Chanukah Stroll Art & Gift Fair + Kids Zone – Palo Alto, November 30 Do you wanna build a snowman? You can at our amazing Snow Zone! Celebrate Chanukah with fun for the whole family on November 30th from 4-9pm for a Chanukah Stroll Art & Gift Fair. Support our local artists and makers at this fun evening of delicious food, shopping & entertainment for all ages. Come play in the snow, meet the Chanukah characters, take a family pic at our Giant Menorah photo booth, & more… Register here.
San Francisco Youth Ballet Presents The 20th Annual Performance of The Nutcracker – San Francisco, December 4 & 5 Back in 2021, Live and in person at the newly renovated Great Star Theater. This magical, full-length version of The Nutcracker features professional guest artists and the youth talent from the San Francisco Youth Ballet Academy. This production is geared toward families and is a perfect opportunity to introduce young children to this holiday ballet tradition. Sugar Plum VIP seating includes preshow meet & greet with characters. Four shows only – buy your tickets early!
San Jose Dance Theater Presents The Nutcracker – San Jose, December 10-19 San Jose Dance Theatre is thrilled to return its live production of The Nutcracker on stage at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, December 10-19! Step into the enchanting world of elegant sugarplums, waltzing flowers, brave soldiers and menacing mice. This year audiences will be awed by our professional company, accompanied by a live orchestra with musical Direction by Scott Krijnen of The Cambrian Symphony.
CuriOdyssey’s IlluminOdyssey – A Dazzling Winter Light Experience for Kids ~ San Mateo, November 19 – January 19 Electrify your child’s imagination at CuriOdyssey’s IlluminOdyssey, a dazzling winter light experience for kids. Four levels of walls, floors and ceiling come alive with radiant, moving color. Carry a colorful lantern with you as you explore a world of luminescent wonder. Venture through a gleaming jungle of soft sculptures and under an illuminated canopy of fiber optic strands. Watch the mesmerizing motion of a glowing blossom-like sculpture as you control it’s changing appearance. Experience the wonder, beauty and excitement of CuriOdyssey’s IlluminOdyssey.
Holiday Light Displays Garden of d’Lights – Walnut Creek, November 11 – December 23 Holidays at the Winchester Mystery House – San Jose, November 16-December 31 Holiday Lights – Watsonville, November 19 – December 26 Holidays at Filoli – Woodside, November 20 – January 2 Christmas in the Park – San Jose, November 26 – January 2 Blinky’s Illuminated Holiday Drive-Thru – San Jose, November 26 – January 9 Santa Cruz Holiday Lights Train – Santa Cruz, November 26 – December 23 Holiday Tree Walk – Felton, November 27 – December 19 Christmas at Temple Hill – Oakland, November 27 – December 31 Entwined – San Francisco, December 2 – February 2 History Park’s Heritage Light Show – San Jose, December 4-26 Fantasy of Lights Drive-Thru – Los Gatos, December 7-31 Christmas Tree Lane – Palo Alto, December 11-31
Amusement Parks & Zoos Six Flags Holidays in the Park – Vallejo, November 26 – January 2 Winterfest at Great America – Santa Clara, November 26 – January 9 Holidays at Gilroy Gardens – Gilroy, November 26 – December 31 Glowfari at Oakland Zoo – Oakland, November 12 – January 30 Holiday Treats for the Animals at Aquarium of the Pacific – December 4, 5 Fairy Winterland – Oakland, December 17-30
Holiday Parades Festival of Lights Parade – Los Altos, November 28 Lighted Holiday Parade – Half Moon Bay, December 3 Lighted Yacht Parade – Alameda, December 4 Lighted Tractor Parade – Calistoga, December 4 Lighted Boat Parade and Fireworks – Sausalito, December 11 Christmas Parade and Holiday Market – Benicia, December 11 Lighted Boat Parade – San Rafael, December 12 Parade of Lights – Guerneville, December 21
Tree Lighting Events Civic Center Tree Lighting – San Francisco, December 1 Holiday Tree Lighting – San Anselmo, December 4 Jack London Square Lights Up – Oakland, December 11 Pier 39 Holiday Tree Lighting – San Francisco, November 23-January 9
Santa Visits Breakfast with Santa – Cupertino, December 4 Santa Arrives by Helicopter at Hiller – San Carlos, December 4 Santa Weekends at Filoli – Woodside, December 4-19 Breakfast with Santa and Craft Fair – Pinole, December 5
Holiday Crafts Kids Craft Fair – Santa Cruz, December 4 Fun on the Farm Holiday Crafts – San Ramon, December 4, 11, 18 Gingerbread Doghouse Workshop – Santa Rosa, December 11 Holiday Gift Making Workshop – Santa Rosa, December 18
Other Holiday Events & Activities Glow at The Exploratorium – San Francisco, November 18 – January 30 Train of Lights – Fremont and Sunol, November 18-December 28 Walnut Creek Model Railroad Holiday Show – Walnut Creek, November 19-28 Boardwalk Winter Wonderland – Santa Cruz, November 26 – January 2 Nutcracker Sweet with Puppet Company – Berkeley, November 28 Nutcracker Sweet with Puppet Company – Palo Alto, November 28 Calistoga Holiday Village – Calistoga, December 3 Hometown Holidays Celebration – Redwood City, December 4 Hometown Holiday Celebration – Pleasanton, December 4 Bah Humbug 5K Run & Kids Dash – San Ramon, December 4 Live Nativity at Moraga Valley Presbyterian Church – Moraga, December 4 Drive-Thru Dickens Christmas Fair – Daly City, December 4-19 Mill Valley Winterfest – Mill Valley, December 5 Winterfest – Ross, December 5 German Holiday Market – Mountain View, December 11 Merry-achi Christmas – San Francisco, December 12 Oh What Fun! Holiday Concert – San Francisco, December 12 Toy Trains – Santa Cruz, December 16-26 The Biggest Gift by Fantasy Forum – Walnut Creek, December 17-19 Winterfest 707 – Vallejo, December 18-19 Bethlehem A.D. – Redwood City, December 21-23 A Magical Cirque Christmas – San Jose, December 30
Hanukkah Celebrations Chanukah Train – Santa Cruz, November 28 Hanukkah Farm Festival – Berkeley, November 28 Chanukah Festival – Santa Rosa, November 28 Drive In Chanukah – San Mateo, November 29 Chanukah Stroll Art & Gift Fair – Palo Alto, November 30 Car Menorah Parade – Oakland, December 2 Menorahs and Miracles – San Jose, December 5 Chanukah Celebration – Novato, December 5 Hannukah Inside Out – San Rafael, December 5 Grand Chanukah Celebration on the Lake – Oakland, December 5
Performances: The Nutcracker Contra Costa Ballet – Walnut Creek, November 26-28 Pacific Ballet – Mountain View, November 26-28 San Francisco Youth Ballet – San Francisco, December 4-5 Ballet America – Redwood City, December 4-5 Stapleton Ballet – San Rafael, December 4-5 Mark Foehringer’s Nutcracker Sweets – San Francisco, December 4-19 Western Ballet – Mountain View, December 10-12 Black Diamond Ballet – Antioch, December 10-12 Petaluma School of Ballet – Rohnert Park, December 10-12 San Jose Dance Theater – San Jose, December 10-19 San Francisco Ballet – San Francisco, December 10-30 Marin Ballet – San Rafael, December 11-12 Berkeley City Ballet – Berkeley, December 11, 18, 19 Valley Dance Theatre – Livermore, December 11-19 Santa Cruz City Ballet – Aptos, December 17-18 South Valley Dance Arts – Morgan Hill, December 17-18 Hip Hop by Peninsula Ballet Theatre – Redwood City, December 17-18 Los Gatos Ballet – Saratoga, December 17-19 Ballet Company of East County – Antioch, December 17-19 Peninsula Ballet Theatre – Redwood City, December 18-19 Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre – Santa Cruz, December 18-19 Oakland Ballet – Oakland, December 18-19 New Ballet – San Jose, December 18-19
Performances: A Christmas Carol Broadway SF – San Francisco, November 26 – December 26 Center Repertory – Walnut Creek, December 9-23
Performances: Other Holiday Performances A Chanticleer Christmas – Several Locations, November 28-December 23 Scrooge the Musical – Oakland, November 27, December 3-4 Once Upon a Christmas – Walnut Creek, December 3-4 PAAM Holiday Spectacular – San Francisco, December 4-5 The Velveteen Rabbit – San Francisco, December 4-12 Carols in the California – San Jose, December 11 Peter and the Wolf – San Francisco, December 12 A Celtic Christmas – Mountain View & Santa Cruz, December 17, 22 Nutcracker Sweets – San Francisco, December 4-19 The Snow Queen by Bayer Ballet – Mountain View, December18-19
New Years Celebrations Noon Years Eve Party at Hiller Aviation – San Carlos, December 31 Happy New Year, Charlie Brown! – Santa Rosa, December 31
Holiday Ice Rinks Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square – San Francisco, November 3 – January 17 Ice at the Veranda – Concord, November 5 – February 14 Winter Ice Rink – Sunnyvale, November 19-January 2 Downtown Ice – San Jose, November 19-January 9 San Mateo on Ice – San Mateo, November 12-January 9 Kristi Yamaguchi Holiday Rink – San Ramon, November 17 – January 2 Brentwood on Ice – Brentwood, November 19-January 9 The Little Ice Rink – Alameda, December 8 – January 17 Walnut Creek on Ice – Walnut Creek, December 10-January 9