December 2026Sacramento · City of Trees

December in Sacramento with little kids.

11 things to do with kids up to age 6 in and around Sacramento in December 2026, sorted by week. Each listing links to its own page and to the organizer’s page, and we add more as new dates are posted.

11 listings · 4 free

Last checked · Every listing links to its official page. How we choose

2 listings

Dec 1 to Dec 6

1 listing

Dec 7 to Dec 13

Know one we missed?Send us the organizer’s page and we’ll check it.Suggest an event

3 listings

Dec 28 to Dec 31

Know one we missed?Send us the organizer’s page and we’ll check it.Suggest an event

5 listings

Open for weeks at a time

Light displays, exhibits and other runs that last longer than a week. Check each page for the nights or days they’re closed.

Dec1to 21

THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride

Central Pacific Passenger Station, Old Sacramento · 930 Front Street, Sacramento, CA 95814

Santa
When
Nov 13 to Dec 21
Time
3:30, 5, 6:30 and 8pm (no 8pm on Dec 21)
Price
Coach $80–$85, First Class $100–$110 per person; under 2 free on a lap
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked
Dec1to 31

Imaginarium at Cal Expo

Cal Expo · 1600 Exposition Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95815

Holiday lights
When
Nov 14 to Jan 4
Time
Sun–Thu 5–10pm; Fri–Sat 5–11pm
Price
From $21 ages 13+; from $16 ages 3–12 and 62+; under 3 free
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked
Know one we missed?Send us the organizer’s page and we’ll check it.Suggest an event

Guides

More December guides for Sacramento

Santa visits in SacramentoBreakfasts, photos and Santa trainsChristmas lights in SacramentoDrive-thru and walk-through displaysEvery year in SacramentoAnnual events by month, with last year’s dates

Keep planning

More for little kids in Sacramento

November: things to do in SacramentoEvery dated listing for the month, by weekFree things to do in SacramentoFree days, free events and places that never chargeIndoor play in SacramentoIndoor playgrounds, toddler times, museums and classes, with pricesLibrary storytimes in SacramentoBaby, toddler and preschool storytimes by day and branchIce skating in SacramentoHoliday and indoor rinks, skate aids and pricesThanksgiving weekend in SacramentoParades, turkey trots and what’s open on ThursdayNoon Year’s Eve in SacramentoKid-friendly countdowns, home by napChristmas parades in SacramentoParades and tree lightings with dates and start timesChristmas trains in SacramentoPolar Express, Santa and lights trains with datesThe Nutcracker in SacramentoBallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flaggedChristmas markets in SacramentoChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hoursChristmas break in SacramentoWhat’s open on Dec 24, Dec 25 and Jan 1This week in SacramentoDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday

Good questions

December in Sacramento: the FAQ

11 dated listings so far, including Folsom Community Christmas Tree Lighting (Dec 4), Breakfast with Santa in Rancho Cordova (Dec 5), Breakfast with Santa aboard the Delta King (Dec 13) and Noon Year’s Eve at Central Library (Dec 31). The rest are below, by week. We add more as organizers post their dates.

7 start this December: Breakfast with Santa in Rancho Cordova (Dec 5), Breakfast with Santa aboard the Delta King (Dec 13), THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride (Nov 13 to Dec 21), Imaginarium at Cal Expo (Nov 14 to Jan 4) and Theatre of Lights in Old Sacramento (Nov 25 to Dec 24), plus 2 more below.

Yes, at the same address. After Dec 31, 2026 it switches to December 2027, starting with the events that come back every year.

Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 30, 2026, and we recheck them every Monday and Thursday. How we choose and check.

The checked list, every Thursday.

One short email every Thursday evening with the best things to do with little ones in Sacramento that weekend.

Sacramento skyline