Here are 8 fun things to do this holiday season in San Joaquin County

Angelaydet Rocha, The Stockton Record
·6 min read

The days are getting colder and the holidays are approaching. Thanksgiving is just around the corner and Christmas is not too far away either. To celebrate the holidays this year head to a fun holiday event in San Joaquin County for a cute date or family outing.

Here are 8 fun things to do this holiday season in Stockton and nearby cities this November and December.

Stockton Lantern Festival

A couple is silhouetted by a volcano at the Winter Lantern Festival at American Dream on Friday, November 3, 2023.
A couple is silhouetted by a volcano at the Winter Lantern Festival at American Dream on Friday, November 3, 2023.

Stockton Lantern Festival will be in downtown Stockton from November to January. The Stockton Ballpark will transform into Koda's Journey to the Magic Forest with over 20,000 LED lights.

"Follow the footsteps of an 8-year-old boy named Koda to take on an exciting adventure to the deep woods of Caballococha, Peru," the Stockton Live website states. "The lines of reality and imagination start to blur as you weave through the forest."

Early bird tickets are now on sale on Ticketmaster. Tickets start at $22 for adults and $18 for children.

  • Location: Stockton Ballpark, 404 W. Fremont St. in Stockton

  • Hours: 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24 through Sunday, Jan. 14

  • Information: stocktonlive.com

Meet Santa Claus at The Primitive Barn

Children pose with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Mims Corner annual Christmas toy and food giveaway at the Greater Christ Temple church in north Stockton. The is the 11th year for the non-profit's event, and the 2nd year as a drive-thru event due to COVID-19. Organizer Penny Mims says that they prepared 250 boxes of food and bought $3,000-$4000 worth of toys and $6,000 with of bicycles. Home Depot donated $1,000 to the event as well as provided volunteers to help distribute the gifts and food.

Santa Claus will be making a few stops at The Primitive Barn in Linden starting Nov. 24. He will be at the barn on three dates Friday, Nov. 24, Saturday, Dec. 9, and Saturday, Dec. 16 to take photos. Admission and parking are free. Donations for reindeer feed are welcomed. The entrance to the barn is at Wall Road.

  • Location: The Primitive Barn, 19783 Highway 26 in Linden

  • Hours: 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9 and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16

  • Information: facebook.com/ThePrimitiveBarn

Lodi Parade of Lights

The F & M Bank float rolls down Church Street in the Kiwanis Club of Greater Lodi's annual Parade of Lights in downtown Lodi on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022. More than 80 floats washed in a sea of lights, marching bands, dance groups, and themed vehicles participated in the Lodi traditional kickoff to the Christmas season.
The F & M Bank float rolls down Church Street in the Kiwanis Club of Greater Lodi's annual Parade of Lights in downtown Lodi on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022. More than 80 floats washed in a sea of lights, marching bands, dance groups, and themed vehicles participated in the Lodi traditional kickoff to the Christmas season.

Downtown Stockton's Parade of Lights is a free event hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Greater Lodi.

"The official Christmas kickoff event of Lodi!" the Facebook event description states online. The event has more than 8,000 people interested in the parade.

  • Location: Downtown Lodi, 125 S. School St. in Lodi

  • Hours: 6:15 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 30

  • Information: facebook.com/lodiparade

31st Annual Festival of Trees

100-year-old Nancy Ann dolls cover the Delta Doll Club's tree in the Erickson Building at the San Joaquin County Historical Museum at Micke Grove Park in Lodi stands ready for the annual Festival of Trees event which will feature 54 trees decorated for the holidays by various groups. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on December 4 and 5.
100-year-old Nancy Ann dolls cover the Delta Doll Club's tree in the Erickson Building at the San Joaquin County Historical Museum at Micke Grove Park in Lodi stands ready for the annual Festival of Trees event which will feature 54 trees decorated for the holidays by various groups. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on December 4 and 5.

A cattle rancher-themed tree to a doll-themed Christmas tree are just some of the past trees at the Festival of Trees in Lodi. The festival is back for another year this December with more than 60 decorated Christmas trees at the San Joaquin County Historical Museum at Micke Grove Regional Park.

Take a photo with Santa Claus, and enjoy food, crafts, entertainment and historical exhibits. Docents will be dressed in Victorian and pioneer clothing for the family-friendly event transporting you back in time.

General admission tickets are $15, a two-day general admission ticket is $25. Children 2-12 years old enter for $5 and children under 2 years- old enter for free. There is a $6 parking fee. Funds from the Festival of Trees will benefit the museum's youth and educational programs.

There is a Senior Preview Day from 1-4 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 1. This is perfect for "older adults and others who may have difficulty in large crowds," the museum's website states. Senior Preview tickets are $8 with free parking. However, not all activities and entertainment will be available on this day.

For tickets visit sanjoaquinhistory.org.

  • Location: San Joaquin County Historical Museum, Micke Grove Regional Park, 11793 N. Micke Grove Road in Lodi

  • Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 through Sunday, Dec. 3

  • Information: sanjoaquinhistory.org/

42nd Annual Lynn Hahn Memorial Delta Reflections Lighted Boat Parade

Boats adorned with Christmas lights traverse McLeod Lake at the head of the Deep Water Channel during the Stockton Yacht Club's annual Lynn Hahn Memorial, Delta Reflections Christmas Lighted Boat Parade in downtown Stockton on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022.
Boats adorned with Christmas lights traverse McLeod Lake at the head of the Deep Water Channel during the Stockton Yacht Club's annual Lynn Hahn Memorial, Delta Reflections Christmas Lighted Boat Parade in downtown Stockton on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022.

The 42nd Annual Lynn Hahn Memorial Delta Reflections Lighted Boat Parade will be back this December. An event by the Stockton Yacht Club and Roger Hahn. The Port of Stockton fireboat Sunrise will lead the parade that starts at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2 at Windmill Cove and will travel to the downtown Stockton Marina and Weber Point by 6:30 p.m.

The parade then will head back to Light 39 in the Stockton Deep Water Channel for the end of the parade. Even if it rains the parade will still take place.

"The Delta Reflections Lighted Boat Parade is dedicated in honor of Lynn Hahn. Lynn was a member of the Marina West Yacht Club," Vist Stockton's website states. "She will always be remembered for her dedication to preservation of the San Joaquin Delta."

  • Location: Weber Point at the Downtown Waterfront, 221 N Center St. in Stockton

  • Hours: 5-7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2

  • Information: facebook.com

Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony

City of Stockton public works employee Jose Flores works with a crew assembling the city Christmas tree at the Weber Point Events Center in downtown Stockton on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022. The crew was preparing for the annual tree lighting ceremony at about 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3 followed by the Lynn Hahn Memorial Delta Reflections Lighted Boat Parade at about 6 p.m. Preceding the ceremony will be the Stockton Holiday Parade at 3 p.m.

The City of Stockton is back this holiday season with its Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 2. Head over to the Weber Point Events Center for the lighting of the tree at 5:30 p.m. There will be snowfall, live caroling, and visits from Frosty the Snowman and Santa Claus as well as hot chocolate and cookies.

  • Location: Weber Point Events Center, 221 N Center St. in Stockton

  • Hours: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2

  • Information: stocktonca.gov

An Irish Christmas at The Grand Center Theater for the Arts

The Grand Theatre Center for the Arts at the Madame Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis Theatre in Tracy is having "An Irish Christmas." There will be holiday carols to Irish dancing. This is a performance that might be familiar from PBS.

"An Irish Christmas is a celebration of family and community that showcases some of the great Irish holiday traditions and features award-winning dancers from Riverdance, Lord of the Dance and Celtic Wings," the theater's website states. Tickets start at $25.

  • Location: Grand Theatre Center for the Arts, 715 N Central Ave. in Tracy

  • Hours: 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15

  • Information: atthegrand.org

A Drag Queen Christmas at the Bob Hope Theatre

Promotion flyer for "A Drag Queen Christmas."
Promotion flyer for "A Drag Queen Christmas."

"A Drag Queen Christmas" tour is making a stop in downtown Stockton. Head over to the Bob Hope Theatre for an 18+ "LGBTQ+ friendly" event.

"For the 9th consecutive year, Murray & Peter present, "A Drag Queen Christmas", the longest running drag tour in America," Ticketmaster's website states. "Get ready for your favorite queens performing live on stage. We've got Winners, Fan Favorites, OGs, Miss Congeniality, plus queens from Season 15 and All Stars 8."

The show starts at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 16. The meet and greet begins at 6 p.m. Tickets start at $50. The tour will also make stops in Los Angeles on Dec. 8, San Francisco Dec. 9 and Redding on Dec. 10.

  • Location: Bob Hope Theatre, 242 E Main St. in Stockton

  • Hours: 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16

  • Information: ticketmaster.com

Record reporter Angelaydet Rocha covers community news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at arocha@recordnet.com or on Twitter @AngelaydetRocha. To support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.

This article originally appeared on The Record: Things to do holiday season in San Joaquin County