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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

56 events

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)
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
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
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
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
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)
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
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
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
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)
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
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
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
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)
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
Family Holiday Lights Cable Car Tour

Family Holiday Lights Cable Car Tour

Morgan Hill Train Depot, South County
Dec 11-23, 2026; family tours 5:30 and 6:30 PM, sing-along tours 6 and 7 PM, 21+ tours 7:30 and 8 PM
The Nutcracker - Ballet Academy of Silicon Valley

The Nutcracker - Ballet Academy of Silicon Valley

Gavilan College Theater, South County
Dec 11, 2026 – Dec 12, 2026
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
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
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
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
A Brass and Organ Christmas

A Brass and Organ Christmas

Grace Cathedral, San Francisco
Mon Dec 21, 2026, 7:30 PM
Maurice "Mobetta" Brown Holiday Spectacular

Maurice "Mobetta" Brown Holiday Spectacular

Miner Auditorium, SFJAZZ Center, San Francisco
Tue Dec 22, 2026, 7:30 PM
The Grand Kyiv Ballet: The Nutcracker Symphony of Lights

The Grand Kyiv Ballet: The Nutcracker Symphony of Lights

Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, San Francisco
Wed Dec 23, 2026, 7 PM (doors 6 PM)
World Ballet Company: The Nutcracker (San Francisco)

World Ballet Company: The Nutcracker (San Francisco)

Curran Theater, San Francisco
Wed Dec 23, 2026, 7 PM
San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus Holiday Spectacular: Home for the Holidays (Castro Theatre)

San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus Holiday Spectacular: Home for the Holidays (Castro Theatre)

The Castro Theatre, San Francisco
Thu Dec 24, 2026, 3 PM, 5:30 PM and 8 PM
The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show

The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show

Golden Gate Theatre, San Francisco
Sun Dec 27 and Mon Dec 28, 2026, 7:00 PM (doors 5:30 PM)
Cimafunk: New Years Celebration

Cimafunk: New Years Celebration

Miner Auditorium, SFJAZZ Center, San Francisco
Dec 31, 2026
Deltron 3030 performing "Deltron 3030" (New Year's Eve)

Deltron 3030 performing "Deltron 3030" (New Year's Eve)

The Warfield, San Francisco
Dec 31, 2026
ILLENIUM New Year's Eve

ILLENIUM New Year's Eve

Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, San Francisco
Thu Dec 31, 2026; doors 7 PM, show 8 PM
Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square

Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square

Union Square, San Francisco
Daily, Nov 4, 2026 to Jan 18, 2027; hour-long sessions start every 90 minutes
San Francisco on Ice (Fisherman's Wharf)

San Francisco on Ice (Fisherman's Wharf)

Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco
Daily Nov 4, 2026 – Jan 18, 2027; standard days 10 AM–11 PM, value days 12 PM–10 PM
Embarcadero Center Building Lighting Ceremony & Holiday Market

Embarcadero Center Building Lighting Ceremony & Holiday Market

Embarcadero Center, San Francisco
2026 dates coming soon
Winter Walk SF

Winter Walk SF

San Francisco
2026 dates coming soon
World Tree of Hope Lighting (Grace Cathedral)

World Tree of Hope Lighting (Grace Cathedral)

Grace Cathedral, San Francisco
2026 dates coming soon