December in Fresno
Cold, foggy, and lit up for the holidays, with snow an hour up the highway.
54°F / 38°F
Cold and often foggy. Days run in the low 50s and nights drop near freezing. Tule fog settles into the valley on calm mornings and can make driving slow, so allow extra time.
December in Fresno is cold, foggy, and lit up for the holidays. Days sit in the low 50s, the tule fog rolls in on still mornings, and the lights are up all over town. Christmas Tree Lane runs its full two miles on Van Ness Boulevard, downtown and Old Town Clovis hold holiday events, and the citrus harvest peaks on the valley farms. An hour up Highway 168 there is snow at China Peak and around Shaver Lake.
Christmas Tree Lane
Christmas Tree Lane on Van Ness Boulevard is the center of the Fresno holidays. The roughly two-mile run of lights in Old Fig Garden has been an institution since 1920.
Christmas Tree Lane
Christmas Tree Lane is a roughly two-mile stretch of Van Ness Boulevard in Old Fig Garden lit up by the residents each December. It has been a Fresno institution since 1920. It runs through the holidays, with both drive-through nights and walk-only nights. Check the schedule for hours and for which nights are which.
The walk nights are the better way to see it, since you can take in the decorated yards up close. Bundle up, because the December fog and cold settle in after dark.
Walk Nights and Drive Nights
Christmas Tree Lane alternates between walk-only nights, when cars are kept off Van Ness, and drive-through nights, when you stay in the car. Walk nights let you see the displays close up. Drive nights are warmer and easier with small kids or in the cold. Check the schedule before you go so you know which you are getting.
Old Fig Garden After Dark
The Old Fig Garden neighborhood around the Lane is one of the older, tree-lined parts of Fresno just north of downtown. The side streets off Van Ness add their own holiday displays. Fig Garden Village at the edge has coffee and food to warm up with. It pairs naturally with a lights visit.
Holiday Lights and Events
Beyond Christmas Tree Lane, the holiday events spread across downtown Fresno and Old Town Clovis through December.
Old Town Clovis Holidays
Old Town Clovis along Pollasky Avenue runs holiday events through December, with lights strung over the walkable strip of shops and restaurants. It is about 15 minutes northeast of Fresno. The smaller scale makes it a calmer holiday outing than the big centers. Check the schedule for tree lightings and event weekends.
Combine a holiday evening in Old Town Clovis with dinner on Pollasky Avenue. The strip is short enough to walk the whole thing on a cold night.
Downtown Fresno Events
Downtown Fresno hosts holiday events through December, including seasonal happenings around the Fulton Street corridor. The schedule shifts year to year, with tree lightings, markets, and performances. It pairs with a meal or a movie downtown. Check local listings for what is on each weekend.
ArtHop
ArtHop is the free art walk on the first Thursday of every month, centered in the Tower District and downtown. The December walk leans into the holidays as galleries open in the evening. Dress for the cold and fog. The Tower restaurants stay busy and warm through the night.
Snow in the Sierra
December brings snow to the Sierra above Fresno. An hour up Highway 168 puts you toward the ski area and the snow-play country around Shaver Lake.
China Peak
China Peak is the ski area up Highway 168, past Shaver Lake at around 7,000 feet. It opens for skiing and snowboarding once the snow arrives, usually by mid to late December. It is the closest downhill skiing to Fresno, about two hours up the highway. Check the schedule and the snow report before you drive.
Carry chains in December no matter the forecast. Highway 168 above Shaver Lake requires them often, and the CHP turns back cars without them.
Snow Play Around Shaver Lake
The country around Shaver Lake at about 5,400 feet gets snow in December and is the closest place to Fresno for sledding and snow play. Designated snow-play areas open along Highway 168 once there is enough cover. It is about an hour up from town. Check current conditions, since the snow line moves with each storm.
Huntington Lake
Huntington Lake sits at about 7,000 feet, another 45 minutes past Shaver on Highway 168. It holds snow earlier and deeper than Shaver and is cross-country and snowmobile country in winter. The drive is longer and the road can close in storms. Check conditions and road status before committing to the trip.
Citrus and Farm Stands
The citrus harvest peaks around Fresno in December. The valley farms and roadside stands east of town are at their best of the year.
Mandarins and Navel Oranges
The citrus harvest hits its peak around Fresno in December, with mandarins and navel oranges coming off the trees on the valley farms. Roadside stands east of town sell fruit picked the same week. It is one of the genuine specialties of the Central Valley. Look for stands on the routes out toward the foothills.
Stands Toward Reedley and Sanger
The farm country southeast of Fresno toward Reedley and Sanger has the densest run of citrus stands in December. The Blossom Trail area is built on this fruit. It is about a 30 minute drive from central Fresno. Stands keep their own hours, so go in daylight on a weekend.
Kingsburg Farm Country
Kingsburg, about 25 minutes south of Fresno on Highway 99, sits in farm country with stands selling citrus and other winter produce. The small Swedish-themed downtown is worth a walk while you are there. Pair the fruit run with lunch in town. Check individual stands for what is open in December.
Cozy Indoor Picks
When the fog sits in the valley, December is for indoor plans in Fresno. These are the warm options worth leaving the house for.
Fresno Art Museum
The Fresno Art Museum off Radio Avenue near Radio Park is an easy warm afternoon out of the cold and fog. It runs rotating exhibits across modern and regional work. It is a short, calm visit that fills a foggy day. Check hours, since the holidays can shift the schedule.
Maya Cinemas
The Maya theater on Fulton Street downtown is the easy move on a cold, foggy December day. Catch a matinee and stay warm through the worst of the afternoon. It anchors the redone downtown stretch, so you can grab food nearby. The holiday releases land all month.
A morning matinee is the cheapest seat and gets you out before the evening fog thickens for the drive home.
Downtown Ice Rink
A seasonal outdoor ice rink runs downtown some Decembers as part of the holiday events. It is a holiday outing when it is operating, though it is open-air rather than indoor. Whether it runs depends on the year, so check the schedule. When it is on, it pairs well with dinner downtown.