Free family holiday events in Mendocino County

Thousands of twinkling lights will soon brighten dark winter nights in Mendocino County, ushering in the festive season in Gualala, Ukiah, Fort Bragg and Noyo Harbor.

Gualala Festival of Trees

The first of the county’s annual holiday events kicks off on Friday, November 29 and Saturday, November 30. The Gualala Arts Center will host 2024 Festival of Trees from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving.

The free event is one of the nonprofit’s flagship events. The Festival of Trees is a fundraising affair where decorated Christmas trees are auctioned off in a silent auction and hundreds of shoppers wait year-round to browse Mrs. Claus Bake Shop’s homemade holiday treats. Then, Uncle Sus, the attic ornaments are for sale. And the Forever Tree lot is equipped with artificial trees available for purchase.

Each year, local artisans sell their handmade gifts while shoppers listen to live holiday music, enjoy homemade treats, a puppet show and take a photo with Santa. At 10 a.m. both days, pianist Don Krieger will play Christmas carols. The event is expected to generate approximately $15,000 that will go toward Gualala Arts Center programs.

Gualala Lions Club Illuminated Truck Parade

That same Saturday, the Gualala Lions Club Lighted Truck Parade rolls into town starting at 6 p.m.

“We’ll take anything with wheels as long as they do a great job of decorating their vehicles,” said longtime parade organizer and Gualala Lion’s Club President Kevin Evans. “We have off-road vehicles, huge semis with trailers, vintage cars and fire engines, a friendly gang of bikers, OHVs and of course trucks of all kinds, each outshining the others with thousands of lights. Christmas. , fancy floats and moving figures.”

Attracting about 2,000 spectators, in a small town of its size, the parade starts outside Bed Rock Construction amid honks, sirens and music, making its way to the Gualala Hotel, where hot drinks and snacks are provided.

Winter Wonderland in Fort Bragg

Fort Bragg’s Annual Winter Wonderland is an afternoon of family festivities on Saturday, December 7 from noon to 6 p.m. The event takes place downtown at Franklin and Laurel streets in front of the Boarding House Museum. Local nonprofits will sell crafts, gifts and Christmas decorations, while seasonal music and carols fill the winter air. Children can take a photo with Santa Claus, free of charge, between 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the Pension Museum. Adults can try their hand at bidding on elaborately decorated Christmas trees at the auction.

As day turns to night, Mayor Bernie Norvell will light the city’s Christmas tree. Then the annual Lighted Truck Parade begins at 6:15 p.m

A collaboration between the NorCoast Rodders Car Club and the Fort Bragg Fire Department, the amazing all-vehicle welcome procession is organized by Fire Prevention Officer Steve Wells.

“The fire department has come to help with the parade, then put it on for the last dozen years,” he said. “We have a lot of fun with it, getting about thirty decorated vehicles from semis to tractors, motorcycles, costumed people on foot and kids on bikes weaving in and out of the parade. There will also be golf carts, pickup trucks…plus some hot rods, of course.”

Starting at West Pine Street and going to Franklin Street, Oak Street, Main Street and back to Pine Street, each vehicle has its own music. Some trucks have inflated characters. There is no doubt that all the trucks will be decorated with thousands of small bulbs twinkling with colorful festive lights.

Wells said this year’s responders, including Cal Fire and the U.S. Coast Guard, will turn on the lights of the cars and turn off the sirens on the city’s old and new fire trucks. An ambulance or two will also be in the mix.

“Rain or shine, hundreds of people show up,” Wells added. “We award Best of Show (for the best decorated truck) and everyone goes home with visions of sugar plums in their heads.”

Ukiah Parade of Lights

Also on Saturday, December 7, the city of Ukiah welcomes approximately 16,000 tourists each year Parade of lights. The event is one of the largest light parades in Northern California.

Local business trucks, jeeps, UTVs, semis and tractors are all decked out in thousands of twinkling lights as families watch from the sidewalk dressed in their most festive and comfortable attire. Santa Claus and his reindeer are sure to make an appearance in the form of lights. Firefighters and local police vehicles will also participate in the parade.

For those who wish to participate, applications close at 5pm on Monday 2 December. Awards will be given to trucks deemed Grand Champion, Best of Show and Honorable Mention.