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 post! Click 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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