If you're looking for a festive, fun winter evening activity - consider the Imaginarium in Sacramento. An extravagant light show in a large field - that you can wander through, wonder at take lots of photographs and impress the kids. There's also fair food, food trucks and rides to make the surreal experience complete, so it was on our to do list when we visited Sacramento during the Thanksgiving break. 

To be fair we enjoy this sort of wintertime fiesta, and it is comparable to Glowfari at Oakland Zoo, and the Winter Wonderland in Sacramento, both of which we have visited in the past. Glowfari was more animal themed and the Winter Wonderland was all about a journey around the world in lights, but the Imaginarium is themed more like wide open spaces. So you have fields of flowers, magical orchards with trees that change colors, giant Christmas trees, light tunnels, giant gifts and a laser light and music show on one side. 

Held on the CAL Expo grounds in Sacramento, its not inexpensive at $26/ per adult and $21 per kid. But there is plenty of parking, masks are required and there is a bag check before you enter. To be on the safe side, arrive early - there is a long line to enter, but once you're in its not too crowded and there are plenty of photo opportunities by each of the displays. Its on till January 16th 2022, so if you have a free evening in the Sacramento area - give it a try.