Celebrate the holiday season with a festive light displays and holiday performances.
Featured Holiday Events
Elf ~ San Francisco, December 19-21
Experience your favorite Christmas film transformed with the music of a live symphony orchestra in Elf™ in Concert! For the first time ever, audiences can rediscover the magic of this holiday classic while a live symphony orchestra performs John Debney’s wonderful score and Santa Claus soars across the big screen.
IlluminOdyssey ~ San Mateo, through January 26
IlluminOdyssey is back! Fill your winter with wonder at an immersive, interactive light experience at CuriOdyssey. Running now through January 26!
The Great Dicken’s Christmas Faire ~ Daly City, through December 22
Over 4 acres of the historic Cow Palace are magically transformed into the winding lanes and bustling play houses of Victorian London! Immerse yourself in a world of theatres, dance parties, and charming shops. Discover holiday revelry in this lamp-lit city brimming with hundreds of lively and colorful characters from the imagination of Charles Dickens.
Glowfari at Oakland Zoo ~ Oakland, November 8 through January 26
This wildly popular, family-friendly experience is back with hundreds of a;; new, larger-than-life animal lanterns throughout the Zoo. Each lantern tells the story of the ongoing journey of wildlife, the importance of every species on our planet, and Oakland Zoo’s commitment to conservation. Finish your experience with a ride on the train through the great red island of Madagascar, a wondrous world full of lemurs, chameleons, and other unique flora and fauna!
Polar Play Days at The Tech ~ San Jose, through January 5
Explore the magic and science of winter and the joy of the holiday season. This family-friendly event offers a blend of creative activities, hands-on experiments, and fun-filled adventures that capture the spirit of the season.
Holiday Light Displays
Fantasy of Lights Drive-Thru – Los Gatos, December 10 – January 5
Holidays at Filoli – Woodside, November 16 – January 12
Holiday Tree Walk – Felton, November 29 – December 22
Santa Cruz Holiday Lights Train – Santa Cruz, November 29 – December 23
Christmas at Temple Hill – Oakland, November 29 – December 31
Christmas in the Park – San Jose, November 21 – January 1
Enchant – San Jose, November 22 – December 29
Blinky’s Illuminated Holiday Drive-Thru – San Jose, November 21 – January 1
Garden of d’Lights – Walnut Creek, November 22 – January 11
Amusement Parks & Zoos
Glowfari – Oakland, November 8 – January 26
Boardwalk Winter Wonderland – Santa Cruz, November 28 – January 5
Winterfest at Great America – Santa Clara, November 29 – January 5
North Pole Nights at Gilroy Gardens – Gilroy, November 29 – December 31
Six Flags Holidays in the Park – Vallejo, November 29 – January 5
Other Holiday Events & Activities
Glow at The Exploratorium – San Francisco, November 21– January 26
Walnut Creek Model Railroad Holiday Show – Walnut Creek, November 22-30
Dickens Christmas Fair – Daly City, November 23 – December 22
Santa Train Jolly Journeys – Napa, November 29 – December 23
Christmas Village – Castro Valley, November 29-January 25
Toy Trains – Santa Cruz, December 19-29
Hanukkah Celebrations
Chanukah on Ice – Walnut Creek, December 25
Union Square Menorah Lighting – San Francisco, December 25 – January 2
Chanukah Festival – Fairfax, December 26
Menorah Lighting – Alamo, December 26
Hanukah Celebration – San Francisco, December 29
Chanukah Celebration – San Anselmo, December 29
Menorah Lighting – San Rafael, December 29
Chanukah Festivities – Mill Valley, December 29
Chanukah Celebration – Petaluma, December 29
Chanukah Train – Santa Cruz, January 2
Performances: The Nutcracker
Palo Alto Children’s Theatre – Palo Alto, December 5-22
San Francisco Ballet – San Francisco, December 6-29
Nutcracker Sweets – San Francisco, December 7-22
Valley Dance Theatre – Livermore, December 14-22
New Ballet – San Jose, December 14-23
Santa Cruz City Ballet – Aptos, December 21, 22
Oakland Ballet – Oakland, December 21, 22
Peninsula Ballet Theatre – San Mateo, December 21, 22
Hip Hop Nutcracker by Peninsula Ballet Theatre – Redwood City, December 21, 22
Berkeley City Ballet – Berkeley, December 21
SSF Civic Ballet – South San Francisco, December 21, 22
My Very First Nutcracker – San Jose, December 22
Performances: A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol – Saratoga, December 5-21
A Christmas Carol – Walnut Creek, December 12-22
Other Holiday Performances
A Why Not Christmas Carol – San Francisco, November 26-December 24
A Christmas Story Musical – Los Altos, November 29-December 22
Sing You a Merry Christmas – San Francisco, December 21, 23
A Chanticleer Christmas – Several Locations, December 13-23
Reindeer Games – San Francisco, December 14-22
The Snow Queen by Bayer Ballet – Mountain View, December 20-22
The Biggest Gift by Fantasy Forum – Walnut Creek, December 20-22
Holiday Gospel Concert – Mountain View, December 22
Once Upon a Time Step – Pleasanton, December 22
New Years Celebrations
Noon Year’s Eve at Bay Area Discovery Museum – Sausalito, December 31
Happy New Year, Charlie Brown! – Santa Rosa, December 31
Thrive City Kwanza and New Year’s Eve Celebration – San Francisco, December 31
Balloon Drop at Chabot Space and Science Center – Oakland, December 31
New Year’s Eve at Gilroy Gardens – Gilroy, December 31
Holiday Ice Rinks
Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square – San Francisco, November 6 – January 20
Ice at the Veranda – Concord, November 8 – February 14
Kristi Yamaguchi Holiday Rink – San Ramon, November 8 – January 5
San Mateo on Ice – San Mateo, November 15 – January 12
Downtown Ice – San Jose, November 15 – January 20
Skating that The Meritage – Napa, November 18 – January 11
Brentwood on Ice – Brentwood, November 22 – January 5
Walnut Creek on Ice – Walnut Creek, November 22 – January 12
Enchant at PayPal Park – San Jose, November 22 – December 29
Winter Wonderland – Ross, December 6-15
Luma Ice – Petaluma, December 13 – January 7
