Christmas tree and Menorah lighting
Gingerbread house
West Coast Blues Society
Jingle Bell 5K | photos from Destination Sausalito | post by Larry Clinton
There’s a full slate of holiday fun planned for Sausalito next month, all part of the first Sausalito Holiday By the Bay Experience.
- On Wednesday, December 1 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., there will be a special holiday edition of Wednesday Night Live, with music and art at the following locations: restaurant row on Caledonia Street, the Bank of America Building in downtown Sausalito, the Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center at 22 El Portal, and Golden Gate Market. The Sausalito Woman’s Club Ukulele Group is the featured performer at the Cascais Plaza (former Bank of America Plaza), where there will also be a 6:00 p.m. tree lighting ceremony with coffee, treats and more.
- That night will also mark the kick-off of the 2021 Sausalito Gingerbread House Tour, starting at the new Chamber Visitor Center.
- Breakfast with Santa at the Sausalito Yacht Club on Saturday, December 4 will be a magical morning where kids make holiday crafts and visit with Santa while elves prepare a breakfast of pancakes and sausage. A limited number of tickets remain for the 8:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. seatings. The cost is $15 for Sausalito residents and $18 for non-residents (free for children 2 and under). To register, visit the Breakfast with Santa web page. Any questions about Breakfast with Santa may be directed to Julie Myers.
- Also on December 4, Sausalito Beautiful and the Sausalito Woman’s Club will offer a green holiday home and garden workshop at 2:00 p.m. Participants will make their own organic wreaths to take home and can also help make wreaths to surprise someone who could use some extra cheer this holiday season. The cost for materials is $20 per person. This event is open to all, but space is limited. Please RSVP by sending email to Sharna Brockett. This in-person program will be held at the Sausalito Woman’s Club at 120 Central Avenue. Vaccination cards will be required at the door.
- This year’s annual open studios at the ICB building will forgo the traditional Friday evening reception, and instead will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 4 and Sunday, December 5. Admission is free. More than 75 artists will participate. The ICB building is located at 480 Gate 5 Road.
- If that’s not enough art for you, the Sausalito Working Waterfront Coalition will also open their studios nearby at 247 Gate 5 Road, Varda Landing Saturday, December 4, 11:00 a.m.—5:00 p.m. and Sunday, December 5, 12:00 noon—4:00 p.m.
- Come to Cascais Plaza ready to laugh while enjoying the 12 Zaniest Days of Christmas EVER with Ciji Ware. Sing along with Pat Ronzone and Joe DeBellis to comedic songs we all know and love. Sunday December 5 from 3:00 p.m.—5:00 p.m.
- That evening the Sausalito Presbyterian Church presents a sparkling array of poetry and carols: music and the Inspiration of some of our greatest poets from 5:00 p.m.—7:00 p.m. at 112 Bulkley Ave.
- Caledonia Street turns into Candy Cane Lane on Friday, December 10. Join local merchants for holiday shopping and merriment from 5:00 p.m to 10:00 p.m. This special event will feature restaurant specials, live music, and photos with Santa and frolicking elves.
- The 34th Annual Sausalito Lighted Boat Parade gets underway at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 11, when dozens of brightly lit and beautifully decorated boats will parade along the shoreline. The boat parade begins at the Bay Model near the north end of Sausalito, continues along the shoreline to Old Town, and loops back to the waters off Gabrielson Park. The annual fireworks will begin soon after the conclusion of the parade. Tickets are available for reserved seating in Gabrielson Park and the Captain’s After Party at the Spinnaker Restaurant. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE LIGHTED BOAT PARADE AND WINTERFEST SAUSALITO
- This year’s Jingle Bell 5K and Children’s Fun Run will take place downtown on Sunday, December 12. The 5K race gets underway at 8:30 a.m., followed at approximately 9:15 a.m. by the Children’s Fun Run and brunch at the Spinnaker Restaurant. The cost to enter is $40 for adults and $25 for kids 15 and under. Proceeds benefit the Dipsea Race Foundation’s Dipsea Kidz program.
- Come hear the powerful singing of Florence Williams’ Marin City Voices of Praise accompanied by well–known R&B keyboardist Reed Fromer. They will rock your sox off in a very spirited way with cheer and joyful enthusiasm. December 12 from 4:00 p.m.—5:00 p.m. at Cascais Plaza.
- The Sausalito Presbyterian Carolers will deliver songs of good cheer to businesses and shoppers downtown on Friday, December 17.
- And the next day the Princess Street merchants will be spreading good cheer while open for holiday shopping, dining and live music starting at 5:00 p.m.
- On Saturday, December 18, the Marin City West Coast Blues Society will present a hip Jazz & Blues Caravan of All Stars in in Cascais Plaza from 4:00 p.m.—6:00 p.m.
- A Makers Faire will showcase the work of local artisans in Cascais Plaza on Saturday, Dec. 18 and Sunday, December 19 from 12:00 noon—6:00 p.m. Santa will be in his big red chair from 1:00 p.m.—3:00 p.m. to hear your holiday wishes and pose for photos.
- Finally, join Jan and Andy Dudnick in a Community Wide Sing-A-Long from 4:00 p.m.—6:00 p.m. on December 22 at the finale of the first Sausalito Holiday By the Bay Experience in Cascais Plaza. Families, kids and even off–key singers are invited to let your voices lift the spirit of this time of year and embrace our new year going forward.
After all that, try to save some energy for New Year’s Eve.