New festival in Modesto joins this year’s many community holiday celebrations

First, give thanks. Then give yourself a chance to bask in the community yuletide glow.

Cities and towns across the greater Modesto and Mother Lode regions will begin making merry right after Thanksgiving.

There are a few community holiday events set for that weekend, with plenty more festivals, parades, tree lightings and other celebrations planned well into December.

There’s even one event that kicks off the day before Thanksgiving.

Among the Thanksgiving weekend offerings is a new one this year. A Winter Festival at two downtown Modesto historical sites — the McHenry Mansion and McHenry Museum — will feature activities for all ages when they open after decorating for the holidays.

Look for Victorian Santa and Mrs. Claus on the mansion grounds, gingerbread cookie decorating at the nearby McClatchy Square park and winter-themed crafts and activities at the museum. There will be horse-drawn carriage rides and more.

But Modesto isn’t the only place to find holiday cheer in the area. Here’s a look at some of the many festivities planned:

CHRISTMAS TOWN SONORA — Nov. 26-December: The celebration begins with a lighting ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 26, viewable from the Sonora Fire Museum and Senior Lounge parking lot, 125 N. Washington St. The Sonora Christmas Parade will be held Friday, Nov. 28, beginning at 6 p.m. from the Red Church (St. James Episcopal, 42 Snell St.) to Restano Way. Also planned through December are visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, horse-drawn holiday carriage rides, a concert and more. For more details, specific dates and times, see christmastownsonora.org.

TURLOCK FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS — Nov. 28: Turlock’s annual celebration offers a tree-lighting ceremony at Central Park with music, nearly 200 vendors and a drone show in downtown. 5-9 p.m. event; tree lighting at 6:30 p.m.; drone show 8:30 p.m. 209-634-6459.

HISTORIC PROPERTIES WINTER FESTIVAL — Nov. 29: Events will be held at the McHenry Mansion, McHenry Museum and McClatchy Square in Modesto, celebrating the reopening of the museum and mansion with its holiday decorations. Victorian Santa and Mrs. Claus will be on the mansion grounds for photos. There will be gingerbread cookie decorating at the park and winter-themed crafts and activities at the museum, as well as roaming carolers outdoors. Events from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. with horse-drawn carriage rides available from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The mansion is at 906 15th St.; the museum at 1402 I St.; and the park is across the street from the museum. Free. 209-961-5231.

GUSTINE’S OLD-FASHIONED CHRISTMAS — Nov. 29: A host of events begins with breakfast with Santa at the GPS Hall from 8-11 a.m. before a craft fair on Fifth Street, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. There will be a Christmas decor silent auction, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at 394 Fifth St. Santa’s Workshop with crafts for children will be at 367 Fifth St. from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Santa will offer a book reading in front of the city Christmas tree at 1 p.m., followed by pictures with Santa at Lions Park on Main Street. Free s’mores, hot cocoa and coffee downtown, 5-6:30 p.m. The Christmas tree lighting and entertainment begin at 6 p.m. at Fifth Street and Fourth Avenue, with a parade right after the lighting. www.cityofgustine.com/calendar.aspx.

SOUTH MODESTO BUSINESSES UNITED CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING — Dec. 1: The SMBU annual tree lighting will be at 6 p.m. at East Hatch and Crows Landing roads, Modesto. The entire community is invited to join in the event. 209-876-1921.

McHENRY MANSION CHRISTMAS TEA — Dec. 2: Enjoy a holiday tea with sandwiches and desserts at the historic downtown mansion. Seatings at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. with limited seating available; reservations required. 906 15th St., Modesto. $40. Reserve at 209-522-1739.

CHRISTMAS POSADA — Dec. 3: South Modesto Businesses United presents its annual Posada. There will be free toys, Mexican hot chocolate, pastries and tamales. Also, a bag of groceries for each family, first come, first served. 6 p.m. Los Amigos Tire, 1700 Crows Landing Road, Modesto. Free. 209-876-1921.

TURLOCK DOWNTOWN CHRISTMAS PARADE — Dec. 5: The city’s annual lighted parade, with the theme “Dreamland” this year, will be held beginning at the corner of Canal Drive and Main Street, running along Main Street, up Broadway and ending at the Stanislaus County Fairground. The parade starts at 6:30 p.m. 209-668-5594.

ATWATER CHRISTMAS PARADE – Dec. 5: The theme for this year’s parade is “Candyland Christmas.” It will be held at 7 p.m. on Broadway Avenue. www.atwater.org/event/atwater-christmas-parade.

COLUMBIA LAMPLIGHT TOUR — Dec 5-6: Christmastime in Columbia in 1855 will be re-created in a walking play. Participants meet at Columbia Museum and walk through the decorated town led by lantern-carrying guides. Tours are every 15 minutes beginning at 6:30 p.m. Friday, 5:30 p.m. Saturday. $30, $10 ages 10-14; not recommended for children under 10. friendsofcolumbiashp.com.

SPIRIT OF WINTER FESTIVAL & HOLIDAY MARKETPLACE — Dec. 5-7: Craft vendors, entertainment including music by Golden Bough, food, drinks and more will be available at this event in the Mother Lode. 2-8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday. $5-$10. Calaveras County Fairgrounds, 2465 Gun Club Road, Angels Camp. spiritofwinterfestival.com.

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA — Dec. 6: Enjoy pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausages, milk, orange juice and coffee. Santa will be there and Mrs. Claus will lead a story time. Also, arts and crafts for children. 8-11:30 a.m. Modesto Senior Citizens Center, 211 Bodem St. $10, free ages 2 and under. www.modestogov.com/3136/Breakfast-with-Santa.

CELEBRATION OF LIGHTS PARADE — Dec. 6: The Modesto holiday parade’s theme this year is “Elves Just Want To Have Fun.” The route runs through downtown beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the corner of 14th and I streets and will travel west on I Street to 10th, north on 10th Street to J Street and east on J street to 17th Street. Earlier in the day, there will be a free Holidays Around the World event at the McHenry Museum, 1402 I St., 10 a.m.-noon, with hands-on activities and information about holidays celebrated worldwide. www.modestogov.com/553/Holiday-Parade.

ROCKIN’ HOLIDAYS — Dec. 6: Stroll the retro, garland-lined street, enjoy the Rockin’ North Pole, snowfall shows and Santa’s sleigh. Rockin’ Santa and his Rockin’ Elves also will be there. A tree lighting will be held at 7 p.m., after the Modesto holiday parade. The event continues with lights, snow, music and Santa on Thursdays through Saturdays, 6-9 p.m. from Dec. 12-21. Tenth Street Plaza, Modesto. Free.

CHRISTMAS TREE LANE OPENING AND FESTIVITIES — Dec. 6: The region’s large nightly neighborhood display kicks off as Ceres’ Christmas Tree Lane is set aglow. There will be arts and crafts, live music, food vendors, pictures with Santa and more from 4-6 p.m. Ceres Community Center, 2701 Fourth St. A parade begins at Fowler and Moffett roads at 7 p.m. 209-538-5628.

A SMALL TOWN CHRISTMAS – Dec. 6: The celebration in Oakdale includes candle-making workshops at various times; a Downtown Christmas event on First Avenue with food, vendors, crafts and s’mores from 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; a Christmas parade on Eighth Street at 5 p.m.; and a Christmas tree lighting ceremony at Wood Park at 6 p.m., with Santa at the gazebo to greet kids and the Oakdale High School choir singing carols. There are other holiday happenings throughout the day. For details, see www.smalltownchristmas.co/december-events.

PATTERSON CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL - Dec. 6: A candy cane hunt from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. kicks off at Thompson Chevrolet, 701 S. Second St., where kids can get a map to begin. There will be Reindeer Games for children at Plaza Circle from 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. and a holiday market, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., at Fire Station 1, 344 W. Las Palmas Ave. City trees will be lighted at 5:45 p.m. downtown with an electric light parade downtown at 6 p.m. Pictures with Santa follow the parade at US Bank, 13 Plaza Circle. pattersonwestleychamber.org.

GOLD COUNTRY PARADE — Dec. 6: Angels Camp’s annual Christmas parade will make its way through downtown from St. Patrick’s Church, 820 S. Main St., to downtown beginning at 5 p.m. There will be visits with Santa following the parade until 7:30 p.m. at Next Home Utica Properties, 1239 E. Main St. 209-736-1333.

ESCALON CHRISTMAS ON MAIN — Dec. 6: A vendor fair will take place from 3-8 p.m. in Main Street Park with food, activities for kids, entertainment, free hot chocolate and more. There will be a “Frozen” screening and singalong at the Escalon Library, 6:30 p.m., and Christmas family bingo, also at the library at 6:30 p.m. The annual parade in downtown begins at 5:30 p.m. Santa will be on hand following the parade. Main Street, Escalon. 209-838 7848.

LATHROP CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS — Dec. 6 and 13: On Dec. 6, a Christmas parade will be held on Fifth Street beginning at 5 p.m. A tree lighting follows at 6:30 p.m. at the Senior Center on Fifth Street, with entertainment, vendors, cookies, cocoa and Santa and Mrs. Claus. On Dec. 13, Donuts with Santa will be held in one-hour time slots from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Community Center, 15557 Fifth St. $30 includes family photo and half dozen doughnuts; for $5 more you can purchase craft kits. Registration necessary for the Donuts with Santa at www.ci.lathrop.ca.us/parksrec/page/donuts-santa-4. 209-941-7200.

LIVINGSTON CHRISTMAS PARADE – Dec. 12: The “Christmas Night of Lights” parade will be held on Main Street from Peach to D streets. There will be food trucks available starting at 5 p.m. and the parade begins at 6:30 p.m. www.cityoflivingston.org/recreation/page/christmas-parade.

WATERFORD CHRISTMAS PARADE & MARKET — Dec. 13: There will be a Christmas market with vendors, food trucks, pictures with Santa and children’s activities from 2:30-7 p.m. in downtown Waterford. The annual lighted parade begins at 5:30 p.m. at Moon Elementary School and ends in downtown, where hot chocolate and photos with Santa will be available. lovewaterford.org.

RIVERBANK CHRISTMAS PARADE & CRAFT FAIR — Dec. 13: There will be a craft fair from 3-8 p.m. in downtown Riverbank. The parade begins at 5:30 p.m., also downtown. Santa will be available for photos during a tree-lighting ceremony following the parade. 209-863-7150.

McHENRY MANSION CANDLELIGHT TOURS — Dec. 20-21: Tours by candlelight will be held in the McHenry Mansion, decorated for a Victorian-era Christmas. Tours begin at 5:30 p.m., with the last entrance at 7:30 p.m. 906 15th St., Modesto. $10, $5 age 10 and under. 209-577-5235.

MINERS CHRISTMAS — Dec. 20-21: Columbia State Historic Park continues its holiday offerings with a demonstration of what Christmas in a Gold Rush town may have looked like in the 1850s. Listen to Christmas stories from miners, taste chestnuts roasted over an open fire and make old-fashioned crafts. Historic buildings of Columbia will be adorned in old-fashioned decorations. Father Christmas arrives by stage at 12:30 p.m. The event is noon-3 p.m. Main Street, Columbia. Free. friendsofcolumbiashp.com.