event
Trick or Treat on Main Street
Trick-or-treating at Main Street shops in downtown Placerville, with a costume contest and carnival games.
- Dates
- Oct 31, 2026
- Hours
- 4-6pm
- Where
- Main Street, Placerville, CA 95667
County guide
Things to do in El Dorado County
21 outings for families, couples, seniors and groups, each linked to its source.
Outings near you
🌳16 picks
Family Outings
Holiday tree lightings, a Christmas parade, a real gold mine, Apple Hill farms and Heavenly Village fun.
eventFree
Heavenly Village Holiday Tree Lighting
Lighting of the 65-foot fresh-cut Christmas tree at The Shops at Heavenly Village, hosted by Senator Alexandra Duarte and Sheriff Jeff Leikauf, with a live performance by Mark Mackay. Afterward, Santa lights the tree daily at 5:30pm through Christmas. Parking in the Bellamy Way garage.
- Dates
- Nov 27, 2026
- Hours
- 6:30-8:30pm
- Cost
- Free
- Where
- 4080 Lake Tahoe Blvd, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
event
Hometown Holiday on Main
Placerville's annual tree lighting festival, with live music, food and drinks, Santa Claus and the lighting of the Christmas tree at the Bell Tower. Dress up for the Whoville costume contest at Placerville Antiques.
- Dates
- Nov 27, 2026
- Hours
- 4-7pm
- Where
- Main Street, Placerville, CA 95667
event
El Dorado Hills Town Center Holiday Tree Lighting
The annual Town Center tree lighting to welcome the holiday season.
- Dates
- Dec 5, 2026
- Hours
- 5-8pm
- Where
- El Dorado Hills Town Center, Town Center Blvd, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
event
Heavenly Village Breakfast with Santa
Holiday breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus at Fire & Ice in Heavenly Village. Limited tickets; no refunds.
- Dates
- Dec 5, 12 and 19, 2026
- Hours
- Seatings at 8am and 9am
- Cost
- Kids $20, adults $30, plus booking fees
- Where
- 4100 Lake Tahoe Blvd, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
event
48th Annual Hangtown Christmas Parade
"All American Christmas" parade with floats, a marching band, carolers and Santa, starting on Broadway. Grand Marshal: Kris Payne. Main Street and Broadway close to traffic noon-4pm.
- Dates
- Dec 6, 2026
- Hours
- Starts 1pm on Broadway
- Where
- Broadway and Main Street, Placerville, CA
event
Christmas in Coloma
Old-fashioned Christmas at Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park: historic holiday house tours with docents, wreath making, Christmas crafts, warming fires, local gift vendors, hot food and visits with Santa.
- Dates
- Dec 12, 2026 – Dec 13, 2026
- Hours
- 10am-4pm
- Cost
- $5 event fee + $10 parking
- Where
- 300 Back Street, Coloma, CA 95613
event
New Year's Eve at Heavenly Village
Heavenly Village's New Year's Eve celebration, with a fireworks show and live music from 5pm.
- Dates
- Dec 31, 2026
- Hours
- Live music from 5pm
- Where
- Heavenly Village, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
farmFree
Boa Vista Orchards
Apple Hill farm market open year-round, with fresh pastries, pies, cider and produce, BBQ lunch, wines and hard ciders. Leashed dogs are welcome on the property, but not in the open market.
- Hours
- Daily 7:30am-6pm; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas
- Cost
- Free admission and parking
- Where
- 2952 Carson Rd, Placerville, CA 95667
state park
Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State Park
Nearly 2 miles of Lake Tahoe frontage, dense forests of pine, fir, aspen and cedar, and the Hellman-Ehrman Mansion (Pine Lodge), a summer home built in 1903. Dogs are allowed in developed areas only, not on beaches or dirt trails.
- Hours
- Sunrise-sunset
- Cost
- Vehicle day use $10
- Where
- Highway 89, Tahoma, CA
museumFree
El Dorado County Historical Museum
County history museum preserving and interpreting El Dorado County's past through artifacts, documents, exhibits and programs since 1974.
- Hours
- Thu-Sat 10am-4pm
- Cost
- Free; donations welcome
- Where
- 104 Placerville Drive, Placerville, CA 95667
mine and park
Gold Bug Park & Mine
A Gold Rush-era hard rock mine with a self-guided audio tour, plus the Hendy Stamp Mill, a blacksmith shop, and a mining museum and gift shop. Picnic areas, nature walks and trails.
- Hours
- Apr-Oct daily 10am-4pm; Nov-Mar Sat-Sun 10am-4pm; last mine tour 3:30pm
- Cost
- Mine tour $12; seniors 55+ and military $10; youth 6-17 $8; 5 and under free
- Where
- 2635 Gold Bug Lane, Placerville, CA 95667
farm
High Hill Ranch
The largest Apple Hill farm, on more than 155 acres, with an on-site restaurant and bakery serving homemade pies and barbecue, plus farm attractions for kids and families.
- Hours
- Daily 9am-5pm
- Where
- 2901 High Hill Rd, Placerville, CA 95667
state historic park
Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park
The site in Coloma where James Marshall first found gold in 1848 on the South Fork of the American River, setting off the Gold Rush. Visitor center and museum, interpretive exhibits, trails and river beach. Leashed dogs are welcome on trails and in the river, but not in buildings.
- Hours
- Day use 8am-5pm; visitor center and museum 9am-4pm; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas
- Cost
- Vehicle day use $10
- Where
- Highway 49, Coloma, CA 95613
recreation area
Sly Park Recreation Area (Jenkinson Lake)
Jenkinson Lake at 3,500 feet, open year-round, with access to more than 30 miles of trails, plus camping, boating and fishing.
- Cost
- Day use $16 per vehicle ($21 holidays); 62+, military and disabled $11; pets $8 each
- Where
- Sly Park Road, Pollock Pines, CA
visitor center
Taylor Creek Visitor Center
Forest Service visitor center and interpretive site for Tahoe Basin flora, fauna and history, with flat, easy trails including the Rainbow Trail. Reachable from the South Lake Tahoe Bike Path. Visitor services close for the season after Oct 25; the grounds stay open year-round.
- Hours
- Thu-Sun 9am-4pm through Oct 25
- Where
- Visitor Center Rd, off Highway 89, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
🌅9 picks
Date Ideas
Foothill wineries, Christmas in Coloma, Emerald Bay and Heavenly Village holiday lights.
eventFree
Heavenly Village Holiday Tree Lighting
Lighting of the 65-foot fresh-cut Christmas tree at The Shops at Heavenly Village, hosted by Senator Alexandra Duarte and Sheriff Jeff Leikauf, with a live performance by Mark Mackay. Afterward, Santa lights the tree daily at 5:30pm through Christmas. Parking in the Bellamy Way garage.
- Dates
- Nov 27, 2026
- Hours
- 6:30-8:30pm
- Cost
- Free
- Where
- 4080 Lake Tahoe Blvd, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
event
Hometown Holiday on Main
Placerville's annual tree lighting festival, with live music, food and drinks, Santa Claus and the lighting of the Christmas tree at the Bell Tower. Dress up for the Whoville costume contest at Placerville Antiques.
- Dates
- Nov 27, 2026
- Hours
- 4-7pm
- Where
- Main Street, Placerville, CA 95667
event
El Dorado Hills Town Center Holiday Tree Lighting
The annual Town Center tree lighting to welcome the holiday season.
- Dates
- Dec 5, 2026
- Hours
- 5-8pm
- Where
- El Dorado Hills Town Center, Town Center Blvd, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
event
Christmas in Coloma
Old-fashioned Christmas at Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park: historic holiday house tours with docents, wreath making, Christmas crafts, warming fires, local gift vendors, hot food and visits with Santa.
- Dates
- Dec 12, 2026 – Dec 13, 2026
- Hours
- 10am-4pm
- Cost
- $5 event fee + $10 parking
- Where
- 300 Back Street, Coloma, CA 95613
event
New Year's Eve at Heavenly Village
Heavenly Village's New Year's Eve celebration, with a fireworks show and live music from 5pm.
- Dates
- Dec 31, 2026
- Hours
- Live music from 5pm
- Where
- Heavenly Village, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
farmFree
Boa Vista Orchards
Apple Hill farm market open year-round, with fresh pastries, pies, cider and produce, BBQ lunch, wines and hard ciders. Leashed dogs are welcome on the property, but not in the open market.
- Hours
- Daily 7:30am-6pm; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas
- Cost
- Free admission and parking
- Where
- 2952 Carson Rd, Placerville, CA 95667
state park
Emerald Bay State Park
Rugged shoreline and blue-green water on Lake Tahoe, home to Vikingsholm, a replica Scandinavian castle reached by a one-mile trail that drops 500 feet. The Rubicon Trail is open; Vikingsholm tours have ended for the year. No dogs.
- Hours
- Sunrise-sunset
- Cost
- Vehicle day use $10; hourly parking $3
winery
Lava Cap Winery
Family-owned Apple Hill winery making estate wines from high-elevation vineyards on volcanic soil since 1986, with picnic gardens overlooking the vines. Groups of 8 or more should call ahead.
- Hours
- Daily 10am-5pm
- Cost
- Tasting $15, waived with a bottle purchase
- Where
- 2221 Fruitridge Road, Placerville, CA 95667
winery
Sierra Vista Winery
One of El Dorado County's original wineries, with estate vineyards first planted in 1974 and Sierra Nevada views. Flights of 6 from 12 estate wines; pizza Wednesday-Sunday and Sunday brunch 10am-2pm.
- Hours
- Sun 10am-5pm; Mon-Wed 11am-5pm; Thu 11am-6pm; Fri-Sat 11am-7pm
- Cost
- Tasting $15, waived with a bottle purchase
- Where
- 4560 Cabernet Way, Placerville, CA 95667
🌷9 picks
Senior Outings
Gold Rush history at Coloma, a free county museum, the Lake Tahoe history museum, a Tahoe mansion park and the Hangtown parade.
event
48th Annual Hangtown Christmas Parade
"All American Christmas" parade with floats, a marching band, carolers and Santa, starting on Broadway. Grand Marshal: Kris Payne. Main Street and Broadway close to traffic noon-4pm.
- Dates
- Dec 6, 2026
- Hours
- Starts 1pm on Broadway
- Where
- Broadway and Main Street, Placerville, CA
event
Christmas in Coloma
Old-fashioned Christmas at Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park: historic holiday house tours with docents, wreath making, Christmas crafts, warming fires, local gift vendors, hot food and visits with Santa.
- Dates
- Dec 12, 2026 – Dec 13, 2026
- Hours
- 10am-4pm
- Cost
- $5 event fee + $10 parking
- Where
- 300 Back Street, Coloma, CA 95613
farmFree
Boa Vista Orchards
Apple Hill farm market open year-round, with fresh pastries, pies, cider and produce, BBQ lunch, wines and hard ciders. Leashed dogs are welcome on the property, but not in the open market.
- Hours
- Daily 7:30am-6pm; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas
- Cost
- Free admission and parking
- Where
- 2952 Carson Rd, Placerville, CA 95667
state park
Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State Park
Nearly 2 miles of Lake Tahoe frontage, dense forests of pine, fir, aspen and cedar, and the Hellman-Ehrman Mansion (Pine Lodge), a summer home built in 1903. Dogs are allowed in developed areas only, not on beaches or dirt trails.
- Hours
- Sunrise-sunset
- Cost
- Vehicle day use $10
- Where
- Highway 89, Tahoma, CA
museumFree
El Dorado County Historical Museum
County history museum preserving and interpreting El Dorado County's past through artifacts, documents, exhibits and programs since 1974.
- Hours
- Thu-Sat 10am-4pm
- Cost
- Free; donations welcome
- Where
- 104 Placerville Drive, Placerville, CA 95667
mine and park
Gold Bug Park & Mine
A Gold Rush-era hard rock mine with a self-guided audio tour, plus the Hendy Stamp Mill, a blacksmith shop, and a mining museum and gift shop. Picnic areas, nature walks and trails.
- Hours
- Apr-Oct daily 10am-4pm; Nov-Mar Sat-Sun 10am-4pm; last mine tour 3:30pm
- Cost
- Mine tour $12; seniors 55+ and military $10; youth 6-17 $8; 5 and under free
- Where
- 2635 Gold Bug Lane, Placerville, CA 95667
museum
Lake Tahoe Historical Society Museum
Tahoe history from the Washoe people to trappers, pioneers, ice cutting, logging, Snowshoe Thompson, the Pony Express, steamships, the Lincoln Highway and gaming, plus a bookstore with more than 5,000 historic photos. Private tours can be arranged by phone.
- Hours
- Sat 11am-3pm until mid-December; closed Nov 28
- Where
- 3058 Lake Tahoe Blvd, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
state historic park
Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park
The site in Coloma where James Marshall first found gold in 1848 on the South Fork of the American River, setting off the Gold Rush. Visitor center and museum, interpretive exhibits, trails and river beach. Leashed dogs are welcome on trails and in the river, but not in buildings.
- Hours
- Day use 8am-5pm; visitor center and museum 9am-4pm; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas
- Cost
- Vehicle day use $10
- Where
- Highway 49, Coloma, CA 95613
visitor center
Taylor Creek Visitor Center
Forest Service visitor center and interpretive site for Tahoe Basin flora, fauna and history, with flat, easy trails including the Rainbow Trail. Reachable from the South Lake Tahoe Bike Path. Visitor services close for the season after Oct 25; the grounds stay open year-round.
- Hours
- Thu-Sun 9am-4pm through Oct 25
- Where
- Visitor Center Rd, off Highway 89, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
🎳7 picks
Friends and Groups
Heavenly opening day, New Year's Eve fireworks, wineries and lake trails.
event
Opening Day at Heavenly
Heavenly's scheduled start of winter operations, with skiing and riding from the California Base Lodge and sightseeing from the Heavenly Village Gondola. Subject to weather and conditions.
- Dates
- Nov 20, 2026
- Hours
- 9am-4pm
event
New Year's Eve at Heavenly Village
Heavenly Village's New Year's Eve celebration, with a fireworks show and live music from 5pm.
- Dates
- Dec 31, 2026
- Hours
- Live music from 5pm
- Where
- Heavenly Village, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
state park
Emerald Bay State Park
Rugged shoreline and blue-green water on Lake Tahoe, home to Vikingsholm, a replica Scandinavian castle reached by a one-mile trail that drops 500 feet. The Rubicon Trail is open; Vikingsholm tours have ended for the year. No dogs.
- Hours
- Sunrise-sunset
- Cost
- Vehicle day use $10; hourly parking $3
winery
Lava Cap Winery
Family-owned Apple Hill winery making estate wines from high-elevation vineyards on volcanic soil since 1986, with picnic gardens overlooking the vines. Groups of 8 or more should call ahead.
- Hours
- Daily 10am-5pm
- Cost
- Tasting $15, waived with a bottle purchase
- Where
- 2221 Fruitridge Road, Placerville, CA 95667
state historic park
Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park
The site in Coloma where James Marshall first found gold in 1848 on the South Fork of the American River, setting off the Gold Rush. Visitor center and museum, interpretive exhibits, trails and river beach. Leashed dogs are welcome on trails and in the river, but not in buildings.
- Hours
- Day use 8am-5pm; visitor center and museum 9am-4pm; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas
- Cost
- Vehicle day use $10
- Where
- Highway 49, Coloma, CA 95613
winery
Sierra Vista Winery
One of El Dorado County's original wineries, with estate vineyards first planted in 1974 and Sierra Nevada views. Flights of 6 from 12 estate wines; pizza Wednesday-Sunday and Sunday brunch 10am-2pm.
- Hours
- Sun 10am-5pm; Mon-Wed 11am-5pm; Thu 11am-6pm; Fri-Sat 11am-7pm
- Cost
- Tasting $15, waived with a bottle purchase
- Where
- 4560 Cabernet Way, Placerville, CA 95667
recreation area
Sly Park Recreation Area (Jenkinson Lake)
Jenkinson Lake at 3,500 feet, open year-round, with access to more than 30 miles of trails, plus camping, boating and fishing.
- Cost
- Day use $16 per vehicle ($21 holidays); 62+, military and disabled $11; pets $8 each
- Where
- Sly Park Road, Pollock Pines, CA
🎟️7 picks
Free and Cheap
Free entry, plus outings with a low parking or entry fee.
eventFree
Heavenly Village Holiday Tree Lighting
Lighting of the 65-foot fresh-cut Christmas tree at The Shops at Heavenly Village, hosted by Senator Alexandra Duarte and Sheriff Jeff Leikauf, with a live performance by Mark Mackay. Afterward, Santa lights the tree daily at 5:30pm through Christmas. Parking in the Bellamy Way garage.
- Dates
- Nov 27, 2026
- Hours
- 6:30-8:30pm
- Cost
- Free
- Where
- 4080 Lake Tahoe Blvd, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
farmFree
Boa Vista Orchards
Apple Hill farm market open year-round, with fresh pastries, pies, cider and produce, BBQ lunch, wines and hard ciders. Leashed dogs are welcome on the property, but not in the open market.
- Hours
- Daily 7:30am-6pm; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas
- Cost
- Free admission and parking
- Where
- 2952 Carson Rd, Placerville, CA 95667
state park
Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State Park
Nearly 2 miles of Lake Tahoe frontage, dense forests of pine, fir, aspen and cedar, and the Hellman-Ehrman Mansion (Pine Lodge), a summer home built in 1903. Dogs are allowed in developed areas only, not on beaches or dirt trails.
- Hours
- Sunrise-sunset
- Cost
- Vehicle day use $10
- Where
- Highway 89, Tahoma, CA
museumFree
El Dorado County Historical Museum
County history museum preserving and interpreting El Dorado County's past through artifacts, documents, exhibits and programs since 1974.
- Hours
- Thu-Sat 10am-4pm
- Cost
- Free; donations welcome
- Where
- 104 Placerville Drive, Placerville, CA 95667
state park
Emerald Bay State Park
Rugged shoreline and blue-green water on Lake Tahoe, home to Vikingsholm, a replica Scandinavian castle reached by a one-mile trail that drops 500 feet. The Rubicon Trail is open; Vikingsholm tours have ended for the year. No dogs.
- Hours
- Sunrise-sunset
- Cost
- Vehicle day use $10; hourly parking $3
mine and park
Gold Bug Park & Mine
A Gold Rush-era hard rock mine with a self-guided audio tour, plus the Hendy Stamp Mill, a blacksmith shop, and a mining museum and gift shop. Picnic areas, nature walks and trails.
- Hours
- Apr-Oct daily 10am-4pm; Nov-Mar Sat-Sun 10am-4pm; last mine tour 3:30pm
- Cost
- Mine tour $12; seniors 55+ and military $10; youth 6-17 $8; 5 and under free
- Where
- 2635 Gold Bug Lane, Placerville, CA 95667
state historic park
Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park
The site in Coloma where James Marshall first found gold in 1848 on the South Fork of the American River, setting off the Gold Rush. Visitor center and museum, interpretive exhibits, trails and river beach. Leashed dogs are welcome on trails and in the river, but not in buildings.
- Hours
- Day use 8am-5pm; visitor center and museum 9am-4pm; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas
- Cost
- Vehicle day use $10
- Where
- Highway 49, Coloma, CA 95613