From viewing twinkling lights and festively decorated trees to gliding on the ice or watching snowflakes dance, the Bay Area is a fantastic place to be for the holidays. Check out these great annual events to help your family get into the spirit of the season.
Christmas in the Park and Blinky’s Drive-Thru
NOV. 28-JAN. 1. Downtown San Jose turns into a winter wonderland each year at the free Christmas in the Park, a 2-acre walk-through holiday event with over 40 musical and animated exhibits, glittering lights, trees decorated by the community, festive entertainment, and food and drink available for purchase. The affiliated Blinky’s Drive-Thru light show, with more than a mile of holiday displays and more than 200,000 lights synced to holiday tunes, has moved this year to the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds (344 Tully Road) and added a holiday festival with rides and food. It will take place Nov. 21-23 and Nov. 28-Dec. 31 and is $40 per car. Buy timed tickets online. Also new this year is a free (with registration) Walk n Stroll event on Nov. 24-26 from 3:30-5:30pm.
Plaza de Cesar Chavez, Market Street, San Jose
Downtown San Francisco Events
The city positively glows for the holidays with a host of celebratory events. Union Square is at the center of the festivities, with skating through Jan. 19 at the annual Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in the shadow of a massive Christmas tree.
Nearby, see adorable adoptable puppies and kittens in Macy’s decorated windows through SF SPCA’s Holiday Windows from Nov. 21-Dec. 31. Then peek into the lobby of the Westin St. Francisco to see its spectacular Sugar Castle, an annual tradition.
Up the hill, you can walk through the Fairmont’s life-size Gingerbread House starting Nov. 22 and even dine inside, or book a holiday tea or one with Santa himself.
New this year is a Holiday Rooftop Faire from Nov. 28-30 and Dec. 19-21 with local artisans, lights, music and panoramic city views. From Dec. 5-14, finish up the day by strolling around downtown to see six iconic buildings lit up with projections from 5-10pm during the fifth annual Let’s Glow SF, the country’s largest holiday projection arts festival.
downtownsf.org/lets-glow-sf-2025-call-for-artists
Fairy Winterland
DEC. 13-14, 20-21 and 27-28. A tradition for 20 years, this multicultural holiday celebration brings families together under the theme “United by Light.” Activities include educational holiday displays, a scavenger hunt, winter tales from around the world, holiday themed arts and crafts, Santa Lucia candle crown making, daily puppet shows and nightly performances, dreidel games, a Sadeh communal “bonfire,” Black Santa, free hot cocoa and cider, and much more. $22 adults, $11 children.
Children’s Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Ave., Oakland
“Glow” at the Exploratorium
NOV. 20-JAN. 25. Pier 15 turns into a luminous playground of light, art and science with the Exploratorium’s annual winter exhibit, “Glow.” The exhibit showcases both captivating new works and returning favorites, including larger-than-life installations, immersive environments, hands-on exploration and more. Visitors can listen to the sounds of color, wander a city of shadows, bask in the shimmer of an artificial sun and explore many more radiant encounters. Included with museum admission of $39.95 adults, $29.95 ages 4-17, under 3 FREE.
Exploratorium, Pier 15, Embarcadero at Green Street, San Francisco
exploratorium.edu/visit/calendar/glow
Glowfari
NOV. 7-JAN. 25. The Oakland Zoo’s popular wintertime light display is back with hundreds of new, larger-than-life animal lanterns that tell the story of wildlife, the importance of every species and the zoo’s commitment to conservation. This year’s experience includes new themes – explore the future of Oakland, learn about coexisting with wildlife, swim through the reef to see colorful underwater creatures, go on a safari through the savanna to spot iconic African animals, meet some interesting bugs that are all around us and end the night by taking the train through the reptile world. 4:30-9pm. Advanced tickets required; see website for dynamic pricing options.
Oakland Zoo, 9777 Golf Links Road, Oakland
oaklandzoo.org/programs-and-events/glowfari
The Great Dickens Christmas Fair & Victorian Holiday Party
NOV. 22-DEC. 21. This popular holiday tradition is now in its 41st year, transforming the Cow Palace into a sprawling recreation of Charles Dickens’ 19th century London full of costumed characters, entertainment, shops, eateries and more. This year, the fair pays tribute to Lewis Carroll with an all-new classic English pantomime, “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” as well as a “Tea Time with Alice and Friends” mural in the children’s area and more.
Especially for kids, there’s a Children’s Tour of London, a self-guided adventure that ends with meeting Father Christmas at 1 and 4pm daily. Children’s entertainment includes parades, stage and puppet shows, sing-alongs, games, a carousel, fairy house making and ornament decorating, and a miniature live steam train, new this year. Saturdays and Sundays, plus Fri., Nov. 28. $45 adult, $25 youth.
The Cow Palace, 2600 Geneva Ave., Daly City
Holidays at Filoli
NOV. 22-JAN. 11. Filoli, the historic house and gardens in Woodside, adds to its holiday magic this year with three different experiences. “Gilded” is a daytime journey through the house and gardens, adorned with 130 wreaths, 108 Christmas trees and over 7,000 ornaments. “Thistlewyck” is a whimsical village in the redwoods made specifically for families, with miniature trains, fairy houses, an Elf Emporium, post office and Train Depot Toy Shop. Holiday chalets offering food and drinks will complete the village, along with a scavenger hunt activity for kids, which includes free hot cocoa and a special gift from the toy shop.
In the evening, there’s the popular “Holiday Lights” when the 16-acre formal garden comes alive with over 6,000 strands of lights stretching more than 28 miles. There’s also a 210-foot-long tunnel of light, fire pits, seasonal food and drink, and holiday music. For an added fee, there are also private fire pits, holidays teas, wreath-making parties and more.
Ticket prices vary by offering. $39-49 adult, $29-39 ages 5-17, under 5 FREE. The season kicks off with the Merry and Bright Preview Night on Nov. 21 ($125).
Filoli, 86 Cañada Road, Woodside
San Francisco Ballet “Nutcracker”
DEC. 5-28. Nearly 80 years after San Francisco Ballet presented America with its first-ever “Nutcracker” in 1944, it remains a favorite holiday tradition for families and dance-lovers. Choreographed by Helgi Tomasson to Tchaikovsky’s iconic score, the story follows Clara’s magical journey from her Victorian-era San Francisco home, through a dazzling onstage blizzard and onto the stunning Crystal Palace where she meets the Sugarplum Fairy and an international cast of characters. A “Land of Dreams” luncheon with characters precedes a special matinee on Dec. 13, and a special sensory-friendly performance is scheduled for Dec. 28 at 11am. No children under age 3, including babies, admitted. $48 and up.
War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco
sfballet.org/productions/nutcracker
WinterFest
NOV. 28-JAN. 4. Since Great America is not holding its annual holiday event this year, families may opt to travel to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo for displays of shimmering lights, family activities, live entertainment, holiday-inspired comfort food and beverages, and more, plus the park’s signature rides and animal experiences. 2-9pm. Included with admission of $39 and up.
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, 1001 Fairgrounds Drive, Vallejo
sixflags.com/discoverykingdom/events
Janine DeFao is an associate editor at Bay Area Parent and editor of Holiday Guide.
