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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

121 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
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
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
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
San José Made Holiday Fair

San José Made Holiday Fair

Santa Clara Convention Center, South Bay
Nov 27, 2026 – Nov 28, 2026
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
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)
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
Downtown Gilroy Holiday Festival & Parade

Downtown Gilroy Holiday Festival & Parade

Downtown Gilroy, South County
Sat Dec 5, 2026, from 3 PM; parade and tree lighting times TBD
Downtown Santa Cruz Holiday Parade

Downtown Santa Cruz Holiday Parade

Downtown Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz
Sat Dec 5, 2026, 10 AM
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
Holiday Tea at Villa Mira Monte

Holiday Tea at Villa Mira Monte

Villa Mira Monte, South County
Sat Dec 5 and Sun Dec 6, 2026; times TBD
Los Gatos Children's Christmas/Holidays Parade

Los Gatos Children's Christmas/Holidays Parade

Downtown Los Gatos, South Bay
Dec 5, 2026
Morgan Hill Holiday Lights Parade & Tree Lighting

Morgan Hill Holiday Lights Parade & Tree Lighting

Monterey Road (from Main Avenue to Fifth Street, and continuing to Dunne Avenue for the tree lighting), South County
Sat Dec 5, 2026
San Juan Bautista Holiday of Lights Parade

San Juan Bautista Holiday of Lights Parade

Third Street, downtown San Juan Bautista, South County
Sat Dec 5, 2026, 6 PM
Santa Cruz Harbor Lighted Boat Parade

Santa Cruz Harbor Lighted Boat Parade

Santa Cruz Harbor, Santa Cruz
Sat Dec 5, 2026, 5:30 PM (rain or shine)
Watsonville Holiday Factory Sale

Watsonville Holiday Factory Sale

El Pájaro CDC Kitchen Incubator and participating locations, Santa Cruz
Sat, Dec 5, 2026, 9 AM to 4 PM
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)
Hallcrest Vineyards Holiday Market

Hallcrest Vineyards Holiday Market

Hallcrest Vineyards, Santa Cruz
Sun Dec 6, 2026
Noche de Brillo

Noche de Brillo

Downtown Watsonville, Santa Cruz
Sun Dec 6, 2026; times TBD
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)
Show all 121 events