There is plenty to keep you entertained, educated and civically engaged this week in Richmond and nearby.
Highlights include: A downtown holiday festival, a storytime with a Hollywood producer and a city-sponsored open basketball tournament.
For more, see our list of ongoing things to do (many of which are free) and our holiday calendar. Also, don’t forget to add your events to our free community calendar.
- Downtown Holiday Festival will feature “Nutcracker” performances
- Live radio play at Point Richmond theater this weekend
- Walk to raise money for ALS research at Richmond shoreline park
- Historic display of holiday decor returns to El Cerrito hills
- Dinner and dancing at annual Senior Winter Ball
- Crafts, gifts at NIAD Holiday Spectacular
- Holiday story time at bookstore features film producer
- Community forum will spotlight the rise and fall of local newspapers
- Candy Cane Basketball Tournament is this weekend
- Children’s Christmas Party provides gifts, visits with Santa
- Richmond filmmaker spotlighted at Bay Area Film Night
- Application period open for $1,500 college scholarships
- County seeking board members for Green Empowerment Zone
- Related stories
Downtown Holiday Festival will feature “Nutcracker” performances
Two performances of “The Nutcracker” will highlight a free holiday community celebration.
The Downtown Holiday Festival 2025 is sponsored by the Richmond Main Street Initiative and the East Bay Center for the Performing Arts.
The performances, featuring EBCPA dancers, are at 5 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. Seating for the shows and children’s gift bags are on a first-come, first-served basis.
The festival will also feature photo sessions with Santa and resources from community organizations.
Downtown Holiday Festival 2025, Fri., Dec. 12, 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., East Bay Center for the Performing Arts, 339 11th St., Richmond. Free
Live radio play at Point Richmond theater this weekend
Harken back to pre-television days and enjoy a special weekend radio play on stage at the Masquers Playhouse in Point Richmond.
Four Eyed Jacks Productions is presenting “Endless Atomic Summer Barbeque & For Your Stomach Only” as the latest installments of its live radio shows.
The plays, written and directed by Bill Chessman, are the story of a neighborhood backyard gathering with a new high-powered barbecue and a tale of intrigue centered on special agent Burt Suave (0037).
Radio Plays, Fri. and Sat., Dec. 12-13, 8 p.m., and Sun., Dec. 14, 2 p.m., Masquers Playhouse, 105 Park Place, Point Richmond. General admission: $15. Free for season pass holders.
Walk to raise money for ALS research at Richmond shoreline park
You can enjoy the beauty of the Richmond shoreline while you raise money for research into cures and treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
The 2025 East Bay Walk & Roll to Cure ALS will take participants on a 1-mile loop around Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline Park.
The event is sponsored by the ALS Network. Its goal is to raise $165,000 from walk participants.
A lunch will be served after the walk and there will be contests and prizes.
2025 East Bay Walk & Roll to Cure ALS, Sat., Dec. 13, noon, Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline Park, 900 Dornan Drive, Richmond.
Historic display of holiday decor returns to El Cerrito hills
An annual holiday lights and decor extravaganza will return for its 76th year this season.
The Sundar Shadi Holiday Display will be lit up for public viewing from Dec. 13 to Dec. 26 in the hills above El Cerrito.
There is an opening ceremony on Sat., Dec. 13, with musical entertainment provided nightly from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The display includes a re-creation of the town of Bethlehem as well as plastic full-size models of shepherds, sheep, donkeys and camels.
The holiday celebration began in 1949 when local resident Sundar Shadi placed a large star next to his home on Arlington Avenue. Over the years, he added to the display.
After Shadi’s death in 2002, the El Cerrito Soroptimists purchased the collection to preserve it for the community. Volunteers now install and oversee the display.
Sundar Shadi Holiday Display opening ceremony, Sat., Dec. 13, 5 p.m., 7501 Moeser Lane, El Cerrito. Free.
Dinner and dancing at annual Senior Winter Ball
Enjoy a deluxe dinner and then get ready to dance at an annual holiday season gathering.
The 26th annual Senior Winter Ball is sponsored by the Richmond Commission on Aging and the city’s Community Services-Recreation division.
It will feature the Top Shelf Classics Party and Band Show playing classic dance music throughout the evening.
Senior Winter Ball, Sat., Dec. 13, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., Richmond Memorial Auditorium, 403 Civic Center Plaza. Tickets are $50 for individuals and $400 for a table for eight. For more information, call 510-620-6793.
Crafts, gifts at NIAD Holiday Spectacular
You can shop for holiday gifts and scope out the latest exhibit at a Richmond art gallery that highlights the work of people with developmental disabilities.
The NIAD Holiday Spectacular will feature handcrafted artwork and original pieces that make unique gifts.
There will also be family friendly art workshops as well as snacks and refreshments.
The free event takes place amid the gallery’s latest, “And Yet We Must Rejoice!,” an exhibit of joyful works by local artists that opened on Nov. 8 and continues until Dec. 26.
Holiday Spectacular, Sat., Dec. 13, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., NIAD Art Center, 551 23rd St. Free.
Holiday story time at bookstore features film producer
A film producer and author will preside over a holiday event at a Richmond bookstore.
Lyn Sisson-Talbert will read from her series of “Jingle Jangle” books and discuss her live action musical on Netflix during this free Holiday Story Time gathering.
Hot chocolate will be served along with snacks.
Holiday Story Time, Sat., Dec. 13, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Multicultural Bookstore, 260 Broadway, Richmond. Free
Community forum will spotlight the rise and fall of local newspapers
A group of local journalists will discuss the history and future of community newspapers.
The forum “The Rise and Fall of Local News” is sponsored by the El Cerrito Historical Society.
Local journalist Jon Bashor will moderate the discussion that features a panel of journalists who worked at local newspapers when they were in their heyday.
The event is free and light refreshments will be provided.
The Rise and Fall of Local News forum, Sat., Dec. 13, 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Hana Gardens Senior Center, 10860 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito. Free.
Candy Cane Basketball Tournament is this weekend
A city-sponsored basketball competition will be held this weekend at the Richmond Recreation Complex and the Booker T. Anderson community center.
The Candy Cane Basketball Tournament 2025 is an open competition where teams will play on Saturday and Sunday in a double-elimination format. Registration is required.
Candy Cane Basketball Tournament 2025, Sat., Dec. 13, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sun. Dec. 14, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Richmond Recreation Complex, 3230 Macdonald Ave. $100 per team.
Children’s Christmas Party provides gifts, visits with Santa
The Charles Reid Foundation has organized a holiday event for Richmond’s children.
The 78th annual Children’s Christmas Party at the Richmond Police Activities League is designed for children ages 2 to 12 years old.
The free event provides children with the opportunity to visit with Santa Claus and then receive a gift. All children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
The foundation is a nonprofit organization founded by the late Charles Reid Sr., the namesake of Shields-Reid Park, where the former semi-pro athlete was once a playground director, to serve underprivileged youths in Richmond and surrounding communities.
Children’s Christmas Party, Sun., Dec. 14, noon to 3 p.m., RPAL Community Center, 2200 Macdonald Ave. Free.
Richmond filmmaker spotlighted at Bay Area Film Night
A filmmaker from Richmond will be showcased at a film night at the Grand Lake Theater in Oakland.
D’Angelo ‘D’Lo’ Louis’ short film “Shoebox” will be one of four films featured at the Bay Area Film Night celebration.
Louis’ 12-minute film looks at a young man’s life, circumstances and survival.
Louis’ previous credits include work on feature films such as “Creed III” and “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.”
Bay Area Film Night, Tue., Dec. 16, 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Grand Lake Theater, 3200 Grand Ave., Oakland. $20.
Application period open for $1,500 college scholarships
The application process is now open for the annual Richmond Promise Scholarship project.
The program offers $1,500 scholarships that are renewable for four to six years to any two-year, four-year or Career Technical Education (CTE) post-secondary institution in the United States.
To be eligible for the Richmond Promise Scholarship, you must:
- Be a resident of the city of Richmond or North Richmond;
- Graduate or have graduated from an eligible high school within the West Contra Costa Unified School District boundary area or received your GED/high school equivalency this academic year, last academic year or the year prior;
- Have attended an eligible high school in grades nine-12 consecutively;
- Complete the FAFSA/Dream Act by the time you enroll; and
- Submit a Richmond Promise Scholarship application by the application deadline.
The deadline for applications is March 9.
County seeking board members for Green Empowerment Zone
People interested in improving the clean energy industry in the region are being urged to take a leadership role in a community-oriented organization.
Contra Costa County officials are recruiting residents to apply for one of seven newly created board seats for the Green Empowerment Zone (GEZ) program.
The empowerment zone covers southern Solano County as well as northern waterfront communities in Contra Costa County, including Richmond and its neighboring cities.
Board members must either live or work in the communities covered in the zone.
The purpose of the GEZ is to build on the current energy industry in the area by prioritizing access to tax incentives, grants, loan programs, workforce training programs, and private sector investment in the renewable energy sector.
“The GEZ focuses its efforts on attracting high-impact projects that boost the local economy and help California continue to be a leader in clean energy-related industries with tangible economic benefits to the region,” county officials said.
Board members will serve two-year terms. The board meets in Martinez on the third Friday of other month.
The deadline to apply is Jan. 9. For more information, email Alyson.greenlee@dcd.cccounty.us.
