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.

192 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)
La Selva Beach Holiday Fair

La Selva Beach Holiday Fair

La Selva Beach Clubhouse, Santa Cruz
Sat Nov 14, 2026, 10 AM-4 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
Merry Meritage

Merry Meritage

The Meritage Resort and Spa, North Bay
Nov 18, 2026-Jan 3, 2027; hours TBD
It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play (Ross Valley Players)

It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play (Ross Valley Players)

Barn Theatre, Marin Art & Garden Center, North Bay
Nov 19 - Dec 20, 2026; Thu-Sat 7:30pm, Sun 2pm (select Saturdays are matinees)
Northern Lights Winter Lights Art Walk

Northern Lights Winter Lights Art Walk

Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, North Bay
Nightly Nov 19, 2026 to Jan 18, 2027, dusk to 9:30 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
Coney Island Christmas (Mountain Community Theater)

Coney Island Christmas (Mountain Community Theater)

Park Hall, Santa Cruz
Nov 20 - Dec 13, 2026; showtimes TBD
Gifts 'n Tyme Holiday Faire

Gifts 'n Tyme Holiday Faire

Chardonnay Hall, Napa Valley Expo, North Bay
Fri-Sun Nov 20-22, 2026; hours TBD
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
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
NVHA Cowboy Christmas Artisan Market

NVHA Cowboy Christmas Artisan Market

Napa Valley Horsemen's Association Clubhouse, North Bay
Nov 21, 2026
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
Cruz Holiday Lights Train

Cruz Holiday Lights Train

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk (in front of the Merry-Go-Round), Santa Cruz
Nov 27-28, Dec 5-6 and Dec 12-23; departures 5:00 PM and 6:30 PM (60-minute round trip)
Farley's Christmas Wonderland

Farley's Christmas Wonderland

Farley's Christmas Wonderland, Santa Cruz
Nightly Nov 27, 2026 - Jan 1, 2027, 5:30-8:30 PM (later just before Christmas; closed when raining)
Holiday Tree Walk at Roaring Camp

Holiday Tree Walk at Roaring Camp

Roaring Camp Railroads, Santa Cruz
Nov 27-29, Dec 5-6, 12-13 and 19-23, 2026; times TBD
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
Marin Holiday Light Spectacular

Marin Holiday Light Spectacular

Marin Center Fairgrounds, North Bay
Nightly Nov 27, 2026-Jan 3, 2027, 5-9 PM, including holidays; rain or shine
San José Made Holiday Fair

San José Made Holiday Fair

Santa Clara Convention Center, South Bay
Nov 27, 2026 – Nov 28, 2026
Santa Train Jolly Journeys

Santa Train Jolly Journeys

Napa Valley Wine Train Station, North Bay
Select dates Nov 27-Dec 23, 2026: evening journeys, plus daytime journeys Dec 21-23; times TBD
Sparky's Holiday Lights

Sparky's Holiday Lights

Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, Santa Cruz
Select dates Nov 27–Dec 24, 2026; nightly hours TBD
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
Winter Lights Tree Lighting Celebration

Winter Lights Tree Lighting Celebration

Old Courthouse Square, North Bay
Fri Nov 27, 2026; times TBD
WinterFest at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom

WinterFest at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, North Bay
Select nights, Nov 27, 2026-Jan 3, 2027; operating nights and hours TBD
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)
Christmas in My Hometown

Christmas in My Hometown

Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre, North Bay
Sat Nov 28, 6 PM
Geyserville Lighted Tractor Parade

Geyserville Lighted Tractor Parade

Geyserville Avenue (Highway 128), downtown Geyserville, North Bay
Sat Nov 28, 2026, 6-8 PM; parade starts 6:15 PM
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)
Santa Cruz Mountains Holiday Makers Market

Santa Cruz Mountains Holiday Makers Market

Felton Community Hall, Santa Cruz
Sat, Nov 28, 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
Sonoma Lighted Tractor Parade

Sonoma Lighted Tractor Parade

Sonoma Plaza, North Bay
Sat Nov 28, 2026, 6:30 PM
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
A Christmas Tribute to Frank Sinatra

A Christmas Tribute to Frank Sinatra

Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre, North Bay
Sun Nov 29, 2 PM
Ben Lomond Tree Lighting

Ben Lomond Tree Lighting

Ben Lomond County Park, Santa Cruz
Sun Nov 29, 2026, 4:30-7 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
A Celtic Christmas by A Taste of Ireland (Santa Cruz)

A Celtic Christmas by A Taste of Ireland (Santa Cruz)

Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, Santa Cruz
Wed Dec 2, 2026, 7:30-10 PM (doors 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
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
A Celtic Christmas by A Taste of Ireland (Santa Rosa)

A Celtic Christmas by A Taste of Ireland (Santa Rosa)

Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, Ruth Finley Person Theater, North Bay
Thu Dec 3, 2026, 7:30 PM
A Christmas Carol (Santa Cruz Shakespeare)

A Christmas Carol (Santa Cruz Shakespeare)

Veterans Memorial Hall, Santa Cruz
Dec 3-24, 2026 (preview Dec 3, opens Dec 4); most shows at 2 PM and/or 7 PM; Dec 24 at 11 AM, 2 PM and 6 PM
Sebastopol Christmas Tree Lighting

Sebastopol Christmas Tree Lighting

Sebastopol Town Plaza, North Bay
Thu Dec 3, 2026, 5-8 PM
Cherish the Ladies: A Celtic Christmas (Rohnert Park)

Cherish the Ladies: A Celtic Christmas (Rohnert Park)

Weill Hall, Sonoma State University, North Bay
Fri Dec 4, 2026, 7:30 PM
Cupertino Tree Lighting

Cupertino Tree Lighting

Quinlan Community Center, South Bay
Fri Dec 4, 2026, 6-8 PM
Downtown Fairfield Holiday Tree Lighting

Downtown Fairfield Holiday Tree Lighting

Downtown Fairfield, North Bay
Fri Dec 4, 2026; times TBD
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
Heritage Holiday Craft & Gift Fair

Heritage Holiday Craft & Gift Fair

Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, Santa Cruz
Fri-Sat Dec 4-5, 2026, noon-9 PM
It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play (Lucky Penny, Napa)

It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play (Lucky Penny, Napa)

Lucky Penny Community Arts Center, North Bay
Dec 4–20, 2026; evenings 7:30 PM, matinees 2 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
Magic of the Season: Holiday Marketplace & Tree Lighting

Magic of the Season: Holiday Marketplace & Tree Lighting

Shenandoah Park, North Bay
Fri Dec 4, 2026, 5–8 PM; tree lighting 6:30 PM
Mannheim Steamroller Christmas (San Jose)

Mannheim Steamroller Christmas (San Jose)

San Jose Civic, South Bay
Fri Dec 4, 2026, 8 PM