December to Remember in Downtown Davis [for 2022]

Last updated: November 21, 2022

A community announcement from Abaton Consulting.

Davis Holiday Candlelight Parade and Tree Lighting Ceremony, Davis Downtown’s Window Decorating Contest, and more – all happening in downtown Davis this Holiday Season.

You think summertime in Davis is awesome? Wait until you read about the line-up for this December.

That’s right. We just wrapped-up with Halloween in Downtown Davis and Shop Small Weekend in Davis, and now there are tons of things to do to celebrate the holidays, chase off the winter chill, and support businesses in Downtown Davis.

Quick Links

Jump right to the exact information you are looking for. But be sure to come back here and check for other fun events happening in and around the downtown.

• Davis’ Annual Holiday Candlelight Parade
• Tree Lighting Ceremony
• Santa at E Street Plaza
• Davis Downtown’s Window Decorating Contest

Davis Downtown Candlelight Parade & Tree Lighting Ceremony

The 41st Annual Holiday Candlelight Parade & Tree Lighting Ceremony is scheduled for December 1, 2022.

The Parade and Tree Lighting is a wonderful event for people of all ages. This magical event brings visitors from across Yolo County to Davis, CA to enjoy this celebration of the holidays and downtown Davis.

Holiday Candlelight Parade

In years past, the Holiday Candlelight Parade started at the Davis Food Coop and ended at the Tree Lighting Ceremony in E Street Plaza. An announcement from the City of Davis provided the details for the parade.

• Gathering for the parade begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Davis Food Co-op parking lot and on 6th Street (east of G Street). The gathering area on 6th Street will be closed to traffic.
• The parade steps-off at 6:00 p.m.
• The parade will travel south (towards downtown) on G St, turn west (right turn) onto 3rd St, south (a left turn) onto E St, and will end at E Street Plaza. 

The streets along the parade route will be temporarily closed immediately before and during the parade. If you are in a hurry to be somewhere, find a route around the area. 

E St, between 2nd St and 3rd St, will be closed from noon (12:00 p.m.) to 10:00 p.m. for the festivities and for clean-up afterwards. 

So put this in in your calendar and get your best Holiday outfit ready! Remember, it does get cold and it can certainly rain. Dress accordingly.

The UC Davis double-decker bus and the Davis Fire Department emergency vehicle lead the way from the Davis Food Co-op to E Street Plaza as part of the 2018 Davis Holiday Candlelight Parade.

Parade Map

Tree Lighting at E Street Plaza

Beginning at 6 p.m. at E Street Plaza, the community gathers for entertainment, food, and festivities. In years past there have been performances by the Davis Children’s Choir, Davis High School Jazz Band, Davis High School Madrigal Singers, and more.

Details for the events and tree lighting are forthcoming.

On a frosty evening in downtown Davis, the Christmas tree in E Street Plaza can easily warm the heart.

Sam Shane, local TV and radio celebrity, host the Davis Downtown Ugly Sweater Contest from a previous Tree Lighting Ceremony.

Participants in the  Davis Candlelight Parade gather at E Street Plaza in Downton Davis awaiting the annual tree lighting [from 2018].

Santa Claus at E Street Plaza

Another item that didn’t make the line-up the past couple of years is an in-person visit with Santa Claus.

We will see if what Santa has in store for Downtown Davis. Perhaps he will stop by for a visit.

But don’t worry if you don’t get to see him at the Tree Lighting Ceremony. Santa will be back December 10 for Breakfast with Santa at the Odd Fellows Lodge.

If you want to chat with Santa and his elves, get your tickets to the Davis Odd Fellows Breakfast with Santa. On hiatus for 2020 and 2021, Santa returns to the Davis Odd Fellows Lodge for a wonderful breakfast, and meet and greet. Let Santa know what you want for Christmas while you get your photograph with Santa – just in time for that personalized Christmas card.

Breakfast with Santa is on December 10, 2022 at the Davis Odd Fellows Lodge, 415 Second St in Downtown Davis.

This is an extremely popular event. Get your tickets today.

https://www.davislodge.org/odd-fellows-events/breakfast-with-santa/

Santa and Mrs. Claus make an appearance in Downtown Davis for the 2018 Tree Lighting Ceremony.

YouTube Video

In past years, Davis Downtown has organized a photo booth to take lots of fun pics. Here is a video slideshow from 2017. Fun stuff!

Davis Downtown Window Decorating Contest

The 11th Annual Davis Downtown Window Decorating contest is starts on December 1, 2022.

The downtown is alive with festive lights and window displays as part of the Davis Downtown Window Decorating Contest. Enjoy a fun and festive holiday shopping experience throughout the downtown.

For 2022, eighteen (18) business are vying for the best decorated window in the downtown. The competition is fierce. Many of the businesses have participated in the past and their creativity is unbelievable!

As I mentioned before, this will be the 11th anniversary of the Davis Downtown Window Decorating Contest. Created in 2012 by Stewart Savage (Yes, that would be me), Executive Director (former) of the Davis Downtown Business Association (DDBA), the contest was designed to bring life and excitement to the downtown and encourage people to visit, shop, and enjoy the center of our community.

My recommendation for the Window Decorating Contest is to come downtown, enjoy a nice meal, visit a few of our retailers to pick-up some Christmas gifts, grabbing a cup of cocoa at Mishka’s, and then stroll through the downtown viewing the wonderful window displays.

This year, the contest runs from December 1, 2022 through December 20, 2022.

Participating Businesses

Are you curious as to which businesses are participating in the Window Decorating Contest? Well, the wait is over.  Here is the list of businesses in the order published by the DDBA.

1. APEX Cycles
2. Avid & Co
3. Avid Reader Bookstore
4. Bella Luna Jewelers
5. Bohème Hip Used Clothing
6. Coldwell Bankers Select Real Estate
7. FIT House
8. Icekrimski Café
9. Kaiju BJJ Academy
10. Kumon of Davis
11. Mishka’s Café
12. Picasso Salon
13. Pomegranate Salon
14. RE/MAX Gold
15. Sanctuary Salon
16. The Growing Groves Plant Shop
17. The Paint Chip
18. UCD Store Downtown

Window Contest Entries from 2021

The 11th Annual Davis Downtown Window Decorating Contest is sure to be fantastic again this year. Here are the entries from 2021. You can definitely see the creativity.

Elf on a Shelf Scavenger Hunt

This year, the Elf on a Shelf shopping promotion returns.

According to information provided by Davis Downtown, the goal of the program is to introduce your business to a new set of customers by encouraging to visit your business in search of the sneaky and highly mobile elf. Visitors to your business will be encouraged to snap a selfie with the elf and hopefully post it online.

There is a great list of businesses participating in this year’s promotion. So, grab your camera and head to downtown Davis in search of the Elf on the Shelf. Write down 10 of the elves’ names and send them in to the DDBA for a chance to win!

• Davis Ace Hardware
• Bohème Clothing & Gifts
• Newsbeat
• UC Davis Downtown Store
• Bankers Lending Group
• Pence Gallery
• Bella Luna Jewelers
• Kumon of Davis
• Mishka’s Café
• Parcel Dispatch, PDQ
• Sanctuary Salon