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Winter Break – Things To Do In Sacramento Area
December 17, 2018

Christmas and New Year’s Eve are coming up quickly and you are likely searching for things to do in Sacramento with your kids. Rather than sit at home during winter break, check out these fun winter activities in the Sacramento area this holiday season.

Winter Activities For Kids

Sacramento with kids
Raley Field

The Biggest Show on Snow at Raley Field

This winter break, come join the fun at Raley Field which has been turned into a winter wonderland. From now until January 3rd Raley Field now has an ice skating rink, a 40-foot tall Monster Ice Slide, plenty of snow, a Christmas Tree Farm, bounce houses, and Kris Kringle.

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You can also dress up with your family for theme nights. December 15 is Star Wars night. December 22 is ugly sweater night. Disney night is December 26. December 18 they will also host an ice hockey game between American Hockey League’s Stockton Heat and Bakersfield Condors.

Cost: $10-$20 (Free for ages 4 and under)
Dates: Through Jan 3
Hours: Varies
Raley Field
400 Ballpark Dr.
West Sacramento, CA 95691
(916) 376-4700
www.biggestshowonsnow.com

Things to do in Sacramento

Global Winter Wonderland at Cal Expo

Cal Expo in the Arden area hosts a spectacular light show this winter break. Giant lanterns are illuminated by LED lights. This year’s show is called “Magic of the Seasons.” You can see a mermaid in summer and a wizard in the fall harvest season. They have rides such as the Carousel, the Century Wheel and the Super Slide, and Christmas Holiday Train for the kids. You can ice skate in the ice skating rink. There is also great holiday gift shopping, foods from around the world, and some special Christmas snacks such as roasted nuts, sticky buns, hot chocolate, and hot apple cider.

Cost: $19 General Admission, $17 for youth and seniors, $32 general admission for 2, $39 Season Pass including unlimited rides, $49 Gold Season Pass including unlimited rides, ice skating, and laser tag.

Dates: Nov 23 through Jan 6. In November it will be closed Nov 26, 27, 28, and 29. In December it will be closed Monday through Thursday, Dec 3-6, 10-13, 17-20 (Monday through Thursday before Christmas break)

Hours: 4:30-11:00PM
1600 Exposition Blvd
Sacramento, CA 95815
You can purchase tickets Global Winter Wonderland Discounted Tickets and check out the full website www.globalwonderland.com.

Theatre of Lights at Old Sacramento

Check out Old Sacramento as lights, sound, and color are projected onto building facades will Bill Farmer (voice of Goofy and Pluto) recites “The Night Before Christmas” as Mark Twain and other characters. Old Saint Nick and Jack Frost will also be making appearances. Also, check out the candy stores, Evangeline’s, and all the quaint shops of Old Sacramento.

Cost: Free
Dates: Thursday-Sunday through Nov 21-Dec 24
Hours (of the light’s projection, not Old Sac): 6-7:30 PM
K St. between Front and Second streets in Old Sacramento.
(916) 442-8575
Visit Website

Santa Holiday River Cruises at Sacramento River

Instead of shopping at the mall, spend an hour on the Sacramento River with Santa himself. You and your family will enjoy hot chocolate and cookies while relaxing to some holiday music during the winter break. Holiday coloring sheets will be available. Don’t forget to bring your smartphone or a camera so you can take pics with Santa.

Cost: $19.31 per person
Dates: Dec 22
Boarding: 11:45AM, 1:15PM, 2:45PM, 4:15PM
Cruise Times: 12-1PM, 1:30-2:30PM, 3-4PM, 4:30-5:30PM
L Street Dock
1206 Front Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
1(888) 966-9251
Visit Website

Pajama Party Christmas Eve at Sacramento Zoo

Bring the family to the Sacramento Zoo for the most comfortable Christmas tradition and you don’t even have to change out of your pajamas this winter break! From 9 am to 1:30 pm, zoo admission is free for the whole family. Wear your best PJs and spend your holidays with the animals at the Sacramento Zoo.

Cost: Free
Date: Dec 24
Hours: 9 AM-1:30 PM
Sacramento Zoo
3930 West Land Park Dr.
Sacramento, CA 95822
(916) 808-5888
Visit Website

Winter activities and things to do with your kids this holiday season
Sacramento Rivertrain

Sacramento River Train

On this magical Christmas train, you and your family can come dressed in your pajamas this holiday season!  The train will be decorated for the holiday season as you and your family relax on a trip through West Sacramento. Before Christmas, you will experience a 90-minute train ride with cookies, hot chocolate in a souvenir mug, and a personal visit with Santa Claus himself as part of their winter activities.

Among the winter activities, kids will surely enjoy include carols and games. On December 27th & 28th, there is a 2.5-hour train ride on the Holiday Excursion Train complete with meal options. There is a continental meal, a continental meal with bottomless mimosas, a turkey sandwich meal, and a ham sandwich meal.

Cost : $50 Adult, $40 Child, $15 Infant 2 and under (not including meal plans)
Dates: Now through Dec 31
Sacramento River Train
400 North Harbor Blvd
West Sacramento, CA 95605
Visit Website

Santa’s Workshop Christmas Store at Artfully Rooted Marketplace

This holiday season, come to Santa’s Workshop Christmas Store in Artfully Rooted Marketplace and shop for vintage, antique, and handmade Christmas decor and vintage toys too. If you’re tired of kids playing on your iPad, you will love the vintage toys here! Saturday’s between 1:00 PM-3:00 PM enjoy a complimentary free digital photo with Santa!

Cost: Free
Date: Dec 19
Hours: 10:30 AM-5:30 PM, Pics with Santa 1-3 PM
Artfully Rooted Marketplace
608 1/2 Sutter Street
Folsom, CA 95630
Visit Website

Winter activities and things to do with your kids this holiday season Downtown Ice Rink

Ice Skating Rink at Downtown Sac

Come experience the magic of ice skating in downtown Sacramento this holiday season. Silent Disco Skate is Dec 20 from 7-9 PM and headphones will be provided. Dec 22 is Kids day from 12:30-4:30 PM. On Kids Day the Kings mascot Slamson will be there along with a visit from Santa, the Sacramento Kings Dancers, and cool games and prizes will be offered.

Jan 1 from 4-5 PM is the Polar Bear Skate where you don your best shades, blades, and beach attire. January 9 Storytime will be hosted by the Sacramento Public Library with awesome songs and games from 11 AM-2 PM. Note that this event is aimed at babies, toddlers, and caregivers or parents.

Cost: $6 Kids 6 and Under (always), $13 Regular Skate, $15 Peak Skate (Nov 18 – 24 & Dec 24 – Jan 5)
Date: Nov 2, 2019-Jan 21, 2019
Hours: Monday – Thursday: 2PM – 9PM, Friday – Saturday: 10PM – 11Pm, Sunday: 10AM – 9pm
Visit Website

Jingle Bounce Cookies With Santa at BounceU

Check out Jingle Bounce Cookies With Santa for your kids this holiday season. During this special event, winter activities are lined up and kids will enjoy bouncing, holiday crafts, cookies, a special souvenir from the north pole, and best of all, a visit from Santa.

Cost: $11.95 per child
Date: Dec 18, Dec 21
Hours: Dec 18 6-8PM, Dec 21 7-9PM
BounceU
11280 Sanders Dr Unit A
Rancho Cordova, CA 95742
(916) 859-0559
Visit Website

An Old Fashioned Christmas at Elk Grove Historial Society

If your child has never experienced an old-fashioned Christmas you’re in for a treat.  Step inside the Elk Grove House and Stage Stop, where all nine rooms are decked out with Victorian-themed holiday décor. Kids will enjoy decorating cookies and visiting with Santa (Saturday & Sunday only). Professional photos with Santa are available for $15.

Cost: $5 per person
Date: Dec 21-23
Hours:
Elk Grove Historical Society
9941 East Stockton Blvd
Elk Grove, CA 95624
Visit Website

Kid-Friendly New Year’s Eve Events

New Year’s Bash at Imagine Play

Celebrate the New Year with your kids at Imagine Play’s New Year’s Bash. Each child will enjoy apple cider, light-up toys, a noisemaker craft activity, a balloon drop, dancing games, and a bubble wrap stomp. All kids and adults must wear socks.

Cost: $15 per child
Date: Dec 29-31
Hours: 10 AM-12 PM
Imagine Play
10481 Grant Line Rd #155
Elk Grove, CA 95624
(916) 226-4189
Visit Website

Who Year New Year’s Eve Party at Sacramento Children’s Museum

Come ring in the New Year at Sacramento Children’s Museum. This kid-friendly party will go from 9 PM-12:15 AM. There will be dancing, noise maker-making, bubble stomps, light refreshments, and museum play. A  New Year’s countdown will happen at midnight.

Cost: $7.50 for General Admission adult or child, $5 for Member adult or child
Date: Dec 31
Hours: 9 PM-12 AM
Sacramento Children’s Museum
2701 Prospect Park
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
(916) 638-7225
Visit Website

Bouncin’ New Year’s at BounceU

Enjoy Bouncin’ New Year’s at BounceU this winter break. Your kids will enjoy a Cosmic Bounce, 2019 fun glasses, New Year hat, and a horn & noisemaker as part of their winter activities.

Cost: $11.95 per child (must be pre-paid)
Date: Dec 31
Hours: 10:30 AM-12 PM
11280 Sanders Dr. Unit A
Rancho Cordova, CA 95742
(916) 859-0559
Visit Website

New Year’s Eve Sky Spectacular at Old Sacramento

You’ll enjoy Sacramento’s best New Year’s Eve fireworks in Old Sacramento. This event is free and great for the whole family. There will be special programs for kids, live music, dinner specials, hot food, and drink vendors, and lively street entertainment.

Cost: Free
Dates: Dec 31
Hours: 6 PM-10 PM (fireworks start at 9 PM)
K St. between Front and Second streets in Old Sacramento.
(916) 442-8575
Visit Website

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