Fairytale Town is offering FREE admission on Thursday, December 24th from 10am - 2pm as a holiday gift to their guests!  This would be an exciting way to spend the day with the kids or entertain your out of town guests!  My kids love Fairytale Town and can’t get enough of it.  Playing there could be the perfect way to run off all the sugary treats we’ve got coming into our house right now!

Thank you to everyone who has been supporting this blog.  I am really looking forward to coming back to you after enjoying the holidays with my family and writing about the most fun things to do in 2010!    Happy Holidays to you all!

For the first time, Midtown is hosting an ice skating rink during the 2009-2010 winter season!  Holiday fun for the whole family!

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The Sacramento Ballet is celebrating their 500th performance of Ron Cunningham’s dazzling production of  The Nutcracker!  This magical show is a wonderful way to feel the holiday spirit with your kids and make wonderful memories.

Over 200 costumed characters enthrall the audience to the majestic Tchaikovsky score played superbly by the Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra.  Magnificant dancing, sumptuous scenery, and spectacular choreography combine in festive celebration.  Ron Cunningham’s production includes nearly 500 children, from Teeny Tiny Mice to swirling Candy Canes, making it the largest cast of children in any Nutcracker in the world.

Click here to see show times and prices.  If you are hoping to buy tickets, get them ASAP!  I spoke to the box office and found out that the first two weekends are already heavily sold out.  Your best bet is to try for the December 22nd or 23rd shows.  It was recommended that you do not purchase from a broker site as they are selling tickets for outrageous prices.  Order from www.tickets.com if you are just buying a couple of tickets (they charge a fee per ticket), order over the phone for multiple tickets (they charge a $7.00 flat fee), or order in person at the 1301 L Street box office (no extra fees).  All ages can attend The Nutcracker, even infants, but every one  must have a ticket.

Start a new holiday tradition!

There are some really fun things going on this Thanksgiving Week!  So if you are looking for a great outing for your family or are anxious to start the Holiday festivities, here are some ideas:

Old Sacramento Tree Lighting & Theatre of Lights

When: Wednesday, November 25th, 6 pm
Where: Front and K Street, Old Sacramento, meet at the tree!
Activities: The 50-foot tree will take center stage at Front & K streets as a part of Old Sacramento’s brand new Theatre of Lights.  The festivities will kick off at 6:00 pm with live entertainment a visit from father Christmas, Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson and will continue with the Tree Lighting at 6:30 pm and the first Theatre of Lights show immediately following and again at 8:00.  A symphony of lights, sounds and visual effects will take you back to a time when the beloved poem “The Night Before Christmas” was first introduced in Sacramento in 1857.
Cost: FREE (expect parking fee)

Fairytale Town Free Admission Day

When: Friday, November 27th, 10am - 4pm
Where: Fairytale Town, Sacramento
Activities: Fairytale Town offers free admission the day after Thanksgiving as a chance to say thanks for visiting throughout the year. Activities during the event include an arts & craft activity and puppet shows by Puppet Art Theater in their Children’s Theater at 12:30, 1:30, and 2:30.
Cost: Families who bring in a canned good receive free admission to Fairytale Town.  All canned goods will be donated to Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services, Holiday Spirit of Giving Food Drive.  Puppet shows tickets are $1 for members and $2 for nonmembers.

Sacramento Zoo Half-price Admission Day

When: Friday, November 27th, 10am - 4pm
Where: Sacramento Zoo
Cost: Families who bring a canned item to donate to the Sacramento Food Bank receive half-price admission to the zoo.  Regular admission is $9.00 for adults, $6.50 for kids ages 3 - 12, free for kids 2 and under.

Santa Parade

(Picture above)
When: Saturday, November 28th, 10am
Where: Downtown Sacramento, begins at 9th and I streets
Activities: Celebrate the holiday season with a festive parade, featuring a special visit from Santa Claus. The parade begins at Sacramento City Hall and travels down I Street and turns on 13th street past the convention center and the IMAX Theatre. The parade turns again on L Street and continues past the State Capitol and Hyatt Hotel. The parade makes its final turn on 7th Street and ends at the Westfield Downtown Plaza Mall and Ice Rink at 7th and K Streets.

Old Town Elk Grove Dickens Faire

When: Saturday, November 28th, 8am - 8pm
Where: Old Town Elk Grove
Activities: Pancake Breakfast with Santa at the historic Grange Hall, Snow Park with 1000 cubic feet of snow brought in for play, live music, Parade of Lights, Tree Lighting ceremony at 6 pm, Carriage Rides.
Cost: FREE