The holiday season has arrived – whether you’re ready or not. Brave the cold weather this weekend and get into the holiday spirit. As an added bonus the City of Sacramento is offering free parking at meters Downtown (I through L streets and Front to 29th streets) after 4:30 pm on weekdays and all day on Saturdays and Sundays. This weekend’s events kick off on Thursday with the State Capitol’s annual tree lighting at 5:30 pm. If it’s lights you love, check out the 700 block of K Street across from the Carnival at St. Rose painted with thousands of LED lights. As a grand finale, experience the Theatre of Lights show in Old Sacramento. The free show illuminates the district Thursday through

New this year, event-goers will be introduced to the Old Sacramento Theatre of Lights. The Old Sacramento Theatre of Lights will run two 10-minute light shows throughout the holiday season Thursdays through Sundays at 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. November 25 - January 3 6:30 and 8:00pm shows Front and K Street, meet at the tree!     Mayor Kevin Johnson kicked off the Tree Lighting and the inaugural Theatre of Lights tonight.   Everyone gathered around the big Christmas tree at K and Front Street.   Lights and sound! And, yes, it's Santa Claus. Tour a railroad car Take a ride on the steam engine train from Old Sac       For more information, call (916

Tomorrow, November 25, the Sacramento's Tree Lighting festivities in Old Sacramento begins at 6:00 p.m. •The festivities include live performances, a visit from Father Christmas and much more. Visitors can join the fun and watch as Mayor Kevin Johnson flips the switch to light the tree at 6:30 p.m. • New this year, event-goers will be introduced to the Old Sacramento Theatre of Lights. At 6:30 p.m., a symphony of lights, sounds and visual effects will take the audience back to a time when the beloved poem The Night Before Christmas was first introduced in Sacramento in 1857. • The Old Sacramento Theatre of Lights will run two 10-minute light shows throughout the holiday season

A night parade is in the works to be revived in Sacramento, more than 115 years after the spectacle lit up city streets to celebrate what was said to be the world's first long-distance electric power transmission. The parade was first held Sept. 9, 1895, during a Grand Electric Carnival that heralded the arrival of electric power in Sacramento. Sacramento's electric carnival parade was so beautiful that Walt Disney Co. later used it as a model for its Electric Light Parade. The Old Sacramento Business Association is working to revive the night parade during winter holiday festivities in 2011. The plan is to recreate the parade to expand the seasonal celebration and to play up the city's