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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

71 events

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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Christmas in the Park

Christmas in the Park

Plaza de Cesar Chavez, South Bay
Nov 27, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027
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
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
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
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
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
Cupertino Tree Lighting

Cupertino Tree Lighting

Quinlan Community Center, South Bay
Fri Dec 4, 2026, 6-8 PM
Holiday Tree Lighting at Lytton Plaza

Holiday Tree Lighting at Lytton Plaza

Lytton Plaza, Peninsula
Fri, Dec 4, 2026, 5:30 to 7 PM
Light Up the Season

Light Up the Season

Fremont Park, Peninsula
Dec 4, 2026
Los Altos Holiday Tree Celebration

Los Altos Holiday Tree Celebration

Veterans Community Plaza, Peninsula
Dec 4, 2026
Los Gatos in Lights Winter Celebration

Los Gatos in Lights Winter Celebration

Town Plaza Park, South Bay
Fri Dec 4, 2026, 5–7 PM
Mannheim Steamroller Christmas (San Jose)

Mannheim Steamroller Christmas (San Jose)

San Jose Civic, South Bay
Fri Dec 4, 2026, 8 PM
Night of Holiday Lights

Night of Holiday Lights

Laurel Street, downtown San Carlos (main stage on Cherry Street), Peninsula
Fri Dec 4, 2026, 5–8:30pm
Winterfest in Burlingame

Winterfest in Burlingame

Burlingame Avenue, Peninsula
Fri Dec 4, 2026, 5:30–7:30pm
Ballet America's Nutcracker

Ballet America's Nutcracker

Cañada College, Peninsula
Dec 5, 2026 – Dec 6, 2026
Breakfast with Santa (Cupertino)

Breakfast with Santa (Cupertino)

Quinlan Community Center, South Bay
Sat Dec 5, 2026; seatings at 8:30, 9:30 and 10:30 AM
Carol of Lights Celebration

Carol of Lights Celebration

Downtown Campbell, South Bay
Dec 5, 2026
Fantasy of Lights at Vasona Lake

Fantasy of Lights at Vasona Lake

Vasona Lake County Park, South Bay
Sat-Sun Dec 5-6 and Sat-Sun Dec 12-13, 2026
Frosty Snow Fest

Frosty Snow Fest

Serramonte Center Parking Structure , Peninsula
Dec 5, 2026
Holiday Bubbly Walk

Holiday Bubbly Walk

Downtown Willow Glen (Lincoln Ave), South Bay
Sat Dec 5, 2026, 2 PM to 5 PM
Los Gatos Children's Christmas/Holidays Parade

Los Gatos Children's Christmas/Holidays Parade

Downtown Los Gatos, South Bay
Dec 5, 2026
Millbrae Holiday Tree Lighting

Millbrae Holiday Tree Lighting

Millbrae City Hall Plaza, Peninsula
Sat Dec 5, 2026, 5–7pm
Santa Arrives by Helicopter

Santa Arrives by Helicopter

Hiller Aviation Museum, Peninsula
Sat Dec 5, 2026, 9:30 AM-12 PM (Santa arrives 10:30 AM and stays until noon)
Santa Comes to Town

Santa Comes to Town

South San Francisco City Hall, Peninsula
Sat Dec 5, 2026, 10am–2pm (Santa arrives 10am)
Brisbane Festival of Lights

Brisbane Festival of Lights

Community Park, Peninsula
Sun Dec 6, 2026; times TBD
Holiday Swingin'! A Kat Edmonson Christmas

Holiday Swingin'! A Kat Edmonson Christmas

Peninsula
Sun Dec 6, 2026
Philharmonia Baroque Chamber Players Holiday Concert

Philharmonia Baroque Chamber Players Holiday Concert

Kohl Mansion, Peninsula
Sun Dec 6, 2026, 7pm (pre-concert talk 6pm; wine and dessert reception after)
Mountain View Community Tree Lighting Celebration

Mountain View Community Tree Lighting Celebration

Civic Center Plaza, Peninsula
Dec 7, 2026
Demetri Martin: Standup Comedy for Christmas

Demetri Martin: Standup Comedy for Christmas

San Jose Improv, South Bay
Tue Dec 8, 2026, 8 PM
Canadian Brass: Making Spirits Bright

Canadian Brass: Making Spirits Bright

Bing Concert Hall, Peninsula
Wed Dec 9, 2026, 7:30pm
A Chanticleer Christmas

A Chanticleer Christmas

Memorial Church, Peninsula
Thu Dec 10, 2026, 7:30pm (lobby opens 6:30pm)
Downtown Los Altos Holiday Market

Downtown Los Altos Holiday Market

State Street Market, Peninsula
Dec 10, 2026 – Dec 17, 2026
In the Christmas Mood with the Glenn Miller Orchestra

In the Christmas Mood with the Glenn Miller Orchestra

San Jose Civic, South Bay
Fri Dec 11, 2026, 7 PM
Ramon Moreno School of Ballet: The Nutcracker

Ramon Moreno School of Ballet: The Nutcracker

Menlo-Atherton Performing Arts Center, Peninsula
Fri Dec 11, 2026, 7 PM; Sat Dec 12, 1:30 PM and 7 PM; Sun Dec 13, 1:30 PM
The Night Before Christmas (Peninsula Youth Theatre)

The Night Before Christmas (Peninsula Youth Theatre)

Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, Second Stage, Peninsula
Fri Dec 11 – Sat Dec 12, 2026; times TBD
Hometown Holidays

Hometown Holidays

Courthouse Square and downtown Redwood City, Peninsula
Sat Dec 12, 2026; parade 4:30-5:30 PM; festival hours TBD
Lighted Boat Festival

Lighted Boat Festival

Pillar Point Harbor, Peninsula
Sat Dec 12, 2026, from 4pm; end time TBD
San José Made Winter Wonder Market

San José Made Winter Wonder Market

South Hall, South Bay
Dec 12, 2026 – Dec 13, 2026
Symphony San Jose: Holiday Spectacular

Symphony San Jose: Holiday Spectacular

California Theatre, South Bay
Sat Dec 12, 2026, 2:30 PM and 7:30 PM; Sun Dec 13, 2:30 PM
The Original San Jose Nutcracker

The Original San Jose Nutcracker

Center for the Performing Arts, South Bay
Sat Dec 12, 2026, 2 PM and 7:30 PM; Sun Dec 13, 1 PM and 6 PM
Winter Art Faire (Art Guild of Pacifica)

Winter Art Faire (Art Guild of Pacifica)

Sanchez Art Center, Peninsula
Sat Dec 12 – Sun Dec 13, 2026, 11am–5pm
A Christmas Show with Camila Fernández

A Christmas Show with Camila Fernández

Bing Concert Hall, Peninsula
Sun Dec 13, 2026, 4pm (lobby opens 3pm)
Silicon Valley Santa Run

Silicon Valley Santa Run

Downtown San Jose (start at W Santa Clara St and Almaden Ave), South Bay
Sun Dec 13, 2026, 3 PM start
A Magical Cirque Christmas (San Jose)

A Magical Cirque Christmas (San Jose)

Center for the Performing Arts, South Bay
Wed Dec 16 and Thu Dec 17, 2026, 7 PM
World Ballet Company: The Nutcracker

World Ballet Company: The Nutcracker

Heritage Theatre, South Bay
Dec 16, 2026
Love Actually In Concert

Love Actually In Concert

Center for the Performing Arts, South Bay
Sat Dec 19, 2026, 7 PM
SSF Civic Ballet: The Nutcracker

SSF Civic Ballet: The Nutcracker

South San Francisco High School Auditorium, Peninsula
Sat Dec 19, 1pm and 7pm; Sun Dec 20, 1pm
The San Jose Nutcracker

The San Jose Nutcracker

California Theatre, South Bay
Dec 19, 2026 – Dec 27, 2026
My Very First Nutcracker

My Very First Nutcracker

California Theatre, South Bay
Sun Dec 20, Tue Dec 22, Wed Dec 23 and Sun Dec 27, 2026, 11 AM
Dave Koz & Friends Christmas Tour (San Jose)

Dave Koz & Friends Christmas Tour (San Jose)

San Jose Civic, South Bay
Tue Dec 22, 2026, 8 PM
Derek Hough Dance For The Holidays

Derek Hough Dance For The Holidays

San Jose Civic, South Bay
Wed Dec 30, 2026, 8 PM
Noon Year's Eve

Noon Year's Eve

Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose, South Bay
Dec 31, 2026
Winter Lodge Skating Season

Winter Lodge Skating Season

Winter Lodge, Peninsula
Public skating Oct 16, 2026 (opens 8 PM) to Apr 11, 2027; see the rink's session schedule
Merry-Achi Christmas with Mariachi Sol de México (San Jose)

Merry-Achi Christmas with Mariachi Sol de México (San Jose)

Hammer Theatre Center, South Bay
2026 dates coming soon
Peninsula Ballet Arts: The Nutcracker

Peninsula Ballet Arts: The Nutcracker

Peninsula
2026 dates coming soon