Holiday Activities List

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Holidays are on the horizon and the year is quickly coming to a close. The air is filled with the sights, sounds, and cheer of Hanukkah and Christmas and Kwanza! Don't miss your chance to enjoy all of the holiday fun the Bay Area has to offer. 

Featured
Corte Madera Letters to Santa
Nov 7
Corte Madera Community Center
Corte Madera Letters to Santa
Corte Madera Community Center

Letters may be mailed/dropped off November 7-December 12 Corte Madera Parks and Rec has made special arrangements with Santa to accept mail for delivery to the North Pole.

Corte Madera Community Center
San Jose Holiday Lights
Nov 21
Discovery Meadow
San Jose Holiday Lights
Discovery Meadow

Magical moments. Sparkling memories.

Discovery Meadow
Half Moon Bay: Nights of Lights
Nov 28
Mac Dutra Plaza
Half Moon Bay: Nights of Lights
Mac Dutra Plaza

This year, shopping small is the best thing you can do for your community!  Main Street shops will be open late and there will be beautiful lights adorning the trees and shop windows to light your way to a happy holiday!

Mac Dutra Plaza
San Francisco: Winter Wonderland Celebration
Nov 29
Children's Creativity Museum
San Francisco: Winter Wonderland Celebration
Children's Creativity Museum

Stars, snowflakes, and holiday lights join winter-themed activities throughout our Creativity Museum during our annual Winter Wonderland celebration! 

Children's Creativity Museum
San Rafael ELF HUNT
Nov 29
Downtown San Rafael
San Rafael ELF HUNT
Downtown San Rafael

The Downtown San Rafael Business Improvement invites you to participate in the 4th Annual Downtown San Rafael Elf Hunt!

Downtown San Rafael
San Rafael: Letters to Santa
Dec 2
Marinwood Community Center front patio
San Rafael: Letters to Santa
Marinwood Community Center front patio

Kids of all ages are invited to drop off letters to Santa at Marinwood's North Pole Mailbox located on the front patio of the Community Center. Don't forget to include your return address for Santa to respond. 

Marinwood Community Center front patio
San Francisco: Pier for the Holidays
Dec 5
Pier 39
San Francisco: Pier for the Holidays
Pier 39

The Holiday season comes alive at PIER 39 beginning mid-November with twinkling lights, decorations throughout The PIER, holiday photo opportunities and a majestic 60’ Live Christmas Tree in Entrance Plaza.  

Pier 39
San Jose: Laser Holiday Magic
Dec 6
The Tech Interactive
San Jose: Laser Holiday Magic
The Tech Interactive

Celebrate the season with Laser Holiday Magic. We've gathered a selection of our favorite holiday tunes and brought them to life with gorgeous laser choreography.

The Tech Interactive
Sebastopol: Free Family Matinees: The Muppet Christmas Carol
Dec 7
Rialto Cinemas Sebastopol
Sebastopol: Free Family Matinees: The Muppet Christmas Carol
Rialto Cinemas Sebastopol

oin Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and all the hilarious Muppets in this merry, magical version of Charles Dickens’ classic tale.

Rialto Cinemas Sebastopol
Pleasant Hill WinterFest
Dec 10
Pleasant Hill Community Center
Pleasant Hill WinterFest
Pleasant Hill Community Center

Step into a world of winter wonder at WinterFest!

Pleasant Hill Community Center
Oakland: Montclair Village Holiday Stroll
Dec 11
Montclair Village
Oakland: Montclair Village Holiday Stroll
Montclair Village

Photos with Santa, live music and caroling, craft beverages, family zone, holiday shopping, artisan vendors, and more!

Montclair Village
Mill Valley Lumber Yard Holiday Faire
Dec 11
Mill Valley Lumber Yard
Mill Valley Lumber Yard Holiday Faire
Mill Valley Lumber Yard

The Mill Valley Lumber Yard Holiday Faire is back! Join us December 11–14 for a festive weekend filled with live music, unique holiday shopping, photos with Santa, a dog parade, crafts, delicious food, warm drinks, and cozy moments by the fire pit.

Mill Valley Lumber Yard
Ross: Decorate Holiday Village Houses
Dec 13
Marin Art and Garden Center
Ross: Decorate Holiday Village Houses
Marin Art and Garden Center

A magical holiday workshop where kids build their own adorable house and decorate it with paint, glitter and special festive embellishments.

Marin Art and Garden Center
South San Francisco: Wreath Making Workshop
Dec 13
Joseph A. Fernekes Recreation Building
South San Francisco: Wreath Making Workshop
Joseph A. Fernekes Recreation Building

You're invited to join our annual Holiday Wreath Workshop and create a beautiful, fresh wreath to celebrate the season!

Joseph A. Fernekes Recreation Building
Sebastopol: Free Family Matinees: Elf
Dec 13
Rialto Cinemas Sebastopol
Sebastopol: Free Family Matinees: Elf
Rialto Cinemas Sebastopol

Raised as an oversized elf, Buddy travels from the North Pole to New York City to meet his biological father, Walter Hobbs, who doesn’t know he exists and is in desperate need of some Christmas spirit. Starring Will Ferrel and Zooey Deschanel.

Rialto Cinemas Sebastopol
Jingle on The Way
Dec 13
Ocean Beach
Jingle on The Way
Ocean Beach

Pictures with Cargo Bike Santa & Holiday Karaoke + Sing-Along at Judah & Great Highway Park.

Ocean Beach
San Jose: Children's Heritage Holiday
Dec 13
History Park
San Jose: Children's Heritage Holiday
History Park

History Park will transform into a winter wonderland! Immerse yourself in the holiday spirit at Children's Heritage Holiday at History Park!

History Park
Winter Walk
Dec 13
Union Square
Winter Walk
Union Square

Annual event will once again feature a holiday marketplace, food trucks, family-friendly stage programming, holiday decor, and seasonal drinks.  

Union Square
Magical Holiday at Morgan Hill
Dec 13
Morgan Hill
Magical Holiday at Morgan Hill
Morgan Hill

Join us on the playground in Morgan Hill for a magical holiday celebration! All ages and abilities are welcome!

Morgan Hill
Holiday on the Northern Frontier
Dec 13
Sonoma State Historic Park
Holiday on the Northern Frontier
Sonoma State Historic Park

Join us for an evening of holiday fun!

Sonoma State Historic Park
Sausalito Lighted Boat Parade & Fireworks
Dec 13
Gabrielson Park
Sausalito Lighted Boat Parade & Fireworks
Gabrielson Park

Free Event for all ages. Take in the boat parade and fireworks from the waters edge.

Gabrielson Park
Santa Rosa: Merry and Bright on Ice
Dec 13
Snoopy's Home on Ice
Santa Rosa: Merry and Bright on Ice
Snoopy's Home on Ice

The featured skaters of Redwood Ice Theatre Company (RITC) are a talented group of professional figure skaters, world competitors, and Olympic-level athletes who have graciously joined us for various productions over the years.

Snoopy's Home on Ice
Disney’s Frozen in Concert
Dec 13
Davies Symphony Hall
Disney’s Frozen in Concert
Davies Symphony Hall

When her kingdom becomes trapped in perpetual winter, the fearless princess Anna sets out with an unlikely band of friends to find her sister, Queen Elsa, and break her icy spell.

Davies Symphony Hall
Oakland: Fairy Winterland: It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Fairyland!
Dec 13
Children's Fairyland
Oakland: Fairy Winterland: It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Fairyland!
Children's Fairyland

Fairy Winterland family play days and an adults-only musical night market make Fairyland your winter destination for a season full of magic!

Children's Fairyland
Sausalito Jingle Bell 5K
Dec 14
Gabrielson Park
Sausalito Jingle Bell 5K
Gabrielson Park

A scenic run along the Sausalito Waterfront! Join the Dipsea Kids in this annual event! Pre-Registration is suggested.

Gabrielson Park
Oakland: Cruise on the Potomac with a Special North Pole Visitor!
Dec 14
USS Potomac
Oakland: Cruise on the Potomac with a Special North Pole Visitor!
USS Potomac

A special visitor from the North Pole will be aboard to welcome the kids! The ship is fully decorated in her holiday finery and Santa will have a special gift for the kids.

USS Potomac
Petaluma Holiday Lighted Bike Ride
Dec 19
McNear Park
Petaluma Holiday Lighted Bike Ride
McNear Park

The Holiday Lighted Bike Ride is a fun, festive, family-friendly bike ride on quiet neighborhood streets on the west side of Petaluma. The 5.4 mile loop ride starts and finishes at McNear Park (11th and F Streets) — and it’s FREE!

McNear Park
San Francisco: Film with Live Orchestra: Home Alone
Dec 19
Davies Symphony Hall
San Francisco: Film with Live Orchestra: Home Alone
Davies Symphony Hall

Experience the beloved holiday hit Home Alone on the big screen like never before, with John Williams’s exuberant score performed live by the San Francisco Symphony. 

Davies Symphony Hall
Larkspur: Santa Sing-A-Long & Movie Double Feature
Dec 20
Marin Country Mart
Larkspur: Santa Sing-A-Long & Movie Double Feature
Marin Country Mart

We invite you to join us for the most charming tradition of the season: a Santa Sing-A-Long at the Farmers Market in the morning and Double Feature at night.

Marin Country Mart
Sebastopol: Free Family Matinees: How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Dec 20
Rialto Cinemas Sebastopol
Sebastopol: Free Family Matinees: How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Rialto Cinemas Sebastopol

In this live-action adaptation of the beloved children’s tale by Dr. Seuss, the reclusive green Grinch (Jim Carrey) decides to ruin Christmas for the cheery citizens of Whoville.

Rialto Cinemas Sebastopol
Full List

New Holiday Activities are added daily — check back often for the latest updates!

Event listings are confirmed at the time of posting but schedules may change without notice. Links are available below to all venues for your convenience. Please check information with the website.