36th Annual Calico Christmas Merchant Open House
Saturday & Sunday, December 6 & 7
Enjoy true holiday spirit and small town charm. Hot cocoa, free refreshments
and live music while you enjoy a unique shopping and dining experience.

Special Saturday Events include: Pictures with Santa 1-5pm; Traditional Tree Lighting at 6pm Shops open until 8:00pm; More information below....

Amador City’s GOLDPAN Merchant Association will be hosting the 36th annual Calico Christmas the first weekend in December, Saturday, December 6 and Sunday, December 7, 2008.

Merchants want visitors to experience an old fashioned Christmas when they visit historic Amador City during the holidays. The town is decorated with its traditional fresh evergreen garlands and calico lights. Warm shops with friendly faces offer a great variety of gift ideas and holiday decorations. Merchants will host free refreshments for visitors to enjoy while they shop. Live music throughout the day and special events will add to the festive holiday spirit. Shops will be open until 8:00pm on Saturday so that both locals and visitors will have an opportunity to shop and visit with friends.

The highlight of the weekend is the annual tree lighting. At 5:30 on Saturday all are welcome to meet at the Imperial Hotel for the Walk of Light. Enjoy a candlelight procession led by traditional caroling through the streets to the town tree. The lighting of the tree will be at 6:00 followed by caroling.

There is a wide variety of stores to help satisfy your Christmas list. Find unique gifts at several antique and gift shops, boutiques, galleries, garden shops, kitchen store, quilt shops and the Little Amador Railroad. Most stores will open at 10:00am for Calico Christmas so get an early treat at the bakery and get ready to shop.

After hunting for the perfect gift, visitors can grab a bite to eat at Buffalo Chips which serves hamburgers, sandwiches, ice cream and homemade pie. Sandwiches, fresh-baked bread, coffee, tea and pastries are available at Andrae’s Bakery as early as 7:00am. The Imperial Hotel will be serving lunch and dinner as well drinks at the bar. The Aquatic Cow is available for dinner as well.

Amador City, located 50 miles east of Sacramento along historic Highway 49 is a little city with big charm. You can spend the day shopping, enjoy the charm of the historic buildings and maybe even learn a little about California’s gold rush history at the Amador Whitney museum.
Quality lodging is available in Amador City at the Imperial Hotel.

For more information please contact Joyce at The Kitchen Store, 209-267-9310 or ktchnstore@centralhouse.net.