Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "theatre of lights"

Christmas celebrations, Sacramento-style

2011-12-22T00:43:49Z

As always, Sacramento steps up to the plate with holiday events of all sorts. At Sacramento365.com, we see a lot of events come through the site every day. Though there are myriad options in our Holiday Event section, we've narrowed down the list to 10 to get help you pick your Christmas Eve & Christmas Day festivities.

Christmas Eve Events:
Sure, the night before Christmas should be spent snuggled in bed waiting for Santa Claus, but why not get out and about during the day. Here are some options to keep you entertained around town:

1. Free Admission at Fairytale Town & Sacramento Zoo:
FTT 10am-2pm; Zoo 10am-1:30pm
Treat the kiddies to a day out while both Fairytale Town & the Sacramento Zoo offer free admission to all guests. The Zoo encourages participating in their pajama party, so you needn’t even change

2. Downtown Holiday Ice Rink:
St. Rose of Lima Park, 10am-6pm
Located outdoors near Westfield Downtown Plaza, the Downtown Holiday Ice Rink is the perfect holiday experience for the young and young at heart.

3. It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play:
Capital Stage, 11am
Inspired by the classic American film of the same title, It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play is performed as a 1940s live radio broadcast in front of a studio audience.

4. Holiday Film Screenings: It’s a Wonderful Life:
Crest Theatre, 1:30pm, 4:30pm, & 7:30pm
If you can’t make it to Cap Stage’s live performance (see above), you can still catch the original film rendition live on the big screen at the historic Crest Theatre.

5. Theatre of Lights:
Old Sacramento, 6pm & 7:30pm
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.

Christmas Day Events:
Looking to entertain friends & family in town after your regular traditions are over? Or just looking to get out of the house after so much family time? Sacramento doesn’t disappoint. Here are a few options for

1. Christmas Brunch:
Hyatt Regency, 10am-3pm
Enjoy this holiday season with all of the trimmings. Join for a bountiful buffet brunch featuring breakfast items and traditional holiday favorites.

2. Christmas Day Supper Cruise:
Empress Hornblower, 3:30pm-6:30pm
Join Hornblower for Christmas Day with your family and celebrate the season with a delicious meal, relax and enjoy the holiday. The Cruise includes traditional holiday dishes, festive music, and beautiful views of the Sacramento River.

3. Bah Humbug!:
MiX Downtown, 8:30pm-2am
Get out from under your tree and continue the holiday partying at this special Sunday Circus night. Spend the evening with your "other" family at Mix Downtown!

4. Christmas with Arden Park Roots:
Harlow’s, 9pm
Join reggae/rock/punk band Arden Park Roots for a festive Christmas show.

5. Asylum:
Barcode Nightclub, 9pm-1:30am
Featuring resident DJ Bryan Hawk, Asylum is a night of the best cutting edge goth, industrial, nu-darkwave, EBM dance music.

Find more detail on these events along with many more at Sacramento365.com, the year-round source for Sacramento events.

Disclosure: Rachael Lankford is the Managing Calendar Editor for Sacramento365.com, the year-round source for Sacramento events.

New Years Eve Old Sac Style

2011-01-02T04:07:39Z

The streets of Old Sac were packed New Years Eve night in anticipation of the fireworks show announcing the year 2011. The Theatre of Lights showcased as well as music and fun things for the kids.

Here's a glimpse of what was happening:

At the conclusion of the Theatre of Lights show on K St. confetti was sprayed onto the crowd.

Kids and their parents enjoyed the evening with food and glow lights.

RadioDisney.com offered contests for the little ones in the Waterfront Tent on Front St (above and below). A youngster tosses a hula-hoop trying to encircle the gal in white at right. On his first try, the hoop caught me, but that didn't count.

Contestants ran across the stage with recyclables across the stage to see who could deposit the most.

The Crescent Club Speakeasy, above and below, celebrated the New Year with Gangsters, Glamour and Gambling. The Roaring 20's style evening's entertainment included a Speakeasy Casino, Ballroom Swing Dancing, Gypsy Jazz, Cabaret, and Burlesque, featuring live music by the notorious Au Brothers Jazz Ensemble from New York.

Tango by the River, above and below, featured the 5-piece tango orchestra QTango at their New Year's Eve Tango Ball. The Black and White event was advertised to last until 4am "or until DJ Kenny Bell kicks us out," Donna Williams, founder, said.

The 9pm fireworks show was a bit less spectacular than the grand finale at midnight, but still impressive.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

SacPress Photos | Kati Garner

Old Sacramento’s “Theatre of Lights” Sparkles

2010-11-27T00:08:50Z

There’s something wonderful happening in Old Sacramento this season. It may well be the only original seasonal expression to come along in many years, and it’s a delight for the whole family.
Yes, the shops are filled with marvelous, unique gifts and the restaurants shine with decorations of every kind. Traditional Christmas music propels the hum-along crowds from place to place. But something special happens after dark—it’s the second year that the Old Sacramento Theatre of Lights transforms the familiar streets into a wonderland of light, sound, and history.

On Thanksgiving Eve, the newly expanded show debuted with the help of Mark S. Allen of Good Day Sacramento, newly elected District 1 City Council Member Angelique Ashby, and our crowd-pleasing Mayor Kevin Johnson. It was very cold, but several hundred folks turned out to hear the Salvation Army Band play familiar carols while the River Cats’ Dinger danced before the giant Christmas tree with some of the littlest guests. When the Mayor flipped the switch to light the tree—after the obligatory, enthusiastic countdown—there was plenty of oohing and aahing to be heard.

And then for the next 20 minutes the audience, standing enthralled in the middle of K Street, was thoroughly entertained by an extravaganza of lights, sounds, and visual effects. Mark Twain appeared on the balcony above Evangeline’s and introduced the familiar poem “T’was the Night Before Christmas”, which was first published in The Sacramento Bee in 1857. On the balcony of the venerable What Cheer Building, the poem came to life in splendid style, complete with St. Nick, the eight tiny reindeer, and Papa (Allen) at the window.
The free event is produced by Stage Nine (conveniently located in the What Cheer building), with wonderful effects from Skywalker Sound and Sacramento Theatrical Lighting. The audience is bolstered by strolling living history characters in authentic 1850’s costumes, including Father Christmas. The street fair atmosphere is enhanced by the tempting aroma of fresh roasted nuts and steaming hot chocolate and spiced cider. And everywhere there are families: extended families, toddlers to teenagers, elders with lawn chairs, moms and dads with babes in arms and little ones perched on shoulders.

Melissa Martinez of the Old Sacramento Business Association says that the event hosted 20,000 people last year, and with the expanded and improved light and sound this year, they hope to draw many more visitors this season. The Ebner and the Empire buildings have been restored and are now open and occupied, said Sheri Smith, senior program manager with the Sacramento Office of Economic Development. And Mike Ault of the Downtown Business Partnership wants everyone to know that this is a great place to bring the family. The collaborative efforts of these three organizations are focused on bringing more people, especially more families, into Downtown and Old Sacramento for shopping, dining, entertainment, and cultural events and activities.

The Theatre of Lights will continue to thrill crowds with two performances, at 6 pm and 7:30pm every Thursday through Sunday nights throughout the holiday season (dark on Christmas). There will be a few special guests throughout the run, and Santa is available for photos after each performance at The Christmas Shoppe.

For an interactive view of K Street lights: http://photosynth.net/view.aspx?cid=be7c5452-a983-4dd2-a1c5-5efb71e62239&&t=False

For more information, please visit: http://www.oldsacramento.com or http://www.oldsactheatreoflights.com

SacPress Photos | Kati Garner

Downtown Plaza loses tree, lighting

2010-11-24T04:40:56Z

Sacramento’s holiday lights will shine a little less brightly this season when Westfield Downtown Plaza goes without a giant Christmas tree for the first time in 30 years.

Without a tree, the annual day-after-Thanksgiving tree lighting ceremony at the mall's Seventh and K streets entrance also won't be held. However, the plaza is likely to be the only place in Sacramento with a little snow this winter after artificial snow-making machines are set up in a children's play area.

Sacramentans can enjoy two other Christmas tree lightings. Old Sacramento will light up its huge tree at 6 p.m. Wednesday at K and Front streets, followed by a light show and more to set the historic district sparkling. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will host a tree lighting ceremony at the state Capitol at 5 p.m. Dec. 7.

The plaza has had a tree averaging about 50 feet tall for the last 29 years, Plaza Marketing Director Raelene Trumm said.

"We're not doing the tree this year," Trumm said. "There's a tree lighting at Old Sacramento and one at the Capitol, so it seemed to get lost in the middle."

Westfield Downtown Plaza is the title sponsor of the ice-skating rink, which lies in St. Rose of Lima Park across the street from the Seventh and K streets entrance. Management decided to decorate the entire plaza with about 16 smaller Christmas trees, Christmas lights and window decorations rather than focus on one end. On Tuesday, crews began installing trees, Trumm said.

"We just wanted to add more Christmas atmosphere throughout the mall," said Trumm, adding that the economy and work at the Seventh and K entrance also contributed to the decision. She couldn't say whether there would be a tree at the plaza next year.

Macy’s Christmas store has temporarily set up shop in the second-floor space vacated by Banana Republic, near the K and Seventh streets entrance.

In Old Sacramento, a crew of four used an 80-foot boom to decorate the 5,000-pound, 50-foot blue spruce trucked in from Carlton Christmas Trees, a farm near Mt. Shasta. The crew strung up more than 4,000 lights: traditional colored Christmas tree lights, icicle lights, twinkle and flicker lights, and strobes. Ornaments range from plastic candy, bells and balls to handmade ornaments celebrating the 1857 poem, "The Night Before Christmas."

At least eight people helped decorate buildings and install lighting and sound equipment, said Old Sacramento Business Association Executive Director Melissa Martinez.

The district is adding holiday scenes and expanding the Theatre of Lights, a light and sound show begun last year. The 20-minute show will operate at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Thursdays through Sundays, throughout the season. On certain nights, Old Sacramento will also host Santa and other street performers, TV personalities and vendors selling cocoa and spiced nuts.

"This is the best year yet," Martinez said. "We've really concentrated on bringing it up to a different level and increasing the wow factor."

Photos of Christmas tree installations at the state Capitol and in Old Sacramento by Katie Garner. Other photos by Suzanne Hurt, a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Christmas in the Air in Old Sac

2010-11-08T20:03:18Z

4,000 pounds of evergreen arrived in Old Sacramento early this morning.

It stands about 55 ft tall and had to be put in place by crane. It left its home near Mt Shasta a day ago. The near-perfect-shaped Christmas tree is now in place at K and Front St.

Old Sac's Christmas tree is lowered to the ground above it's new home for the holidays.

Ron Shoffitt, left, of Maxim Crane Works and Joe Roberson of Carlton Christmas Trees, remove the flag and lights from the tip of the tree sticking from the rear of the truck that hauled it to Old Sac.

Up, up and away it goes.

Some lower limbs are buzzed off before lowering the massive evergreen into its base.

The holidays are rapidly approaching. They're happening……….deal with it.

Tell the old curmudgeon within to go to its happy place.

Here's the Old Sac Christmas schedule, so please mark your calendars:

The holidays start in Old Sacramento the week of Thanksgiving as the historic business district prepares for the annual Old Sacramento Tree Lighting and Theatre of Lights.

On November 24, the Tree Lighting festivities begin at 6:00 p.m. and will 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 6:30p.m.

Back for the second year, event-goers will experience the Old Sacramento Theatre of Lights.

That night at 6:30p.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 20-minute light shows throughout the holiday season Thursdays through Sundays at 6:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Decorations for the tree and around Old Sac will go up the end of this week.

SacPress Photos | Kati Garner

Downtown Holiday Events this Week

2009-12-10T00:20:25Z

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 Sunday nights with a show at 6:30 pm and 8 pm.

State Capitol Tree Lighting
Where: State Capitol - West Steps
When: Thursday, December 10 at 5:30 pm

Carnival at St. Rose
Where: 7th & K streets
When: Open daily Noon – 8 pm thru January 3 (closed Christmas Day)
This whimsical holiday event is the perfect starting point for your visit downtown. The Carnival at St. Rose features a 30-foot ferris wheel, giant slide, classic carnival games and prizes and old school arcade games like Frogger, Ms. Pacman, skeeball and more. Don’t miss weekly events at the carnival including Karaoke at the Carnival every Thursday Night and Trivia every Friday Night.

Admission is $5 for a two-hour session that includes unlimited access to carnival games, rides and arcade. Park at the Westfield Downtown Plaza and the Carnival will validate your parking. www.downtownsac.org/carnival.

Theatre of Lights
Where: Front & K streets
When: Free shows every Thursday through Sunday nights at 6:30 & 8:00 pm
The Theatre of Lights brings history to life through a narrated show of lights, sounds and visual effects. The free light show will take visitors back to a time when the beloved poem The Night Before Christmas was first introduced in Sacramento in 1857. Two 10-minute light shows will run every Thursday through Sunday at 6:30 pm and 8:00 pm through January 3. For more information, visit www.oldsactheatreoflights.com

KHITS Christmas Concert: Tribute to Elvis and the Everly Brothers
Where: Crest Theatre, 1013 K Street
When: Saturday, December 12 at 7:30 pm
Oldies hits and Christmas classics come alive in this family-style double bill featuring oldies tribute artists Mark W. Curran & The Cruisin Oldies Showband. This evening features many of the traditional Christmas songs recorded by both Elvis and the Everly Brothers throughout their along with all their greatest hits. Tickets are on sale now at tickets.com, Crest box office, or call 1-800-225-2277.
www.thecrest.com

The Nutcracker
Where: Crest Theatre, 1013 K Street
When: This weekend shows include:
Friday, December 11, 7:00pm (Opening Night)
Saturday, December 12, 2:00pm & 7:00pm
Sunday, December 13, 1:00pm

Join the Sacramento Ballet in celebrating the 500th performance of The Nutcracker! The magic and wonder of Sacramento's most cherished holiday tradition returns to create memories to last families a lifetime. Over 200 costumed characters enthrall the audience to the majestic Tchaikovsky score played by the Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra. Adults: $15.00 - $68.00, Children: $15.00 - $31.00. www.sacballet.org

Spend holiday time in Old Sac

2009-11-26T06:48:28Z

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) 442-8575.

SacPress Photos | Kati Garner

Our holiday season starts tomorrow!

2009-11-25T04:29:32Z

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 Thursdays through Sundays at 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.

• The day after Thanksgiving celebrate the holidays in Downtown

Sacramento at the Carnival at St. Rose. The 5-week holiday event

will transform 7th and K streets into a festive winter carnival featuring

a 30-foot Ferris wheel, classic carnival and arcade games, food

vendors and more.

• The carnival remain open daily from Noon until 8 p.m. through January 3.

Westfield's 50 ft. Christmas tree and mall have been decorated for the past 28 years by Designs Unlimited, owned and

operated by Sandy Echart and husband John.

• Nov. 27 | 4:30 p.m.
The Westfield Downtown Plaza Tree Lighting festivities will begin at 4:30 p.m. with live entertainment, speeches by

elected officials and local celebrity guest appearances. Westfield’s 50-foot tree with thousands of dazzling lights

will be illuminated at 6 p.m. followed by a magical fireworks display.

• 7th and K streets will be lit up in holiday style throughout the season.

The lighting was designed and installed by Monkey Glue, owned and managed

by Ron Dumonchelle. Over 23,000 LED energy efficient lights adorn the upper

part of the buildings on one side of K street. Dumonchelle has provided

lighting displays for President Bush, Governor Schwarzenegger, NBC TV,

B Street Theatre and other corporate/commercial events.

• Santa parade on November 28, 2009, 10:00AM, featuring colorful holiday

floats, marching bands, and a special visit from Santa Claus. Enjoy live

children’s entertainment before the parade and lots of fun for the whole

family! Bring some chairs and find a spot for you and your family anywhere

along the parade route.

• The parade will start at Ninth and I streets and travel through downtown.

The 27th annual parade will travel east on I Street from its start at Ninth and to

13th streets, south on 13th Street near the Convention Center, west on L Street,

and north on Seventh Street. It will disband at Seventh and K streets. Announcers

will be located on I Street between Ninth and 10th and at 11th and L streets.

SacPress Photos | Kati Garner

Electric carnival parade to be revived

2009-09-09T03:52:25Z

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 history as the birthplace of many innovations, said Melissa Martinez, executive director of the business association, a business improvement district.

"We were so innovative and we were so at the forefront," she said. "Somehow we've become sleepy. We're not looked at as the city that's dynamic and innovative — and yet everything we are was based on that."

The Grand Electric Carnival was held two months after electricity had first come to the capital 22 miles away from Folsom, where Folsom Dam had been completed in 1893. Until then, electricity hadn't been transmitted more than five miles.

The Sacramento Bee ran a story about the feat, and later, the electric carnival. "The Lightning Blazed," ran the headline, "And Flooded Sacramento's Streets With Lakes of Liquid Fire. A Glorious Dawning, Then Glowed the Sunlight of an Aurora of Progress and Prosperity."

The electric carnival was held for two days during the 1895 state fair to ensure the entire state knew. So many light bulbs outlined the state Capitol and filled Capitol Park trees that the light could be seen for 50 miles.

The highlight was a parade of sparkling floats on streetcars that glided on luminous downtown streets.

"They realized that the best way to celebrate it was during the state fair, because they could bring as many visitors as possible to witness this first transmission of electricity," said Martinez. "The Grand Electric Carnival was one big party. It was 48 hours of just craziness."

So many people came, that residents rented out beds in their homes, she added.

The Grand Electric Carnival has inspired a Carnival of Lights being held this year in two places: Old Sacramento, which will host a Theatre of Lights, and downtown, primarily at St. Rose of Lima Park at Seventh and K Streets. www.sacramentopress.com/headline/11032 The event will be expanded each year. The night parade is expected to be added in two years.

Floats in the original parade were sponsored by local companies. The modern-day electric night parade is expected to include sparkling horse-drawn carriages, business-sponsored floats and community residents.

"Anything's a possibility," Martinez said. "I think it's something everybody could get involved with."

Artifacts courtesy of the Sacramento Public Library's Sacramento Room. Photos by Suzanne Hurt, a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.