There’s no shortage of post-Thanksgiving events

The fridge might be full of turkey leftovers, but the holiday season is just getting started with a variety of post-Thanksgiving and yuletide festivities for the entire family.

Feeling full?

If the calorie-laden Thanksgiving meal has got you feeling down, you may want to check out a new “day after” tradition.

Local health and fitness clubs are hosting a community-wide Turkey Burn workout from 8 a.m. to noon on Friday, Nov. 27 at the Petaluma Community Center, 320 N. McDowell Blvd.

There are four different fitness classes to choose from: pilates, aerobics, kickboxing and yoga. And to top off the good exercise vibe, the event is also a fund-raiser for the Committee on the Shelterless.

Participants can take one class or all four. Be sure to bring a yoga mat and wear fitness shoes. Cost is $25 or $20 with a donation of a bag of non-perishable groceries.

Call 778-3552 to reserve a spot.

Time to give thanks

The weekend’s festivities begin with a Thanksgiving Day gratitude service hosted by First Church of Christ Scientist.

The service, which is open to the public, is from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 26 in Walnut Park, corner of Petaluma Boulevard and D Street. If it rains, the service will be held at the church, 522 B St.

Santa’s riverboat arrival

The big event that locals wait for all year is the rivertown arrival of the jolly man in red, Santa Claus. At noon on Saturday, Nov. 28, Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive at the Petaluma River Turning Basin aboard the tug Petaluma to greet and distribute candy canes to good girls and boys.

There will also be plenty of time for children to have their photos taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus this year since the Antique Horse and Wagon Procession, which usually follows their arrival, will not be held this year.

“The Petaluma Visitors Program has put the procession together every year, and with the staff cuts here earlier this year, we just didn’t have the dollars or the staff to put it together,” said Marsha Trent of the PVP. “We’re sorry to have to disappoint people, but it will give Santa and Mrs. Claus more time to greet the children. There will be an indoor space for photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Golden Eagle Shopping Center.”

Trend added that she hopes the procession will return next year and stressed that new participants in the procession are needed.

“The number of participants has been contracting year by year,” said Trent. “We also hope we’ll have somebody to help coordinate it next year. It’s a huge undertaking, especially with all the other activities we have going on at the same time of year.”

In addition to Santa’s arrival, there will be Christmas carolers in the Golden Eagle Shopping Center. Petaluma holiday calendars will also be distributed.

For more information on Santa’s arrival, call the Petaluma Visitors Program at 769-0429 or go online to www.visitpetaluma.com.

‘The Nutcracker’

After the holiday kickoff with Santa, another seasonal tradition returns in all its sugar-plum glory. The North Bay Performing Arts presents Contessi Ballet’s annual production of “The Nutcracker” at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28 and 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 29 at the Petaluma Veterans Memorial Building, 1094 Petaluma Blvd. South. Tickets are $12 to $20. For details and tickets, call 762-1381.

Holiday Craft Faire

Springfield Place holds a holiday craft faire featuring a variety of handmade goods and treats from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28. Admission is free. Springfield Place is located at 101 Ely Blvd. South. For more information, call 769-3300, ext. 103.

Petaluma Downtown Craft Mart

More than 30 crafters will be selling everything from jewelry and bath products to clothing and purses at the Petaluma Downtown Craft Mart from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 29.

The event, which will be held at the Hotel Petaluma, 205 Kentucky St., is a benefit for the Committee on the Shelterless.

The craft mart is the brainchild of Melissa Abercrombie of Blue Ribbon Salvage, Carrie Caudle of Moonpath Designs, Elaine Elwick-Barr of Rock n Roll Crafts, Nicole Vasbinder of StitchCraft and Kristine McFarland of Sinkitty Designs.

“We felt that in this economy, there are so many Sonoma County residents who are in need and are seeking help and we wanted to do our part to help our community by raising funds for such an important resource,” said Vasbinder.

The first 50 attendees will receive a gift bag containing “schwag” from local artists and shops and coupons from Petaluma restaurants and merchants.

Admission is $1. For more information or to become a sponsor or donate, contact petalumadowntowncraftmart@gmail.com or visit www.petalumadowntowncraftmart.com.

Christkindlmarkt

The strudel and stollen abound at the Hermann Sons Hall’s annual Christkindl-markt, held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 29.

The festive, old-world Christmas market features traditional crafts, food, music and entertainment from Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Admission is free and Santa Claus will be on hand for picture taking. Hermann Sons Hall is located at 860 Western Ave.

Admission is free.

For information on Christkindlmarkt, contact Reinhold Grillmeyer at (415) 897-9467 or Rosemarie Rivera at 763-4060.

(Contact Yovanna Bieberich at yovanna.bieberich@arguscourier.com)