A flurry of festivities across the Modesto region

Last week marked the beginning of the holiday celebration blitz in communities across the Modesto and Mother Lode region. This weekend brings another flurry of festivities – with a sprinkling more set for after.

In downtown Modesto, you can bask in the holiday spirit from early Saturday morning (Dec. 5) into the night with a host of events that begin with a visit from the big guy himself, Santa Claus.

The city’s annual Breakfast with Santa will be held from 8:30 to 11 a.m. at the Senior Citizens Center, 211 Bodem St. There will be live music, crafts for kids, story time with Mrs. Claus, and visits with the head jolly old elf.

After breakfast comes a trip down Victorian lane with the Dickens Faire and later the Celebration of Lights Parade and kickoff of Rockin’ Holidays. Here’s a rundown of those events and some of the other community festivities planned:

Turlock Downtown Christmas Parade – Friday, Dec. 4: This annual event begins at 6:30 p.m. with a lighted parade on historic Main Street beginning at Canal Drive. Holiday music and vendors will begin the event. 209-668-5594.

Murphys Open House – Friday, Dec. 4: An old-fashioned celebration in the foothills community features a holiday parade at 5:30 p.m. Also planned are treats and local wines with musicians and carolers filling the streets with sounds of the season. Santa arrives in the parade to light the tree and take photos with children. Free. 5 to 8 p.m. www.visitmurphys.com.

Lighted Christmas Tree Forest – Dec. 4-25: The city of Livingston hosts a court of lighted Christmas trees on display throughout the month. In addition, a Christmas Parade and Gift Fair will be held Friday, Dec. 4, beginning at 5 p.m. on Main Street before the tree lights go up at 6 p.m. on the Old Court Theater property in downtown. The parade begins at 7 p.m. at Memorial Park and ends at D Street. 209-394-8830.

Christmas Tree Lane Festival – Saturday, Dec. 5: The grand opening of Ceres’ Christmas Tree Lane – a nightly display of lights and decorations throughout a neighborhood in the city – kicks off with the Ceres Christmas Festival at Smyrna Park on Moffet Road from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. An expanded parade will be held, as well as a Santa’s Village, carriage rides, refreshments and live entertainment. Also, pictures with Santa until 7 p.m. with canned food donations, Free. 209-538-5682.

Dickens Faire – Saturday, Dec. 5: Modesto’s large downtown Christmas celebration brings the era of “A Christmas Carol” to life outside the McHenry Mansion on 15th Street with music, vendors, a craft fair, food and strolling carolers. Inside the mansion, docents in period clothing offer tours of the historic building decked in holiday splendor. The event is held in conjunction with the Saturday Farmers Market. Free children’s activities will be held down the street at the McHenry Museum. Free. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. McHenry Mansion, 906 15th St., Modesto. 209-549-0428.

Rockin’ Holidays and Celebration of Lights – Saturday, Dec. 5: After spending the day at the Dickens Faire, enjoy the city of Modesto’s glittering holiday parade in downtown beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the corner of 14th and I streets. After, trees will be set aglow outside Modesto Centre Plaza at K and 10th streets. The event also kicks off an ongoing Rockin’ Holidays at 10th Street Plaza in December that will feature lights, garland, retro decorations and music Thursdays through Saturdays through Dec. 19.

A Charlie Brown Christmas Parade – Saturday, Dec. 5: Waterford’s annual lighted parade coincides with a community toy and food drive. Attendees should take unwrapped gifts and food donations. 5:30 p.m. beginning at Richard Moon Elementary School, 319 N. Reinway Ave., and ends at Waterford Middle School.

Spirit of Giving Festival – Dec. 12: The sixth annual Modesto Spirit of Giving includes a Jingle Bell 5k Run and Walk, as well as a vendor fair. The start/finish line will be located at Tenth Street Plaza, 1010 Tenth St, with holiday vendor booths and festivities, including a free quarter-mile kid’s fun run where children 10 and under can chase the Grinch out of Modesto. Santa will be on hand for pictures. Proceeds benefit low-income children, seniors and individuals with disabilities through the city of Modesto, as well as Modesto Gospel Mission. Registration is $20-$35 and race-day pick up is from 7 to 8 a.m. at the Plaza, the run/walk starts at 8:30 a.m. The children’s fun run starts at 9:45 a.m. The holiday festival continues until 2 p.m. www.modestospiritofgiving.org.

Escalon’s Christmas on Main – Dec. 12: A vendor fair with entertainment and marshmallow roasting over fire pits leads up to a Parade of Lights and the arrival of Santa Claus to Escalon. 3:30 to 8 p.m. Free. Main Street, Escalon. 209-838-2793.

Menorah Lighting – Tuesday, Dec. 8: The annual public lighting of the Hanukkah menorah will be offered by Congregation Beth Shalom in downtown Modesto. Hanukkah, an eight-day Jewish holiday celebrating religious freedom, primarily is marked by the lighting of candles shortly after sunset. The public Festival of Lights celebration is free and open to all. A Hanukkah party will be held after at CBS at 6:30 p.m. Lighting is at 5 p.m. at Tenth Street Plaza, 10th and J streets, Modesto. Other community menorah lightings are in downtown Oakdale on Dec. 6 at 5 p.m., California State University, Stanislaus, Dec. 9 at 4:30 p.m. and McHenry Village, Dec. 11, at 4:30 p.m. 209-571-6060.

This story was originally published December 2, 2015 at 10:45 AM with the headline "A flurry of festivities across the Modesto region."