Capitola Village will celebrate the holiday season on Saturday, Dec. 6, with a full day of festive events, including a cookie walk, palm tree lighting, community caroling, parade, late-night shopping, and evening SantaCon festivities.
The day begins with the Capitola Village Holiday Cookie Walk from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., a family-friendly activity where participants can fill a box with holiday cookies from local shops. Attendees bring their registration to Capitola Candy Cafe to receive boxes, then visit participating businesses. Tickets are $20 and available on Eventbrite or at Capitola Candy Cafe. Past participants have included El Toro Bravo, Margaritaville, Pete’s Fish House, Capitola Wine Bar, Mr. Toots, Vanity By the Sea, Capitola Paws, Oceania, Art Inspired, Craft Gallery, Out West Boutique, Studio About Her, Kickback, Sea Level, Euphoria, Castagnola, Capitola Reef, Sweet Asylum, Hot Feet, and Boba Bay.
From 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., visitors can enjoy free instant photos at the Trike-a-Pose mobile photo booth at Esplanade Park. At 5:30 p.m., the community will gather for the palm tree lighting ceremony with appearances by the mayor and Santa. Hot chocolate and cookies are provided by Shadowbrook and Gayles. Community caroling begins at 6 p.m., with song booklets provided and a singer leading attendees on a stroll through the Esplanade and Capitola Avenue, spreading holiday cheer. The VW Christmas Parade will pass through the village at 7 p.m.
Shoppers can enjoy “Holiday Nights: Capitola After Hours,” a village-wide late-night shopping event running until 8 p.m. Local boutiques will offer exclusive deals, warm beverages, and a festive atmosphere for visitors to browse gifts, artisan items, and stocking stuffers under twinkling holiday lights.
The evening concludes with Capitola SantaCon 2025 from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., a festive pub crawl for adults 21 and older. The event starts at Katalina’s Boutique and continues through Zelda’s, Sand Bar, Bay Bar & Grill, and Britannia Arms, featuring holiday-themed cocktails, karaoke, and festive attire. SantaCon is free to attend, with no tickets or registration required. Participants are encouraged to celebrate responsibly.
Free three-hour parking is available in Capitola from Thanksgiving Day through Christmas Day.
The full schedule of events makes Dec. 6 a day of Christmas and holiday cheer in Capitola, offering something for families, shoppers, and festive revelers alike.
•••
For more information, residents and visitors can check the Capitola Village events website and visit www.santacon.info/Capitola-CA/.