As the calendar careens toward the holidays in the San Lorenzo Valley, those looking to rid themselves of impending cabin fever have plenty of options for family fun, entertainment and a little exercise to boot. From Boulder Creek to Felton, the holiday spirit is alive and unmistakably local.
On Saturday, Nov. 29, the entire country participates in Small Business Saturday, an opportunity to support local small businesses the day after Black Friday. Retailers from Boulder Creek to Felton will promote their wares, with some area sidewalks being transformed into open air boutiques (weather permitting).
“We are looking forward to our upcoming Small Business Saturday in downtown shops,” said Justin Acton, president of the Boulder Creek Business Association (BCBA). “Many of the merchants are open extended hours and offering new items. As a thank you, many retailers are paying their sales tax for their customers that day. We will showcase a lot of what Boulder Creek has to offer on the BCBA Facebook page and want to remind folks to shop locally not just that day—but every day.”
On Dec. 5, everyone with an impeded fashion sense is invited to participate in the Ugly Sweater Contest from 5-8pm in downtown Boulder Creek. With both human and pet entries expected, the BCBA’s First Friday Boulder Creek Committee is excited to bring this festive event to life. Local artists and vendors will have their tables out, providing holiday gifts and cheer to attendees, along with laughs thanks to those who arrive bedecked in their ugly best.
In Boulder Creek, the holidays officially begin the moment the town’s Christmas tree is lit brightly for all to see; this year, it’s on Saturday, Dec. 6, from 2-6:30pm.
“Santa will arrive on a Boulder Creek Fire Department truck to oversee the lighting of the (incredibly bright) tree at 6:15pm. With a snow play area, holiday hay rides, a food court and community crafting, the Boulder Creek Recreation and Park District (in conjunction with Boulder Creek Business Association and Lone Wolf Academy) is ready to ring in the season,” said BCBA Treasurer Tess Fitzgerald. “We just invested around $5,000 to refresh the lights on the tree, so our town is going to have the best tree around.”
Fitzgerald noted that the total cost would have exceeded $7,500 were it not for the donation of time and talent from Sunderland Tree Service.
“The Boulder Creek tree is taller than the one at Rockefeller Center, so we needed an extra-large crane to get the job done,” she said. “Luckily, Joe Sunderland arranged for the crane to be donated at half its regular rate; we’re grateful for everyone’s participation in helping our town tree shine brightly.”
Children will have the opportunity to dash toward the snow play area—many seeing snow for the first time—while parents wander through rows of artisan booths filled with ornaments, handmade gifts and baked treats. Santa makes two appearances, but the real magic happens at 6:15pm, when the entire crowd bundles together for the tree-lighting ceremony. In a year when the mountains have continued to feel the pressures of recovery, housing challenges and fire resilience work, the warm glow means something extra.
The celebration doesn’t slow down after the festival. On Christmas Eve, Boulder Creek families tie up their laces for the Reindeer Run 5K, a spirited jog through Junction Park, where dogs in antlers trot beside families in red-and-green tutus. Proceeds support the recreation district, but for many, the real reward is the sense of belonging. The event goes from 9am-noon, and participants are encouraged to dress up in their most festive getup as they scoot through the preset course in Boulder Creek.
Just down Highway 9, Ben Lomond keeps things cozy with its second annual Community Tree Lighting and Caroling Night on Sunday, Nov. 30, from 3-6pm at the Ben Lomond Firehouse. This free event includes kids’ crafting, a gift market, snowball toss, live music, free hot cocoa and caroling. Santa arrives at 5pm, with the countdown to the tree lighting beginning at 6pm. Last year’s inaugural event was well-attended, and organizers are hoping to draw a larger crowd to this festive event.
The town also hosts a more adult-friendly tradition: holiday wine tasting at Roberts Ranch Vineyards on Saturday, Dec. 13, from 1-4pm. The event includes wine tasting, appetizers and live jazz music from the Steve Abrams Trio. Attendees can enjoy the tasting at the crush pad and then find a comfortable spot on the property to continue their experience. Well-behaved children and pets are welcome to bring their adults and owners.
The town of Felton brings its own flavor of cheer to the season with the Holiday Market at Hallcrest Vineyards on Dec. 7 from 11am-5pm. The vineyard fills with local makers, children crafting ornaments and families lining up for a visit with Santa. Under the redwood trees, the event feels like something out of a storybook—rustic, bright and unmistakably Felton. Locals say it’s where they find most of their holiday gifts—and each one feels extra meaningful knowing it came from a neighbor’s hands.
In mountain communities where resilience is a way of life, the season offers a reminder of what matters most: showing up, joining in and keeping one another warm.
For more information on upcoming holiday happenings, take a peek at the following websites: bcba.net, benlomondvillage.org and santacruz.org.
