Celebrate the holiday season with a festive light displays and holiday performances.
Featured Holiday Events
Holiday Cirque ~ San Francisco, December 2
Troupe Vertigo’s spellbinding performances ignite the imagination through stunning physical feats choreographed into works of art. In their return to the San Francisco Symphony, the company brings their innovative mix of circus, dance, and theater to a festive new holiday show.
The Nutcracker Performed by San Francisco Youth Ballet ~ San Francisco, December 7 & 8
The holiday magic continues as San Francisco Youth Ballet presents its 23rd annual, full length production of “The Nutcracker.” It is geared toward families and a perfect introduction to classical ballet for children. Seats are reserved and “Sugar Plum” VIP and “Clara’s Guest” admission includes a special gift for children and a character meet and greet 30 minutes prior to curtain. Buy your tickets early since this is a sold out production year after year.
Deck The Hall ~ San Francisco, December 8
It’s never too early to plan a holiday tradition—let Deck the Hall be yours! Treat your family to a concert of holiday favorites and sing-alongs led by conductor Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser with members of the San Francisco Symphony, guest artists, and beloved costumed characters.
The Muppet Christmas Carol in Concert ~ San Francisco, December 12 & 14
Join Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, and all the hilarious Muppets in this merry, magical version of Charles Dickens’ classic tale. Michael Caine stars as penny-pinching Ebenezer Scrooge who learns the true meaning of Christmas. Watch this beloved holiday classic on the big screen as the Symphony performs the score live. Rated G.
Peter and the Wolf ~ San Francisco, December 15
Prokofiev’s tale of a boy and his animal friends’ bravery is brought to life with a guest narrator. The San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra performs this classic musical fable, along with other seasonal and holiday favorites for your family to enjoy!
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, November 16 through January 26
IlluminOdyssey is back! Fill your winter with wonder at an immersive, interactive light experience at CuriOdyssey. Inspired by the science of light, IlluminOdyssey is an immersive, interactive installation that will mesmerize kids and adults of all ages. CuriOdyssey’s four-level Redwood Hall will transform into a glowing forest of science—light your way through a maze of luminous botanical geometry, play with rainbow refraction and swirling projections, paint with light on phosphorescent surfaces, and dance with your shadow.
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!
Santa Days at Filoli – Woodside, December 7-22
Santa flies to Filoli for Santa Days in December. Snap a photo with him on his magical golden throne, and enjoy a daytime stroll through the winter blooms.
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 – November 29 – January 5
North Pole Nights at Gilroy Gardens – November 29 – December 31
Six Flags Holidays in the Park – Vallejo, November 29 – January 5
Holiday Parades
Festival of Lights Parade – Los Altos, December 1
Lighted Boat Festival – Half Moon Bay – December 14
Lighted Yacht Parade – Alameda, December 7
Lighted Tractor Parade – Calistoga, December 7
Christmas Parade – Napa, December 7
Christmas Parade and Holiday Market – Benicia, December 14
Lighted Boat Parade and Fireworks – Sausalito, December 14
Lighted Boat Parade – San Rafael, December 14
Tree Lighting Events
Lighting of the Plaza – Sonoma, November 23
Pier 39 Holiday Tree Lighting – San Francisco, November 21 – January 7
Tree Lighting – Napa, November 23
Lighting of the Old Oak Tree – Danville, November 29
Winter Lights Tree Lighting Celebration – Santa Rosa, November 29
Jelly Belly Tree Lighting Ceremony – Fairfield, November 30
Civic Center Tree Lighting – San Francisco, December 4
Santa Visits
Santa’s Riverboat Arrival – Petaluma, November 30
Breakfast with Santa – Cupertino, December 7
Santa Arrives by Helicopter at Hiller – San Carlos, December 7
Santa Weekends at Filoli – Woodside, December 7-22
Holiday Crafts
Fun on the Farm Holiday Crafts – San Ramon, November 30
Holiday Arts Festival – Richmond, December 8
Winter Craft Day at Randall Museum – San Francisco, December 14
Gingerbread Doghouse Workshop – Santa Rosa, December 14 & 15
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
Hometown Holiday Celebration – Pleasanton, December 2
Bah Humbug 5K Run & Kids Dash – San Ramon, December 2
Ross Winterfest – Ross, December 2
Christmas Creche – Palo Alto, December 2-6
Deck the Hall – San Francisco, December 3
Castro Winter Wonderland – San Francisco, December 3
Winter Wonderland Festival – Pleasant Hill, December 6
Winter Wonderland – Ross, December 6-15
Winter Wonderland – Milpitas, December 7
Mill Valley Winterfest – Mill Valley, December 3 & 17
Hometown Holidays Celebration – Redwood City, December 7
19th Annual Posada Navideña by Calidanza Dance Company – Santa Rosa, December 13
German Holiday Market – Mountain View, December 9
Children’s Heritage Holiday – San Jose, December 9, 16
Santa Lucia Festival – Fremont, December 10
Tiburon Holiday Festival – Tiburon, December 10
Montclair Village Holiday Stroll – Oakland, December 12
Toy Trains – Santa Cruz, December 14-24
Winter Wonderland – San Francisco, December 16
Winter Wonderland – Redwood City, December 16
Hanukkah Celebrations
Menorahs and Miracles – San Jose, December 15
Chanukah Train – Santa Cruz, January 2
Chanukah Celebration – Novato, December 3-14
Performances: The Nutcracker
Pacific Ballet – Mountain View, November 24-26
Nutcracker Sweet with Puppet Company – San Francisco, Berkeley, Palo Alto, November 25 & 26
Contra Costa Ballet – Walnut Creek, November 29-December 1
Ballet America – Redwood City, November 30 – December 3
Western Ballet – Mountain View, December 1-3
San Francisco Youth Ballet – San Francisco, December 2 & 3
Alameda Civic Ballet – Castro Valley, December 2 & 3
Nutcracker Sweet – San Mateo, December 2 & 3
Cirque Nutcracker – San Francisco, December 5, 6
San Francisco Ballet – San Francisco, December 6-29
Nutcracker Sweets – San Francisco, December 7-22
Petaluma School of Ballet – Rohnert Park, December 8-10
Orinda Ballet Academy – Orinda, December 8-10
San Jose Dance Theater – San Jose, December 8-10
Black Diamond Ballet – Antioch, December 8-17
Marin Ballet – San Rafael, December 9 & 10
Ramon Moreno Ballet – Atherton, December 9 & 10
Hip Hop Nutcracker Sweet – San Mateo, December 9 & 10
Berkeley City Ballet – Berkeley, December 9-17
Valley Dance Theatre – Livermore, December 9-17
South Valley Dance Arts – Morgan Hill, December 13 & 14
New Ballet – San Jose, December 14-23
Peninsula Ballet Theatre – Redwood City, December 15 & 16
My Very First Nutcracker – San Jose, December 15 & 22
Puppet Company Presents the Nutcracker – Berkeley, December 16
Dance-Along Nutcracker – San Francisco, December 16 & 17
Hip Hop Nutcracker – Redwood City, December 16 & 17
Stapleton Ballet – San Rafael, December 16 & 17
Santa Cruz City Ballet – Aptos, December 16 & 17
Oakland Ballet – Oakland, December 16 & 17
Hip Hop by Peninsula Ballet Theatre – Redwood City, December 16 & 17
Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet – Santa Rosa, December 17
Los Gatos Ballet – Saratoga, December 19-21
Performances: A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol – Saratoga, December 4-17
A Christmas Carol – San Francisco, December 6-24
A Christmas Carol – Walnut Creek, December 7-21
A Christmas Carol by PYT – Mountain View, December 8-9
Other Holiday Performances
Elf the Musical by PYT – Mountain View, November 11-19
Just Dance Academy Winter Performance – San Rafael, November 19
Holiday Youth Music Festival – Pleasanton, November 25
How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Broadway San Jose – November 28-December 3
The Velveteen Rabbit – Palo Alto, November 30 – December 17
Family Sing Along – San Francisco, December 1
Once Upon a Christmas – Walnut Creek, December 1 & 2
Holiday Gospel Concert – Oakland, December 2
The Velveteen Rabbit – San Francisco, December 2-10
PAAM Holiday Spectacular – San Francisco, December 2 & 3
Holiday Spectacular with San Jose Symphony – San Jose, December 7 & 8
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer by Pleasanton Youth Theater Company – Pleasanton, December 8-17
Christmas at the California – San Jose, December 9 & 10
Peter and the Wolf – San Francisco, December 10
A Chanticleer Christmas – Several Locations, December 11-23
A Holiday Spectacular by Bay Philharmonic – Hayward, 14 & 15
Million Dollar Quartet Christmas – San Francisco, December 15-17
The Biggest Gift by Fantasy Forum – Walnut Creek, December 15-17
Reindeer Games – San Francisco, December 15-23
Yuletide Youth Holiday Concert – Oakland, December 16
The Snow Queen by Bayer Ballet – Mountain View, December 16 & 17
Holiday Gospel Concert – Mountain View, 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
Japanese New Year Bell Ringing Ceremony – San Francisco, December 31
Balloon Drop at Chabot Space and Science Center – Oakland, December 31
2023 Grand Finale at The Lawrence – Berkeley, December 31
Noon Year’s Eve at Hiller Aviation Museum – San Carlos, December 31
Noon Years Eve at Happy Hollow – San Jose, 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
San Mateo on Ice – San Mateo, November 15 – January 12
Kristi Yamaguchi Holiday Rink – San Ramon, November 8 – January 5
Brentwood on Ice – Brentwood, November 22 – January 5
Walnut Creek on Ice – Walnut Creek, November 22 – January 12
Downtown Ice – San Jose, November 15 – January 20
Enchant at PayPal Park – San Jose, November 22 – December 29
Winter Wonderland – Ross, December 6-15
