101 Ideas for Holiday Family Fun in the San Francisco Bay Area - 2023 | Kids Out and About San Francisco <

101 Ideas for Holiday Family Fun in the San Francisco Bay Area - 2023

 

Christmas concerts, lights, trees, nativities, and more. . . plus activities for Chanukah, Kwanzaa, and New Year's Eve. The activities we've listed here are confirmed for this year, but many require reserving ahead of time, and please keep in mind that events could be canceled... so click through to make arrangements. Enjoy the holidays!

If you don't already receive KidsOutAndAbout's free weekly e-newsletter for San Francisco, sign up today to make sure you're in the know about free stuff, festivals, classes, camps, vacation ideas, and all the best events near you! In the meantime, enjoy the ideas below for holiday family fun in 2023! Below are items that have been posted to our calendar. If you are affiliated with a business hosting a holiday event that should be on our calendar, we'd love to see it there... it's free to postClick here for instructions about how to add your organization to our list and easily post your events to our calendar!


 

 

Santa Sightings

November 11, 2023 Jingle and Mingle! - St. Francis' Episcopal Church
November 11 & 12, 2023 Santa Paws Pet Photo Event! - Alameda South Shore Center
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 24, 2023 Winter Wonderland - Tilden Park Merry Go Round
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 24, 2023 Selfies with Santa - Center City Bishop Ranch
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 24, 2023  Santa's Landing - Enchant: San Jose
November 30, 2023 Annual Holiday Tree Lighting - Colma Town Hall
December 1, 2023 Holiday Night with Santa - Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden
December 2, 2023 Santa Arrives by Helicopter - Hiller Aviation Museum
December 2, 2023 Hometown Holidays - City of Redwood City, CA
December 2, 2023 Breakfast with Santa Claus - Colma Community Center
Multiple dates starting on Dec 2, 2023 Santa Days - Filoli Historic House & Garden
December 3, 2023 Holiday Lights Spectacular - Westlake Shopping Center
December 4, 2023 Community Tree Lighting - City of San Ramon, CA
December 7, 2023 Making Spirits Bright - Campbell Chamber of Commerce

 

Old-Time Christmas

Multiple date starting on Nov. 18, 2023  The Dickens Christmas Fair - Daly City, CA

Light Displays

Multiple dates starting on Nov. 10, 2023 IlluminOdyssey - CuriOddyssey
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 10, 2023 Glofari: A Wildly Illuminating Lantern Festival - Oakland Zoo
November 11, 2023 Dazzling Holiday Light Celebration 2023 - Fourth Street Shops
Multiple dates starting on Nov, 16, 2023 GLOW 2023: Discover the Art of Light - The Exploratorium 
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 20, 2023 Enchanted Elegance: Holiday Tea in the Garden House - Filoli Historic House & Garden
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 22, 2023 Gilded Guide: Tour with the Curator - Filoli Historic House & Garden 
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 23, 2023 Winter Wonderland - Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 23, 2023 Garden D'Lights - Ruth Bancroft Garden & Nursey 
November 24, 2023 Tree Lighting Ceremony - Downtown Santa Rosa
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 24, 2023 Holiday Tree Walk - Roaring Camp
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 24, 2023 Light Maze - Enchant: San Jose
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 24, 2023 California Christmas Lights - Los Angeles, CA
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 24, 2023 Holiday Lights Train - Roaring Camp
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 24, 2023 Days of Christmas - Temple Hill
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 24, 2023 Holiday Magic - Gilroy Gardens
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 24, 2023 Holiday Lights - Santa Cruz Fairgrounds & Event Center
November 25, 2023 Holiday Tree Lighting - Downtown Martinez & Co. 
Novermber 25, 2023 Parade of Lights & Winter Wonderland - Downtown San Rafael Business Improvement District
November 30, 2023 Annual Holiday Tree Lighting - Colma Town Hall
December 1, 2023 Tree Lighting - City of Cupertino, CA
December 1, 2023 Christmas Tree Lighting - Center City Bishop Ranch
Multiple dates starting on Dec. 1, 2023 Winter Wonderland at Marin Art and Garden Center!
Multiple dates starting on Dec. 2, 2023 Capistrano Lights - Hiller Aviation Museum 
December 3, 2023 Holiday Lights Spectacular - Westlake Shopping Center
December 4, 2023 Community Tree Lighting - City of Mountain View, CA
December 9, 2023 36th Annual Lighted Boat Parade - Winterfest Sausalito 

 

Holiday Theatre

November 3 & 4, 2023 The Elves and the Shoemaker - Peninsula Youth Theatre 
November 3 & 4, 2023 Diablo Ballet's: The Nutcracker Suite - Lesher Center for the Arts
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 11, 2023 Elf the Musical - Peninsula Youth Theatre
November 18 & 19, 2023 Smuin's: The Christmas Ballet - Lesher Center for the Arts
November 24 - 26, 2023 Contra Costa's: The Nutcracker - Leser Center for the Arts
November 25, 2023 Nutcracker Sweet with The Puppet Company - Noe Valley Ministry
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 28, 2023 Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! - Broadway San Jose
December 1 & 2, 2023 Once Upon a Christmas - Lesher Center for the Arts
December 2, 2023 The Nutcracker - San Mateo Performing Arts Center
Multiple dates starting on Dec. 6, 2023 A Christmas Carol - Toni Rembe Theatre
Multiple dates starting on Dec. 7, 2023 A Christmas Carol - Lesher Center for the Arts
December 15 - 17, 2023 The Biggest Gift - Lesher Center for the Arts
December 19, 2023 Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet - Golden Gate Theater
Multiple dates starting on Dec. 20, 2023 A Charlie Brown Christmas--Live! - Davies Symphony Hall

 

Holiday Concerts

November 29, 2023 Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Ghosts of Christmas Eve - SAP Center
December 2, 2023 Holidays in Harmony - Novato Music Association Chorus
December 2, 2023 Winter Dreams: Musical Stories for the Holidays - Diablo Symphony Orchestra
December 2, 2023 Family Concert - Bankhead Theater
December 2, 2023 Winter Tales - Bankhead Theater
December 2, 2023 Holiday Concert with Community Dance! - All Saints Episcopal Church San Leandro
December 15 - 17, 2023 Million Dollar Quartet Christmas - The Curran Theatre
Multiple dates starting on Dec. 16, 2023 Sing You a Merry Christmas - Grace Cathedral
December 17, 2023 A Holiday Tribute to Vince Guaraldi's A Charlie Brown Christmas featuring Jason Crosby

 

Christmas Tree Experience

Multiple dates starting on Nov. 19, 2023 Tree Cutting - Santa's Tree Farm and Village
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 19, 2023 Christmas Trees - Clancy's Pumpkins & Christmas Trees (Sloat Blvd)
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 19, 2023 Christmas Trees - Clancy's Pumpkins & Christmas Trees (7th Ave)
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 20, 2023 Wonderland Christmas Trees - Speer Family Farms
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 25, 2023 The Guardsmen Tree Lot

 

Ice Skating

Multiple dates starting on Nov. 1, 2023 Holiday Ice Rink - Union Square
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 10, 2023 Kristi Yamaguchi Holiday Ice Rink - Center City Bishop Ranch
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 24, 2023 Ice Skating Trail - Enchant: San Jose
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 25, 2023  Skating on the Square - Downtown Santa Rosa
Multiple dates starting on Dec. 1, 2023 Winter Wonderland at Marin Art and Garden Center!

 

Hanukkah

December 7, 2023 Chanukah Train - Roaring Camp
Multiple dates starting on Dec 7, 2023 Community Menorah Lighting - Downtown Martinez & Co.

 

Shopping & Craft Fairs

November 4 & 5, 2023 43rd Alameda Holiday Boutique
November 5, 2023 Holiday Bazaar & Brunch - Trader Vic's (Emeryville)
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 8, 2023 Mini Masterpieces: Holiday Gifts Show - Rhythmix Cultural Works
November 11, 2023 Pre Holiday Artisan Fair - Plymouth Jazz and Justice Church
November 11 & 12, 2023 Jingle and Mingle! - St. Francis' Episcopal Church
November 18, 2023 Craft Fest - Lesher Center for the Arts
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 24, 2023 The Village - Enchant: San Jose
November 25, 2023 Holiday Sparkle Sip & Shop - Downtown Martinez & Co
December 1, 2023 Holiday Open House - City of Benicia, CA
December 1 & 2, 2023 Winter Festival Marketplace - Elzabeth F. Gamble Garden
December 2, 2023 Holiday Celebration & Art Show - Schurig Center for Brain Injury Recovery
December 2, 2023 Holiday Craft Fair - Mill Valley Recreation
December 2, 2023 El Sobrante's 6th Annual Hometown Holiday Faire 2023
December 2, 2023 Petaluma Merchant Holiday Open House & Kentucky Street Marketplace - Petaluma Downtown Association
December 8, 2023 Holiday Market - Calistoga Motor Lodge
December 9, 2023 Christmas Parade & Holiday Market - City of Benicia, CA

 

New Year's Eve

December 31, 2023  Happy New Year, Charlie Brown! - Charles M. Schutz Museum

 

Miscellaneous

November 18, 2023 An Intimate Family Friendly Diwali Celebration - Rhythmix Cultural Works
November 19, 2023 Nutcracker Holiday Tea - Palo Alto Auxilary
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 20, 2023 Enchanted Elegance: Holiday Tea in the Garden House - Filoli Historic House & Garden
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 24, 2023 Winterfest - California's Great America: Bay Area
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 24, 2023 Holidays in the Park - Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
November 26, 2023 Los Altos Christmas Parade - Los Altos, CA
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 29, 2023 Flora Party: Holiday Wreaths - Filoli Historic House & Garden
December 2, 2023 Annual Calistoga Lighted Tractor Parade - Calistoga, CA
December 2, 2023 Carol of Lights - Campbell Chamber of Commerce
December 2, 2023 Family Holiday Tea - Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden
December 2, 2023 Run! Grinch! Run! - City of San Ramon, CA
Multiple dates starting on Dec. 2, 2023 Holidays on the Farm - City of San Ramon, CA
December 2, 2023 Winterfest - Ross Auxiliary 
December 2, 2023 Hometown Holidays - City of Pleasanton, CA
December 10, 2023 Jingle Bell 5K & Brunch - Winterfest Sausalito 
Multiple dates starting on Dec. 2, 2023 Holidays on the Farm - City of San Ramon, CA
December 23, 2023 Truss Annual Kid's Holiday Cookie Decorating Class

 

 

 

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