A Nevada County Christmas Tradition!

Rain, snow or shine-this event happens!

Dates: November 29th, December 6th, December 13th, & December 20th Friday Evenings from 6:00pm – 9:00pm

Scroll down for event details

Visit us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/historicgrassvalley/

Public bathrooms will be at the Elizabeth Daniels Park-125 Neal -Street.

Download parking map below

Additional event parking at Grass Valley Charter school lot, entrance to the right of Diego’s

at 217 Colfax Ave, Grass Valley.

2019

Entertainment Schedule scroll down.

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For Parking Maps and Activity Map of Downtown Grass Valley during Cornish Christmas scroll towards the bottom of the page. During the days of the event, if we are not in the office we are setting up the event: Call 530-798-9690 or 1-510-604-1164

Celebrate our 52nd year with us, a Rain or Shine event!

Fridays, from 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm on Mill & Main Streets in Historic Downtown Grass Valley

November 29th, December 6th, 13th, and 2oth

Recapture the spirit of Christmas past amid the charming surroundings of historic downtown Grass Valley, California during the annual Cornish Christmas Celebration. Started in 1967 as a way to preserve Grass Valley’s Cornish heritage and holiday traditions, Cornish Christmas remains one of our most popular events. Mill and West Main Streets are closed to motorized traffic and filled with the sights and sounds of an old fashioned Christmas; carolers, jugglers, musicians, magicians, the Grass Valley Cornish Carol Choir, Tommyknocker Cloggers and of course, Santa Claus. Handmade arts and craft from artists throughout California are displayed on our historic downtown Grass Valley streets. Delicious food and drink can be purchased from a number of Grass Valley restaurants and specialty food vendors.

Pause at the steps of the historic Union Building as the Cornish Carol Choir performs traditional homeland Christmas carols. A long-standing Cornish tradition, some members are actually descendants of original Grass Valley Cornish Miners. Enjoy the wide selection of holiday music offered by local Grass Valley musicians amongst the trappings of an historic gold rush town. Imagine life in another era where men and women worked hard, had little, but cherished the simple pleasures of hearty food and drink, a good song, and a warm fire with family and friends.

At the Grass Valley Cornish Christmas you’ll see kids and adults dressed in period costumes while you discover one of California’s best kept secrets as you shop the amazing collection of merchants that call downtown Grass Valley their home. Dine in one of the many world-class restaurants found in downtown Grass Valley. Sample local wines at one of three wine tasting rooms in downtown Grass Valley or just enjoy the simple pleasures of chestnuts roasted on an open fire. The Cornish Christmas celebration is truly an overload of the senses. Stroll down the bustling historic downtown Grass Valley streets as Christmas music fills the air. Hear young and old alike play their rendition your favorite holiday tunes as buildings dressed in Christmas lights sparkle in the December night air. Smell the aroma of your favorite dish while you browse the multitude of gifts and decorations made by some of California’s best crafters and artisans

Shops open!

Food vendors on the street below

India Oven Zia G’s Candy Sweeney’s Weenies Jax Kettle Corn An Honest Pie Kenny Concessions Mad Hatter Doughnuts Cool Hollow 4H Horn of the Bull Taqueria Michelle’s Sundance Catering Butterflies & Roses Cancer Support

Activities and spots to see:

Cornish Christmas Entertainment 12/20/19 Location: South Auburn and Main Street near Foggy Mountain Music, 104 W Main St 6:00-8:00 Jody Sweet’s music students on piano at Foggy Mountain Music 6:00-9:00 Free Roasted Chestnuts with Cecil Snow 6:00-9:00 Kettle Corn Location: the Clocktower at corner of Main and Mill Street 130 W Main 6:30-7:30 California Highway Patrol horses 7:00-8:00 Vicki Fortini singing 6:00-9:00 Toys For Tots taking toy donations 6:00-9:00 Grass Valley Downtown Association booth/ Raffle Prize Sheet/ Kano GVPD Police Dog Rüdiger Christmas Ornaments to benefit Rüdiger Foundation/ annual event information Location: Holbrooke Hotel 212 W Main 6:00-7:00 Brandon Stubbs on trumpet 7:00-7:30 Lyman Gilmore Band 7:30-8:30 Jasmine Bailey 6:00-9:00 Fire Pit & S’Mores 6:00-9:00 Bounce House Location: Tofanelli’s 302 W Main 6:00-9:00 and all the time during the week: Letters to Santa that receive a reply Location: Tribal Weaver 105 Mill St 6:30-8:30 Izzi Toinski juggling 6:00-9:00 Face Painting and Balloons nearby Location: Old Town Café 6:00-7:00 Don Baggett horn group 7:00-7:30 Sierra Capella 6:00-9:00 Magicians Guild 6:00-9:00 Fire Pit Location: Foothill Mercantile 121 Mill St Cornish Christmas Buttons and Annual Downtown Ornament 6:00-9:00 and all week during store hours Location: Bank Building corner of Mill and Bank 131 Mill Street 7:00-9:00 Jesse Strickman Location: Crystal Empire Gems 139 Mill Street 6:00-7:00 Athena and Leander Giuliani Location: The Union Building 151 Mill Street 6:00-6:30 Cornish Choir 7:00-7:30 Cornish Choir 6:00-9:00 Cornish History Booth Location: Tao Te Café and Body Balance Academy 151 Mill Street 6:30-6:40/ 7:30-7:40 Body Balance Kung Fu Team 7:40-8:10 Hula dancing Location: 125 Neal Street Public Restrooms Open all day until 9pm 125 Neal St Location: Three Lilies Photography 140 Mill St 6:30-9:00 Santa visits and photography Location: M3 Mall 133 Neal St 6:00-9:00 Free gift wrapping, Cornish Trivia, Cornish King and Queen photo opportunities & Salvation Army Red Kettle Location: Stucki’s Jewelers 148 Mill St 6:00-9:00 Mrs. Clause on Mill and Main roaming Locations for Mulled Wine Avanguardia Wines Winery 163 Mill, Cork 49 142 Mill, 128 Mill Lucchesi Vineyards Buskers will pepper open spots for your entertainment! Extra event parking at Grass Valley Charter School to the right of Diego’s Chilean Inspired South American Restaurant open 5:30-9:30 for the event.

2019 Sponsors Thank you for your time and donations! We can only do this event with your help! Click on their logos for links to their websites. Help support these businesses who support us in producing free community events Title Sponsor, the City of Grass Valley

Cornish Christmas Sponsorship

You can help make Cornish Christmas great – one of our largest free community events of the year!

Every bit helps us with the costs of putting on the event and maintaining the lights and decorations

ccmas 2019 sponsor app Cornish Christmas

Insight with Capitol Public Radio interview

Listen online here for the interview with Cornish Bards from 2017

http://www.capradio.org/news/insight/2017/12/12/insight-121217c/

Photo by Jackson Starr

Vendor applications currently closed. You may inquire via email at info@downtowngrassvalley.com or 530-272-8315

2019 Vendor INFO:

Dates: November 29th, December 6th, December 13th, & December 20th Friday Evenings from 6:00pm – 9:00pm

Online Vendor Application HERE

Printable Vendor Application HERE: Cornish-Christmas-Vendor-Application 2019

Printable Entertainment Application HERE: Cornish Christmas Entertainment App 2019

Printable Food Vendor TFF Risk Assessment Guide HERE: TFF-Risk-Assessment-Guide for food vendors only

Non Food Vendors Release Form to be signed and turned back into the GVDA if you are printing your application: WAIVER OF LIABILITY AND HOLD HARMLESS AGREEMENT-CC 2019

Vendor prices depend on the kind of vendor you are, must commit to all 4 weeks or be put on a waitlist for week to week placement.

Crafters/ Home Cottage Business/ Packaged Food is $128

Non-Profit Organizations are $104

Corporations are $244

Business Improvement District members $40

Food Vendors are $244

All food vendors need to have a current permit with Nevada County Environmental Health (high risk for food, low risk for hot chocolate and cider)

You must have a current permit by November 2nd to be considered for food vending. Visit Nevada County Environmental Health at the Rood Center in Nevada City to get your permits current.

Mark any notes on your application and or in an email to info@downtowngrassvalley.com

Power is not provided. Vendors provide their own power with batteries or Quiet generators. No kerosene lamps.

No pets and no smoking downtown per city ordinance