Compiled by Nora Heston Tarte
Stockton Tamale Festival
December 5
Tour the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds and discover the first annual Stockton Tamale Festival! Enjoy a variety of live music, local restaurants preparing your favorite foods and drop on in to Tamale Alley! Live cooking demos will teach you the ins and outs of many incredible dishes. Cooking not your thing? No problem! Check out the car show, carnival and so much more on what will be the beginning to a family fun tradition each year! San Joaquin County Fairgrounds 1658 S. Airport Way, Stockton (209) 688-6918, StocktonTamaleFestival.com
Holiday Home Tour
December 6
Five local homeowners create holiday masterpieces out of their homes using decorations both inside and out. Not only do these homes embody the holiday spirit, the giving nature of the fundraiser—which benefits the McHenry House Tracy Family Shelter—fits the theme, as well. Tickets can be purchased through the McHenry House Office and The Owl Box downtown. Event begins at 5 PM. McHenry House Tracy Family Shelter, 739 A St., Tracy, (209) 835-2328, MchenryHouseTracy.org
Festival of Trees, Lodi
December 5-6
From 10 AM-4 PM, see 70 beautifully decorated, unique Christmas trees at the Museum Docent Council’s 24th annual Festival of Trees event. The Museum’s seven exhibit buildings will be brimming with dozens of festive trees, each decorated according to a unique theme. Also featured are special exhibits, entertainment, model trains and vintage craft demonstrations. For children, there will be many hands-on activities including decorating cookies, making cornhusk dolls, dipped candles and punched tin ornaments. San Joaquin History Museum, 11793 N. Micke Grove Rd., Lodi (209) 331-2055, SanJoaquinHistory.org
Five Weekends of Artful Holi-daze,
December 6-24
For five weekends in a row, patrons can enjoy slews of wonderful art, featuring everything from blown glass to artisan jewelry. In addition, fine art will fill the gallery with cheer. Don’t forget to sample the December Flavors of the Month, Egg Nog and Run Raisin, two delightful treats that will have your taste buds singing holiday melodies!
Tony Segale’s Double Dip Gallery, 222 W. Pine St., Lodi (209) 365-3344, DoubleDipGallery.com
Holidays on the Farm at Dell’Osso
December 6-January 3
Dell’Osso Farm brings the holidays to life with light displays; snow tubing and other fun and festive winter activities for the whole family. This annual event has brought everything from iceskating to Santa’s village to San Joaquin residents in its seven years as a holiday destination hotspot, and 2015 is sure to carry out the tradition.
Dell’Osso Farm, 26 Stewart Rd., Lathrop (209) 982-0833, HolidaysOnTheFarm.com
Santa Sunday at the Haggin Museum
December 6
Santa Claus has traveled all the way from the North Pole to visit children at the Haggin Museum in Victory Park from 12-5 PM. The halls are decked, the cookies are baked and the punch is poured, ready for his jovial arrival. Don’t forget to visit the new, interactive exhibit “Framed: Step into Art,” which gives children the opportunity to step inside the framework of famous paintings (runs through Jan 3, 2016). Bring your family and your camera for a special, magical Christmas experience.
Haggin Museum, 1201 N. Pershing Ave., Stockton (209) 940-6300, HagginMuseum.org
Champagne Shopping Event at the WoW
December 10
Enjoy a little sparkling wine while you peruse the aisles and pick out the perfect gifts for your little geniuses. The World of Wonders Science Museum has special discounts and complimentary gift wrapping to take all the stress out of your holiday shopping season! Doors open at 5:30 PM and close at 8:00 PM, providing you the perfect window of opportunity to cash in on all that window shopping you’ve done throughout the year! Grab those gifts before they’re gone! WoW Science Museum, 2 North Sacramento Street., Lodi (209) 368-0969, WowScienceMuseum.org
LeAnn Rimes: Today is Christmas Tour
December 11
Come see LeAnn Rimes, one of the most successful entertainers with a career spanning more than two decades, at 8 PM at the Grand Theater. With 44 million albums sold, two GRAMMY Awards, three Academy of Country Music Awards and 12 Billboard Music Awards, she has made her mark in the world of music. Opening for LeAnn Rimes is artist, songwriter and guitar phenom, Ellee Duke. Ellee sets her stories about love and life to hit-laden melodies reminiscent of the likes of John Mayer, Colbie Callait and Taylor Swift. Tickets are $59-$99 each. Grand Theater, 715 Central Ave., Tracy (209) 831-6858, AttheGrand.org
Stockton Civic Theater presents “Disney’s The Little Mermaid”
Through December 13
In a magical kingdom beneath the sea, the beautiful young mermaid Ariel longs to leave her ocean home to live in the world above. Based on one of Hans Christian Andersen’s most beloved stories, with music by eight-time Academy Award winner Alan Menken, this hauntingly beautiful love story will capture your heart with its timeless tale and irresistible songs including “Under the Sea,” “Kiss the Girl” and “Part of Your World.”
Stockton Civic Theater, 2312 Rosemarie Ln., Stockton (209) 473-2400, SctLiveTheater.com
Wine & Roses Winter Jubilee
December 13
Remember what the most wonderful time of the year is all about! Take the whole family over the river and through the woods to Wine & Roses and get your photo taken with Santa. Enjoy face painting, craft stations and storytime with Mrs. Claus! Roll off your mittens and curl up with warm holiday drinks while singing along with The Yule Logs, the featured band for this year’s wonderful Winter Jubilee! The fun begins at 1 PM and lasts until 4. Wine & Roses 2525 W. Turner Rd., Lodi (209) 334-6988, WineRose.com
Mythbusters Jaime & Adam Unleashed at the Bob Hope Theater
December 9
MythBusters Jamie & Adam UNLEASHED! presents a fantastical evening of on-stage experiments, audience participation, exciting videos, and behind-the-scenes stories. With this show, fans join Jamie and Adam onstage to assist in their mind-blowing and mind-twisting approaches to science. The show brings you face-to-face with the curious world of Jamie and Adam as the duo matches wits on stage with each other and members of the audience. Buy your tickets online at the Stockton Arena box office. Stockton Arena, 248 W. Fremont St., Stockton (209) 373-1400, StocktonLive.com
Stockton Symphony Presents POPSII: A Gospel Christmas Celebration
December 12-13
Sponsored by St. Joseph’s Medical Center, the Pops series continues with A Gospel Christmas Celebration, featuring Tramaine Hawkins, vocalist; A.M.E. Oakland Mass Choir, Rev. Williams, director and André Raphel, guest conductor. The very backbone of San Francisco Symphony’s beloved Colors of Christmas show is joined by multi- Grammy winner Lady Tramaine Hawkins, an inductee to the Gospel Hall of Fame.
Atherton Auditorium, San Joaquin Delta College, 5151 Pacific Ave., Stockton (209) 954-5151, StocktonSymphony.org
1940s Hit Parade Dance Party with 17 Piece Orchestra
Through Dec. 15
Spend your Tuesday afternoon dancing to the top “big band” songs from the 1940s at the Stockton-Lodi Ballroom. Doors open at 1:30 PM and dancing begins at 2:00 PM. Refreshments—includeing cocktails, champagne and snacks—will be available for purchase at the Dance Party. Admission applies, pay at the door. Stockton-Lodi Ballroom, 9650 Thornton Rd., Stockton (209) 464-3924
Stockton Heat vs. Bakersfield Condors
December 16 & 18
The Stockton Heat, proudly owned by the NHL’s Calgary Flames, invite you out to enjoy a hockey game at the beautiful Stockton Arena for the team’s inaugural 2015-16 season. Go Stockton Heat! Part of the new Pacific Division, the Heat will play California-based Bakersfield Condors. Stockton Arena, 248 W. Fremont St., Stockton (209) 373-1400, StocktonLive.com
Sip, Song & Shop
December 17
Elevate your shopping experience with live music and wine pairings at the Haggin Museum Store. Acoustic Duo Hartshorn, with Graham Hall and Cameron Spring, will provide musical stylings while you shop, sip and enjoy an evening at the museum. Event starts at 6:15.
Haggin Museum, 1201 N. Pershing Ave., Stockton (209) 940-6300, HagginMuseum.org
Neon Night at Oak Park Arena
December 19
Have a family night out with a twist! Oak Park Arena is hosting its last neon skate night of the year. Don’t miss your chance to have a great time with the family. Tickets are $10-$11 per person and include skate rentals.
Oak Park Arena, 3545 Alvarado Ave., Stockton (209) 937-7433, OakParkIceArena.com
Friends of the Fox Presents White Christmas
December 20
As part of its classic movie collection, White Christmas will play at the Bob Hope Theater. Originally released in 1954, the film features a foursome of singers who perform a Christmas show in rural Vermont to help save the inn of a friend who is having financial difficulties. So what’s the foursome to do but plan a yuletide miracle?: a fun-filled musical extravaganza that’s sure to put Waverly and his business in the black! Bob Hope Theater, 242 E. Main St., Stockton (209) 337-4673, StocktonLive.com
Viaggio Masquerade Ball
December 31
Ring in the New Year in style at Viaggio Estate Winery. Big Booty Bob & The Backside Kickers will provide music and entertainment for the evening’s festivities, which include a prix fixe, three-course dinner, unlimited wine and beer and a midnight champagne toast. Attendees will celebrate from 7:30 PM to 1 AM at the vineyard. General admission tickets are $95 per person. Tickets can be purchased online at shop.viaggiowinery.com
Viaggio Estate Winery, 100 E. Taddei Rd., Acampo (209) 368-1378, ViaggioWinery.com
Eagal Lakes New Year’s 5K Polar Run, Dunk & Dash 2016
January 2
Kick off 2016 with a little dip into the lake and be prepared for whatever the new year will hold! Each 5K participant will receive a long sleeve event shirt, a finisher’s medal and a champagne toast for a job well done! Younger participants can enjoy the 1 mile kids dash and a complimentary hot beverage. Grab your ticket for the raffle, enjoy the music and grab your buddies for a splashingly good time! Event check-in is at 8:00 AM! Eagal Lakes Resort 12 W. Lorenzen Rd., Tracy (209) 640-4252, EagalLakes.com