Upcoming Vallejo Events — E40’s annual toy giveaway Saturday

VALLEJO — Holiday festivities will light up Vallejo this week. The Vallejo Choral Society will perform at the beautiful St. Peter's Chapel, E-40 and the Greater Vallejo Recreation District will host toy giveaways, and an uncensored comedy show at the Empress Lounge will help drive away the winter blues.

On Saturday afternoon, the Vallejo Choral Society will sing two different interpretations of the Magnificat canticle by Antonio Vivaldi and Dale Trumbore, along with other seasonal offerings, in the beauty of St. Peter's Chapel.

Rapper E-40 will be at the Shiloh Community Church on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for his  2nd Annual Toy Drive. The Grinch will visit, and toys will be given away on a first come, first served basis. There will also be food, games, coats, hot chocolate, a raffle, and of course, live music.

Also on Saturday afternoon, “The Island of Misfit Toys” toy drive will be at the Vallejo Museum. Sponsored by the Solano AIDS Coalition, this annual initiative has been providing toys, turkeys, and gift cards to children from families in need in Solano County for the past 20 years.

The Greater Vallejo Recreation District will spread holiday cheer at their annual  “Snow Many Giveaway” toy giveaway on Friday evening at Children's Wonderland Park. Free toys will be given to kids 2 to 13 years old with pre-registration. 

The Vallejo Museum will host their annual Holiday Festival & Teddy Bear Tea on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Santa Claus and the Grinch will be there, and the museum’s 5th Annual Vallejo Kids Book Fest will begin shortly after noon, with one free book per person, live performances, storytellers, crafts and games.

The Festival of Lights celebration will continue at Children's Wonderland Park on Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons until Dec. 29.

For more adult entertainment, comedian Logan Farr will make his Vallejo debut on Thursday evening at the Empress Lounge at their monthly Uncensored Comedy show. Advance tickets are recommended because these shows tend to sell out.

And Bay Area Stage Theatre will continue their performances of “The Last Night Of Ballyhoo” on Friday, Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons through Dec 22. The play examines intra-ethnic bias and Jewish identity within a Jewish family so highly assimilated they have a Christmas tree in their front parlor.

If you still have holiday shopping to do, Mare Island Art Studios will continue their Holiday Bazaar Art Market on Saturday and Sunday afternoon. Explore a curated selection of unique ceramics, vibrant paintings, handmade greeting cards, fiber arts, and many other crafts. 

Also, Alibi Bookshop will host a Cool Yule Shopping Party with DJ and author Otto Von Stroheim and DJ Jon Burchard, spinning cool Christmas tunes on Sunday afternoon. Von Stroheim will sign copies of his book, “The Art of Tiki,” which will make a good holiday gift.

To help drive away the winter blues, the Blue Christmas Service at First Christian Church of Vallejo  will provide an opportunity to slow down and acknowledge the difficult emotions of the season on Saturday evening, the longest night of the year.

These are just some highlights of this week’s events. Be sure to check the list below for more live music, art, educational and recreational activities.

Wednesday, December 18

Brunch with Santa (Adaptive Recreation)

A scrumptious breakfast hosted by the big man himself, SANTA CLAUS. Enjoy holiday crafts, music, and a delicious brunch with Santa! Wednesday. For individuals with unique abilities. $10/resident, $12/nonresident

• Wed, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• North Vallejo Community Center
• 121 Whitney Ave., Vallejo

Lawyers in the Library

The Vallejo JFK Library offers the Lawyers in the Library program on the first and third Wednesdays of every month. Each meeting is 15 minutes. Space is limited and slots fill up on a first come, first serve basis. Please call (866) 572-7587 or come in-person at 9 a.m. on the day of the program to reserve a spot.

• Wed, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Vallejo John F. Kennedy Library
• 505 Santa Clara Street, Vallejo

Vallejo Run Club

Join the Vallejo Run Club on our weekly Saturday morning and Wednesday evening runs. Our group meets, rain or shine, next to the Vallejo Ferry Terminal. We run 1-3 easy miles. Beginners to ultra marathoners welcome.

• Wed, 6:20 p.m. to 7:20 p.m.
• Vallejo Ferry Terminal
• 289 Mare Island Way, Vallejo

Alabama Mike

Alabama Mike is a hard-driving blues singer who will remind you of the early original blues legends, whom you may have heard on the Chess. He can blaze up a good old blues shuffle and have you moving and grooving, then effortlessly transport you through his unique style, offering a soulful gospel-tinged ballad, and his jovial style of storytelling will send you through a range of exhilarating emotions.

• Wed, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
• Empress Lounge
• 324 Virginia St, Vallejo

Wednesday Night Open Mic

A friendly space for both beginning musicians and seasoned professionals. Comedians and poets also welcome.

• Wed, 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
• Town House Cocktail Lounge
• 401A Georgia St., Vallejo

Thursday, December 19

Art Beat Poetry Hour

Poets take turns at the mic open mic style for an hour long poetry show. Arrive by 10:15 AM to sign up on the list. Hosted by DJ LaLa and former Benicia Poet Laureate Tom Stanton.

• Thu, 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• OZCAT Radio,
• 1026 Georgia Street, Vallejo

Lake Dalwigk Park Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Join the ribbon cutting celebration as we mark the completion of the improvements to Lake Dalwigk Park. Enjoy treats while meandering along the beautiful trail, with new amenities and interpretive signs along this treasured recreational spot. Rain or Shine.

• Thu, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Lake Dalwigk Park
• 450 5th St., Vallejo

Adult Craft Club

Hello yarn lovers and fiber artists! Come join us for an evening of knitting, crocheting, or a fiber art of your choice every third Thursday of the month. Bring in any existing projects or start a new one at the library. All experience levels welcome, we will learn together while we work. Some materials available while supplies last.

• Thu, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Vallejo John F. Kennedy Library
• 505 Santa Clara Street, Vallejo

Uncensored Comedy with Logan Farr

Bay Area Comics present a comedy showcase headlined by viral sensation Logan Farr who's lit up stages at Zanies, Punchline, Laughs Unlimited and Tommy T's. Now he's making his highly anticipated debut in Vallejo! The show will also feature the hilarious Jordan Kirchner and Christian Baltazaar from the "It Can't Be That Bad" podcast, bringing their sharp humor and off-the-wall stories to the stage.

• Thu, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
• Empress Lounge
• 324 Virginia St, Vallejo

Friday, December 20

The Makery: Open Use

Come experience Solano County Library's makerspace- The Makery! Equipment includes: 3D printer, vinyl cutter, digital production equipment, drawing tablets and much more! Drop-in and discover what we have. Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

• Fri, 2 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
• Vallejo John F. Kennedy Library
• 505 Santa Clara Street, Vallejo

Festival Of Lights

Come celebrate the season with fun at Children's Winter Wonderland! We'll have the park open Friday through Sunday in the evenings. Bring your family down to check out the lights! Rain cancels.

• Fri, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Children's Wonderland
• 360 Glenn St., Vallejo

GVRD's Snow Many Toy Giveaway!

The Greater Vallejo Recreation District is hosting our annual Toy Giveaway event, where spreading holiday cheer is our mission! Receive a gift for every child by pre-registered event. Children must be present to receive their toy.

• Fri, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Children's Wonderland
• 360 Glenn St., Vallejo

Live Music Friday with Matte Jaffe

San Francisco singer/songwriter Matt Jaffe is back and ready to give you the undeniable urge to dance. ‍

• Fri, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Mare Island Brewing Co. Coal Shed Brewery
• 850 Nimitz Ave., Vallejo

The Last Night of Ballyhoo - by Alfred Uhry

This play is set in the upper class German-Jewish community living in Atlanta, Georgia in December 1939. A Jewish family so highly assimilated they have a Christmas tree in the front parlor are looking forward to Ballyhoo, a lavish cotillion ball sponsored by their restrictive country club. Joe Farkas is an attractive eligible bachelor and an Eastern European Jew, familiar with prejudice but unable to fathom its existence within his own religious community. His presence prompts college student Sunny to examine intra-ethnic bias, her Jewish identity (or lack thereof), and the beliefs with which she’s been raised.

• Fri, 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
• Bay Area Stage Theatre
• 515 Broadway St. #H, Vallejo

Saturday, December 21

Vallejo Run Club

Join the Vallejo Run Club on our weekly Saturday morning and Wednesday evening runs. Our group meets, rain or shine, next to the Vallejo Ferry Terminal. We run 1-3 easy miles. Beginners to ultra marathoners welcome.

• Sat, 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
• Vallejo Ferry Terminal
• 289 Mare Island Way, Vallejo

Farmers’ Market

Shop here for a great selection of California-grown greens, fruits & veggies, as well as some nice specialty booths with baked goods, tamales and food trucks with down-to-earth prices.

• Sat, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Downtown Vallejo
• Georgia and Marin Streets, Vallejo

Community Coffee Tasting

Sample coffee from around the world, browse crafts and confections by local vendors, or enjoy made-to order crêpes while listening to live music.

• Sat, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Moschetti Coffee Roaster
• 11 6th St. , Vallejo

Holiday Festival & Teddy Bear Tea

Family Free Day - Special guests: Santa Claus & The Grinch.
10 to 11a.m. - The Vallejo Museum's Annual Teddy Bear Tea.
1 a.m. to noon - Angels With Heart Storytime.
All day long- The 5th Annual Vallejo Kids Book Fest, with w/ performances and readers taking stage at 12:15 p.m.

• Sat, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum
• 734 Marin St, Vallejo

Holiday Bazaar Art Market

Explore a curated selection of unique ceramics, vibrant paintings, handmade greeting cards, quilled paper, ornaments, fiber arts, and intricate crafts.  You’ll find something for everyone on your list—while supporting talented local artists. Indulge in baked treats, freshly brewed coffee, tea, and hot cider to keep you warm and cozy as you shop. Skip the big box stores this holiday season and support the people who make our city shine.

• Sat, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Mare Island Art Studios
• 110 Pintado St., Vallejo

E40’s 2nd Annual Toy Drive

Pastor Rance and 1st Lady Annette Vaughn with Shiloh Community Church Present E40’s 2nd Annual Toy Drive. Food, games, coats, hot chocolate, live music, bikes scooters toys. Gift cards, flat screen TV's a PS5 raffle & more. The Grinch will be there again! There will be no registration this year. First come first served.

• Sat, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Shiloh Community Church
• 501 Lemon St., Vallejo

Kitty Meet and Greet – Pet Adoptions

Come meet your next best friend! All cats and kittens who are adopted out through Community Cat Advocates have been dewormed, treated for fleas, tested for Felv and FIV, vaccinated to age appropriate levels, microchipped and spayed or neutered. Evening appointments also available.

• Sat, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
• PetSmart
• 952 Admiral Callaghan Lane, Vallejo

Vallejo Jazz Jam

Vallejo Jazz Jam's mission is to provide a supportive and non-competitive environment for musicians of all levels to explore our rich heritage of jazz standards. Musicians of all ages, genders and levels welcome. $10 donation to cover space rental.

• Sat, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
• Mira Theatre Guild
• 51 Daniels Ave, Vallejo

Community Drum Circle at the Integrity Space

Bring your favorite drum or borrow one of ours. Bring a beverage, maybe a snack if you like, most importantly, bring your smile.

• Sat, 1 p.m. to
• IntegriTea
• 717 Marin St., Vallejo

Holiday Concert: Vallejo Choral Society

Join us for a moving and thought-provoking program with two stunning interpretations of Magnificat - the first by Antonio Vivaldi and then by Dale Trumbore - along with seasonal Christmas carols and choral favorites by John Rutter, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Arvo Pärt, John Gardner, and Tomás Luis de Victoria performed in the beauty of St. Peter's Chapel.

• Sat, 2 p.m. to
• St. Peter's Chapel
• 1181 Walnut Ave., Mare Island, Vallejo

Festival Of Lights

Come celebrate the season with fun at Children's Winter Wonderland! We'll have the park open Friday through Sunday in the evenings. Bring your family down to check out the lights! Rain cancels.

• Sat, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Children's Wonderland
• 360 Glenn St., Vallejo

Blue Christmas Service

This time of year can be challenging on many levels. Our culture readily celebrates the excitement, joy, and consumption of Christmas, but many of us also experience challenges and difficult feelings during this time of year. The Blue Christmas Service at First Christian Church of Vallejo on the longest night of the year  provides an opportunity to slow down and acknowledge these more difficult emotions of the season.

• Sat, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. - Labyrinth Walk
• Sat, 6 p.m. - Special Service
• First Christian Church of Vallejo
• 1035 Indiana St., Vallejo

Byran Girard Jazz Trio

Saxophonist Bryan Girard will be joined by Laura Klein & Karl Hartmann at Manny's on the Vallejo waterfront. Along with a spectacular waterfront view and free parking, Manny’s offers food at reasonable prices and, of course, a full bar. Advance dinner reservation recommended.

• Sat, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Manny's Steakhouse
• 295 Mare Island Way, Vallejo

Live Music Saturday with Erik Yates

Erik Yates never met a song he didn't like. “There’s always something to love,” he recently told Paste magazine, “something to learn from.” The California-based songwriter and multi-instrumentalist has spent the last two decades bringing that love to the world.

• Sat, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Mare Island Brewing Co. Ferry Taproom
• 289 Mare Island Way, Vallejo

The Last Night of Ballyhoo - by Alfred Uhry

This play is set in the upper class German-Jewish community living in Atlanta, Georgia in December 1939. A Jewish family so highly assimilated they have a Christmas tree in the front parlor are looking forward to Ballyhoo, a lavish cotillion ball sponsored by their restrictive country club. Joe Farkas is an attractive eligible bachelor and an Eastern European Jew, familiar with prejudice but unable to fathom its existence within his own religious community. His presence prompts college student Sunny to examine intra-ethnic bias, her Jewish identity (or lack thereof), and the beliefs with which she’s been raised.

• Sat, 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
• Bay Area Stage Theatre
• 515 Broadway St. #H, Vallejo

Chris Cole - Hard Hat Party

We can't have our usual amplified performances during this two-week sound system installation period, but we have something special lined up! The Chris Cole band comprises 5 of the most talented musicians in the Bay Area. Their extensive repertoire spans the last 60 years and covers the likes of Sinatra, The Beatles, Michael Bublé, Bobby Caldwell, Peter Gabriel, and Led Zeppelin to name a few.

• Sat, 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
• Empress Theatre
• 324 Virginia St, Vallejo

Sunday, December 22

Holiday Bazaar Art Market

Explore a curated selection of unique ceramics, vibrant paintings, handmade greeting cards, quilled paper, ornaments, fiber arts, and intricate crafts.  You’ll find something for everyone on your list—while supporting talented local artists. Indulge in baked treats, freshly brewed coffee, tea, and hot cider to keep you warm and cozy as you shop. Skip the big box stores this holiday season and support the people who make our city shine.

• Sun, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Mare Island Art Studios
• 110 Pintado St., Vallejo

St. Peter's Chapel - Self-guided Tour

If you've never seen the interior be prepared to be astounded by the 29 stained-glass windows and the magnificence of the interior. St. Peter's Chapel is known for its large collection of stunning Tiffany windows, vaulted ceilings with exposed redwood beams, and historic plaques. All we ask is a $5 donation toward the chapel maintenance fund.

• Sun, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• St. Peter’s Chapel
• 1181 Walnut Ave., Vallejo

The Island of Misfit Toys

For the past 20 years, the Solano AIDS Coalition has been providing toys, turkeys, and gift cards to around 1400 underprivileged children from families in need in Solano County. This annual initiative, known as “the Island of Misfit Toys”Toy Drive, has brought joy and happiness to these children during Christmas.

• Sun, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum
• 734 Marin St, Vallejo

Cool Yule Shopping Party w/DJs Otto Von Stroheim and Jon Burchard!

Come party with us! Get your holiday shopping done while listening to cool Christmas tunes spun by DJ and author Otto Von Stroheim and DJ Jon Burchard, and have some snacks and good cheer. Von Stroheim will also be signing copies of his book, “The Art of Tiki,” which will make the best holiday gift ever.

• Sun, 2 p.m. to
• 624 Marin St
• 620 Marin St, Vallejo

Teahouse Poetry Open Mic

Poetry Open Mic is the 2nd & 4th Sunday of every month. Afterparty featurs music by theUnidentified Flying Oscillators

• Sun, 2 p.m. to
• 717 Integrity Project
• 717 Marin St, Vallejo

The Last Night of Ballyhoo - by Alfred Uhry

This play is set in the upper class German-Jewish community living in Atlanta, Georgia in December 1939. A Jewish family so highly assimilated they have a Christmas tree in the front parlor are looking forward to Ballyhoo, a lavish cotillion ball sponsored by their restrictive country club. Joe Farkas is an attractive eligible bachelor and an Eastern European Jew, familiar with prejudice but unable to fathom its existence within his own religious community. His presence prompts college student Sunny to examine intra-ethnic bias, her Jewish identity (or lack thereof), and the beliefs with which she’s been raised.

• Sun, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Bay Area Stage Theatre
• 515 Broadway St. #H, Vallejo

Festival Of Lights

Come celebrate the season with fun at Children's Winter Wonderland! We'll have the park open Friday through Sunday in the evenings. Bring your family down to check out the lights! Rain cancels.

• Sun, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Children's Wonderland
• 360 Glenn St., Vallejo

Monday, December 23

Movement with Mary Jane

Movement with Mary Jane is a guided movement flow to enhance the mind, body, spirit connection. This is an infused experience for people 21 and over, exceptions made if you have a doctor’s recommendation. 6 to 7 p.m. is the "Inhale Session", where we vaporize our herbal allies and unwind over freshly brewed tea. 7 to 8 p.m.is the "Exhale Flow", where we center in our breath and find balance in our bodies through a guided series of yoga-inspired movements and stretches, moving into gentle, breath-informed dance.

Tuesday, December 24

Vallejo CreativiTea Club

Get together with your downtown arts community to work side by side on art projects while sipping tea and listening to music. Bring a project you're working on, or get inspired to start something fresh. We will have some art supplies available. Free event open to all ages and skill levels. Free event, donations appreciated.

• Tue, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• IntegriTea
• 717 Marin St., Vallejo

‌A more detailed list of upcoming events can be found here.

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