Have fun with your family at these November events taking place around the Bay Area. For even more items, visit our online calendar.
Nov. 1
Día de los Muertos
Honoring departed ancestors and loved ones through “Day of the Dead” traditions, featuring sugar skulls, sand painting with stencils, cultural storytelling, giant skeleton puppets and a lively Calaveras procession. You can also check out the new “TapeScape” exhibit and return on Nov. 7 to celebrate Diwali: Festival of Lights. 10am-2pm. Included with admission of $22, infants FREE.
Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose, 180 Woz Way, San Jose
cdm.org/event/dia-de-los-muertos
Oakland Día de los Muertos Festival
This free, outdoor festival that brings over 100,000 people to the Fruitvale neighborhood to enjoy world-class live music, family-friendly games, rides and activities, traditional Latin American artisans and the stunning altar installations. This year, see the 34-foot-tall La Catrina, handcrafted in Mexico City. 10am-5pm. FREE.
Fruitvale Village, Oakland
unitycouncil.org/program/diaoakland
4
Safeway Holiday Ice Rink
THROUGH JAN. 18. This festive seasonal rink opens today with on-ice performances and free skating for the first 100 guests (register on arrival). The grand opening is scheduled at 5pm. Throughout the season, 60-minute sessions start every 1.5 hours. See website for more special events. 10am-10pm daily. $22, $17 ages 8 and under (includes skate rental).
Union Square, 333 Post St., San Francisco
6
Kristy Yamaguchi Holiday Ice
THROUGH JAN. 3. This seasonal rink opens today with skating performances, festive carolers and the former Olympian cutting the ribbon. See website for skating details. 6pm. FREE.
City Center Bishop Ranch, 6000 Bollinger Canyon Road, San Ramon
https://citycenterbishopranch.com/events/kristi-yamaguchi-holiday-ice-rink-grand-opening
Oakland Zoo Glowfari
THROUGH JAN. 31. This popular, family-friendly experience is returning for its seventh year, showcasing hundreds of new animal lanterns throughout the zoo. See website for pricing and details, including a new VIP experience.
Oakland Zoo, 9777 Golf Links Road, Oakland
oaklandzoo.org/programs-and-events/glowfari-2026-27
ZooLights
THROUGH JAN. 3. For the first time since 2018, the San Francisco Zoo is bringing back this holiday event with 14 dazzling zones of winter, botanical or animal-themed components, lighted tunnels, giant candy canes and more. Themed events will take place most Fri. and Sat. 5:30-9pm. Admission (separate from zoo admission) is $30 ages 12 and over, $21 ages 2-11.
San Francisco Zoo, Sloat Boulevard at the Great Highway, San Francisco
Zoppé Italian Family Circus
THROUGH NOV. 29. Experience daring acrobatics, galloping horses, playful dogs and Nino the Clown in a one-ring circus show honoring Old-World Italian tradition, with every seat within 20 feet of the ring. $20 ages 13 and up, $15 ages 2-12, $27 front row (all ages).
Main Library Parking Lot, 1044 Middlefield Road, Redwood City
7
Berkeley Symphony Family Concert
Designed as a welcoming, low-barrier introduction to classical music, the orchestra presents a free family concert led by Berkeley Symphony’s education director Ming Luke. Bring a percussion instrument or noisemaker to play along. 10 and 11:30am. FREE.
Oxford Elementary, 1222 University Ave., Berkeley
“Ocean in Motion/La Danza del Mar”
The Monterey Bay Aquarium unveils a new bilingual exhibition created for children ages 2 to 6 that aims to build empathy for ocean animals through movement and play. It features a vibrant coral reef with a custom-built wave machine, an expanded African penguin habitat and multiple play areas that encourage children to connect with the ocean and its animals. $65 adults, $50 ages 5-17, 4 and under FREE.
Monterey Bay Aquarium, 886 Cannery Row, Monterey
“Tiny Dances: Swan Lake”
ALSO NOV. 8. San Francisco Ballet kicks off its new family programming series designed to introduce young children ages 2-8 to the magic of live ballet in a relaxed setting through performances by the San Francisco Ballet School. “Swan Lake” reimagines the beloved classic for young audiences, with an abbreviated runtime, family-friendly storytelling and an on-stage narrator. A sensory-friendly production is scheduled for today at 3pm. Also at 11am. $29-125.
Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, 3301 Lyon St., San Francisco
sfballet.org/productions/tiny-dances
13
“The Banksy Art Exhibit”
THROUGH JAN. 3. See more than 60 original art pieces by the secretive, pseudonymous English street artist in a never-before-used basement space. From $26.99 adults, $17.99 ages 5-17.
The Henry J. Underground, 10 10th St., Oakland
San Mateo on Ice
THROUGH JAN. 10. Skate outdoors day or night on 11,000 square feet of real ice.
Free community skate days are scheduled for Nov. 16 and Dec. 1, 8 and 10. $24.61 and up, including skates; skate buddied additional.
Central Park, 50 E. Fifth Ave., San Mateo
14
Holidays at Filoli
THROUGH JAN. 10. Experience the historic mansion decorated for the season and Thistlewyck Village returning to the Redwoods, plus evenings transformed by 300,000 twinkling lights and glowing garden pathways. Thistlewyck, a daytime experience through Jan. 3, expands this year with more family activities and holiday surprises. Daytime: $49 adults, $44 ages 15-17, $35 ages 4-14, 3 and under FREE. Holiday Lights: $55 adults, $50 ages 15-17, $45 ages 4-14, 3 and under FREE.
Filoli, 86 Cañada Road, Woodside
18
Pequeños en Movimiento
The nonprofit JMM Dance Co. presents a free “Little Movers” workshop for families and all ages and abilities as part of a 20-workshop series that runs through May. See website for additional dates. 2-3pm. FREE.
Shared Arts Center, 99 Notre Dame Ave., San Jose
19
Exploratorium’s “Glow”
THROUGH JAN. 24. Artists illuminate Pier 15 with stunning light sculptures and luminous artworks that dazzle and surprise in this annual exhibit. FREE with museum admission of $39.95 adults, $29.95 ages 4-17, 3 and under FREE.
Exploratorium, Pier 15, Embarcadero at Green Street, San Francisco
exploratorium.edu/visit/calendar/glow
20
SF SPCA Holiday Windows
THROUGH DEC. 31. The San Francisco SPCA is celebrating 40 years of bringing adorable, adoptable kittens to the windows of Macy’s Union Square. Throughout the holiday season, the SPCA offers name-your-price adoptions for all animals over 5 months old. 12-5pm Wed.-Sun. FREE.
Macy’s Union Square, 170 O’Farrell St., San Francisco
Walnut Creek on Ice
THROUGH JAN. 18. Cozy up by the firepits, take a thrilling ride down Frosty’s Summit Ice Slide or enjoy a spin around the rink surrounded by festive music and cheerful holiday spirit. $20 skating (90-minutes) or slide, $30 combo ($20 on weekday non-holiday dates).
Civic Park, 1365 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek
“Wowsabout”
This new hands-on exhibit invites explorers of all ages into a world of curiosity, friendship and wonder inspired by characters Roxy and Ronald’s adventures in nature on the PBS Kids show. Step into Roxy’s camper van, pilot Ronald’s spaceship across a panoramic projection of the universe, create fiber art and custom music inspired by nature, and more. Included with admission of $49 and up adults, $39 and up youth.
California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Dr, San Francisco
21
“Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock Live”
This family-friendly stage adventure is the first-ever live touring show based on The Jim Henson Company’s beloved franchise, featuring familiar characters on an exhilarating, adventurous journey. 3pm. $39.04 and up.
Golden Gate Theatre, 1 Taylor St., San Francisco
The Great Dickens Christmas Fair
THROUGH DEC. 20. See more than 140,000 square feet of the Cow Palace transformed into a fully immersive Victorian London, where hundreds of actors, musicians, dancers, artisans and literary characters bring the world of Charles Dickens to life. Children can meet Father Christmas, encounter characters from classic stories such as “Alice in Wonderland,” enjoy interactive entertainment and explore games and activities. 10am-6pm Sat. and Sun, plus Nov. 27. General admission: $50 ages 13 and up, $30 ages 5-12, under 5 FREE.
Cow Palace Exhibition Halls, 2600 Geneva Ave., Daly City
27
Christmas in the Park
THROUGH JAN. 1. A San Jose tradition since 1980, this free event includes trees decorated by community groups, animated displays, visits with Santa, live entertainment, food and more. 12-10pm. FREE.
The Plaza, Market Street, San Jose
28
“The Velveteen Rabbit”
THROUGH DEC. 6. Celebrating the 40th anniversary of this ballet based on the classic children’s tale of a stuffed bunny come to life, ODC/Dance returns with festive costumes and larger-than-life storybook characters. Lobby displays will commemorate the show’s history and free pre-show talks are scheduled on Nov. 29 and Dec. 6. $30-125.
For a chance to win four tickets, visit https://www.bayareaparent.com/enter-to-win-the-velveteen-rabbit/#// and enter by Nov. 8.
Blue Shield of California Theater at YBCA, 700 Howard St., San Francisco
