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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

77 events

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)
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
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
Lightscape

Lightscape

San Francisco Botanical Garden, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
Nightly Nov 20, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027; timed entry every 15 min, 5pm-8:15pm (to 8:30pm on peak dates)
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
Triton Holiday Art Fair

Triton Holiday Art Fair

Triton Museum of Art, South Bay
Nov 21, 2026
PIER 39 Tree Lighting & Holiday Season

PIER 39 Tree Lighting & Holiday Season

PIER 39 Entrance Plaza, San Francisco
Holiday season Nov 23, 2026 to Jan 10, 2027; tree lighting Thu Dec 3, 2026 (time TBD) with The Death & Taxes Swing Band
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
The Nightmare Before Christmas in Concert (SF Symphony)

The Nightmare Before Christmas in Concert (SF Symphony)

Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco
Tue Nov 24, 2026, 7:30pm
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
Alice in Wonderland (Presidio Theatre holiday panto)

Alice in Wonderland (Presidio Theatre holiday panto)

Presidio Theatre, San Francisco
Nov 28-Dec 27, 2026; 1 PM and 6 PM performances (days vary)
The Velveteen Rabbit (ODC/Dance)

The Velveteen Rabbit (ODC/Dance)

Blue Shield of California Theater, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco
Nov 28-Dec 6, 2026: weekdays and Saturdays 11 AM; Sundays 2 PM
Yerba Buena Gardens Holiday Tree Lighting

Yerba Buena Gardens Holiday Tree Lighting

Yerba Buena Gardens, San Francisco
Sat Nov 28, 2026, 4-6 PM
Swing Into The Holidays with Caity Gyorgy & Christian Wiggs

Swing Into The Holidays with Caity Gyorgy & Christian Wiggs

Miner Auditorium, SFJAZZ Center, San Francisco
Sun Nov 29, 2026, 3pm
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
Pink Martini Holiday Concert with the SF Symphony

Pink Martini Holiday Concert with the SF Symphony

Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco
Wed Dec 2, 2026, 7:30 PM
The Carpenters Songbook: At Christmas

The Carpenters Songbook: At Christmas

Orpheum Theatre, San Francisco
Wed Dec 2, 2026
Cupertino Tree Lighting

Cupertino Tree Lighting

Quinlan Community Center, South Bay
Fri Dec 4, 2026, 6-8 PM
Handel's Messiah (SF Symphony)

Handel's Messiah (SF Symphony)

Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco
Fri Dec 4 and Sat Dec 5, 2026, 7:30 PM
Let's Glow SF

Let's Glow SF

Downtown San Francisco (six locations), San Francisco
Dec 4, 2026 – Dec 13, 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
San Francisco Ballet: The Nutcracker

San Francisco Ballet: The Nutcracker

War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco
Dec 4, 2026 – Dec 27, 2026
San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus Holiday Spectacular (Golden Gate Theatre)

San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus Holiday Spectacular (Golden Gate Theatre)

Golden Gate Theatre, San Francisco
Fri Dec 4, 2026, 7:30 PM; Sat Dec 5, 2 PM and 7 PM
The Golden Girls Live: The Christmas Episodes

The Golden Girls Live: The Christmas Episodes

Curran Theater, San Francisco
Dec 4-20, 2026; 1:30 PM and 7:30 PM performances (days vary)
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
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
Deck the Hall (SF Symphony)

Deck the Hall (SF Symphony)

Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco
Sun Dec 6, 2026, 3:30 PM holiday concert (11:30 AM performance is the signature fundraiser concert)
Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis (San Francisco)

Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis (San Francisco)

Golden Gate Theatre, San Francisco
Mon Dec 7, 2026, 7 PM (doors 5:30 PM)
Demetri Martin: Standup Comedy for Christmas

Demetri Martin: Standup Comedy for Christmas

San Jose Improv, South Bay
Tue Dec 8, 2026, 8 PM
A Drag Queen Christmas (San Francisco)

A Drag Queen Christmas (San Francisco)

Golden Gate Theatre, San Francisco
Thu Dec 10, 2026, 7:30 PM (doors 6:30 PM)
American Bach Soloists: Handel's Messiah

American Bach Soloists: Handel's Messiah

Grace Cathedral, San Francisco
Thu Dec 10 and Fri Dec 11, 2026, 7:30 PM
Smuin's The Christmas Ballet (San Francisco)

Smuin's The Christmas Ballet (San Francisco)

Blue Shield of California Theater, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco
Dec 10-24, 2026: Thu Dec 10 and Fri Dec 11, 7:30 PM; Sat Dec 12 and Sun Dec 13, 2 PM; Fri Dec 18, 7:30 PM; Sat Dec 19, 2 PM and 7:30 PM; Sun Dec 20, 2 PM; Tue Dec 22, 7:30 PM; Wed Dec 23 and Thu Dec 24, 2 PM
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
A Cathedral Christmas

A Cathedral Christmas

Grace Cathedral, San Francisco
Sat Dec 12, Sun Dec 13, Sat Dec 19, Sun Dec 20, 2026 at 3 PM; Wed Dec 23 at 7:30 PM
San José Made Winter Wonder Market

San José Made Winter Wonder Market

South Hall, South Bay
Dec 12, 2026 – Dec 13, 2026
SantaCon SF Pub Crawl

SantaCon SF Pub Crawl

Check-in at Soundtrack SF, San Francisco
Sat Dec 12, 2026, 12-8 PM (check-in 12-4 PM)
Sing You a Merry Christmas

Sing You a Merry Christmas

Grace Cathedral, San Francisco
Sat Dec 12 and Sat Dec 19, 2026 at 11 AM; Tue Dec 22 and Wed Dec 23 at 3 PM
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
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
Elf the Musical – BroadwaySF

Elf the Musical – BroadwaySF

Golden Gate Theatre, San Francisco
Dec 15, 2026 – Dec 20, 2026
Holiday For Strings: Stella Cole with the Del Sol Quartet

Holiday For Strings: Stella Cole with the Del Sol Quartet

Miner Auditorium, SFJAZZ Center, San Francisco
Dec 15, 2026
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
Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet (San Francisco)

Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet (San Francisco)

Golden Gate Theatre, San Francisco
Thu Dec 17, 2026, 7 PM
Cyrus Chestnut plays A Charlie Brown Christmas

Cyrus Chestnut plays A Charlie Brown Christmas

Miner Auditorium, SFJAZZ Center, San Francisco
Fri Dec 18, 2026, 7:30 PM
Soulful Joy

Soulful Joy

Grace Cathedral, San Francisco
Fri Dec 18, 2026, 7:30 PM
Tomáseen Foley's A Celtic Christmas (San Francisco)

Tomáseen Foley's A Celtic Christmas (San Francisco)

United Irish Cultural Center, San Francisco
Fri Dec 18, 2026, 7:30 PM
Christmas with the Count Basie Orchestra

Christmas with the Count Basie Orchestra

Miner Auditorium, SFJAZZ Center, San Francisco
Sat Dec 19, 2026, 7:30 PM; Sun Dec 20, 2026, 1:00 PM
Dance-Along Nutcracker

Dance-Along Nutcracker

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco
Sat Dec 19-Sun Dec 20, 2026; times TBD
Love Actually In Concert

Love Actually In Concert

Center for the Performing Arts, South Bay
Sat Dec 19, 2026, 7 PM
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
A Brass and Organ Christmas

A Brass and Organ Christmas

Grace Cathedral, San Francisco
Mon Dec 21, 2026, 7:30 PM
Show all 77 events