Murphys, CA…Every year on the first Friday in December, Murphys celebrates the start of the holiday season with a community Open House from 5 to 8 pm on Historic Main Street. Admission is free, the streets are closed to traffic and we are ready to celebrate the winter holidays.

A favorite of locals, the annual event is an old-fashioned celebration featuring a parade, holiday treats and entertainment hosted by Main Street merchants, restaurants, wineries and the Murphys Business Association. Musicians and carolers fill the streets with the sounds of the seasons, Santa arrives with the parade and stays for photos with the kids in the Native Sons Hall. A photographer will be on hand but parents are welcome to bring their own cameras.

Each year the merchants and other businesses of Murphys put on this event to help all of us find our holiday spirit, let us show off our town and, most importantly, to say thank you to locals and visitors for their support throughout the year.

The parade begins promptly at 5:30 pm starting at the Historic Murphys Hotel and continues to Big Trees Road, so come early and grab a good spot.

Open House is a great time to visit Murphys’ shops, tasting rooms and restaurants, see what’s new and visit with friends, old and new, while warming yourself around the fire-pits manned by our local Boy Scouts. It’s also good time to check out some of the new businesses in town: Murphys Irish Pub, the Potted Plum, A Taste of Rob’s, Chateau de Ireys and the Jazz Cellars Tasting Room. Make sure you wander all of Main Street including our side streets and nooks and crannies just off Main Street. Take a moment to admire the town tree located on the Arbors patio and provided by Ironstone Vineyards. If you are planning on having dinner downtown you might want to make reservations early.

Free parking is available at the Masonic Hall and behind the Arbors as well as on surrounding streets but please be considerate of the residents when selecting a parking place. The Black Bart Theater parking lot will be closed for parade staging until about 6:30pm. There will be no parking on Main Street during the event.

The Calaveras Wine Alliance will be celebrating their Festival of Wines in Murphys on Friday evening and at wineries through the county over the weekend so plan to visit Murphys and other Calaveras County wineries for entertainment, specials and more on Saturday & Sunday. Don’t forget that you can ride the Saturday Hopper bus from Valley Springs to Murphys and points in between on Saturdays. Get all the details at facebook.com/Calaveras-Transit. Wondering what else is going on in Murphys during the holidays? Visit our online calendar at visitmurphys.com.