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Winter Activities for Kids in the Sacramento Area
December 19, 2023

Winter season is here! You can make the most of the winter months with these family-friendly winter activities for kids in Sacramento.

The short days and cold weather could usually mean that kids aren’t spending as much time outdoors. Fortunately, there’s more than just enough happening around Sacramento to keep kids occupied this winter season. And with our list of the best winter activities and events for kids in Sacramento, it could be the solution for cabin fever that’s reaching boiling point!

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With cooler weather upon us, many families are looking for ways to keep their kids entertained with winter activities for kids in Sacramento. Whether you are looking for family-friendly events to attend together or fun activities for the holiday break we’ve put together our top picks for fun things to do in Sacramento with kids this winter season.

Breakfast with Santa in Sacramento - Magical Christmas Train
Photo by: River Fox Train

Magical Christmas Train

River Fox Train
18095 County Rd., 117, West Sacramento, CA 95691
Phone Number: (800) 866-1690

November 24 – December 23, 2023

Step aboard this magical train ride and be transported to a holiday wonderland complete with hot cocoa and a treat. Each car will have its own Elf to guide them in Christmas sing-a-longs, elf games, and fun elf activities. After your train ride, you can take pictures or portraits with Santa in Sacramento this holiday season, as he will be waiting for you at the Winter Wonderland Park.

Each family will have the opportunity to have a socially distanced experience with Santa. Mrs. Claus and Santa’s Elves will be on hand as well. Feel free to come dressed in your cozy P.J.’s to add more magic to your overall experience. Kids of all ages will enjoy this enchanting holiday tradition and have fond memories that last a lifetime.

Winter Activities for Kids - Downtown Sacramento Ice Rink
Photo by: Downtown Sac

Downtown Sacramento Ice Rink

Ali Youssefi Square
701 K Street, Sacramento, CA 95814

November 8, 2023 – January 15, 2024
Tuesday – Thursday | 2:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Friday – Sunday | 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Sharpen your skates and perfect your triple axel—the Downtown Sacramento Ice Rink is open until January 15! Feel a chill blow down K street as you approach Ali Youssefi Square and be teleported into a winter wonderland at the ice rink. The Downtown Ice Rink is the place to make lasting holiday memories with your family and a unique way to spend your day.

Downtown Sacramento Ice Rink is the destination for winter fun with an exciting line-up of family-friendly events and activities during the winter season. Discover all the ways the Downtown Sacramento Ice Rink presented by Dignity Health can be a part of your holiday traditions.

Winter events in Sacramento this holiday season - Imaginarium 360
Photo by: Imaginarium

Imaginarium 360

Cal Expo
1600 Exposition Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95815

November 17, 2023 – January 7, 2024 
Sunday – Thursday | 5:00 PM 10:00 PM
Friday & Saturday | 5:00 PM
11:00 PM
Note: They will be open every day during the weeks of Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Celebrate the holidays with your loved ones at Imaginarium at Cal Expo – “Holiday Lights, Fairytale Delights.” Explore more than 10 fully immersive experience zones that return you to childhood favorites- Hansel & Gretel, Rapunzel, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Jack and the Beanstalk, Thumbelina, and beautiful princesses.

Imaginarium at Cal Expo will come to life with a nightly show with synchronized music, lights, and more than 25 larger-than-life interactive creatures. You don’t want to miss one of the three nightly circuses. The 30-minute show features performers from across the globe, including traditional acts, such as jugglers, contortionists, hula hoopers, and more!

Winter events in Sacramento this holiday season - SacAnime Winter 2024
Photo by: SacAnime

SacAnime Winter 2024

SAFE Credit Union Convention Center
1401 K St., Sacramento, CA 95814

January 5-7, 2024
Friday | 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Saturday | 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday | 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM

SacAnime is pleased to host the casts of Genshin Impact, One Piece, HunterXHunter, and so many more in Sacramento this winter season. They will also host Disney’s Lorcana Trading Card Game Tournaments in the new Player’s Paradise Gaming Area. Come join us for their Bi-annual event with over 600 vendors and countless weekend activities!

Started in the Summer of 2004, SacAnime is a pop-culture entertainment convention with live programming, celebrity guests, contests, vending, art shows, concerts, and more. SacAnime is the show where “Fans Come to Play.” Its philosophy has always been to provide a fun, safe, family-friendly environment with top-shelf entertainment at a reasonable price.

Photo by: Disney On Ice

Disney On Ice presents Frozen & Encanto – Sacramento

Golden 1 Center
547 L St., Sacramento, 95814

February 15-19, 2024
Thursday – Friday | 7:00 PM
Saturday – Sunday | 11:00 AM | 3:00 PM | 7:00 PM
Monday | 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Celebrate your magic! With Elsa & Mirabel’s character experience, glide and dance your way into the worlds of Frozen & Encanto with music and dancing alongside Elsa and Mirabel, celebrating the amazing gifts that make each of us unique. Enhance your Disney On Ice show ticket with a preshow Character Experience that includes games, storytelling, crafting, and interactive time with Elsa and Mirabel. Bring your personal device for photo opportunities.

Adults and children ages 2 and up must purchase an experience ticket and a Disney On Ice show ticket to attend. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Experience length is approximately 45 minutes but may vary based on attendance. Photo opportunities are for your personal enjoyment only. Please remember to bring your device.

List of Winter Events and Activities for Kids in Sacramento

Winter events in Sacramento this holiday season - Saving Sustainable Santa
Photo by: Atrium 916

Saving Sustainable Santa

Old Sacramento
1020 Front St., Sacramento, CA 95814

November 24 – December 23, 2023
Daily | 3:00 PM – 8:00 PM

A winter wonderland Holiday family portraits and creative experiences, events, and activities in historic Old Sacramento. Santa needs your help, the magic is unstable because the North Pole is getting warmer. Things have fallen out of Santa’s Sleigh. Can you help find the items and help Santa restore the magic? Santa is stuck in time and needs your help to save the whole planet. Hop off the Polar Express and venture around the corner for cinematic family photos, personal ornament sculpting, and hot holiday beverages. Starting Black Friday, November 24th.

It is Atrium’s zero-waste Holiday season in Old Sacramento. Building on our cinematic, immersive Santa Photo Experience of last year, we are creating a winter wonderland where children will be inspired to protect the environment and peek into Santa’s Magical Sack of Toys. This will provide families with magical family portraits. Crafting and clay ornament-making will be served at our art café, along with hot cider and mulled wine.

Best winter activities for kids in Sacramento - Jurassic Quest
Photo by: Jurassic Quest

Jurassic Quest

Cal Expo
1600 Exposition Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95815

January 5-14, 2024
Thursday | 3:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Friday & Saturday | 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Sunday | 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Jurassic Quest is a self-guided experience featuring more true-to-life dinosaurs than any other touring dinosaur event, plus dinosaur rides and many activities. Jurassic Quest exhibits also allow future paleontologists to dig up fossils, ride their favorite life-sized dinosaurs, enjoy walking dinosaur and baby dinosaur shows, and enjoy a dinosaur-themed playland in addition to face painting, crafts, and much more.​

We recommend planning at least 1.5-2 hours to experience everything at your preferred pace. Tickets are nonrefundable unless the event is canceled. When purchasing tickets online, tickets are not guaranteed until the purchasing process is complete.

Elf on the Boulevard
Photo by: El Dorado Hills Town Center

Elf on the Boulevard

Town Center Management Group, Inc
4370 Town Center Blvd., #300, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762

November 24 – December 24, 2023
Daily | 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM

This is one of the best winter activities for kids in Sacramento where children can pick up a passport at any participating business to the series of events this holiday season. Participating Business hides Elf in store. Children go to all businesses and find Elf and get their Passport stamped. Children complete their Passports and return to Face in a Book by 12/24.

All Children receive a special gift when turning in a completed Passport. All Passports are entered for a chance to win a $250 Gift Card. The winner is chosen on Wednesday, December 28th.

Solid Ground E-Sports Camp
Photo by: Solid Ground Sports Academy

Solid Ground E-Sports Camp

Mack Road Valley Hi Community Center
7833 Center Parkway, Sacramento, CA 95823

December 27-29, 2023
Wednesday – Friday | 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Join everyone for an action-packed e-sports camp and tournament at the Mack Road Valley Hi Community Center. Whether your child is a casual gamer or wants to become a pro, this event is perfect for all gaming enthusiasts. They will get to showcase their skills, make new friends, and have a blast. They will learn strategies, and teamwork, hear from people in the industry, and learn how to manage the pressures and stressors of competition.

Tournament Day will be their time to shine and compete for prizes. Your kids will have a great gaming experience at Solid Ground’s E-Sports Camp and Tournament, bettering their skills and making new friends. Breakfast and lunch will be provided each day. And this camp is 100% FREE!

Celebration Arts 2024 Winter Kids’ Time
Photo by: Celebration Arts

Celebration Arts 2024 Winter Kids’ Time

Celebration Arts
2727 B St., Sacramento, CA 95816

January 27 – March 16, 2024
Saturday | 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Your child can discover the joy of the performing arts by enrolling in Kids’ Time. This in-person eight-week-long camp is designed for children ages 6 – 12 and provides a fun environment where kids can learn and perform music, movement, and drama. They’ll benefit through confidence, self-expression, discipline, friendships, and enhanced creativity and artistic interests and display their learnings and achievements during a live performance at the end of the 8-week session.

Winter Activities for Kids in the Sacramento Area

Families have so many options for winter activities for kids in the Sacramento area that it’ll be hard to pick just one! Whether you are looking for a family-friendly event to attend together or a fun activity for the holiday break, these top picks for winter activities for kids in the Sacramento area are sure to offer something delightful for every family.

Still looking for more winter activities for Kids in Sacramento? No problem! Check out our comprehensive listing of places to go in the region.

Read Next

Imaginarium 360 – A Magical Journey Through Light
Christmas Tree Farms near Sacramento – A Holiday Season Family Trip
Best Places to See Holiday and Christmas Lights in Sacramento
Best Places to See Santa in the Sacramento Area

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