T is for tree time! Find your fir favorites at one of many tree farms in our area. Apple Hill has a list of locales on its website (applehill.com/grower-cat/christmas-trees) including Harris Family Farm in Pollock Pines (harrisfamilyfarm.com) that’s hosting bonfires and s’mores on weekends. Bambi’s Christmas Trees can be found in Roseville and at Zittel Farms in Folsom (bambiland45.com), while Flower Farm in Loomis (flowerfarmnurseryandgifts.com) offers fine fir trees as well as other décor, gifts, and seasonal events.
Christmas light drive-throughs just might be the best thing since sliced bread. Bayside Church’s Adventure Campus in Roseville (baysideonline.com/lights) will dazzle with their displays of Candy Land, Santa’s workshop, a Victorian village, and the edge of the galaxy; while Rancho Cordova’s Holiday Light Drive-Through on Mineshaft Lane (cordovacouncil.org/rancho-cordova-holiday-lights) will feature over 200 lighted silhouettes and other light features in nearly three dozen vignettes.
There’s nothing like a good craft fair to get you in the spirit of the season. Historic Folsom’s annual Christmas Arts and Crafts Fair (historicfolsom.org/christmas-arts-crafts-fair) is on December 5, rain or shine, from 9 a.m.-4 pm. Come for the one-of-a-kind, handcrafted gifts and stay for the food, entertainment, and ice rink!
Ice skating is one of the few pleasures of frigid temps. Head to the plaza in Historic Folsom for the Folsom Ice Rink (folsomicerink.com) that’s surrounded by the history and charm of the area; Skatetown Ice Arena in Roseville (skatetown.biz) is also open to the public on Fridays and Saturdays; and the Ice Rink at Bayside Granite Bay (baysideonline.com/icerink) is open through January 3, where, in addition to skating, families can partake in a train ride around the Bayside Christmas Village and enjoy a hot cup of cocoa from the Bayside Café.
See how Christmas was celebrated back in the day with some unique holiday home tours. The Murer House in Folsom (murerhouse.org/2021_event_calendar) is hosting a holiday gift boutique and home tour on December 3-4 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. where you can not only shop for handmade holiday items but also tour the historic house of local master architect and builder, Giuseppe “Joe” Murer. Christmas in Coloma (marshallgold.com/historic-holiday-houses) is happening December 11-12 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. where you can indulge in old-fashioned Christmas fun while touring the decked out historic buildings.

Step aboard a magical Christmas train and be transported to a holiday wonderland—complete with hot cocoa in a souvenir mug, a sweet treat, holiday sing-a-longs with Santa's elves, and festive activities—on this one-hour ride suitable for kiddos of all ages. Presented by River Fox Train (riverfoxtrain.com/experiences/magical-christmas-train), rides run weekends all month long at varying times.

Head to our region’s winter wonderland for some serious snow play. El Dorado County (visit-eldorado.com/where-to-play-on-a-snow-day) and Placer County (visitplacer.com/blog/your-complete-guide-to-winter-in-placer-county) both have an abundance of SNO-Parks where you can build snowmen, sled in fresh snow, or have a snowball fight! Details on self-guided activities, such as snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing are also included.
Get crafty with some seasonal arts and crafts. AR Workshop in Roseville (arworkshop.com/roseville) has a fun lineup of Christmas-themed workshops where you can make your own wooden signs, trays, centerpieces, and more; Art Bistro on the Go in Rocklin (theartbistro.com) provides you with your own wood sign kit; Lofty Lou’s Yarn Shop in Placerville (knit.us) will teach intermediate knitters how to make their own Christmas stockings; Painted Studios in Folsom (paintedstudios.com) has holiday-themed painting classes slated for almost every day in December; and Gather Studio & Events hosts events all month long (many at local wineries and breweries), including a Fresh Holiday Wreath Workshop. So, get those creative juices flowing!
What’s Christmas without a Christmas parade? The Hangtown Christmas Parade (hangtownchristmasparade.com) is a must-see on Placerville’s Main Street. This year’s display on December 5 will be to the theme of “A Candy Land Christmas” and will feature floats, a marching band, carolers, and Santa himself!
Ditch the diet and indulge in some delectable holiday sweet treats. Snooks Candies & Chocolate Factory in Folsom (snookscandies.com) has everything from brittle and honeycomb chocolates to fudge (hot fudge kits, anyone?) and chocolate Christmas figures. The Chocolate Architect in Folsom (chocsilk.com) offers creative gift options and flavors like candy cane confetti cake, gingerbread, and glacier mint. Annabelle’s Chocolate Lounge (annabelleschocolate.com)—in the form of truffles, toffee, turtles, and more can be found in El Dorado and is also sold at T.W. Bonkers Toy & Candy Emporium in Placerville (bonkerstoystore.com). And don’t forget Fudge Factory Farm in Placerville (fudgefactoryfarm.square.site) for all your fudge needs!
Catch a glimpse of Santa as he makes his way through your neighborhood this year. He’ll be stopping by Folsom (folsomsantatracker.com), Roseville (roseville.ca.us/residents/city_events/neighborhood_santa), Rocklin (rocklin.ca.us/event/rocklin-fire-santa-tours), and El Dorado Hills (edhfire.com/santa-run/santa-stops) so be sure to say hello-ho-ho!