Get thrilled for holiday fun in Carmichael! Our guide will lead you to all the best events. For those who live and breathe Carmichael and those just getting acquainted, this guide is your festive companion.
Popular events include the Imaginarium Holiday Light Festival, where spectacular light displays transform the area into a winter wonderland. With its charming performances, the Theatre of Lights brings holiday stories to life through festive theatrical presentations. And you definitely don't want to miss the Downtown Sacramento Ice Rink, which offers a delightful skating experience right in the heart of the city. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Carmichael
- Imaginarium Holiday Light Festival (Sacramento)
- Theatre of Lights (Sacramento)
- Downtown Sacramento Ice Rink (Sacramento)
- Carmichael's Holiday Tree Lighting Event
- Oak Park Black Film Festival (Sacramento)
- Brett Dennen: Golden State of Mind Tour (Sacramento)
- R.E.S.P.E.C.T: A Celebration of the Music of Aretha Franklin (Sacramento)
- Nick Carter (Sacramento)
- Guess: The Greatest Billie Party (Sacramento)
- We Own the Laughs (Sacramento)
See these and even more events listed below!
Carmichael Holiday Light Displays
Imaginarium Holiday Light Festival
What to Expect:
Immersive light displays with interactive experiences and daily circus performances.
Description:
Imaginarium at Cal Expo features over 5 million lights, including a famous rose garden with 30,000 LEDs. The event includes mirror worlds, enchanted forests, fantastical creatures, and photo boxes for capturing memories. It also offers carnival rides, games, ice skating, and a free daily circus with three performances per day.
Where: Sacramento | More Info: Imaginarium Holiday Light Festival
Carmichael's Holiday Tree Lighting Event
What to Expect:
Live music and Santa visits with a charitable canned goods drive.
Description:
Join Carmichael Recreation and Park District for the Holiday Tree Lighting at Carmichael Park. Enjoy live music, arts and crafts, and holly jolly fun. Santa and Queen Elsa will be available for visits and photos, with a request to donate one canned good per child to the San Juan Unified School District Food Closet. Watch as the tree is lit up amidst a flurry of "snow" at Carmichael Park.
Where: Carmichael | More Info: Carmichael's Holiday Tree Lighting Event
Carmichael Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Theatre of Lights
What to Expect:
Live dramatization on historic rooftops with special appearances by Jack Frost and St. Nick.
Description:
Theatre of Lights is a free, family-friendly performance retelling "Twas the Night Before Christmas" in a uniquely Sacramento way on the rooftops of the Old Sacramento Waterfront. The show features an immersive retelling of Moore's 1823 poem alongside stories of how Sacramento pioneers experienced the calamities and revelry of the new city in the 1850s. The sounds of fires, floods, and parties surround the audience as 150-year-old building facades light up with color.
Where: Sacramento | More Info: Theatre of Lights
Oak Park Black Film Festival
What to Expect:
Celebrating African-American stories and history through diverse cinematic works.
Description:
The Oak Park Black Film Festival is a celebration of African-American stories and history through cinema, showcasing independent features, documentaries, and short films by African-American filmmakers.
Where: Sacramento | More Info: Oak Park Black Film Festival
Brett Dennen: Golden State of Mind Tour
What to Expect:
Emotional and introspective folk-pop performance.
Description:
Brett Dennen's Golden State of Mind Tour at Harlow's features a heartfelt performance by the singer-songwriter, known for his deeply felt sentiments and rich acoustic guitar melodies. His music explores the human condition, touching on themes of pain, joy, and social commentary.
Where: Sacramento | More Info: Brett Dennen: Golden State of Mind Tour
Guess: The Greatest Billie Party
What to Expect:
Unique blend of contemporary pop and electronic music.
Description:
Guess: The Greatest Billie Party is an energetic event featuring a DJ set with the best tracks from Billie Eilish, Kaytranada, Charli XCX, and more. The event promises an exciting night of music and dance.
Where: Sacramento | More Info: Guess: The Greatest Billie Party
Nick Carter
What to Expect:
Solo performance by a pop icon with a rich musical history.
Description:
Nick Carter, a renowned pop superstar and former member of the Backstreet Boys, will perform at the Harris Center in Folsom, CA. Known for his successful solo career and hits like "Hurts to Love You," Carter promises an unforgettable evening of music.
Where: Sacramento | More Info: Nick Carter
R.E.S.P.E.C.T: A Celebration of the Music of Aretha Franklin
What to Expect:
Tribute concert celebrating Aretha Franklin's music with a live band and vocalists.
Description:
R.E.S.P.E.C.T: A Celebration of the Music of Aretha Franklin is an electrifying tribute concert featuring a live band and supreme vocalists. The concert takes audiences on a journey through love, tragedy, courage, and triumph, showcasing all your favorite Aretha Franklin hits, including "Natural Woman," "Think," and "Respect."
Where: Sacramento | More Info: R.E.S.P.E.C.T: A Celebration of the Music of Aretha Franklin
We Own the Laughs
What to Expect:
Unique blend of comedy talent with a two-drink minimum policy.
Description:
We Own the Laughs is a comedy event featuring a lineup of talented comedians at the Punch Line Comedy Club in Sacramento. The show is open to those 18 and over, with a two-drink minimum per person and no cameras or video/audio recording devices allowed. The event supports the comedy community through Comedy Gives Back.
Where: Sacramento | More Info: We Own the Laughs
Squad Patrol: Monsters, Mayhem, and Murder
What to Expect:
Longform sketch comedy with a murder mystery twist.
Description:
Squad Patrol: Monsters, Mayhem, and Murder is a longform sketch comedy featuring vampire twins, the Invisible Man, Frankenstein, and his ex-wife, all invited to a party where they are being killed off one by one. It combines elements of Agatha Christie's "Then There Were None" with 1980s slasher movies, creating a ribald sketch comedy mystery.
Where: Sacramento | More Info: Squad Patrol: Monsters, Mayhem, and Murder
Mrs. Doubtfire
What to Expect:
Family-friendly comedy with a Scottish nanny.
Description:
Mrs. Doubtfire is a heartwarming musical comedy about a Scottish nanny who brings a family together. Based on the beloved film, this feel-good show delivers laughter and joy with its lovable characters and big-hearted story.
Where: Sacramento | More Info: Mrs. Doubtfire
Comedy Yachtclub
What to Expect:
Stand-up comedy meets performance art in an elegant setting.
Description:
Comedy Yachtclub is a stand-up comedy experience where Heather Rogue presents bold, life-changing comedy that blends stand-up with performance art. The event is elegant and refined, offering a unique blend of comedy and performance art.
Where: Sacramento | More Info: Comedy Yachtclub
Carmichael Holiday Giving Opportunities
The Night Lights
What to Expect:
Community-driven fundraising event for blood cancer research.
Description:
The Light The Night Walk is a community event where friends, families, schools, and corporate teams come together to celebrate, honor, and remember those touched by blood cancers. Funds raised support lifesaving research, advocacy, and support for blood cancer patients and their families.
Where: Sacramento | More Info: The Night Lights
Carmichael Other Holiday Activities
Downtown Sacramento Ice Rink
What to Expect:
Ice skating in a vibrant city setting with themed events.
Description:
The Downtown Sacramento Ice Rink is a holiday tradition where you can ice skate under the city lights. Located in Ali Youssefi Square, it offers a perfect place to gather with friends and family. The rink has been transforming the neighborhood into a winter scene for over 30 years, featuring themed activations like craft days and silent disco nights.
Where: Sacramento | More Info: Downtown Sacramento Ice Rink
Lil Sprouts: Farm Walk
What to Expect:
Interactive farm exploration for toddlers with sensory activities.
Description:
Join Lil Sprouts for a multi-sensory farm walk where toddlers age 3-5 and their adult chaperones explore the farm, sing songs, play games, and harvest leafy greens. Toddlers will gain new vocabulary, practice social skills, and work on executive functions.
Where: Folsom | More Info: Lil Sprouts: Farm Walk
Autumn Kids Camp: Clay Camp
What to Expect:
Hands-on ceramics workshop with various techniques.
Description:
Autumn Kids Camp: Clay Camp is a hands-on ceramics workshop where kids learn the basics of hand-building, tool use, and adding vibrant colors. Each session introduces campers to different techniques, culminating in the creation of custom tiles, pinched animal figures, and vessels on the potter's wheel.
Where: Folsom | More Info: Autumn Kids Camp: Clay Camp
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Rancho Cordova (2 miles)
- Fair Oaks (4 miles)
- Foothill Farms (4 miles)
- Rosemont (5 miles)
- North Highlands (5 miles)
- Antelope (6 miles)
- Citrus Heights (7 miles)
- Orangevale (7 miles)
- Sacramento (9 miles)
- Florin (9 miles)
- Roseville (10 miles)
- Vineyard (11 miles)
- West Sacramento (11 miles)
- Rocklin (13 miles)
- Granite Bay (13 miles)
- El Dorado Hills (14 miles)
- Laguna (15 miles)
- Elk Grove (15 miles)
- Lincoln (19 miles)
- Davis (23 miles)
- Woodland (24 miles)
- Galt (25 miles)
- Lodi (34 miles)
- Yuba City (39 miles)
- Vacaville (40 miles)