LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The holiday season is here, and with it comes weeks filled with festive events, from visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus to concerts, plays, craft fairs and open houses.
While Lakeport and Kelseyville held their main Christmas events earlier this week, a variety of holiday celebrations open to the community and spanning the rest of the month are listed below in date order.
Victorian Christmas Faire and High Teas
LAKEPORT – Innkeeper Karan Mackey, her mother Ruth, and Karan’s sisters Jill and Marlene have transformed the rooms of the Lakeport English Inn to feature magical angels among the holiday decorations and English tea settings for this year’s “Victorian Christmas Faire and High Teas.”
The faire is open to the public from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 20. Admission to the faire is free.
High tea at the inn, 675 N. Main St., Lakeport, is served every Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the faire with seatings at noon and 3 p.m. Tea reservations are required. Call 707-263-4317 to reserve space and inquire about prices.
Lake County Theatre Co. presents 'A Tuna Christmas'
LOWER LAKE – The Lake County Theatre Co. is staging “A Tuna Christmas” through Dec. 20 at the Lower Lake Schoolhouse Museum's Weaver Auditorium.
The play follows the Christmas yard display contest in the fictional small town of Tuna, Texas, and the “Christmas Phantom” that is vandalizing the displays.
Performances are at 7 p.m. Dec. 5, 12, 18 and 19, and at 2 p.m. Dec. 6, 13 and 20.
Ticket prices range between $12 and $15 – add $3 if purchased at the door – and are available at www.lakecountytheatrecompany.org , at Pieces Boutique, 155 N. Main St. in Lakeport, or at the Game Hub, 9800 Highway 53 in Lower Lake.
For more information call 707-533-3406 or 707-995-3565. The Lower Lake Schoolhouse Museum is located at 16435 Morgan Valley Road.
Clearlake Christmas celebration
CLEARLAKE – The annual Clearlake Christmas Parade takes place beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, and will follow a route from Redbud Park to Austin Park on Lakeshore Drive.
This year's theme is "Winter Wonderland," and participants of all ages are being sought.
The parade will culminate with the annual tree lighting ceremony at Austin Park, where Santa and Mrs. Claus will be waiting to take pictures with all the children.
Parents are advised to bring their own cameras as a photographer will not be provided.
Hot chocolate and cookies will be provided by the Lakeshore Lions and Lioness.
'Gift of Wine Holiday Open House'
LAKE COUNTY – Twenty-six Lake County wine producers will offer wines, gift ideas, and food pairings for you to enjoy as you sip, savor and shop at the third annual Give the Gift of Wine Holiday Open House from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, and Sunday, Dec. 6.
The Holiday Open House is free. To see a full list of this year’s participating locations, visit www.lakecountywineries.org/holiday .
Cache Creek Winery in Clearlake Oaks will host its second annual holiday charity faire on Saturday, Dec. 5. Local charities Tango Mike, Lake Family Resource Center, and People Services are decorating Christmas trees and will be vying for your votes.
Holiday Gift and Craft Bazaar
LAKEPORT – The Lake County Fairgrounds will play host to the Holiday Gift and Craft Bazaar on Saturday, Dec. 5, and Sunday, Dec. 6.
The craft and gift fair will take place in Lewis Hall from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free.
There will be food in Barty’s Café and demos from some of the makers. More than 50 vendors will be presenting gift giving ideas and wonderful crafts.
Santa is taking time from his busy schedule to have photos taken with him and the children from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. both days in Lewis Hall. Packages are available for as low as $5.
The Lake County Fair is located at 401 Martin St., Lakeport. For more information, please call 707-263-6181.
Upper Lake Christmas tree lighting, parade
UPPER LAKE – The town of Upper Lake will host its annual Christmas celebration on Saturday, Dec. 5, with the theme of “A Country Christmas.”
The event begins at 6 p.m. downtown with the tree lighting ceremony. The parade will begin at approximately 6:30 p.m. with the line up starting at the Upper Lake High School and middle school parking lots.
Santa arrives after the parade to listen to each child's Christmas wish and presents an excellent photo opportunity for the parents, so don't forget to bring your cameras.
This year the Upper Lake 4-H will be selling pulled pork sandwiches, slaw and chips. The Upper Lake Senior Support Services will be offering bread pudding and hot chocolate.
The eighth grade class from Upper Lake Middle School will serve a lighter fare of hot dogs and popcorn, and the sixth grade class from Upper Lake Elementary are preparing "cocoa in a jar" and "reindeer food" to sell.
'Christmas in Connecticut' showings
LAKEPORT – The 1945 comedy, “Christmas in Connecticut,” starring Barbara Stanwyck and Sydney Greenstreet, screens at the Soper Reese Theatre in Lakeport on Tuesday, Dec. 8, with show times at 1 and 6 p.m.
The story is about a war hero (Dennis Morgan) who wins a Christmas dinner to be prepared by a popular magazine’s housekeeping expert (Stanwyck) in her lovely rural home in Connecticut. The publicity stunt, dreamed up by the magazine publisher (Greenstreet), fails to take into account that the expert doesn’t live in Connecticut and she can’t cook.
It’s the perfect screwball farce and a perennial holiday favorite.
Entry to the film is by donation. The Soper Reese Theatre is located at 275 S. Main St., Lakeport, 707-263-0577, www.soperreesetheatre.com .
South Lake Fire hosts an evening with Santa and Mrs. Claus
MIDDLETOWN – Santa Claus is coming to Middletown, and his first stop is at the Middletown Fire Station from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10.
In lieu of holding its annual Candy Cane Run this year, the South Lake County Fire Department is inviting the entire community to the fire station at 21095 Highway 175 for an evening with Santa and Mrs. Claus.
There will be toys and gifts for children of all ages, as well as music, hot cocoa, cookies, popcorn and photos.
Lower Lake Schoolhouse Museum holiday open house, tree
LOWER LAKE – Celebrate the holidays at the Lower Lake Schoolhouse Museum from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11.
The tree lighting starts at 5:30 p.m., with Santa arriving shortly thereafter on a fire truck.
Afterwards, everyone is invited into the museum where Santa Claus will give out candy canes, take pictures with children and sit around the player piano in the parlor for a sing-along. Cookies and hot cider will round out this great family-fun holiday event.
The Lower Lake Schoolhouse Museum is located at 16435 Main St.
Wreaths Across America
LAKE COUNTY – Local volunteers and community groups will lay wreaths on the graves of veterans at several cemeteries around Lake County from 9 to 10 a.m.
For more information, contact Toni Funderburg at 707-263-5422.
Rotary Club of Clear Lake Community Christmas Dinner and Celebration
CLEARLAKE – The Rotary Club of Clear Lake will hold its 23rd annual Community Christmas Dinner and Celebration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, in the Burns Valley School multipurpose room, 3620 Pine St.
Santa and his elves will be on hand to visit with children, who will receive a photo and a toy.
The free event includes a dinner of ham, scalloped potatoes, yams, vegetables and rolls, and pumpkin pie and chocolate chip cookies for dessert. Take home meals are available for a family member who cannot attend. Meals On Wheels delivers the warm meal to the seniors on their list.
The Warm for the Winter program will give away new and gently used coats, warm clothing, sleeping bags and blankets to those in need.
Scandinavian Christmas Open House
KELSEYVILLE – The Sons of Norway Vikings of Lake Lodge No. 6-166 will host its Scandinavian Christmas Open House on Saturday, Dec. 12, from noon to 3 p.m. at the Galilee Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall, 8860 Soda Bay Road in Kelseyville. Admission is free.
There will be Scandinavian Christmas décor with assorted delicacies to enjoy, including Danish Æbleskiver, Krumkake, Rømmegrøt, Lefse, Vafler, open-faced sandwiches and much more.
There also will be the annual Santa Lucia Pageant at 1 p.m. and the singing of Christmas carols around the Christmas tree at 1:30 p.m.
A Viking raffle will feature beautiful baskets filled with goodies, handmade ceramic pieces and jellies. Norwegian, Danish and Swedish calendars will be offered for sale for $12 each, as well as Scandinavian cookies, Lefse and almond cakes available for purchase.
The event proceeds benefit the lodge's Adopt-A-School Community Service Project for Cobb Mountain Elementary School.
For more information call Jo Swenson at 707-279-4698.
Christmas in Middletown
MIDDLETOWN – Christmas in Middletown will take place from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12.
The day will kick off at noon at the South Lake County Fire Station with a celebration of community and a free pasta lunch with all of the fixings for South Lake County residents.
Santa will be on hand, giving out gift certificates to local merchants for the children, there will be music and carols by local students and the Lake County Fire Victims Relief Fund will present an $800,000 check that will be distributed to residents who lost their homes to the Valley fire over the next several weeks.
In addition, local heroes will be honored at the lunch for their unwavering commitment to the South Lake County community during the Valley fire and the continued recovery efforts.
From 4 to 8 p.m., the celebration moves to downtown, with lights decorating Middletown from one end to the other and Christmas trees lining Calistoga Street.
All Middletown area businesses will be open late for shopping, dining and a Christmas celebration.
Join in the ever-popular “Passport to Fun.” Children and adults alike love visiting the participating businesses to collect stamps in their passports and be eligible to win gift certificates from the local businesses.
Santa will arrive at the new Middletown Park in front of the Senior Center and Library building on a fire truck at 5:30 p.m., with photo opportunities for families while Mrs. Claus gives away stuffed animals to the children.
There will be a band and food booths in Middletown Plaza. Vendors will have booths in the park (no food).
The Middletown Art Center is having an art opening and the MAMA Booth and fire pit with music will be at the corner of 175 and 29.
Pony rides and more vendors (food OK) will be available in front of Organic Home Lifestyles.
Funky Dozen Christmas Concert
LAKEPORT – A “Funky Dozen” celebration of Christmas comes to the Soper Reese Theatre at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18.
Led by Larry Thompson, the band focuses primarily on favorites from the 1970’s, but also pulls the best from the 80’s and 90’s, to provide high energy music that keeps the dance floor crowded.
All seats for this special “Third Friday Live” holiday celebration are $15.
Tickets are available online at www.SoperReeseTheatre.com ; at the theater box office, 275 S. Main St., Lakeport on Fridays 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; by phone at 707-263-0577; or at The Travel Center, 1265 S. Main, Lakeport, Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Lake County Symphony Christmas Celebration
LAKEPORT – The Lake County Symphony will host its annual Christmas Celebration on Saturday, Dec. 20, at the Soper Reese Theatre, 275 S. Main St., Lakeport.
There will be an open rehearsal at 11 a.m., with tickets costing $5 for adults children age 18 and under offered free admittance.
The main concert will begin at 3 p.m., with $25 for general assigned seats and $30 for premium assigned seats. There is a $5 discount for Lake County Symphony Association members.
Holiday favorites including “Sleigh Ride” and “Let it Snow” will be performed, and there will be an audience sing-along of the “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel's “Messiah.”
Tickets are available online at www.SoperReeseTheatre.com ; at the theater box office, 275 S. Main St., Lakeport on Fridays 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; by phone at 707-263-0577; or at The Travel Center, 1265 S. Main, Lakeport, Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.