Modesto parade, Christmas Tree Lane opening, more. Holiday fun, other entertainment

Pat Clark
·2 min read

Communities and groups are ready to bring the Christmas spirit to the Modesto region. The Celebration of Lights Holiday Parade in Modesto and the opening of Christmas Tree Lane are just two of the events planned for Dec. 4 to Dec. 10.

Modesto parade

The Modesto Celebration of Lights Holiday Parade returns with the theme “Hometown Traditions.” The parade starts at 14th and I streets, ending at J and 17th streets with Santa on a firetruck.

WHEN: 5:30 p.m. Dec. 4

WHERE: Downtown Modesto

TICKETS: Free

ONLINE: www.modestogov.com/553/Holiday-Parade

Christmas Tree Lane

The region’s largest neighborhood holiday light display returns to Ceres. Christmas Tree Lane’s opening night festivities include crafts, live music, food vendors, pictures with Santa and more. A parade through the neighborhood follows.

WHEN: 5 p.m. festival, 7:15 p.m. parade

WHERE: Smyrna Park, 2650 Moffett Road, Ceres

TICKETS: Free

CALL: 209-538-5648

Mansion tours

Modesto’s downtown McHenry Mansion will open its doors to the public for holiday tours through the historic home. Docents in period costume will lead tours of the mansion decorated for a Victorian Christmas.

WHEN: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Dec. 4 and Dec. 11

WHERE: McHenry Mansion, 906 15th St., Modesto. Tours begin at Visitor Center, 924 15th St.

TICKETS: Free

CALL: 209-549-0428

‘All is Calm’

Gallo Center Repertory Company presents “All is Calm,” based on Peter Rothstein’s musical “All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914.” It tells the real-life World War I story of how soldiers from France, England and Germany called a battlefield truce on Christmas Day for a night of camaraderie before returning to fight in the morning.

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 10-11, 3 p.m. Dec. 12

WHERE: Gallo Center for the Arts, 1000 I St., Modesto

TICKETS: $15-$30

ONLINE: www.galloarts.com

Holiday film

The Modesto Film Society presents the 1949 classic “Holiday Affair.” Just before Christmas, department store clerk Steve Mason meets customer Connie Ennis, who’s actually a comparison shopper sent by another store. Their interaction gets him fired, but then romance ensues.

WHEN: 4 p.m. Dec. 4

WHERE: State Theatre, 1307 J St., Modesto

TICKETS: $9

ONLINE: www.thestate.org