20 Things to Do in the Bay Area This Holiday Season (2026)

The Bay Area doesn't get snow, but it makes up for it with lantern-lit zoos, light trails in Golden Gate Park, boat parades on the bay and a full five weekends of Victorian London in Daly City. The season runs from early November all the way to the end of January this year, so there's time to fit in more than one outing.

Here are 20 picks across San Francisco, the East Bay, the South Bay, the Peninsula and Marin, grouped by the kind of night out you're after. Each one links to the organizer's page. Dates and hours can shift, so check before you go and book timed tickets early for the popular ones.

Light shows and lantern trails

1. Glowfari at Oakland Zoo — Nov 6, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027 · Oakland Zoo, 9777 Golf Links Rd, Oakland Hundreds of giant illuminated animal lanterns fill the zoo after dark. Entry slots run 4:30–6:30 pm and the zoo closes at 9 pm. It's dark on some nights, including Nov 26 and Dec 24–25, and tickets get pricier closer to the date.

2. Lightscape — Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027 · SF Botanical Garden, Golden Gate Park A mile-long trail of light installations set to music through the garden at night. Adult tickets start around $32, and hot chocolate is sold along the route.

3. Glow Fest at the Exploratorium — Nov 19, 2026 – Jan 24, 2027 · Exploratorium, Pier 15, SF The science museum's seasonal light program, a good pick for curious kids on a rainy night.

4. Let's Glow SF — Dec 4–13 · Downtown SF, Financial District and Embarcadero The country's biggest free holiday projection festival turns downtown buildings, including the Ferry Building, into animated canvases for ten nights, roughly 5:30–10 pm. Download the map and walk the route.

5. Christmas in the Park — Nov 26, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027 · Plaza de Cesar Chavez, downtown San Jose A free San Jose tradition since 1980, with a forest of decorated trees, 40-plus animated displays and free photos with Santa.

Ice skating, windows and holiday markets

6. Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square — Nov 4, 2026 – Jan 18, 2027 · Union Square, 333 Post St, SF The city's only outdoor rink, skating under the Great Tree. Weeknights after 6 pm are calmer than weekend afternoons.

7. Kristi Yamaguchi Holiday Ice Rink — Opens Nov 6 (6 pm ceremony) · City Center Bishop Ranch, 6000 Bollinger Canyon Rd, San Ramon The East Bay's big holiday rink opens with the Olympic champion herself. The center's tree lighting follows on Nov 28.

8. Holiday Windows with SF SPCA pets — Nov 20 – Dec 31, Wed–Sun, noon–5 pm · Macy's Union Square, SF Adoptable puppies and kittens fill the store's holiday windows, a tradition nearly four decades old. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

9. Winter Walk — Dec 8–27 · Stockton Street at Union Square, SF Two blocks of Stockton become a free holiday market with food trucks, seasonal drinks and a family stage. Pair it with the rink and the windows.

10. Renegade Craft Fair — Nov 14–15, 11 am – 5 pm · Fort Mason Center, SF About 250 Bay Area makers in one place, an easy way to knock out gift shopping early.

Festive day trips and outings

11. Great Dickens Christmas Fair — Sat & Sun, Nov 21 – Dec 20, plus Fri Nov 27, 10 am – 6 pm · Cow Palace, 2600 Geneva Ave, Daly City Four acres of exhibition halls become Victorian London, with costumed characters, music halls, pubs and handmade gifts. Tickets are online only, and parking is $20 per car.

12. Holidays at Filoli — Nov 14, 2026 – Jan 10, 2027 · Filoli Historic House & Garden, Woodside The historic Peninsula estate gets decked out for daytime visits. Holiday Tea runs Dec 1–18 and wreath-making parties Dec 8–18, so book those ahead.

13. Holidays in the Park at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom — Dec 4–20 · Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, Vallejo The theme park's seasonal lights, shows and rides, a good fit for families with older kids.

14. Sausalito Lighted Boat Parade & Fireworks — Sat Dec 12, parade 6 pm, fireworks about 7:15 pm · Gabrielson Park, Sausalito waterfront Decorated boats parade along the shoreline, followed by fireworks over the bay. It's free to watch, and the waterfront fills up by mid-afternoon. The Jingle Bell 5K runs the next morning.

Holiday shows and concerts

15. The Nutcracker, San Francisco Ballet — Dec 4–27 · War Memorial Opera House, SF The classic, with afternoon and evening performances all month. One listing shows slightly later dates, so confirm on the ballet's site.

16. The Velveteen Rabbit, ODC/Dance — Nov 28 – Dec 6 · Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, SF A contemporary-dance holiday tradition that's a gentle first show for young kids.

17. Dear San Francisco: Home for the Holidays — Nov 18 – Dec 30 · Club Fugazi, North Beach, SF The acrobatic love letter to the city gets a holiday edition.

18. The Golden Girls Live: The Christmas Episodes — Dec 4–20 · Curran Theater, SF A comedy send-up of the sitcom's holiday episodes, cheesecake included.

19. SF Symphony holiday film concerts — Grinch Dec 10–11, Elf Dec 18–20 · Davies Symphony Hall, SF The orchestra plays each score live while the film runs on a big screen.

20. Christmas with the Count Basie Orchestra — Dec 19–20 · SFJAZZ Center, Hayes Valley, SF Big-band swing versions of holiday standards, a strong date-night pick.

Planning tips

Book timed tickets early. Glowfari, Lightscape and the Dickens Fair use dated tickets, and weekend slots near Christmas sell out.
Stack downtown SF into one night. The Union Square rink, Macy's windows and Winter Walk sit within a block of each other, and Let's Glow SF is a short walk toward the Embarcadero.
Take transit when you can. Downtown garages fill on December weekends, and the Cow Palace charges $20 per car.
Dress in layers. Most light trails and the boat parade are outdoors, and Bay Area nights get cold and damp.
Double-check before you go. Dates here come from organizer and event listings as of early November 2026 and can change.