# Christmas and holiday events for kids in San Jose

> 20 Christmas, Hanukkah and holiday events and programs for kids in the San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara area through New Year’s Day, each linked to the organizer’s own page with the date we last checked it.

Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Oct 24, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about
Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-10-24), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/san-jose/christmas

Towns with listings: San Jose (8), Campbell (2), Los Gatos (2), Gilroy (1), Milpitas (1), Mount Hamilton (1), Palo Alto (1).

## Quick answers

### What free Christmas events are there for kids in San Jose?

7 listings, the soonest 4: [Christmas in the Park in Downtown San José](https://grassyknees.com/san-jose/activities/christmas-in-the-park-in-downtown-san-jose--listing-e60c2f300343f0b087443a9a) (Fri, Nov 27, Free); [Christmas in the Park Opening Night Ceremony](https://grassyknees.com/san-jose/activities/christmas-in-the-park-opening-night-ceremony--listing-f6ca119aefdc53e9d6362def) (Sat, Nov 28, Free); [Spirit of The Row Holiday Nights at Santana Row](https://grassyknees.com/san-jose/activities/spirit-of-the-row-holiday-nights-at-santana-row--listing-16231fa5cacc2698586d5598) (Tue, Dec 1, Free); [Milpitas Tree Lighting Ceremony](https://grassyknees.com/san-jose/activities/milpitas-tree-lighting-ceremony--listing-b38b4cc1ab29df8eef77e05d) (Fri, Dec 4, Free).

## Dated events

### San Jose (8)

- [Spirit of The Row Holiday Nights at Santana Row](https://grassyknees.com/san-jose/activities/spirit-of-the-row-holiday-nights-at-santana-row--listing-16231fa5cacc2698586d5598) — Tue, Dec 1 (+2 more dates) · 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM · Santana Row · All ages · Free · checked Oct 24. On the first three Tuesdays of December, Santana Row hosts Spirit of The Row: two hours of live holiday shows by local arts and community groups, snow showers in Park Valencia…
- [The Hip Hop Nutcracker at the Center for the Performing Arts](https://grassyknees.com/san-jose/activities/the-hip-hop-nutcracker-at-the-center-for-the-performing-arts--listing-80e38b1cd1cb12f54f87c76f) — Wed, Dec 2 (+1 more date) · 7:00 PM · San Jose Center for the Performing Arts · All ages · Paid · checked Oct 24. The Hip Hop Nutcracker is a touring holiday mash-up of hip hop dance and Tchaikovsky's music, directed and choreographed by Jennifer Weber. Maria-Clara and the Nutcracker Prince…
- [Menorahs & Miracles Hanukkah Celebration at Children's Discovery Museum](https://grassyknees.com/san-jose/activities/menorahs-and-miracles-hanukkah-celebration-at-children-s-discovery-mus--listing-ecf2d238efe79945f8032e28) — Sun, Dec 6 · 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM · Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose · All ages · Paid · checked Oct 24. Menorahs & Miracles is the museum's Hanukkah celebration, held in partnership with Jewish Silicon Valley. Children play dreidel games, follow a miracles scavenger hunt, taste a…
- [Visit from Santa Claus at Vineland Library](https://grassyknees.com/san-jose/activities/visit-from-santa-claus-at-vineland-library--listing-9d58845698a08209303486b4) — Thu, Dec 10 · 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM · Vineland Branch Library · Free · checked Oct 24. Santa makes a special appearance at Vineland Branch Library for an hour on a December weekday evening. Parents can take photos of their child with Santa (bring your own camera or…
- [Visit with Santa at Alum Rock Library](https://grassyknees.com/san-jose/activities/visit-with-santa-at-alum-rock-library--listing-5696d88fc8f3292f1c0f3fc3) — Sat, Dec 12 · 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM · Alum Rock Branch Library · checked Oct 24. Santa visits Alum Rock Branch Library for one hour on a Saturday afternoon to hear children's Christmas wishes. He will try to see as many children as possible and listen to each…
- [Silicon Valley Santa Run and Kids Reindeer Dash](https://grassyknees.com/san-jose/activities/silicon-valley-santa-run-and-kids-reindeer-dash--listing-436b18bd22a7325436fc4b1c) — Sun, Dec 13 · 3:00 PM · Downtown San Jose start, W Santa Clara St and Almaden Ave · Ages 2–7 · From $27.50 · checked Oct 24. The Silicon Valley Santa Run is a holiday 5K through downtown San Jose on a Sunday afternoon in mid-December, starting at W Santa Clara Street and Almaden Avenue. Alongside the…
- [The San Jose Nutcracker by New Ballet](https://grassyknees.com/san-jose/activities/the-san-jose-nutcracker-by-new-ballet--listing-ef1cc16c87cae8b41943c947) — Sat, Dec 19 (+5 more dates) · 2:00 PM · California Theatre · All ages · Paid · checked Oct 24. New Ballet and Symphony San Jose present The San Jose Nutcracker at the historic California Theatre downtown, a two-act production with live orchestra that moves the story to…
- [My Very First Nutcracker by New Ballet](https://grassyknees.com/san-jose/activities/my-very-first-nutcracker-by-new-ballet--listing-65252ddce662c9d37be9d9ba) — Sun, Dec 20 (+3 more dates) · 11:00 AM · California Theatre · Paid · checked Oct 24. My Very First Nutcracker is New Ballet's shortened, one-act version of The San Jose Nutcracker for toddlers, preschoolers and young children, running about 55 minutes at reduced…

### Other towns in the San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara area (12)

- [Christmas in the Park in Downtown San José](https://grassyknees.com/san-jose/activities/christmas-in-the-park-in-downtown-san-jose--listing-e60c2f300343f0b087443a9a) — Nov 27 – Jan 1 · 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM · Plaza de Cesar Chavez · All ages · Free · checked Oct 24. San José's free holiday tradition since 1980 fills the two-acre Plaza de Cesar Chavez downtown with an enchanted forest of trees decorated by local schools, community groups and…
- [Christmas in the Park Opening Night Ceremony](https://grassyknees.com/san-jose/activities/christmas-in-the-park-opening-night-ceremony--listing-f6ca119aefdc53e9d6362def) — Sat, Nov 28 · 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM · Plaza de Cesar Chavez · All ages · Free · checked Oct 24. The 2026 Christmas in the Park season officially opens with an hour-long Opening Night Ceremony at Plaza de Cesar Chavez on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. It also kicks off…
- [Milpitas Tree Lighting Ceremony](https://grassyknees.com/san-jose/activities/milpitas-tree-lighting-ceremony--listing-b38b4cc1ab29df8eef77e05d) — Fri, Dec 4 · 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM · Milpitas Community Center · All ages · Free · checked Oct 24. Santa Claus arrives at the Milpitas Community Center to lead the community countdown that lights the city's 30-foot holiday tree. The evening features the Milpitas Community…
- [Carol of Lights Celebration in Downtown Campbell](https://grassyknees.com/san-jose/activities/carol-of-lights-celebration-in-downtown-campbell--listing-c8381383050fc9f7950023dc) — Sat, Dec 5 · 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM · Downtown Campbell · Free · checked Oct 24. Downtown Campbell's annual winter festival kicks off the holiday season with an afternoon of free family fun along East Campbell Avenue. Kids can visit Santa, meet animals at the…
- [Fantasy of Lights Walk-thru at Vasona Lake County Park](https://grassyknees.com/san-jose/activities/fantasy-of-lights-walk-thru-at-vasona-lake-county-park--listing-a463efee638e03ea3275ad46) — Sat, Dec 5 (+3 more dates) · 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM · Vasona Lake County Park, Los Gatos · All ages · From $10 · checked Oct 24. Fantasy of Lights, Santa Clara County Parks' holiday light show since 1999, goes fully walk-through for its 27th year. Families stroll Vasona Lake County Park past large animated…
- [Holiday Hike & Hands-on Fun!](https://grassyknees.com/san-jose/activities/holiday-hike-and-hands-on-fun--listing-506b8672b95f0c758bd823a6) — Sat, Dec 5 · 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM · Environmental Volunteers EcoCenter, Palo Alto · All ages · checked Oct 24. Environmental Volunteers hosts a holiday day of outdoor exploration at the Palo Alto Baylands and its EcoCenter. Guided nature walks leave at 10:30am, 11:30am and 1pm; space on…
- [A Winter Wonderland – Academy of Classical Ballet at Campbell Heritage Theatre](https://grassyknees.com/san-jose/activities/a-winter-wonderland-academy-of-classical-ballet-at-campbell-heritage-t--listing-14812f2d11cbce8b9351bf29) — Sat, Dec 12 (+1 more date) · 7:00 PM · Campbell Heritage Theatre · From $45 · checked Oct 24. The Academy of Classical Ballet's holiday ballet A Winter Wonderland follows the heroine Beatrice through an enchanted forest, where reindeer and baby polar bears befriend her…
- [Special Inclusion Sundays at Christmas in the Park](https://grassyknees.com/san-jose/activities/special-inclusion-sundays-at-christmas-in-the-park--listing-7f184691c4eaea452970f848) — Sun, Dec 13 (+1 more date) · 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM · Plaza de Cesar Chavez · Free · checked Oct 24. On two December Sunday mornings, Christmas in the Park opens sensory-friendly hours for children and adults with special needs, before the regular noon opening. Families can walk…
- [Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad Holiday Night Train & Carousel](https://grassyknees.com/san-jose/activities/billy-jones-wildcat-railroad-holiday-night-train-and-carousel--listing-bc8a3acea6b1ff7791953465) — Mon, Dec 14 (+11 more dates) · 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM · Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad, Oak Meadow Park, Los Gatos · All ages · From $6 · checked Oct 24. After the Fantasy of Lights walk-through nights, the volunteer-run Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad runs its decorated Holiday Night Train from Oak Meadow Park through the holiday…
- [History Park Heritage Holiday](https://grassyknees.com/san-jose/activities/history-park-heritage-holiday--listing-117b84b969cc43ed7d2cb74d) — Sat, Dec 19 · 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM · History Park · From $5 · checked Oct 24. Heritage Holiday is History San José's December afternoon at History Park, the outdoor village of restored homes, shops and the Empire Fire House in Kelley Park. It is the…
- [Holiday Ranch House Tours at Joseph D. Grant County Park](https://grassyknees.com/san-jose/activities/holiday-ranch-house-tours-at-joseph-d-grant-county-park--listing-0f53124fdf6541bd7680bc3b) — Sat, Dec 19 (+1 more date) · 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM · Grant Ranch House Complex, Joseph D. Grant County Park, Mount Hamilton · All ages · checked Oct 24. The historic Grant Ranch House in Joseph D. Grant County Park is decorated for the holidays and open for tours on one December weekend. Visitors meet at the Cook House, tour the…
- [New Year's Eve Celebration at Gilroy Gardens](https://grassyknees.com/san-jose/activities/new-year-s-eve-celebration-at-gilroy-gardens--listing-46c0ac931a2351804e9691f8) — Thu, Dec 31 · Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park · All ages · Paid · checked Oct 24. Gilroy Gardens' New Year's Eve party combines North Pole Nights with a DJ dance party in the Events Plaza, specialty appetizers and drinks, and a midnight fireworks show over…

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