Sacramento Glows With Holiday Spirit

One of the (many) good things about living in a big city surrounded by world-class destinations is the amount of amazing and unique things there are to see and do. Those things are all the more spectacular during the holidays – when neighborhoods from Sacramento to South Shore and Yolo County to the Yuba River sparkle with festive lights.

Macy’s Theatre of Lights in Old Sacramento is rightfully considered the city’s crowning glory of Christmas spirit. Nearly every night now through New Year’s Eve, the streets become a stage as performers re-tell ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas twice each evening.

Sacramento was hand-selected to host this year’s Global Winter Wonderland. The lantern festival and multicultural theme park illuminates 17 acres at CalExpo, with vibrant light displays, carnival rides, and an international food court.

For an innovative New Year’s Eve outing, you can catch the Torchlight Parade at Squaw Valley USA. Bundled up guests and locals alike gather at the base of the mountain to see scores of skiers and riders make their way down the mountain, aglow with flares and torches. A fireworks show follows as the final hours of 2014 slip away.

But not everything needs to be over the top spectacular. Some of the greatest joys can be seen by simply driving around and taking in the sites of local neighborhoods adorned with their own charming displays. Favorite areas include the Fab 40s in East Sac, boasting large, turn-of-the century colonial, craftsman, and Tudor homes elegantly draped with lights. The quiet and community-oriented Pocket neighborhood also comes alive every December with a strong showing of holiday spirit.