--- title: "Your guide to the 2026 Season of Wonder & Light" description: "Four community events, nearly four months of Plaza lights, and simple ways for local businesses to help light up Arcata this fall and winter." url: https://arcatachamber.com/blog/season-of-wonder-and-light-2026-guide/ --- Blog · Events # Your guide to the 2026 Season of Wonder & Light Four community events, nearly four months of Plaza lights, and simple ways for local businesses to help light up Arcata this fall and winter. ![Two tall palm trees and street lamps along a path across the Arcata Plaza lawn, with downtown storefronts behind](https://arcatachamber.com/_astro/arcata-plaza-palms.D2xcr-n7_1GDfbq.jpg) By Arcata Chamber of Commerce October 20, 2026 · 3 min read - Events - Downtown Arcata - Sponsorship For decades, the Arcata Chamber of Commerce has lit up the Arcata Plaza each holiday season. It’s a welcoming place to gather, and a reason for neighbors and visitors to shop, dine, and celebrate locally. This year the tradition grows into something bigger: a nearly four-month **Season of Wonder & Light**. Here’s what to expect, what to put on your calendar, and how your business can be part of it. ## What’s different this year In 2026 the lights don’t wait for December. - **October:** orange and purple lights turn the Plaza into a festive celebration of the spooky season. - **Holidays:** the display changes over to the classic twinkling lights that have become a cherished part of Arcata’s winter. - **Into the new year:** the lights stay up through mid-January. That means more evenings on the Plaza, more reasons to linger downtown, and more foot traffic for the shops and restaurants around the square. ## Four community events to save the date for The Chamber is hosting four events over the season. Bookmark this list, or see the [Season of Wonder & Light page](https://arcatachamber.com/season-of-wonder-and-light/) for the latest details. ### Halloween on the Plaza **Saturday, October 31 · 4–7 pm · Arcata Plaza** Trick-or-treating at downtown businesses, local vendors, performances by The Dead Drops and the Dancing Witches, aerial performances, and more. Local makers and businesses can [apply to vend](https://app.seemylegacy.com/community/2852/campaign/10033). ### Holiday Open House Sip + Shop **Saturday, November 14 · 3–6 pm · Downtown Arcata** Local beverage makers team up with downtown shops for an afternoon of sipping and shopping. It’s an easy, festive way to start your holiday list close to home. [Get tickets](https://app.seemylegacy.com/community/2852/campaign/10552). ### Holiday Mixer at Redwood Capital Bank **Thursday, December 3 · 5:30–7 pm · Redwood Capital Bank** Networking, raffle prizes, great food, and wonderful community energy. If you’ve never been to a Chamber mixer, this is a good one to start with. Learn more about [First Thursday Mixers](https://arcatachamber.com/events/mixers/). ### Season of Wonder & Light Celebration **Friday, December 11 · 5–7 pm · Arcata Plaza** The big night: Santa, the Snowflake Queen, and local choirs light up the Plaza. Bring the family, bring a friend, and stay for dinner downtown. ![Two towering hand-made parade puppets on a downtown Arcata street at dusk](https://arcatachamber.com/_astro/giant-puppets.DuapMnRm_21cgyX.webp) ## Make a night of it Every one of these events happens on or around the Plaza, which makes it easy to turn an hour into an evening. Grab a bite at a member restaurant, pick up a gift from a downtown shop, and walk the square once the lights come on. Not sure where to start? The [Chamber member directory](https://business.arcatachamber.com/list/search?q=&c=&sa=False&gr=25&gn=) lists food, shopping, and lodging businesses, and the [Member Map](https://map.proxi.co/r/XcLuS_4dap7DAFnTB2QP) shows who’s nearby. ## How local businesses can help light up the Plaza The lights are a community effort, and sponsorships keep them glowing all season. There are four levels: | Package | Investment | Highlights | | --- | --- | --- | | Community Cheer | $100 | Thank-you social media post; shout-out at the Holiday Mixer and the Season of Wonder & Light event | | Spirit Sponsor | $500 | Everything above, plus your logo on the Season of Wonder & Light and Halloween on the Plaza posters | | Sparkle Sponsor | $1,000 | Poster logos, recognition at all three community events, a banner at each event, and three monthly newsletters | | Illuminate Arcata | $2,000 | All of the above, plus press-release recognition, a logo and link on the Chamber website for three months, and booth space at one event | The full list of what each package includes, and the online sign-up form, are on the [Season of Wonder & Light page](https://arcatachamber.com/season-of-wonder-and-light/#packages-title). A big thank-you to this year’s Illuminate sponsors, **Vero Fiber, Redwood Capital Bank, and Coast Central Credit Union**, for helping us light up the Arcata Plaza. ## Stay in the loop Event details sometimes change as the season gets closer. The best ways to keep up: - Check the [Events page](https://arcatachamber.com/events/) and the [Chamber calendar](https://business.arcatachamber.com/events/calendar/). - Subscribe to the [monthly newsletter](https://arcatachamber.com/monthly-newsletter/). - Follow the Chamber on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/ArcataChamber) and [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/ArcataChamberCA). See you on the Plaza. [All stories](https://arcatachamber.com/blog/) ## Keep reading - ![Chamber members, city staff, and neighbors cut a red ribbon outside Jacoby’s Storehouse on the Arcata Plaza](https://arcatachamber.com/_astro/ribbon-cutting-jacobys-storehouse.Cder3WsI_KVULq.webp) Membership ### [Seven Chamber member benefits you might be missing](https://arcatachamber.com/blog/member-benefits-you-might-be-missing/) From a bulk mailing permit to free in-house media help and members-only field trips, here are seven Arcata Chamber benefits that are easy to overlook. October 14, 2026 · 3 min read - ![A hiker in a red jacket on a trail through a misty redwood forest lit by sunbeams](https://arcatachamber.com/_astro/redwoods-misty-sunbeams.CA9tSKd7_Zr7KBF.webp) Visiting Arcata ### [Visiting Arcata? Start at the Welcome Center](https://arcatachamber.com/blog/visiting-arcata-start-at-the-welcome-center/) Maps, visitor guides, and friendly local advice just off Highway 101. How the Arcata Chamber’s Welcome Center can help you plan your Redwood Coast trip. October 7, 2026 · 2 min read ## Get stories like this in your inbox Our monthly newsletter rounds up new members, upcoming events, and member offers. [Subscribe to the newsletter](https://arcatachamber.com/monthly-newsletter/)