Santa gets around the Bay. He lands by helicopter in San Carlos and pulls into South San Francisco on a fire engine. Elsewhere, Walnut Creek on Ice adds an ice slide for tubing, and Sausalito's lighted boat parade finishes with fireworks over the water.
Yerba Buena Gardens Holiday Tree Lighting
Yerba Buena Gardens kicks off the season with a community tree lighting, plus hot cocoa to warm up with. During the celebration, carousel rides and ice skating are free, and skate rentals are discounted. That's a lot of free for one tree lighting.
Sausalito Lighted Boat Parade & Fireworks (Sausalito)
Winterfest Sausalito sends a parade of brightly lit boats along the Sausalito waterfront, capped off with fireworks over the water. Watching from Gabrielson Park is free, and premium seating is optional. The park fills up early in the afternoon, so consider the Golden Gate Ferry and arrive early.
Holidays at the Mark: Festive Dining and Magical Tea
Top of the Mark at the InterContinental Mark Hopkins hosts a holiday tea with panoramic city views, cookie decorating, face painting, and a balloon artist. On most tea dates, the Lowell High School Choir performs and Santa poses for lobby photos. It's $135 per person, or $165 with Bubbles (21+). Book through OpenTable.
San Francisco SantaCon Bar Crawl 2026
San Francisco SantaCon is a 21+ bar crawl in Santa suits, elf outfits, and ugly Christmas sweaters. Check in at the Comet Club on Fillmore Street for a wristband and route map, then visit participating bars at your own pace for drink specials. Bring a photo ID; groups of four or more get a group rate.
Ice Skating at Embarcadero Center
Embarcadero Center sets up an outdoor ice rink with views of the Bay Bridge and the waterfront skyline. Skate rentals and hour-long sessions run through the season, and beginners can take lessons. Look for themed skates like Drag On Ice and the Polar Bear Skate.
California Academy of Sciences Holiday
The California Academy of Sciences adds holiday programs and extended evening hours, with cookie decorating, winter animal crafts, live magic shows, face painting, and visiting reindeer. The aquarium, planetarium, and natural history exhibits are open too, and a Holiday Bazaar sells handmade goods from local artisans.
Glow: The Art of Light
Glow: The Art of Light is the Exploratorium's winter exhibition of artist-created light sculptures on Pier 15, mixing new installations with seasonal favorites. Listen to the sounds of color, relax under giant mechanical bubbles, and wander a city of shadows. Some installations respond to sound and movement.
Santa Arrives by Helicopter! (San Carlos)
At the Hiller Aviation Museum in San Carlos, Santa skips the sleigh and lands in his personal helicopter while the West Bay Community Band plays Christmas carols. Afterward he stays to hear children's wishes. Santa's arrival is free, and it happens rain or shine.
Walnut Creek on Ice (Walnut Creek)
Walnut Creek on Ice puts an open-air rink in Civic Park, ringed with twinkling lights and holiday music, plus Frosty's Summit Ice Slide for tubing. Skating and the slide are $20 each for a 90-minute session. Reserve a rinkside fire pit for cocoa, and leave the cash at home; it's cashless.
San Mateo On Ice (San Mateo)
San Mateo On Ice sets up 11,000 square feet of real ice in Central Park, for skating in the sunshine or under the stars. Skate rentals come with admission, and public sessions start at $24.61 for ages 4 and up. Wobbly? Rent a Skate Buddy, a plastic walker that glides along with you.
Holiday Heroes presented by Zenni
Holiday Heroes is a Wender Weis Foundation for Children fundraiser inside Oracle Park, with cookie decorating, snowglobe making, bear stuffing, trucker hats, and photo trading cards. Team mascots and 49ers players Nick Bosa and Ricky Pearsall are scheduled to appear. Festive holiday attire is requested.
Winter on Solano Avenue (Albany and Berkeley)
Winter on Solano Avenue stretches a mile across Albany and Berkeley, with the Albany Jazz Big Band and Berkeley Community Chamber Singers at Peralta Park, Santa on Solano, and a Kids Fun Zone with free face-painting, the Solcar Choo Choo Train, and The Big Bubble People. It's free, rain or shine.
Children's Fairyland Fairy Winterland (Oakland)
Children's Fairyland, a 10-acre park on the shores of Lake Merritt in Oakland, decks its storybook sets with festive decorations and twinkling lights for Fairy Winterland. Little ones get gentle rides, animal residents, and plenty of imaginative play. Book tickets online ahead, or buy at the gate.
Santa Skivvies Run
The Santa Skivvies Run is a one-mile holiday fun run or walk through the Castro in festive underwear, raising money for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. It's body-positive, with a drag show and awards ceremony afterward. Dress code: skivvies, festive ones.
New Year's Eve San Francisco NYE Bar Crawl - Party Pass 10+ Venues
On New Year's Eve, this Party Pass gets you an all-access wristband for 10+ North Beach bars, lounges, and nightlife venues, plus drink specials and welcome-shot tickets at select spots. Start at the pre-party meet-and-greet, then follow the digital crawl map. It's 21+, so bring ID.
Holiday Crafting Like Never Before 2026 (Berkeley)
Fourth Street in Berkeley sets up outdoor crafting at Delaware: natural wreaths with Paraiso Plant Studio, glass ornaments with Stained Glass Garden, and glitter pine cones and snowflakes with Castle in the Air. Meet the Grinch, pose with Santa and Elf in a giant red sleigh, and catch live music. It's free.
Kristi Yamaguchi Holiday Ice Rink (San Ramon)
The Kristi Yamaguchi Holiday Ice Rink is an outdoor seasonal rink at City Center Bishop Ranch in San Ramon. The opening ceremony brings skating performances, carolers, and Kristi Yamaguchi herself cutting the ribbon. Valet parking is available, and Santa visits the Square on select weekends.
It's a Wonderful Life in Lafayette Holiday Celebration (Lafayette)
The Lafayette Chamber of Commerce fills Lafayette Plaza with a free visit with Santa, free rides on the Lafayette Express train, and the official holiday tree lighting. Look for live music, holiday crafts, treats, and photo ops. Arrive early to catch Santa's arrival, then stay downtown for dinner.
Santa Comes to Town (South San Francisco)
Santa rolls up to South San Francisco City Hall aboard a city fire engine, then poses for photos with families. Join the line on Grand Avenue; it's one photo per group. It's free, outdoors, and happens rain or shine, so dress for the weather.
Holiday Parade of Lights & Tree Lighting (Walnut Creek)
Broadway Plaza in Walnut Creek fills with music and entertainment for an evening built around a parade of lights through the shopping center. Santa Claus leads the Tree Lighting Ceremony, so stay for that part, and the shops are right there.
Dublin Annual Holiday Tree Lighting (Dublin)
Local school choirs and bands perform at the Dublin Civic Center, building up to the lighting of a 30-foot tree. Kids get the Clover Express, arts and crafts, and Letters to Santa, and a cozy booth serves hot chocolate and cookies. Include a home address so Santa can write back.
Hanukkah Community Celebration (Martinez)
Congregation B'nai Shalom and Downtown Martinez & Co. light the menorah in the traditional way at the Main Street Plaza in Martinez, every evening at dusk during the celebration. One gathering adds music and family fun. Come for the menorah, stay for the sufganiyah.
Winter at Wonderland - Tree Lighting Celebration (Vallejo)
The Greater Vallejo Recreation District lights the holiday tree at Children's Wonderland Park, with live music, warm hot cocoa, and photos with Santa. It's free and a good fit for families with young children, so bring the whole crew.
Santa Claus at Shadelands Ranch (Walnut Creek)
Meet Mr. and Mrs. Claus at the Shadelands Ranch Gazebo in Walnut Creek, an outdoor meet and greet from the Walnut Creek Historical Society. Bring your own camera; you take the photos. It's $5 per person, infants 12 months and younger are free, and pets stay home.
City of Concord's Annual Tree Lighting & Mayor's Sing-Along (Concord)
The City of Concord gathers at Todos Santos Plaza for its annual tree lighting ceremony, plus the Mayor's Sing-Along. It's a simple, neighborly holiday gathering, so warm up your voice and bring the family.
Breakfast with Santa (Sausalito)
Sausalito Parks and Recreation hosts Breakfast with Santa at the Sausalito Yacht Club: pancakes, sausage, milk, and juice, a visit from Santa at your table, and a photo with him by the tree. Kids also get a seasonal craft and live piano music. Register online and pick one of the two seatings.
Holiday Tree Lighting at Lytton Plaza (Palo Alto)
The City of Palo Alto lights the holiday tree at Lytton Plaza on University Avenue, with live music from School of Rock, the Boost Class Merry Holiday Dancers, and the Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra. Winter treats and hot cocoa are for sale, and the event itself is free.
Hillsdale Shopping Center Tree Lighting (San Mateo)
Hillsdale Shopping Center in San Mateo kicks off the season with its Rockin' Holiday Show and Tree Lighting, pairing a holiday show of live music and entertainment with the lighting of the tree. Look for festive decorations around the center. It's free.
Annual Reindeer Run-Walk 5k/10k (American Canyon)
The Reindeer Run-Walk in American Canyon offers a 5K or a 10K for all ages and fitness levels, with pre-race festivities and plenty of runners in reindeer and Santa costumes. Kids 12 and under get special pricing, a finisher's medal, and souvenir antlers. Sign up early for the early bird rate.