Holiday Greetings - Dec. 2014

Holiday Greetings Published by Valley Community Newspapers

www.valcomnews.com • DECember 2014

Fairytale Town Programs

Winter Wonderland, Thursday – Sunday, December 11-14 and 18-21, 1 – 7 p.m.

Celebrate the holiday season at Fairytale Town.

The storybook park will be trimmed with festive holiday décor. A dazzling display of lights will light up the park at night, and a flurry of snow will fall nightly at 7 p.m. On weekends, enjoy more holiday cheer with craft activities, vendors and more. Meet two of Santa’s reindeer on December 13-14. Visit with Santa in his workshop on December 13-14 and 20-21 from 3 to 6 p.m. This program is free with paid park admission. Weekend admission is $5.50 for adults and children ages 2 and older. Children ages 1 and under are free. Please note: During Winter Wonderland, Fairytale Town’s operating hours are from 1 – 7 p.m. Visit www.fairytaletown. org for more information.

Free Admission Day – Families can let their imaginations run wild during the park’s Free Admission Day. Fairytale Town will be open for play with free admission on Christmas Eve, Wednesday, December 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., weather permitting. For more information, visit www.fairytaletown.org or call (916) 808-7462.

About Fairytale Town - Fairytale Town is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit children’s park and educational center in Land Park whose mission is to promote the imagination, creativity and education of children.

Established in 1959, Fairytale Town is home to more than 25 three-dimensional play sets based on favorite fairytales and nursery rhymes, a family of 22 rare and miniature breed animals, three interactive learning gardens and two performing arts stages. Fairytale Town is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. from March through October and Thursday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. from November through February, weather permitting and unless otherwise noted. For more information, visit www.fairytaletown.org or call (916) 808-7462.

Holiday Greetings

Photo courtesy Historic Sutter Creek

Old-Fashioned Christmas Open House Find the spirit of Christmas in a beautiful Gold Rush town. Wonderfully lighted, historic Sutter Creek invites everyone to come to town for the 38th Annual “Old Fashioned Christmas Open House” on December 5 and 6. On Friday evening, December 5, 6 p.m, Santa and Mrs. Claus come down Main Street in their sleigh to light the Community Tree and begin the festivities. Father Christmas and Charles Dickens characters stroll Main Street and music will fill the air. The downtown Merchants will keep their doors open late with refreshments and goodies for all. There will be many activities for the children, including arts and crafts and photos with Santa.

On Saturday, December 6, enjoy more fun on Main Street during the daytime and in the evening, at 6 p.m., is the beautiful “Las Posadas Candlelight Walk” along historic Spanish Street and Main Street. Join Joseph and Mary along their trek to Bethlehem singing carols and holding candles. Take a step back in time with free carriage rides on Saturday December 6, 13 and 20, weather permitting. This is a free events. For more information call (209) 267-1344 or visit www.suttercreek.org.

• 2014 • (916) 429-9901 • www.valcomnews.com • Happy Holidays from Valley Community Newspapers, inc.

Happy Holidays from Valley Community Newspapers, inc. • www.valcomnews.com • (916) 429-9901 • Holiday Greetings • 2014

A Joyous Wish of Fulfillment to You and Your Family.

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Holiday Greetings

• 2014 • (916) 429-9901 • www.valcomnews.com • Happy Holidays from Valley Community Newspapers, inc.

Happy Holidays from Valley Community Newspapers, inc. • www.valcomnews.com • (916) 429-9901 • Holiday Greetings • 2014

Holiday Magic at the Zoo Bundle up the family and celebrate the festive season during Holiday Magic at the Sacramento Zoo, Saturday, December 13, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., corner of Land Park Drive and Sutterville Road. Throughout the day, special gifts will be delivered to the animals. See them pounce, tear and stomp into their one-of-a-kind holiday gifts and goodies.

Schedule of Enrichments - All enrichments will happen at the animals’ exhibits 10:30 - Orangutans: fabric stockings and presents with edible treats 11:00 - Red River Hogs: pumpkin bowls with produce 11:30 - Black and White Ruffed Lemurs: holiday feast with all the fixings 12:00 - Sumatran Tiger: gift shaped piñatas with spices and ice 12:30 - Wolf ’s Guenon: gift shaped piñata and holiday boxes with treats 1:00 - Anteaters: oranges and a toy smeared with avocado 1:30 - Snow Leopard: holiday box with spices and ice 2:00 - Aardvark/Fennec Foxes: holiday decor and spices 2:30 - Giraffes: edible wreaths and a holiday pinata 3:00 - Small Wonders animals with wings: edible wreaths and holiday decorations Visitors’ Tip: Keep an eye out for off-schedule enrichments throughout the day.

Bring a non-perishable food item and receive $1 off your Zoo admission. Donations will help the River City Food Bank. Stop by the Safari Market to find one-of-a-kind gifts. This zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., general admission is $11.25; children ages 2-11 are $7.25 and one and under are admitted free. For information, call (916) 808-5888 or visit saczoo.org.

6th Annual “Theatre of Lights” Theatre of Lights artfully mixes the historic charm of Old Sacramento with stateof-the-art sound and lighting technology to create a memorable holiday experience for visitors of all ages. Old Sacramento’s ThePhotos courtesy Charr Crail atre of Lights blends a symphony of lights, sounds and visual effects that transport the audience back in time with a reading of the famous poem The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore. The narrated reading of the powerful and nostalgic poem is brought to life through theatrical elements and visually-exciting lighting choreography that takes place on the balconies and rooftops of Old Sacramento’s historic buildings located on K Street between Front and 2nd Streets. Incorporated last year and back by popular demand, crowd-favorite villain Jack Frost will return this season with an expanded role to provide thrilling creative tension and spectacular visual excitement.

Two 20-minute Theatre of Lights performances are offered each scheduled evening at 6:15 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. with special holiday shows on Christmas Eve at 6:15 p.m. and New Year’s Eve at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. (rain or shine). More information about Theatre of Lights performances or other events and activities call 916-442-8575 or visit www.oldsacramento.com.

Holiday Greetings

• 2014 • (916) 429-9901 • www.valcomnews.com • Happy Holidays from Valley Community Newspapers, inc.

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Happy Holidays from Valley Community Newspapers, inc. • www.valcomnews.com • (916) 429-9901 • Holiday Greetings • 2014

Holiday Greetings

• 2014 • (916) 429-9901 • www.valcomnews.com • Happy Holidays from Valley Community Newspapers, inc.

Happy Holidays from Valley Community Newspapers, inc. • www.valcomnews.com • (916) 429-9901 • Holiday Greetings • 2014

Candy Cane Marshmallow Pops www.somethingswanky.com

1 child to crush candy canes (optional, but fun) large marshmallows mini candy canes melted chocolate (optional: Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate block) crushed candy canes

You will need:

You will need to: 1. Line a baking sheet with wax paper; set aside.

Stick a mini candy cane into the large marshmallow.

Dip the marshmallow into the melted chocolate, allow excess chocolate to drip off, then roll into the crushed candy cane. Place on a waxed paper lined baking sheet and allow to set.

2. In a small to medium bowl, melt the white candy melts according to the package instructions.

** Using food handling gloves helps with this project as the candy cane can get a bit sticky.

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Holiday Greetings

www.browneyedbaker.com

Nutter Butter cookies White candy melts, vanilla flavored M&M candies Orange Tic-Tacs, cut in half Black decorator icing

You will need:

10

Nutter Butter Snowmen

3. Working one at a time, dip a Nutter Butter cookie into the melted coating and flip it over to coat completely (a fork is great for this). Remove and let any excess drip off then place on the wax paper-lined baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining Nutter Butter cookies. Place the baking sheet into the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes so the coating can set.

4. Attach a small decorating tip (a #2) to a pastry bag and fill with black icing or use a tube of colored icing from the store. Dab a small amount on one side of an M&M and place on the coated cookie. Repeat with another just below to make the two “buttons”.

5. Dab another small amount on the bottom of half of a Tic Tac and affix to the center of the top of the cookie for the nose. Again, repeat. (you can also use a small jelly bean) 6. Now squeeze out small dots for the eyes and the mouth.

(Recipe adapted from my pretty purse)

• 2014 • (916) 429-9901 • www.valcomnews.com • Happy Holidays from Valley Community Newspapers, inc.

Happy Holidays from Valley Community Newspapers, inc. • www.valcomnews.com • (916) 429-9901 • Holiday Greetings • 2014

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Holiday Greetings

• 2014 • (916) 429-9901 • www.valcomnews.com • Happy Holidays from Valley Community Newspapers, inc.

Happy Holidays from Valley Community Newspapers, inc. • www.valcomnews.com • (916) 429-9901 • Holiday Greetings • 2014

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Holiday Greetings

• 2014 • (916) 429-9901 • www.valcomnews.com • Happy Holidays from Valley Community Newspapers, inc.

Happy Holidays from Valley Community Newspapers, inc. • www.valcomnews.com • (916) 429-9901 • Holiday Greetings • 2014

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