The Bay Area has plenty of ways to get into the holiday spirit, whether that means a night among the lights, an afternoon shopping local makers or a favorite performance shared with friends. From Oakland’s glowing lanterns and storybook celebrations to San Francisco’s skating rink, Peninsula gardens and North Bay light displays, there’s a festive outing for just about every kind of gathering.
For the 2026 holiday season, we’ve gathered event highlights and local guides to help you make your plans. Some celebrations are already underway; others stretch into January. Check individual dates, age requirements and ticket availability before heading out, especially for attractions that operate only on selected days.
Holiday Event Highlights
Looking for a place to start? Union Square skating, San Francisco Ballet’s Nutcracker, the Dickens Fair, Glowfari, Filoli and Let’s Glow SF recur across the local guides below. These 25 highlights pair familiar seasonal destinations with neighborhood outings and cultural celebrations.
- Union Square Holiday Ice Rink: San Francisco, November 4–January 18, 2027. Lace up for outdoor skating in the heart of downtown, with special themed sessions adding to the seasonal fun. Event details
- Glowfari: Oakland, select dates November 6–January 31, 2027. Oakland Zoo’s larger-than-life animal lanterns turn an evening walk into a glowing wildlife adventure. Reserve a separate timed ticket and check the operating calendar. Event details
- Fourth Street Holiday Lights: Berkeley, November 14. Fourth Street lights up for the season with a neighborhood celebration, making an evening stroll part of the holiday plans. Event details
- Holidays at Filoli: Woodside, November–January 10, 2027. Choose a decorated historic house and family activities by day or illuminated gardens after dark. Daytime and Holiday Lights visits require different tickets; check the booking calendar for your date. Event details
- Lightscape: San Francisco, November 20–January 3, 2027. Follow a mile-long trail of light, color and sound through San Francisco Botanical Garden for an after-dark outing in Golden Gate Park. Event details
- The Great Dickens Christmas Fair: Daly City, weekends November 21–December 20, plus November 27. The Cow Palace becomes Victorian London, with costumed characters, performances, shops and plenty of reasons to linger. Event details
- SJMADE Holiday Fair: Santa Clara, November 27–28. Shop more than 350 makers, artists and creative small businesses at Santa Clara Convention Center. Admission is free. Event details
- Christmas in the Park: San Jose, November 27–January 1, 2027. Plaza de César Chávez fills with decorated trees, animated holiday displays and seasonal entertainment. The nearby rides and ice rink are separate attractions. Event details
- Marin Holiday Light Spectacular: San Rafael, November 27–January 3, 2027. Explore the Marin Center fairgrounds’ outdoor light display, with arts and crafts and movie screenings on selected evenings. Admission is free. Event details
- Mission College Kwanzaa Celebration: Santa Clara, December 2. The college’s 18th annual gathering welcomes the broader community for African dance, live drumming and the lighting of the Kinara. This early seasonal celebration is free and open to the public. Event details
- San Francisco Ballet’s Nutcracker: San Francisco, December 4–27. Clara’s holiday adventure returns to the War Memorial Opera House, bringing ballet, Tchaikovsky’s score and a familiar San Francisco tradition to the season. Event details
- Bill Graham Menorah: San Francisco, December 4–11. Gather in Union Square for Chanukah lightings, with the Bill Graham Menorah Day celebration on December 6. Consult the daily schedule before heading over. Event details
- Let’s Glow SF: San Francisco, December 4–13. Downtown buildings become enormous canvases for animated projections in a free, family-friendly celebration of light and art. Event details
- Twas the Night: A Musical Night Market: Oakland, December 11. Children’s Fairyland opens its storybook setting to grown-ups for a holiday night out. This special event is for ages 21 and older. Event details
- Fairy Winterland: Oakland, December 12–13, 19–20 and 26–27. Children’s Fairyland celebrates the season with multicultural holiday displays, stories, crafts, performances and visits from Black Santa. Event details
- Fairmont Gingerbread House: San Francisco, November 21–December 31. Make a Nob Hill stop for the hotel’s life-sized gingerbread house and festive lobby displays, with a lighting celebration on November 21. Event details
- HapPIER Holidays at PIER 39: San Francisco, November 23–January 10, 2027. The waterfront adds a towering Christmas tree, seasonal entertainment and Santa visits, with a tree-lighting celebration and snowfall effects on December 3. Event details
- Embarcadero Center Holiday Market and Building Lighting: San Francisco, November 18. Shop local vendors and enjoy music and seasonal bites before the buildings light up for the holidays. The free market runs from 4–6 p.m. at Three Embarcadero Center. Event details
- Waterfront Walkabout Holiday Finale: San Francisco, November 19. Explore waterfront sculptures between Pier 14 and the Exploratorium from 5–8 p.m., with music, ornament making and holiday portraits along the way. Free guided art tours are available by RSVP. Event details
- SWEA Swedish Christmas Fair: San Francisco, December 5. Saint Mary’s Cathedral hosts Swedish gifts, food, children’s activities and Lucia performances. The fair runs from 9 a.m.–3 p.m.; admission tickets are available in advance or at the door. Event details
- Rockridge Holidaze: Oakland, December 5. Stroll College Avenue for neighborhood shopping, pop-up vendors, children’s activities and holiday music. The celebration runs from 2–5 p.m., with Rockridge BART offering a convenient arrival point. Event details
- Deacon Dave’s Christmas Display: Livermore, opening November 28. The House of the Dove lights up for its 43rd holiday season, with opening ceremonies beginning at 6:30 p.m. Regular evening hours vary by day; check for weather closures before visiting. Event details
- Renegade Craft Fair: San Francisco, November 14–15. Browse work by more than 250 artists at Fort Mason Center’s Festival Pavilion, from 11 a.m.–5 p.m. each day. The indoor holiday fair offers an early start on gifts from independent makers. Event details
- San Francisco ZooLights: San Francisco, Wednesdays–Sundays, November 6–January 3, 2027. Explore illuminated animal installations, a frozen-themed photo zone and glowing playgrounds across the zoo’s evening light display. ZooLights requires a separate ticket from daytime zoo admission. Event details
- Dogpatch Holiday Market: San Francisco, December 12. Browse local art and handmade gifts along 22nd Street between Illinois and Indiana, with live music, neighborhood food and family activities. Admission is free; the market runs from 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Event details
Local Holiday Guides
- {510} Families: The November family activities offer an East Bay starting point for the transition from fall outings to holiday celebrations. Its Glowfari guide adds practical tips for a family evening at Oakland Zoo.
- GoBayArea: The Bay Area holiday events guide brings together light displays, markets, performances and neighborhood celebrations, with filters for different parts of the region.
- Marin Mommies: The 2026 holiday guide collects family outings in Marin and beyond, from skating and crafts to festive performances. Browse its holiday craft fairs for handmade-gift ideas.
- PaloAlto.org: The Palo Alto holiday guide covers neighborhood traditions, downtown celebrations, ice skating and Stanford performances. It distinguishes confirmed dates from traditions still awaiting announcements.
- Secret San Francisco: The holiday activities guide ranges from ice rinks and light displays to markets, gingerbread houses and other seasonal outings around the city.
- Yerba Buena Partnership: The holiday neighborhood guide pairs performances and art with a tree lighting, makers market and Filipino parol-making activities in San Francisco’s arts district.
- 7×7: The November 9 weekly roundup mixes early holiday outings, seasonal shopping and Filoli festivities with other ways to enjoy the week.
- Bay Area Parent: The 2026 Nutcracker guide compares ballet productions around the region, including shorter versions for younger audiences. Its sensory-friendly events guide adds options with accommodations for different needs.
- Funcheap: The December festivals and street fairs guide collects seasonal markets, tree lightings, Chanukah celebrations and light shows, including free outings. Check the year beside each item, as some entries still refer to last season.
- San Francisco Travel: The holiday must-sees connects Union Square, festive performances, the Dickens Fair and light-filled attractions. Its PIER 39 holiday guide offers a closer look at waterfront celebrations.
- SF Tourism Tips: The Christmas in San Francisco guide covers seasonal shows, ice skating, decorated hotels and ideas for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day; some individual dates remain to be announced.
- Sonoma County Tourism: The holiday season guide brings together town tree lightings, lighted tractor parades, artisan markets and other seasonal celebrations across Sonoma County.
- Visit Berkeley: The Berkeley holiday guide highlights Fourth Street’s lights, the Telegraph Avenue Holiday Street Fair and seasonal performances, with neighborhood shopping ideas alongside them.
- Visit Napa Valley: The holiday guide ranges from lighted tractor parades and town celebrations to skating and holiday outings in wine country. Follow individual event links for current schedules.
- Visit San Jose: The Holiday San Jose guide brings together seasonal light attractions, Nutcracker productions and holiday concerts for a South Bay outing. Check individual event dates when planning.
