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Bay Area Holiday Events

Tree lightings, holiday markets, light shows, Santa visits and more, all around the Bay. Pick a region to see what's close to you.

Region:All regionsSan FranciscoPeninsulaSouth BayEast Bay/Tri-ValleyNorth BaySanta CruzSouth County

174 events

Kristi Yamaguchi Holiday Ice Rink

Kristi Yamaguchi Holiday Ice Rink

City Center Bishop Ranch, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Opening ceremony Fri Nov 6, 6-7pm; rink open daily through Jan 3, 2027
Senior Holiday Boutique & Maker's Faire

Senior Holiday Boutique & Maker's Faire

Library | Parks and Recreation Center (Banquet and Social Hall), Peninsula
Sat Nov 7, 2026, 10am-4pm
Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet

Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet

Chabot College Performing Arts Center, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Nov 10, 2026
A Sherlock Carol

A Sherlock Carol

Masquers Playhouse, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Nov 13–Dec 6
Diablo Ballet: The Nutcracker Suite

Diablo Ballet: The Nutcracker Suite

Lesher Center for the Arts, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Fri Nov 13, 7:30 PM; Sat Nov 14, 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM
Downtown Los Altos Holiday Stroll

Downtown Los Altos Holiday Stroll

Downtown Los Altos, Peninsula
Fri Nov 13, 2026, 5-9pm
San Jose Holiday Lights

San Jose Holiday Lights

Discovery Meadow Park, South Bay
Nightly Nov 13, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027, 4:30-10:30 PM (last entry 10 PM)
San Mateo on Ice

San Mateo on Ice

Central Park, Peninsula
Nov 13, 2026 – Jan 10, 2027
Holidays at Filoli

Holidays at Filoli

Filoli Historic House & Garden, Peninsula
Nov 14, 2026 to Jan 10, 2027: Daytime 10am-3:30pm (last entry 1:30pm); Holiday Lights 4pm-10pm (last entry 8pm). Thistlewyck Village closes Jan 3.
Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet (San Jose)

Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet (San Jose)

Center for the Performing Arts, South Bay
Sat Nov 14, 2026, 3 PM
Pinole Holiday Craft Fair

Pinole Holiday Craft Fair

Pinole Senior Center, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Nov 14, 2026
Santa's Tree Farm & Village

Santa's Tree Farm & Village

Santa's Tree Farm & Village, Peninsula
Tree cutting Nov 14-Dec 23, 2026 (weekends 8 AM-5 PM, weekdays 9 AM-5 PM); train, gift shop and Mrs. Claus' kitchen weekends Nov 21-Dec 13, 9 AM-4 PM; Santa visits Fri Nov 27 and weekends through Dec 13, 11 AM-4 PM (Santa not here 12/5); weekend storytimes Nov 21-Dec 13: 10:30 AM Storytime with Santa (not on 12/5), 12 PM Storytime with Buddy the Elf, 1 PM Reindeer Talk with Rudolph at the North Pole, 2 PM Storytime with Buddy the Elf
Light Up Orinda Tree Lighting

Light Up Orinda Tree Lighting

Orinda Library Plaza, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Thu Nov 19, 2026, 5 PM
The 1940s Radio Hour (City Lights Theater Company)

The 1940s Radio Hour (City Lights Theater Company)

City Lights Theater, South Bay
Nov 19-Dec 20, 2026: Thu 7:30 PM, Fri-Sat 8 PM, Sun 2 PM; plus Sat Dec 5 at 2 PM and Wed Dec 16 at 7:30 PM
City Center Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony

City Center Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony

City Center Bishop Ranch, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Nov 20, 2026
Niles Canyon Railway Train of Lights

Niles Canyon Railway Train of Lights

Niles Station, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Nov 20-23, 28-29; Dec 2, 4-6, 9, 11-13, 16, 18-21, 23, 27-30. Departures 4:30 pm from Niles Station, 7:30 pm from Sunol Depot (some days may differ)
Pink Friday FEST Holiday Kickoff

Pink Friday FEST Holiday Kickoff

Main Street Plaza and downtown Martinez, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Nov 20, 2026
Walnut Creek Civic Park Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony

Walnut Creek Civic Park Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony

Civic Park, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Nov 20, 2026
Walnut Creek on Ice

Walnut Creek on Ice

Civic Park, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Nov 20, 2026–Jan 18, 2027; 90-minute sessions; daily hours TBD
Craft Fest 2026

Craft Fest 2026

Lesher Center for the Arts, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Nov 21, 2026
Light Up the Night (Pleasant Hill)

Light Up the Night (Pleasant Hill)

Downtown Pleasant Hill, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Sat, Nov 21, 2026, 4:30 to 7:30 PM; tree lighting 5:30 PM near Jack's; fire dancers 7:10 PM
Los Gatos Ballet: The Nutcracker

Los Gatos Ballet: The Nutcracker

McAfee Performing Arts Center, South Bay
Sat Nov 21 and Sun Nov 22, 2026, 1 PM and 6 PM
North Pole Nights

North Pole Nights

Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park, South County
Select evenings Nov 21 - Dec 31, 2026; operating days and hours TBD
The Great Dickens Christmas Fair

The Great Dickens Christmas Fair

Cow Palace, Peninsula
Weekends plus the Friday after Thanksgiving, 10am to 6pm, Nov 21 to Dec 20
Triton Holiday Art Fair

Triton Holiday Art Fair

Triton Museum of Art, South Bay
Nov 21, 2026
A Song for You: The Music of Karen Carpenter At Christmas

A Song for You: The Music of Karen Carpenter At Christmas

Firehouse Arts Center, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Sun Nov 22, 2–4 pm
Cityline Winter Ice Rink

Cityline Winter Ice Rink

Cityline Sunnyvale (Downtown Sunnyvale), South Bay
Open daily, Nov 24, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027; hours not posted yet
Irish Christmas in America

Irish Christmas in America

Yoshi's, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Wed Nov 25; doors 7 pm, show 7:30 pm
Christmas in the Park

Christmas in the Park

Plaza de Cesar Chavez, South Bay
Nov 27, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027
La Virgen del Tepeyac

La Virgen del Tepeyac

ETC Playhouse, San Juan Bautista, South County
Nov 27 - Dec 20, 2026 at the ETC Playhouse; showtimes TBD
Lights On Celebration

Lights On Celebration

San Benito Street, downtown Hollister, South County
Lights On Boutique Fri-Sat Nov 27-28, 2026 (hours TBD); parade Sat Nov 28, 2026, 5:30 PM on San Benito Street
Niles Festival of Lights Parade and Tree Lighting

Niles Festival of Lights Parade and Tree Lighting

Niles Boulevard and Niles Town Plaza, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Nov 27, 2026
San José Made Holiday Fair

San José Made Holiday Fair

Santa Clara Convention Center, South Bay
Nov 27, 2026 – Nov 28, 2026
The Carpenters Songbook: At Christmas (San Jose)

The Carpenters Songbook: At Christmas (San Jose)

Center for the Performing Arts, South Bay
Fri Nov 27, 2026, 7 PM
White Christmas

White Christmas

Morgan Hill Community Playhouse, South County
Nov 27-Dec 20, 2026; showtimes TBD
Brentwood Holiday Parade

Brentwood Holiday Parade

Downtown Brentwood, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Sat Nov 28, 2026, 5-7 PM
Ho Ho Holiday Carnival

Ho Ho Holiday Carnival

Sycamore Grove Park (Arroyo Road parking lot), East Bay/Tri-Valley
Nov 28, 2026
Jeff Bordes: A New Orleans Christmas

Jeff Bordes: A New Orleans Christmas

Bankhead Theater, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Sat Nov 28, 8 pm, Bankhead Theater
Jingle Market on 3rd Street

Jingle Market on 3rd Street

E. 3rd Street, South County
Sat Nov 28, 2026, 9 AM-2 PM
Merry Market Holiday Bazaar

Merry Market Holiday Bazaar

Morgan Hill Community & Cultural Center, South County
Sat Nov 28, 2026, 12-4 PM (rain or shine)
Nutcracker Piñata

Nutcracker Piñata

The Douglas Morrisson Theatre, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Sat Nov 28 at 7 pm; Sun Nov 29 at 2 pm, Douglas Morrisson Theatre
Pacific Chamber Orchestra: Handel's Messiah

Pacific Chamber Orchestra: Handel's Messiah

Bankhead Theater, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Nov 29, 2026
Choir! Choir! Choir! Un-Silent Night: Holiday Sing-Along

Choir! Choir! Choir! Un-Silent Night: Holiday Sing-Along

The Freight, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Tue Dec 1 and Wed Dec 2, 8:00 PM (doors 7:00 PM)
Colma Annual Holiday Tree Lighting

Colma Annual Holiday Tree Lighting

Colma Town Hall Plaza, Peninsula
Tue Dec 1, 2026; 4–7 PM; festivities from 5 PM, tree lighting at 6 PM
Holiday Circle of Lights (Mountain View Cemetery)

Holiday Circle of Lights (Mountain View Cemetery)

Mountain View Cemetery, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Daily, Dec 1, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027, 5–9 pm
Hip Hop Nutcracker (San Jose)

Hip Hop Nutcracker (San Jose)

Center for the Performing Arts, South Bay
Wed Dec 2 and Thu Dec 3, 2026, 7 PM
Lights Up Piedmont

Lights Up Piedmont

Piedmont Community Hall, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Wed, Dec 2, 2026, 7 PM
Broadway Plaza Holiday Parade of Lights & Tree Lighting

Broadway Plaza Holiday Parade of Lights & Tree Lighting

Broadway Plaza, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Dec 3, 2026
Gamble Garden Winter Festival

Gamble Garden Winter Festival

Gamble Garden, Peninsula
Grand Opening Party Thu Dec 3, 2026, 5-7 PM; Once Upon a Garden family night Fri Dec 4, 5-7 PM; Holiday Marketplace Fri-Sat Dec 4-5, 10 AM-4 PM; Holiday Tea Fri-Sat, 11 AM and 2 PM seatings (reservations required)
Hot Club of San Francisco: Cool Yule

Hot Club of San Francisco: Cool Yule

The Studio, Bing Concert Hall, Peninsula
Thu Dec 3, 2026, 7pm and 9pm
Oakley Holiday Tree Lighting

Oakley Holiday Tree Lighting

Civic Center Plaza, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Dec 3, 2026
San Pablo Holiday Tree Lighting & Winter Wonderland

San Pablo Holiday Tree Lighting & Winter Wonderland

San Pablo Community Center, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Thu Dec 3, 2026, 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Smuin's The Christmas Ballet (Mountain View)

Smuin's The Christmas Ballet (Mountain View)

Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, Peninsula
Thu Dec 3 and Fri Dec 4, 7:30pm; Sat Dec 5, 2pm and 7:30pm; Sun Dec 6, 2pm
A Celtic Christmas

A Celtic Christmas

Fox Theatre, Peninsula
Fri Dec 4, 2026, 7:30pm (doors 6:30pm)
A Christmas Carol, the Musical

A Christmas Carol, the Musical

Coastal Repertory Theatre, Peninsula
Dec 4–20, 2026: Fridays and Saturdays 7pm, Sundays 2pm
Black Diamond Ballet: The Nutcracker

Black Diamond Ballet: The Nutcracker

El Campanil Theatre, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Fri Dec 4, 7 PM; Sat Dec 5, 11 AM (sensory-friendly); Sun Dec 6, 2 PM; Sat Dec 12, 7 PM; Sun Dec 13, 2 PM
Concord Tree Lighting & Mayor's Sing-Along

Concord Tree Lighting & Mayor's Sing-Along

Todos Santos Plaza, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Fri, Dec 4, 2026, 5:30 to 8 PM
Cupertino Tree Lighting

Cupertino Tree Lighting

Quinlan Community Center, South Bay
Fri Dec 4, 2026, 6-8 PM
Douglas Morrisson Chorus: Celebrate the Season

Douglas Morrisson Chorus: Celebrate the Season

Douglas Morrisson Theatre, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Fri Dec 4, 8 PM; Sat Dec 5, 2 PM; Sun Dec 6, 2 PM
Emeryville Tree Lighting and Holiday Parade

Emeryville Tree Lighting and Holiday Parade

Emeryville City Hall (1333 Park Ave) to Bay Street, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Dec 4, 2026
Show all 174 events