Annual ‘Theatre of Lights’ returns to Old Sacramento on night before Thanksgiving
THERE IS ONE OR MAYBE MORE SUSPECTS INVOLVED. ALL RIGHT. WE WANT TO GO UP TO LIVECOPTER3 RIGHT NOW. AND THIS IS CERTAINLY A SIGN OF THE SEASON. THE OLD SACRAMENTO CHRISTMAS TREE IS ALL LIT UP. THAT HAPPENED WITHIN JUST THE LAST COUPLE OF MINUTES. AND A BIG CROWD OUT THERE FOR THIS CELEBRATION, THIS REALLY KICKS OFF THE SEASON THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING. AND THEN THEY’LL HOLD THE FIRST THEATER OF LIGHT SHOW RIGHT AFTER THIS. IT’S A BIG FREE SHOW TELLING THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS STORY. AND THEY DO THAT BASICALLY ON THE BALCONIES OF THOSE OLD SACRAMENTO BUILDINGS. IT’S JUST A FUN THING TO WATCH. THIS 60 FOOT TALL, TAPERED WHITE FIR ARRIVED ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO, AND THEY’VE BEEN BUSY MAKING IT LOOK BEAUTIFUL LIKE THAT. A CREW DECORATED THAT WITH 24,000 LIGHTS, 550 ICICLES, AND 400 STROBES, AND AGAIN, JUST A COUPLE MINUTES AGO, THEY LIT THE WHOLE THING UP AND PEOPLE GOT TO ENJOY IT FOR THE FIRST TIME. SO LET’S GO OUT TO OUR METEOROLOGIST, HEATHER WALDMAN. SHE’S OUT THERE LIVE FOR US. A LITTLE CHILLY OUT THERE, BUT OVERALL A GREAT NIGHT FOR THIS EVENT. YEAH, WE’LL CALL IT A FESTIVE CHILL. IT FEELS LIKE LATE NOVEMBER SHOULD. AND OF COURSE THANKSGIVING WAS LATE THIS YEAR. TOMORROW, THANKSGIVING ON NOVEMBER 28TH. ABOUT AS LATE AS IT CAN BE. SO PEOPLE HERE IN OLD SACRAMENTO, YEAH, THEY’RE READY FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON TO BEGIN. AND NOW IT FEELS OFFICIAL. NOW THAT THE TREE HAS BEEN LIT IN OLD SACRAMENTO RIGHT AFTER THIS. ACTUALLY JUST STARTING RIGHT NOW UP IN THE BALCONIES ABOVE ME. THEY’RE STARTING THE FIRST THEATER OF LIGHTS DISPLAY. IT’S A RETELLING OF THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS THAT WILL GO ON FOR ABOUT ANOTHER 20 MINUTES. SO IF YOU COULDN’T MAKE IT OUT TONIGHT, EVERY FRIDAY AND SATURDAY THROUGH DECEMBER, THIS DISPLAY WILL BE ON FOR ALL FAMILIES. BUT OF COURSE, TOMORROW IS THANKSGIVING AND WE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF WEATHER TO TALK ABOUT. SO LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT THE FORECAST. JUST LIKE THIS EVENING, IT IS GOING TO BE A CHILLY START TO THE DAY TOMORROW. IF YOU’RE COMING OUT FOR A RUN TO FEED THE HUNGRY, WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE AND WE HOPE YOU’RE BRINGING AN EXTRA LAYER OR TWO. WHILE YOU’RE WAITING FOR THAT RUN TO START. TEMPERATURES WILL BE IN THE MID 30S FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. THERE COULD BE A LITTLE BIT OF FOG IN THE VALLEY, BUT LOTS OF SUNSHINE FOR THE AFTERNOON FOR THE VALLEY. THE FOOTHILLS AND THE SIERRA TRAVEL ALL ACROSS CALIFORNIA IN REALLY GREAT SHAPE FOR THANKSGIVING. SO BACK OUT HERE LIVE AGAIN. FAMILIES OUT HERE JUST ENJOYING THE MOMENT. A BEAUTIFUL NIGHT HERE. AND THIS IS THE FIRST OF HOPEFULLY SEVERAL EVENTS THAT WE’RE HOPING TO GET OUT FOR YOU HERE AT THE KCRA THREE TEAM. SO IF THERE’S SOMETHING THAT YOU’D LIKE US TO JOIN IN WITH YOUR COMMUNITY EVENT, JUST LET US KNOW. GIVE US A SHOUT ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, EMAIL. WE’D LOVE TO HAVE AN INVITATION. WE’D LOVE TO SEE YOU OUT THERE. THIS HOLIDAY SEASON. LIVE IN OLD SACRAMENTO. A METEOROLOGIST HEATHER WALDMAN WE’LL SEND IT BACK TO YOU.
Annual ‘Theatre of Lights’ returns to Old Sacramento on night before Thanksgiving
Updated: 4:48 PM PST Nov 26, 2025
Christmas celebrations will begin on the night before Thanksgiving at the Old Sacramento Waterfront with an annual tree lighting event. (See last year’s lighting in the video player above) The “Theatre of Lights” includes a family-friendly performance of “Twas the Night Before Christmas” put on by the Downtown Sacramento Partnership. The 20-minute show is a blend of the classic holiday story and a retelling of Sacramento history. Festivities will begin on K Street at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, with the show scheduled to begin at 6:15 p.m., culminating with a 60-foot Christmas tree being lit. Other shows will take place at the Waterfront on Friday, Saturdays and Sundays until Dec. 21. KCRA 3’s Heather Waldman will be at the first show on Wednesday night. To get more information on the Sacramento holiday spectacle, click here. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
Christmas celebrations will begin on the night before Thanksgiving at the Old Sacramento Waterfront with an annual tree lighting event.
(See last year’s lighting in the video player above)
The “Theatre of Lights” includes a family-friendly performance of “Twas the Night Before Christmas” put on by the Downtown Sacramento Partnership. The 20-minute show is a blend of the classic holiday story and a retelling of Sacramento history.
Festivities will begin on K Street at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, with the show scheduled to begin at 6:15 p.m., culminating with a 60-foot Christmas tree being lit. Other shows will take place at the Waterfront on Friday, Saturdays and Sundays until Dec. 21.
KCRA 3’s Heather Waldman will be at the first show on Wednesday night.
To get more information on the Sacramento holiday spectacle, click here.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel