The 39th annual Elk Grove Dickens Street Faire lands on Saturday, November 28, 2026 — the day after Thanksgiving and the same day as Small Business Saturday. From 10 AM to 5 PM, Old Town Elk Grove turns into a Victorian-themed street fair with more than 145 vendors, live entertainment, free kids’ activities, and an evening holiday parade and tree lighting to close out the day. Admission is free.
What It Is
The Dickens Street Faire is Old Town Elk Grove’s signature holiday event, organized by the Old Town Elk Grove Foundation. In its 39th year, the faire runs along Elk Grove Boulevard from 2nd Avenue to School Street, with food trucks and the main entertainment stage at Old Town Plaza. Local boutiques and shops along the route stay open for the day with seasonal displays and Small Business Saturday deals.
The Victorian Christmas theme brings out costumed carolers, roving performers, and live music running through the afternoon. Vendors are a mix of arts and crafts sellers, community organizations, and local makers. The street closes to traffic for the day, and the pace is slow in a way that stands in deliberate contrast to the Black Friday shopping atmosphere a few miles north on the freeway.
What to Expect Inside
With 145-plus vendors spread across several blocks, the faire rewards a full morning. Arts and crafts are the anchor — handmade gifts, holiday ornaments, local art, and seasonal goods from regional makers. Food trucks are set up at Old Town Plaza and handle the lunch crowd.
For families, Tiny Tim’s Alley is worth knowing about. This free kids’ craft corner runs inside Old Town Plaza from 10 AM to 4 PM, with hands-on holiday activities aimed at younger children. It tends to be busy by midday, so arriving early gives kids more space and shorter lines.
Santa is present throughout the day for free professional photo opportunities — no reservation required, no mall queue. After vendors close at 5 PM, the event transitions: Christmas carols continue along the route, and Story Time with Santa offers younger kids one more reason to stick around before the evening program begins.
The Evening Program
The day does not end when the vendors pack up. At 6 PM, the Holiday of Lights Parade begins and runs through 8 PM. At the same time, Santa switches on the Walnut Street Christmas tree for the community tree lighting ceremony. The combination of parade and tree lighting is a traditional Elk Grove close to Thanksgiving weekend — and it draws a crowd that stays even after a full day at the faire.
The Details
- Date: Saturday, November 28, 2026
- Vendor hours: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Tiny Tim’s Alley (kids’ crafts): 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM, Old Town Plaza — free
- Holiday of Lights Parade: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- Tree lighting: 6:00 PM, Walnut Street
- Location: Old Town Elk Grove — vendors along Elk Grove Blvd from 2nd Ave to School St; food trucks and entertainment at Old Town Plaza
- Admission: Free
- Vendors: 145+
- Host: Old Town Elk Grove Foundation
- Contact: Explore Elk Grove, (916) 512-8211 | info@exploreelkgrove.com
Pairing It With Other Elk Grove and Sacramento Holiday Events
If the Dickens Street Faire puts you in an Elk Grove holiday frame of mind, there is more to come. One week later, on December 5, the Elk Grove Illumination Holiday Festival brings a separate parade and lights celebration to the Civic Center — a different venue and a different crowd from Old Town, but another free evening worth planning around.
For shoppers who want to extend the holiday market circuit across Sacramento, the Sacramento holiday markets guide covers the season’s best indoor and outdoor options from November through December. And for those specifically looking for handmade gifts and local artisans, the holiday craft fairs and artisan markets roundup has the full regional picture.
Bottom Line
The Elk Grove Dickens Street Faire is one of the better ways to spend the Saturday after Thanksgiving in the Sacramento area. Free admission, 145-plus vendors, a dedicated kids’ craft corner, Santa photos at no charge, and an evening parade and tree lighting make it a complete half-day or full-day outing without any ticket purchase required. Old Town Elk Grove fills up by midday on this weekend, so arriving at or before 10 AM gives the most room to move — and the best shot at Tiny Tim’s Alley before the line builds. The evening parade at 6 PM is worth staying for, especially for families with younger kids who will remember the tree lighting more than the vendor walk.
