For 53 years, a rotating set of Fabulous Forties homes has opened its doors every December so that neighbors—and anyone willing to pay $40 for a ticket—can walk through professional holiday staging in East Sacramento. The Sacred Heart Parish School Holiday Home Tour returns for its 53rd edition on Friday, December 4 through Sunday, December 6, 2026, with five decorated homes, a holiday boutique, a café, champagne, and live music all part of the day.
What the Tour Is
The tour started in 1973 as a fundraiser for Sacred Heart Parish School, a neighborhood school at 39th and K Streets in East Sacramento. Since then it has grown into one of Sacramento’s most specific December traditions: a self-guided walk through five Fabulous Forties homes decorated by local design professionals, followed by shopping, lunch, and champagne at the school.
The homes rotate every year, so returning visitors always see something new. Most people spend about 15 to 20 minutes per home; the full loop, including the boutique, runs about two to three hours at a relaxed pace. The holiday boutique features gifts from local vendors, seasonal food and lunch options, champagne, and live music from Sacramento community bands. It is worth building extra time into the visit.
The Fabulous Forties in December
The Fabulous Forties is the informal name for the streets between 40th and 49th Avenues in East Sacramento, a neighborhood of Tudor Revival, Colonial, and Craftsman homes built mostly in the 1920s through 1940s. The area already draws attention every December for its private holiday light displays—but this tour is the only time visitors can actually step inside.
Free parking is available at Sacred Heart Parish School (856 39th St.) on 39th Street between H and J Streets. Once you have parked, the tour is walkable; each home is within a short distance of the others.
Tickets and Timing
Advance tickets are $40 for general admission and $35 for seniors (65 and older), available now at sacredhearthometour.com. After December 3, prices rise to $45 general and $40 senior, and tickets can only be purchased in person at the school. Children under 3 are admitted free. All tickets are valid on any day of the three-day tour.
All online buyers must pick up tickets at Will Call. Early pickup is available at Sacred Heart Parish Church (1040 39th St.) on Saturday, November 28, 5–7 pm and Sunday, November 29, 9 am–12:30 pm. During the tour itself, Will Call opens at Sacred Heart Parish School at 9:45 am on Friday and Saturday, and at 10:45 am on Sunday. All sales are final.
The Details
- Dates: Friday, December 4 through Sunday, December 6, 2026
- Location: Fabulous Forties neighborhood, East Sacramento
- Ticket pickup / school address: Sacred Heart Parish School, 856 39th St., Sacramento, CA 95816
- Advance tickets: $40 general / $35 seniors (65+) at sacredhearthometour.com
- At-door pricing (Dec. 4+): $45 general / $40 seniors
- Free: Children under 3
- Includes: Five decorated homes, holiday boutique, café, champagne, live music
- Parking: Free at the school on 39th St. between H and J Streets
- Early Will Call: Sacred Heart Parish Church, 1040 39th St.—Nov. 28 (5–7 pm) and Nov. 29 (9 am–12:30 pm)
Bottom Line
The Sacred Heart Holiday Home Tour is one of Sacramento’s most durable December events—this is the 53rd edition. It is especially worth attending for anyone who already loves the Fabulous Forties or wants to see what the neighborhood looks like from the inside, and for anyone looking for a holiday outing that feels more like a neighborhood tradition than a commercial production. Advance tickets are available at sacredhearthometour.com through December 3; after that, price goes up and purchase is in person only.
For more December ideas nearby, see the Sacramento Christmas Lights guide for what the Fab 40s looks like from outside after dark, and the Sacramento Holiday Markets roundup for other local shopping options this season. If you are spending time in East Sacramento, McKinley Park is worth a walk before or after the tour.
