San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont · November 15, 2026 – January 1, 2027
Christmas and holiday events for kids in San Francisco
53 tree lightings, Santa visits, light displays and holiday shows around San Francisco, November 15 to New Year’s Day. 13 are free.
Don’t miss
- Nov15SunMarkets and festivals
Through Jan 1
Holiday Daytime at Filoli with Thistlewyck Village
Filoli Historic House & Garden
From $40All ages
- Nov15SunLight displays
Through Jan 1
Holiday Lights at Filoli
Filoli Historic House & Garden
From $45All ages
- Nov21SatChristmas
Through Jan 1
Winter Wonderlab at the Bay Area Discovery Museum
Bay Area Discovery Museum
From $25
NovemberSun, Nov 15 – Mon, Nov 30
- Nov18WedNutcracker and shows
Wed, Nov 18 · 1:30 PM
Performance: Mark Foehringer's Nutcracker Sweets
San Francisco Public Library – Sunset Branch
- Nov18WedTree lightings
Wed, Nov 18 · 5:30 PM
Richmond Annual Tree Lighting
Richmond Memorial Auditorium and Convention Center
Free
- Nov20FriLight displays
Fri, Nov 20 · 4:30 PM
Train of Lights on the Niles Canyon Railway
Niles Canyon Railway – Niles Station
From $40
- Nov21SatMarkets and festivals
Sat, Nov 21 · 10:00 AM
The Great Dickens Christmas Fair
Cow Palace Exhibition Halls
From $25
- Nov21SatNutcracker and shows
Sat, Nov 21 · 2:00 PM
Smuin Contemporary Ballet: The Christmas Ballet (Walnut Creek)
Lesher Center for the Arts
Paid
- Nov27FriLight displays
Fri, Nov 27
Niles Festival of Lights Parade (Fremont)
Historic Niles District parade route
- Nov28SatMarkets and festivals
Sat, Nov 28 · 1:00 PM
Winter Wonderland Crafting (Fremont Main Library)
Alameda County Library – Fremont Main Library
- Nov28SatTree lightings
Sat, Nov 28 · 4:00 PM
2026 Holiday Tree Lighting at Yerba Buena Gardens
Yerba Buena Gardens
Free
DecemberTue, Dec 1 – Fri, Dec 18
- Dec1TueCrafts and cookies
Tue, Dec 1 · 3:30 PM
DrawBridge Crafts: Beaded Holiday Gifts (Fairfax Library)
Marin County Free Library – Fairfax Library
Free
- Dec1TueTree lightings
Tue, Dec 1 · 5:00 PM
San Bruno Tree Lighting & Jingle Around the Block
Centennial Plaza
- Dec2WedTree lightings
Wed, Dec 2 · 5:00 PM
Foster City 2026 Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony
Foster City Community Center
- Dec2WedNutcracker and shows
Wed, Dec 2 · 5:30 PM
Diablo Ballet Nutcracker Market
Diablo Ballet Center for Dance
Free
- Dec2WedLight displays
Wed, Dec 2 · 7:00 PM
Lights Up! Piedmont Holiday Tree and Menorah Lighting
Piedmont Community Hall
Free
- Dec3ThuTree lightings
Thu, Dec 3 · 6:00 PM
Dublin 2026 Annual Holiday Tree Lighting
Dublin Civic Center
- Dec3ThuLight displays
Thu, Dec 3 · 6:00 PM
Holiday Parade of Lights & Tree Lighting at Broadway Plaza
Broadway Plaza
- Dec3ThuTree lightings
Thu, Dec 3
PIER 39 Tree Lighting Event
PIER 39 Entrance Plaza
- Dec4FriChristmas
Fri, Dec 4 · 11:00 AM
Old-Fashioned Christmas at the Patterson House (Ardenwood)
Patterson House, Ardenwood Historic Farm
With admissionAll ages
- Dec4FriChristmas
Fri, Dec 4 · 4:00 PM
It's a Wonderful Life in Lafayette Holiday Celebration
Downtown Lafayette
FreeAll ages
- Dec4FriLight displays
Fri, Dec 4 · 5:00 PM
San Carlos 16th Annual Night of Holiday Lights
Laurel Street, Downtown San Carlos (San Carlos Avenue to Cherry Street)
Free
- Dec4FriTree lightings
Fri, Dec 4 · 5:30 PM
Concord Annual Tree Lighting & Mayor's Sing-Along
Todos Santos Plaza
- Dec4FriTree lightings
Fri, Dec 4 · 5:30 PM
Emeryville Tree Lighting and Holiday Parade
Emeryville City Hall
- Dec4FriNutcracker and shows
Fri, Dec 4 · 7:00 PM
San Francisco Ballet: Nutcracker
War Memorial Opera House
PaidAll ages
- Dec4FriLight displays
Fri, Dec 4
Holiday Frolic and Glow Parade — Downtown Martinez
Main Street, Downtown Martinez
All ages
- Dec4FriTree lightings
Fri, Dec 4
Shop Local! Light Up the Season – Menlo Park tree lighting
Fremont Park
FreeAll ages
- Dec5SatSanta visits
Sat, Dec 5 · 8:30 AM
Dublin Breakfast with Santa
Shannon Community Center
From $15All ages
- Dec5SatSanta visits
Sat, Dec 5 · 8:30 AM
Sausalito 2026 Breakfast with Santa
Sausalito Yacht Club
From $25
- Dec5SatSanta visits
Sat, Dec 5 · 9:30 AM
Santa Arrives by Helicopter at Hiller Aviation Museum
Hiller Aviation Museum
With admissionAll ages
- Dec5SatMarkets and festivals
Sat, Dec 5 · 1:00 PM
San Rafael Winter Wonderland: 45th Anniversary
4th Street, Downtown San Rafael
FreeAll ages
- Dec5SatTree lightings
Sat, Dec 5 · 5:00 PM
Millbrae Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration
Millbrae City Hall (front)
All ages
- Dec5SatParades
Sat, Dec 5 · 5:00 PM
Pleasanton Hometown Holiday Celebration and Parade
Main Street, Downtown Pleasanton
- Dec5SatTree lightings
Sat, Dec 5 · 6:00 PM
Livermore Holiday Sights and Sounds Parade & Tree Lighting
First Street, Downtown Livermore
- Dec6SunMarkets and festivals
Sun, Dec 6 · 10:00 AM
64th Annual Holiday Arts Festival – Richmond Art Center
Richmond Art Center
Free
- Dec6SunLight displays
Sun, Dec 6 · 11:00 AM
Festival of Lights 2026
Osher Marin JCC
- Dec6SunMarkets and festivals
Sun, Dec 6 · 1:00 PM
Mill Valley Winterfest
Depot Plaza, Downtown Mill Valley
Free
- Dec6SunTree lightings
Sun, Dec 6 · 3:30 PM
Hercules Holiday Tree Lighting
Hercules Community Swim Center
FreeAll ages
- Dec6SunHanukkah
Sun, Dec 6 · 4:30 PM
Grand Chanukah Celebration on Lake Merritt
Lake Merritt Amphitheater
FreeAll ages
- Dec8TueNutcracker and shows
Tue, Dec 8 · 4:00 PM
The Puppet Company: The Nutcracker (Danville Library)
Contra Costa County Library – Danville Library
- Dec10ThuNutcracker and shows
Thu, Dec 10 · 7:30 PM
Smuin Contemporary Ballet: The Christmas Ballet (San Francisco)
Blue Shield of California Theater at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Paid
- Dec12SatSanta visits
Sat, Dec 12 · 9:00 AM
Breakfast with Santa — Hercules
Hercules Community Swim Center
Paid
- Dec12SatChristmas
Sat, Dec 12 · 11:00 AM
Family Matinee: Adam Shulman Trio & the San Francisco Girls Chorus – A Charlie Brown Christmas tribute
SFJAZZ Center (Miner Auditorium)
- Dec13SunChristmas
Sun, Dec 13 · 4:30 PM
Twilight Time Holiday Open House at the Patterson House
Patterson House, Ardenwood Historic Farm
From $9Ages 1+
Christmas breakSat, Dec 19 – Fri, Jan 1
- Dec19SatSanta visits
Sat, Dec 19 · 9:00 AM
Breakfast With Santa (San Bruno)
San Bruno Recreation and Aquatic Center (RAC Community Hall)
All ages
- Dec19SatNutcracker and shows
Sat, Dec 19 · 1:00 PM
Berkeley Ballet: The Nutcracker Bird
Regents' Theater, Valley Center for Performing Arts
- Dec19SatNutcracker and shows
Sat, Dec 19 · 1:00 PM
Oakland Ballet: Graham Lustig's The Nutcracker
Paramount Theatre
PaidAll ages
- Dec21MonChristmas
Mon, Dec 21 · 4:00 PM
Winter Solstice Celebration at Coyote Hills
Coyote Hills Regional Park Visitor Center
With admissionAll ages
- Dec31ThuNew Year’s Eve
Thu, Dec 31 · 9:00 AM
Noon Year's Eve at the Bay Area Discovery Museum
Bay Area Discovery Museum
From $28
- Dec31ThuMarkets and festivals
Thu, Dec 31 · 10:00 AM
Countdown in Wonderland: Noon Year's Eve at Children's Fairyland
Children's Fairyland
With admission
- Dec31ThuNew Year’s Eve
Thu, Dec 31 · 11:30 AM
Noon Year's Eve Storytime with Clifford (Lafayette Library)
Contra Costa County Library – Lafayette Library and Learning Center
- Dec31ThuNutcracker and shows
Thu, Dec 31 · 3:00 PM
New Year's Eve Silly Circus Show (Martinez Library)
Contra Costa County Library – Martinez Library
All ages
All seasonLight displays, Santa visits, shows and exhibits that run for weeks. Check the organizer’s page for open nights and times.
- Nov15SunMarkets and festivals
Through Jan 1
Holiday Daytime at Filoli with Thistlewyck Village
Filoli Historic House & Garden
From $40All ages
- Nov15SunLight displays
Through Jan 1
Holiday Lights at Filoli
Filoli Historic House & Garden
From $45All ages
- Nov21SatChristmas
Through Jan 1
Winter Wonderlab at the Bay Area Discovery Museum
Bay Area Discovery Museum
From $25
- Nov23MonSanta visits
Through Dec 11
Dublin Letters to Santa
Dublin City Hall (Santa's Mailbox inside)
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For organizers
Hosting a tree lighting, Santa visit or holiday show in San Francisco?
List it on Grassy Knees and it can show up on this Christmas page, in the metro’s weekend picks and in the app. Free to post until Oct 31.
How this list works
Tree lightings, Santa visits, light displays, Nutcrackers, menorah lightings and Noon Year’s Eve parties, beyond your own block. This page collects every event and program in our San Francisco listings whose title names Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Santa, holiday lights, the New Year or the like, dated between November 15 and January 1. 53 are still ahead. Each one opens its listing page, which links to the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. Dates are in Pacific Time.