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10 Things to do this weekend in Northern California | November 22-24

This weekend is chock full of festival, craft shows and other events sure to get you into the holiday spirit!

Fall is in full swing in Northern California and with it comes a host of festivals, craft shows and other events with the essence of the holidays.

In Sacrament, the Harvest Festival at Cal Expo is the perfect one-stop-shop for great holiday presents and decoration ideas. Speaking of decorating, the Old Fashioned Christmas Craft Faire in Cameron Park is another awesome event to consider if you’re all about handcrafted, original holiday décor.

If you have kids, nothing will get them into the holiday spirt more than the Magical Christmas Train by Sacramento RiverTrain. The event has its very own Christmas story and there will even be an appearance from Santa Claus himself!

For the athletes and outdoor-lovers, the annual Davis Turkey Trot fun run kicks off on Saturday. You can even bring along the pups and participate in the “dog jog.”

The sights, sounds, and taste of New Orleans is coming to Roseville with their Beignet and Po-Boy Sandwich Festival!

The Wizard World Convention is hitting the Bay all weekend long with their first-ever show in Oakland! And just across the Bay, in San Francisco, the Fall Holiday Chocolate Salon, is coming to Golden Gate Park. The event is a smaller version of the International Chocolate Salon held in the spring in SF.

And that‘s just a small sample of some of the great things going on this weekend. Scroll down to read more!

Do you have an event idea? Send your suggestions to mnuttle@abc10.com

2019 Sacramento Harvest Festival

When: November 22-24 | 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (6 p.m. on Saturday)

Where: Cal Expo, 1600 Exposition Boulevard, Sacramento

Arts and crafts lovers rejoice! The west coast’s largest indoor craft show is coming to Cal Expo all weekend long.

The 2019 Sacramento Harvest Festival brings with it thousands of one-of-a-kind gifts, handmade wares, jewelry, pottery, photography, clothing, and much more!

The Harvest Festival falls just before the holidays, which is perfect for those looking to browse for fun Christmas presents or the like. And for the kids, there will be a “KidZone”, put on by the Sacramento Children’s Museum, with a make-and-take craft station for children of all ages.

And this year’s event brings the added spectacle of live entertainment with a performance by Bri Crabtree’s “Totally Sweet Circus Show.”

The festival has partnered with the Elk Grove Food Bank and is holding a food drive on-site each day. Guests who bring a non-perishable food item will receive $2 off general or senior admission.

Admission:

  • $9 – General admission
  • $7 – Senior admission (62+)
  • $7 – Military members
  • $4 – Kids (ages 13 – 17)
  • FREE – Kids 12 and under
Credit: Harvest Festival

Magical Christmas Train

When: November 23, 1 p.m., 4 p.m., 7 p.m. | November 24, 1 p.m., 4 p.m.

Where: Sacramento RiverTrain, 400 N. Harbor Boulevard, West Sacramento

We’re already in mid-November and the holiday season is starting to get going full steam. Starting this weekend, the Magical Christmas Train will be chugging along bringing with it all the wonder of the season.

Santa and his elves will be present during each ride on the Magical Christmas Train, telling the story of “Skippy the Traindeer” and his journey to restore the spirit of the holidays.

Guests, of course, get to enjoy the train ride through Skippy’s storybook wonderland, but they’ll also receive cookies and hot chocolate in a souvenir mug! There will also be lots of fun activities and visit with Santa. Riders are encouraged to come dressed in their best Christmas morning pajamas and sing carols.

Although we’re featuring it this weekend, the Magical Christmas Train runs through December 23 on the Sacramento RiverTrain. So come out and get into the holiday spirit yourself!

Admission:

  • $55 – Adult admission (Ages 13+)
  • $45 – Child admission (Ages 3 to 12)
  • $15 – Infants (Ages 2 and under)
Credit: Sacramento RiverTrain

32nd annual Davis Turkey Trot

When: November 23 | 6:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Where: Civic Center Park, 599 B Street, Davis

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it’s time for the city of Davis to host their annual Turkey Trot fun run. 

Happening on Saturday, this is the 32nd year for this family-friendly event. Runners can choose to participate in a 5K, a 10K, or a half marathon. There is also a kids run and a special 2-mile “dog jog.”

The first races start at 8 a.m. at Civic Center Park in downtown Davis. After the race, runners are free to enjoy a post-race expo, refreshments and browse the vendors. There will be an interactive area for both kids and adults and live music.

Admission:

  • $37 – 2-mile run admission
  • $47 – 5K/10K run admission
  • $72 – Half marathon run admission
  • $49 – Unofficial 15K run admission
  • $47 – Virtual runner admission
  • $5 – Kids fun run admission
Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
legs group men runners running on asphalt road

Beignet and Po-Boy Sandwich Festival

When: November 23 | 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Where: @TheGrounds, 451 Los Vegas Ave., Roseville

The spirit of New Orleans is coming to Roseville this Saturday with the Beignet and Po-Boy Sandwich Festival!

The event boasts a mouthwatering onslaught for foods, including, of course, authentic New Orleans dishes, Southern BBQ, soul foods, Latin foods, vegan dishes, and Asian/Cajun fusion.

Entertainment includes dancers, a brass band and drumline, and incredible costumes. And it just couldn’t call itself a New Orleans-style festival without a parade! There will also be New Orleans cultural music, including zydeco music and blues, along with artists covering the all-time hits of Michael Jackson, Frankie Beverly and Maze, Billy Cyrus, Rolls Royce, and more!

Admission:

Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
Outdoor Mardi Gras beads and mask on light post in sunshine

Coffee Harvest Festival

When: November 23 | 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: SF Bay Coffee, 1731 Aviation Boulevard, Lincoln

The first-ever Coffee Harvest Festival is being held at SF Bay Coffee in Lincoln this Saturday.

This free event plenty of the glorious “go juice” as well as plenty of fun activities for the whole family to enjoy. Highlights of this upcoming event include balloon art, face painting, photo booths, vendors, and games, like giant Jenga and cornhole!

Guests will also be educated by the life cycle of the coffee bean exhibit! And be sure to enter into the raffle for a chance to win some awesome prizes.

There will also be other, non-caffeinated food and drinks available for purchase.

Admission:

  • FREE!
Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
This is a photograph of Hot coffee

26th annual Mountain Mandarin Festival

When: November 22-24 | Festival hours vary.

Where: Gold Country Fairgrounds, 1273, High Street, Auburn 

It’s that time again! The Mountain Mandarin Festival in Auburn is back to fill your weekend with all things orange, sweet and juicy!

The 26-year tradition in Auburn highlights the new harvest of fresh mandarins in the Placer County foothills.

The festival comes around every November and attracts some 30,000 guests with a weekend full of music, food, events, and, of course, all the mandarin-inspired festivities you can think of!

There’ll be about 200 vendors selling everything from scented lotions and soaps to home accessories and holiday gifts. While at the festival, keep your eyes peeled for the chef demos, crafts, the peel-and-eat contest, and even a funnel cake eating contest for the kids.

Tap here to read more about the festival from ABC10’s Eric Escalante.

Admission:

  • $6 – Friday admission
  • $10 – General admission on Saturday and Sunday
  • $6 – Senior admission (ages 60+)
Credit: Kurt Bertilson

Old Fashioned Christmas Craft Faire

When: November 23 | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: Cameron Park Community Center, 2502 Country Club Drive, Cameron Park

If you are one of those types who like to give a personal touch to Christmas decorating, then you’ll want to head up to Cameron Park this Saturday for their Old Fashioned Christmas Craft Faire.

According to organizers, more than 60 vendors will be in attendance with an offering of hundreds of handmade crafts created by both local and visiting artists.

There will also be food and drinks available onsite for purchase, just in case you need a little pickmeup while you’re checking out all the wares. Come out and get into the swing of the season!

Admission:

  • FREE!
Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
Small wooden handmade toys selling at Xmas Fair. Christmas market with traditional decorations close up. Holidays kiosk with festive gifts and souvenirs at city street

2019 Stockton Fine Arts Festival

When: November 22, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. | November 23, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: St. Basil’s Greek Church, 920 W. March Lane, Stockton

The 26th annual Stockton Fire Arts Festival returns this weekend at St. Basil’s Greek Church.

Some of Northern California’s best artists’ work will be featured at the festival. There will also be exhibits featuring handcrafted clay (functional, sculptural, garden and cooking ware), glass, wood, unique jewelry, wearable art, paper and paintings all for purchase.

Guests on Friday night can shop and meet the artists while listening to Spanish guitar musician Jesse Hendricks. A live performance by Hendricks is scheduled on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. And special on Saturday is a live demonstration by ceramic flameware artist Eric Struck.

This year, guests with kids can take part in the FREE! kids art corner where the little ones can create their own little masterpieces!

There will also be raffles, door prizes, and more. Proceeds from the raffle will benefit the Bruce Duke Memorial Student Scholarship and the annual Visions in Clay exhibition at the LH Horton Art Gallery at San Joaquin Delta College.

Admission:

  • FREE!
Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
Ceramic dishes, tableware and jugs sold on Easter market in Vilnius. Lithuanian capital's annual traditional crafts fair is held every March on Old Town streets.

2019 Wizard World Bay Area

When: November 22 - 24 | Event times vary.

Where: Oakland Convention Center, 550 10th Street, Oakland

If you missed the Wizard World Convention in Sacramento, you’re in luck! Wizard World Bay Area will be at the Oakland Convention Center, for the first time, all weekend long!

Some headlining guests for the Bay Area event include Jewel Staite (“Firefly”), Thomas Ian Nichols (“American Pie”), Sam J. Jones (Flash Gordon), Brian Krause (“Charmed”), Claudia Wells (Back to the Future), and many more!

Thousands of fans are expected to attend this inaugural event. Single-day admission starts at $29.99, but children 10 and under get in for free.

Other highlights at the Wizard World Convention include live entertainment, cosplay contests, gaming, Q&A sessions with top comic creators and pop culture icons, and more!

Admission:

Credit: Rob Grabowski/Invision/AP
Kato Kaelin interacts with fans on day two at Wizard World at the Donald E Stephens Convention Center on Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019, in Chicago. (Photo by Rob Grabowski/Invision/AP)

Fall Holiday Chocolate Salon

When: November 24 | 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: San Francisco County Fair Building Auditorium, 1199 9th Ave at Lincoln Way, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

Chocolate lovers are in for a treat this weekend with the Fall Holiday Chocolate Salon at the San Francisco County Fair Building in Golden Gate Park this Sunday.

Whether you consider yourself a chocolate aficionado or if you just really like the stuff, come out and have a taste of the finest artisan chocolate from all over the world.

This close to the holidays, the Chocolate Salon is also the perfect place to find the perfect gift.

Other event highlights include the feature chocolate tasting, demonstrations, and Q&A sessions with chefs & authors. There will also be a special movie screening of “Semisweet: Life in Chocolate.”

Admission:

  • $20 – Adult admission
  • $10 – Child admission (ages 6 to 12)
Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
Sweet chocolate on grey background

Do you have an event idea? Send your suggestions to mnuttle@abc10.com

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