The holidays are a jolly time in California. Today you can attend the Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting in Sacramento where Governor Jerry Brown (not Arnold Schwarzenegger shown in photos) lights the holiday tree. This year the tree is a 40-foot tall white fir tree donated by the U.S. Forest Service Institute of Forest Genetics in El Dorado County.

The tree is decorated with 900 hand-crafted ornaments created by children and adults with developmental disabilities who receive services and support from the California state development centers and 21 nonprofit regional centers. It will be illuminated by 10,000 ultra-low wattage LED lights.

Here are some fun things to do!

• COTATI – Holiday Tree Lighting 
• LA PALMA –  Annual Holiday Tree Lighting and Community Carol Sing Along 
• SACRAMENTO 80th Annual Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony 
• SAN DIEGO Skate by Sea at Hotel del Cornoado through New Year 2012. hoteldel.com
• SAN FRANCISCO Downtown Ice in Union Square.
• SANTA ANA The Science of Gingerbread. Hands on activities and Gingerbread construction for kids through Jan. 1  discoverycube.org