Rancho Cordova will take center stage this Sunday as thousands are expected to gather for the city’s 26th Annual Cordova Community Christmas Tree celebration at Village Green Park, marking one of the most festive and well-attended holiday traditions in the area.
The celebration runs from 4 to 7:30 p.m. and immerses visitors in a full holiday experience. Breathless children and patient parents will line up to take photos with Santa on the amphitheater stage while the soft bleating from the event’s live nativity scene adds an old-fashioned seasonal touch. Food trucks serving warm, festive favorites fill the air with inviting aromas, and families stroll between games, sweet treats, and glowing displays as they soak in the joyful atmosphere.
Families arriving after sunset will be greeted by live holiday music drifting across the park, vendor tents aglow with lights, and the unmistakable winter charm of SNOW filling the air—creating a scene that has become a beloved kickoff to December’s seasonal festivities.
At 7 p.m., the park grows still as the official tree-lighting ceremony begins. A community-wide countdown erupts before the towering Village Green tree sparkles to life, followed immediately by a fireworks show that draws cheers and lights up the sky for miles. The event is free to attend, parking is easy at the nearby Lowe’s lot, and visitors often enjoy exploring surrounding small businesses before or after the festivities. More information is available atwww.cordovacouncil.org.
Sunday’s event is one of many to take place this coming week, where Folsom and El Dorado Hills celebrate.
Historic Folsom’s community celebration returns Dec. 5
Historic Folsom’s holiday event returns Friday, December 5, from 6 to 9 p.m. along Sutter Street, where thousands gather each year for one of the region’s largest and most immersive outdoor holiday celebrations.
Santa makes a magical ride down Sutter Street just before the event begins, arriving at approximately 5:55 p.m. with classic Volkswagens, the Folsom High School Marching Band, and the Painted Ladies on horseback leading the procession. Santa’s Christmas Cottage will open at 6 p.m. for photos, and families are encouraged to bring their own cameras.
Street performances, characters, and vendors will appear throughout the district from 6 to 9 p.m. Visitors will find hot cocoa, popcorn, meet-and-greets with costumed characters, local musicians, and roving dancers performing along the 700 block of Sutter Street.
The Zittel Family Amphitheater will host continuous entertainment from 6 to 7 p.m., featuring FLC Dance, JAA Drama, Vista Guitar, Theory Dance, Leighton Dance, the JAA Cantoris Choir, and more.
Mainstage entertainment begins at 7 p.m. in the Decatur and Sutter Plaza, including Sutter Street Theatre’s “Holiday in the Hills,” singer-songwriter Cynthia Renee, the John Adams Academy Cantoris Choir, and remarks from FHDA Executive Board President Jim Snook.
At 7:30 p.m., Mayor Sarah Aquino and Santa will lead the official tree-lighting countdown, followed by a choir performance and a special ice-skating showcase at the Historic District ice rink. A full schedule is available atwww.historicfolsom.organdwww.christmasinfolsom.com.
El Dorado Hills gathers on Dec. 6
The 2025 El Dorado Hills Christmas celebration arrives Saturday, December 6, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the El Dorado Hills Town Center. Guests can enjoy a merchant open house, the popular Stuff Your Stocking activity, holiday performances including the Holy Trinity Choir, and a live band in the Theater Plaza. Santa will arrive aboard a fire engine to illuminate the community tree around 6:30 p.m.
The celebration also marks the start of the Holiday Heroes Food and Toy Drive benefiting Shriners Hospitals for Children and the El Dorado County Food Bank. More information is available atwww.eldoradohillstowncenter.com.
Chanukah Wonderland brings community together on Dec. 7
Folsom will host the 19th Annual Chanukah Wonderland Festival on Sunday, December 7, from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Folsom Community Center. The event features games, music, shows, hot latkes, an Israeli food court, a Chanukah gift shop, candle-making workshops, and hands-on “Build-a-Menorah” activities for families.
Organizers say the festival is a joyful, interactive way to teach children and adults the values of religious tolerance, mutual respect, cultural history, and the right for all people to worship freely. Chanukah Wonderland also marks the beginning of regional Chanukah festivities, including Menorah lightings at the State Capitol and other locations across the Sacramento area. Details are available atwww.chanukahwonderland.info.
Palladio Menorah lighting — Dec. 14
The Palladio will host a community Menorah lighting on Sunday, December 14, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. in the Piazza, presented with the Chabad Jewish Community Center. The evening will include blessings, music, and a warm celebration of the Festival of Lights for families across the region.
As the holiday season continues, Folsom Times will provide expanded coverage, photo galleries, and updates from each upcoming celebration. Visit FolsomTimes.com for full event details throughout December.
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