Elk Grove begins holiday season with annual Dickens Street Faire. Here’s what to expect

Elk Grove is bringing in the holiday season with the city’s 36th annual Dickens Street Faire, a free event organized by the Old Town Elk Grove Foundation.

Every Saturday after Thanksgiving, the Old Town Elk Grove Foundation hosts a family experience filled with holiday cheer including festive music, food and crafts from local vendors.

The event started as a few shop owners looking for a way to bring the community and shoppers to Old Town. Now, the celebration attracts more than 10,000 attendees and features 150 vendors, community organizations, food trucks and live entertainment.

The Dickens Street Faire is the traditional start of “Yuletide season” in Elk Grove, or the days leading up to and including Christmas.

Angela Perry, president and CEO of the Old Town Elk Grove Foundation, said that the event is a staple in get residents excited about the holiday season.

“This beloved event celebrates 36 years of holiday cheer,” Perry said. “Families come from all over to see Santa, enjoy the fun and performances and do some holiday shopping.”

The event brings Elk Grove residents and their families to connect with friends and neighbors by crowding Elk Grove Boulevard from Second Avenue to School Street. Those areas will be closed off due to the fair.

There will be food trucks and free entertainment such as live music and performers in Old Town Plaza, located at 9615 Railroad Street. There will also be a free kids’ craft corner.

The Cosumnes Fire Department will be tasked with “saving Santa” during the parading event. Attendees will have the opportunity to take professional photos with Santa and other Christmas-themed characters.

Saturday’s event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Following the sunset, everything will close up shop, and Christmas carolers will be singing classic holiday tunes, along with other continued live entertainment such as story time with Santa, who will also illuminate Old Elk Grove by lighting the town’s Christmas tree at 6 p.m. near Walnut Street.

Perry, who is also the president and CEO of the Elk Grove Chamber of Commerce, hopes people will come out and support local businesses and vendors that participate in the festivities.

“The Saturday after Thanksgiving is also small business Saturday so, we encourage everyone to visit the stores in Old town and enjoy a meal at one of Old Town’s restaurants or our food trucks,” Perry said. “There is nothing better to get in the holiday mood than a visit to the Old Town Dickens Street Faire.”

This story was originally published November 24, 2023 at 5:00 AM.