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. Chestnuts will be roasting, carolers will be singing, and Santa will be visiting! 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. Santa and the Mrs. Will be available for photos with the kids in the Native Sons Hall. Bring your phone or camera to snap a picture or let our photographer get the shot. The New Horizon Band will be providing music in the Native Sons Hall and Road Trip Espresso will be offering hot drinks for sale nearby.

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

Open House is a fun 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. Make sure you also visit our side streets and nooks and crannies just off Main Street. Take a moment to admire the town tree located on the Milliaire patio and provided by Ironstone Vineyards. This year we are also collecting donations for the folks impacted by the Camp Fire. Drop off cash or gift cards at the Native Sons Hall during the event or at Gold Country Roasters, SNAC, Marisolio, The Spice Tin, Creative Cookware, Sustenance Books, Murphys Pourhouse, Milliaire Winery, Tanner Winery and the Calaveras Visitors Center throughout the holiday season. 100% of donations collected by the Camp Fire Community Cash Fund will be distributed to the Paradise and surrounding communities thanks to the Angels-Murphys Rotary Club.

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.

Free parking is available at the Masonic Hall, Old Schoolhouse, The Church of Latter Day Saints and behind the Arbors as well as on surrounding streets but please be considerate of the residents when selecting a parking place. Accessible parking is available behind Arbors and at the Masonic Hall. The Black Bart Theater parking lot and Algiers Street between Scott Street and the Hotel will be closed for parade staging until about 6:30pm. There will be no parking on Main Street during the event. If you are planning on having dinner downtown, make your reservations early.

The Calaveras Wine Alliance will be celebrating their Festival of Wines in Murphys on Friday evening and at wineries throughout the county over the weekend so plan to visit Murphys and other Calaveras County wineries on Saturday & Sunday for exclusive tasting, gift specials and wine pairings. Sip a glass of wine in a cozy tasting room while making a dent in your holiday gift list. Wondering what else is going on in Murphys during the holidays? Visit our online calendar at visitmurphys.com.