Family fun Ideas this holiday season

As we are entering the holiday season, many of us have been thinking about what we can do with our little ones/families. I know I have. I wanted to share what I have come across in my search. The following is a list of some local (Sonoma County) holiday fun and some ideas a bit further away if you are open to a day or overnight trip.  Links to all found here.

Holiday Activities

Sonoma County

• Santa’s Boat Arrival, Nov 26, 2022-11:30 am - 1:30 pm- River Plaza Shopping Center in Petaluma. Watch Santa and Mrs. Claus make a unique Petaluma arrival when they sail up the Petaluma River on a tugboat and dock at River Plaza Shopping Center. 

• Kids Night At The Museum: Holiday Tales (for older kiddos, this is a drop off), Dec 17, 5-7PM @ Charles M. Schulz Museum

• Charlie Brown Christmas tree grove (Windsor Town Green) 

• HOLIDAY CELEBRATION Nov 27th from 2pm-4pm, Near Style Bar at East Washington Place, 401 Kenilworth Drive, Petaluma, CA 

• French Winter Fair - Marché de Noël, DEC 17, 11 AM – 4 PM, Old Courthouse Sq, Santa Rosa 

• Holiday Open House at Luther Burbank Home & Gardens, Sat, Dec. 3 & Sun, Dec. 4 (Santa Rosa) 

A little further away

• The California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco (Nov 18, 2022 – Jan 8, 2023 ) Is doing  winter themed activities with indoor flurries, icy science experiments, spirited performances, and more. 

• The Great Dickens Christmas Fair Nov 19 – Dec 18, Cow Palace Arena & Event Center 

• Six Flags Presents Holiday In The Park Nov 25 – Jan 1, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom 

• Lighted Boat Parade and Fireworks, Dec 10, 5-8 PM @ Gabrielson Park (Sausalito) 

• Gingerbread House Tour A wonderful family walking tour of all the Gingerbread Houses in Sausalito starting Dec 1 to Dec 31.

Tree Lots & Farms- There are a lot of fun places to grab your Christmas trees throughout Sonoma County. The following is a short list of local places to cut down your own tree or lots that have additional fun for the family while you are looking for that special tree. 

• Mickelson Christmas Trees  (Petaluma) 

• Garlock Tree Farm (Sebastopol)

• Frosty Mountain Tree Farm (Sebastopol) 

• Reindeer Ridge Christmas Tree Farm (Sebastopol) 

• Graton Fire Dept. If you have a little one who loves fire fighters/engines, then maybe consider visiting the Graton Fire Dept to grab your tree Proceeds goes to supporting the Graton Fire Dept.  

Parades & Festivals

Sonoma County

• Coffey Park Christmas Parade, DEC 18 AT 9 PM, Coffey Park, Santa Rosa

• Geyserville Tree Lighting and Tractor Parade Nov 26, Downtown Geyserville  

• 12 Days Of Christmas & Snowman Tree Lighting: Cornerstone Sonoma, 23570 Arnold Drive, Sonoma– This event has something new to offer from 11/30 until 12/11.  I’m personally excited about the snowman tree lighting on the 3rd

• • Garden Light Show - Nov. 30th DAY 1: WEDNESDAY, NOV. 30.

  • Wreath Making Workshop DAY 2: THURSDAY, DEC. 1

  • Story Time with Santa DAY 3: FRIDAY, DEC 2

  • Snowman Tree Lighting and Toy Drive DAY 4: SATURDAY, DEC 3

  • Cocktail Class DAY 5: SUNDAY, DEC 4

  • Yoga Adult Class - 9:30am-10:30am DAY 8: WEDNESDAY, DEC 7

  • Yoga Family Class 10:45am-11:15am - DAY 8: WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7

  • Wine and Cheese Class  DAY 9: THURSDAY, DEC 8

  • Horse Trolley Ride $45.00 - DAY 11: DEC 10

  • Cooking Class W/ Casey - DAY 12: SUNDAY, DEC 11"

• Lighted Boat Parade Dec 10, Petaluma Marina 

• Penngrove Holiday Parade of Lights with lighted farm vehicles.  Dec 18, Downtown Penngrove 

• Guerneville Parade of Lights, Sat, Dec. 3, 7pm-Parade of Lights on Main Street in Downtown Guerneville. Small town holiday fun on the Russian River, with festively lit cars, trucks, tractors, and floats in a Fairy Christmas theme! 

A little further away

• Parade of Lights and Winter Wonderland Nov 26th from 1p-5p with a lighted classic car parade at 5:30p. Downtown San Rafael 

• Calistoga Lighted Tractor Parade Dec 3, Downtown Calistoga 

• Glowfari, A Wildly Illuminating Lantern Festival! Nov 11 – Jan 29, Oakland Zoo 

Hanukkah

Sonoma County

• Chanukah Celebration & Drone Gelt Drop, Dec.18, 4:30-6:00 pm, (Petaluma) 

A little further away

• Hanukkah Inside Out! FREE and fun Hanukkah holiday event! Dec 11, The Osher Marin JCC 

• Chanukah in the Park Come together for a pre-Chanukah dreidel craft at the park! Dec 12, Old Mill Park (San Rafael) 

Menorah & Tree Lighting

Sonoma County

• Winter Lights Tree Lighting Event Nov 25, Old Courthouse Square (Santa Rosa) 

• 21st Annual Holiday Celebration & Tree Lighting, DECEMBER 1, 5 – 8 PM, Windsor Town Green 

A little further away

• Macy's Annual Great Tree Lighting Ceremony Nov 25, Union Square Park (SF) 

• Holiday Carousel Lighting Nov 26, Children’s Creativity Museum (SF) 

• Tree Lighting Ceremony at Jelly Belly The event begins stage-side with live entertainment and parade, followed by puppet shows, fun and Santa! 5 - 8pm. Nov 26, Jelly Belly Candy Company (Fairfield)

• Hanukkah Lighting in Tiburon–Bring your Hanukkah spirit and join us at the fountain in downtown Tiburon to light the grand Hanukkah! Songs, doughnuts, LED Hanukkah crafts, chocolate gelt and more! Dec 3 

Santa Train Rides

A little further away

• Skunk train (departing from Willits) Nov 26 – Dec 31, 

• Sacramento River Train Nov 25– Dec 23, Sacramento River Train 

• Santa Trains NOVEMBER 26 -Dec 18th (Sat & Sun only)  12 PM – 7 PM, 5848 CA-12, Suisun City, CA 94585-9741 

• Chanukah Train –This one may be more than a day trip, Nov 26, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk 

Breakfast with Santa

Sonoma County

• Breakfast with Santa Program at Costeaux French Bakery Costeaux French Bakery (Healdsburg) 

• Breakfast with Santa, DEC 10, 9a – 12 PM, City of Cotati 

• Cookies & Cocoa With Santa & Mrs. Claus, Fri, Dec 23, @ 12 PM – 3 PM, Petaluma Village Premium Outlets  

Photos with Santa

Sonoma County

• Windsor Santa 

• Dandelion Boutique hosted a picture with santa last year, I am hoping they will host this again.  

• Coddingtown mall

• Petaluma Village Premium Outlets, Come Meet Santa, DEC 3rd, 10th and 17th, AT 12–3 PM 

• Have pets? Santa Paws at Western Farm Center, Dec. 3, 10am-3pm, Have your pets picture taken with Santa Paws! Proceeds benefit Canine Companions. (Santa Rosa) 

Christmas Lights

I found these websites listing some Christmas lights to see around Santa Rosa. I am hopeful they will be expanded upon as we get closer to Christmas. If anyone knows of a good drive-thru Christmas light show, let me know. 

Please feel free to add some activities you would like to share that I may have missed or provide some feedback, if you have attended any of these in the past. I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season full of love and happiness.