-hop, and aerial silks from students ages 2 and up. Tickets at Cascadetheatre.org
Kinetics Academy of Dance Christmas Dance Recital
Dec. 16, 2:30-3pm, 3:30-4pm, 4:30-5pm.
Come on down to the Chico Marketplace and enjoy Kinetics Academy of Dance Free Christmas Recital.
Solstice & Holiday Interfaith Candle Lighting Service
Dec. 20, 7-8:30pm. Pilgrim Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, 2850 Foothill Blvd., Redding. Suggested donation $10/person
Presented by Reverend Lynn E Fritz, this contemplative service includes holiday reflections from Christian, Native American, Buddhist, Jewish traditions along with Christmas carols and candle lighting. Contact 530 243-8862 or lynnprod@sbcglobal.net
The Redding City Ballet Theatre and Redding City Arts Project Nutcracker
Dec. 22, 7pm, Dec. 23, 1pm followed by The Land of Sweets Tea, Dec 23, 7pm. Shasta College Theatre, Redding. $15-$20.
Embark on a magical journey with Clara and the Nutcracker Prince through enchanting lands filled with sparking winter scenes and captivating sweets, led by whimsical characters dancing to Tchaiskovsky’s gorgeous, uplifting music. Tickets thereddingartsproject.com
Unique Holiday Fairs and Events
At Siskiyou ice rink you can skate outdoors at the foot of majestic Mount Shasta.
Free Days at Siskiyou Ice Rink
Free Community Ice Skate Night hosted by Banner Bank, Dec. 1, 5:15-9pm.
Free Community Ice Skate Night hosted by Blue Star Gas Dec. 15, 5:15-9pm.
Located in Shastice Park, 800 Rockfellow Dr, Siskiyou Ice Rink is open from November to February. Skating in this open-air rink surrounded by magnificent Mount Shasta scenery is thrilling. At 85 feet wide and 200 feet long, this is the only National Hockey League regulation-sized outdoor rink in California.
An Old-Fashioned Christmas Hometown Corning Parade
Dec. 2. Parade starts at 5:30pm, East on Solano from the VFW Hall through 3rd Street.
The Hometown Corning Parade shows off community spirit with the theme of An Old-Fashioned Christmas. Corningcachamber.org
Perfectly Festive Holiday Shoppe
Dec. 2, 9, 16 & 23, 10am-2pm. 764 Main Street, Red Bluff
Meet Santa. Find that very special holiday ornament or keepsake that you’ll want to keep for generations. Perfectlyfestiveholidayshoppe.com
Biggs Christmas Tree Lighting and Street Market
Dec. 3, 3-7pm in Historic Downtown Biggs
Love those ugly sweaters? Then head out to historic downtown Biggs for music, shopping and delicious food. Get a selfie with Santa at 4pm, take a gander at some cringe-worthy sweaters at the Ugly Sweater contest at 5pm, and top the day off with the Tree lighting at 6pm.
Amma Culture Education Science and Arts Holiday Family Multicultural Celebration
Dec. 3, 4-7pm, Chico Women’s Club. Suggested donation $25 – $50.
A beautiful, multicultural, artistic holiday experience, this fundraiser includes an art show and auction featuring the work of local artist Mark Johnson, along with live artistic performances, music and food. Helps raise funds to purchase a wheelchair accessible van for Amma Culture. ammaculture.org.
The Cedar Grove Center Advent Spiral offers a quiet time of reverence to celebrate the turning of the seasons.
Cedar Grove School Winter Faire
Dec. 9, 1-4pm, 4303 Oak Street, Dunsmuir
Children will have fun making holiday crafts in each classroom and they’ll love the delightful Little Gnome Village, a magical world made especially for them. Live music, caroling, a bake sale, vendor’s tables and a visit from St. Nicholas will complete this day of family fun. A fundraiser for the school, each room will require a ticket to enter. Purchase tickets at the door for $5 each.
Walk into Winter
Dec. 10, 2-7pm. 450 W. East Avenue, Chico
Spend Sunday afternoon strolling through Blue Oak Charter School’s Annual Winter Market filled with school community vendors, Chico artists and makers and student crafts. Enjoy live music, sweets, treats and warm drinks. (530)879-7483.
Children (and parents) can dress up as elves and enjoy making holiday crafts at the free Little Elves Workshop, Dec 15 in the Main Lodge at Mt. Shasta City Park.
Little Elves Workshop
Dec. 15, 6-8pm, Main Lodge in City Park, Mount Shasta. Free.
Come spend some creative time with your child making festive holiday crafts with local area businesses. Join the fun at this free parent participation event. Sponsored by Spring Hill Nursery, North State Parent magazine and Mt. Shasta Community Resource Center.
Celebration Market
Dec. 16 & 17, 11am-4pm, Lassen Traditional Cidery, 643 Antler Ave., Suite 52, Chico
Celebrate the season at Lassen Traditional Cidery, with handmade gifts, letters to Santa, cider tasting, holiday photo booth, over 20 vendors, food trucks, desserts, live music and dancing. lassencider.com
And more . . .
Be sure to check North State Parent’s Community Calendar online at northstateparent.com/calendar. It’s the best source of family activities in the North State region and beyond. As we learn about new events and holiday fun, we’ll post the news there.
Posted in: Community
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