Looking for some fun activities to do post-turkey? Thanksgiving weekend in San Francisco brings plenty of events, activities, and fun spots to hit up from November 26-29, 2026.
Whether you’re running the Turkey Trot or looking for Black Friday sales, we’ve got a little of everything to make this your best Thanksgiving weekend yet. Scroll through for some essential events and activities to kick off the 2026 holiday season.
Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot
Need to get your blood pumping before eating your weight in stuffing? Consider registering for the San Francisco Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day. The 24th annual event has a 5-mile race, a 3-mile race, and a 100-meter kids’ race. Participants can run or walk through the course in Golden Gate Park and it’s not uncommon to arrive in costume.
🌐 Learn more: San Francisco Turkey Trot
Cooking a delicious Thanksgiving dinner is not for the faint of heart, but lucky for us, these San Francisco restaurants have got Thanksgiving dialed. These popular SF restaurants are open on Thanksgiving with dine-in, take-home, luxurious, and affordable options for this beloved holiday. Enjoy everything from traditional Turkey Day meals complete with a decadent roasted bird, mashed potatoes, gravy, and the works; as well as more creative takes if you want to try something new.
- International Smoke
- Park Chalet
- Palette Tea House
- Tommy’s Joynt
The highly popular Candlelight concert series is captivating audiences in San Francisco! Over Thanksgiving weekend, you can experience the music of Joe Hisaishi and Bad Bunny performed by a skilled string quartet in a cozy, candlelit setting surrounded by hundreds of glowing lights.
Alcatraz Thanksgiving Indigenous People’s Sunrise Gathering
The Indians of All Tribes organization occupied Alcatraz Island from 1969-1971, citing a treaty by which the government promised the return of abandoned federal land to the tribes from whom it was originally taken. The movement is commemorated each year with a sunrise gathering on Thanksgiving Day.
🌐 Learn more: Alcatraz City Cruises
Did you know that the San Francisco Botanical Garden offers free admission to everyone on Thanksgiving Day? Make sure to visit and look out for some fall foliage throughout the landscape, especially in the Moon Viewing Garden.
The garden is also bringing back its popular Lightscape winter light show this year, kicking off on November 20.
If you’re planning a holiday get-together this season, Bi-Rite Market has opened up preorders and catering across San Francisco and most of the Bay Area! The SF favorite covers everything from spreads to sides, so your holiday meals taste like home, without keeping you tied to the stove.
Thanksgiving (available November 23–26) and Christmas (December 22–24) menus are available for easy pickup or delivery, but you can also just let Bi-Rite Catering elevate your dining experience with party-ready bites. That way, you’re spending the holidays right where you should: making memories with the people you love.
Holiday spirit is already in the air and the crafters of San Francisco are working at full throttle to sell their wares! We’ve gone ahead and rounded up some of the best holiday markets, craft fairs, and more in the San Francisco Bay Area for November and December. Think Bay Area Christmas markets with homemade pastries, decorations, and innovative products. Or holiday craft fairs with all the handmade jewelry, pottery, and art you could wish for.
- Fairmont Holiday Rooftop Faire (Nov. 27-29, Dec. 18-20, 2026) – Fairmont Hotel
- Crystal Fair (Nov. 28-29, 2026) – SF County Fair Building
- Blackout Holiday Market (Nov. 27-28, 2026) – The Well Oakland
- Fellowship of Craft (Nov. 28-29, 2026) – Henry J Kaiser Center for the Arts, Oakland CA
- Christmas in the Park (Nov. 27, 2026 – Jan. 1, 2027) – Cesar Chavez Plaza, San Jose
- SJMADE Holiday Fair (Nov. 27-28, 2026) – Santa Clara Convention Center, Santa Clara
- Yuletide Menagerie Oddities Market (Nov. 28-Dec. 26, 2026) – Winchester Mystery House
AURA at Grace Cathedral presents a 45-minute immersive journey that blends music, dynamic projections, and the cathedral’s breathtaking architecture. This globally celebrated production transforms the historic landmark into a living artwork, illuminating its arches and intricate details through light and sound.
SF Black Friday deals
We’re well aware that Thanksgiving is synonymous with Black Friday for many local bargain hunters, and you can bet on some unbeatable deals all over the Bay Area on Nov. 27th. Here are a couple of roundups summarizing our favorite destinations for a shopping spree:
8 SF neighborhoods with independently-owned shops and boutiques
This list will take you through some essential shopping streets in SF lined with specialty shops and small businesses. Consider paying a visit to Divisadero Street in NoPa/Alamo Square and Hayes Street in Hayes Valley.
10 essential Bay Area shopping malls
If you’re seeking more mainstream retailers and big-box deals, skim our list of local shopping malls to help you plan your day. We’re partial to Stonestown Galleria down by Lake Merced, and Santana Row in San Jose.
Volunteering with GLIDE
GLIDE is a nationally recognized volunteer organization based in SF’s Tenderloin neighborhood, and they are a popular option for volunteering during the holidays. Check their website to sign up for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. You can sign up to help out with food distribution or donate toys as gifts for local children.
🌐 Website: GLIDE
It’s that time of year! Plenty of Bay Area ice rinks are open and already hosting fun events by Thanksgiving. Here are a few of our favorites:
- Union Square Ice Rink (San Francisco)
- Snoopy’s Home Ice (Santa Rosa)
- Merry Meritage (Napa)
- See the full list of Bay Area ice rinks here
In recent years, Friendsgiving has become a popular trend among the younger generations, but hosting a dinner party isn’t always the easiest. Here are a few staff picks for ways to celebrate Friendsgiving in SF — minus all the post-dinner dishes.
The Exploratorium’s visitor-favorite GLOW: Discover the Art of Light will return again in 2026 See brand new installations that play with light and darkness in innovative ways. The exhibition expands upon the Exploratorium’s typical exhibits and is a must during the holiday season in San Francisco.
See RM’s personal collection displayed alongside SFMOMA’s modern and contemporary works.
RM, leader of BTS, has partnered with the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) to present RM x SFMOMA, featuring works from his personal collection alongside modern and contemporary pieces from the museum. The exhibition runs October 3, 2026 through February 7, 2027.
San Francisco’s largest seasonal ice rink opens at Fisherman’s Wharf this November.
A new 6,300 sq ft outdoor ice rink will open at Fisherman’s Wharf on November 4 and run through January 18, 2027, making it the largest seasonal rink in San Francisco, set on the waterfront beside the SkyStar Ferris Wheel with daily skating, lighting, and music.
As if Grace Cathedral weren’t iconic enough, they are pulling out all the stops for the holiday season! During Thanksgiving weekend, they usually install the World Tree of Hope, which is the largest origami Christmas tree in the world. You can submit a message to be inscribed on a crane, or volunteer to help trim the tree and watch the installation process throughout November.
Holidays at Filoli is one of the Bay Area’s most beautiful and lesser-known light displays, taking place at Filoli Estate & Gardens in Woodside. Thousands of glittering lights will adorn the garden’s trees, plants, and hedges for a must-see experience. One of the centerpieces at Holidays at Filoli is a 210-foot-long light tunnel where you’ll find yourself surrounded by sparkling lights on all sides. They’ve also introduced Thistlewyck, a magical elven village in the redwoods with miniature trains and fairy houses.
The Great Dickens Christmas Fair and Victorian Holiday Party will soon return to Daly City’s Cow Palace. This beloved annual event drops you into Victorian London, brought to life by hundreds of costumed players and a plethora of shops, stages, pubs, parties, and memorable performances.
The Ruth Bancroft Garden rolls out its whimsical Garden of d’Lights holiday event again this year. They deck out the plants with multicolored lights, lasers, and more, transforming the already spectacular 3.5-acre space into an otherworldly outdoor adventure. Guests can stroll through the beautiful, glowing gardens for 1-1.5 hours to discover countless photo ops and exciting displays.
The Guardsmen Christmas Tree Lot will open its doors at the Festival Pavilion at San Francisco’s Fort Mason Center. You can stock up on holiday essentials including trees, garlands, wreaths, and ornaments. In addition to the tree lot itself, you don’t want to miss their lively family day, a crab and pasta dinner, and giant holiday party with live music.
See our full list of nearby Christmas tree lots for some more options.
Don’t miss the first major United States retrospective of Azzedine Alaïa.
The Legion of Honor presents the first major U.S. retrospective of Azzedine Alaïa, featuring 80 garments and selections from his haute couture collection on view from November 21, 2026 to April 11, 2027.
Every year, the Fairmont creates a real, massive gingerbread display. The 22-foot-tall structure has two levels and is totally decked out for the holiday season, covered in a rainbow of candy, including classic gumdrops, strands of Nerds Rope, and many more. The gingerbread takes the classic tradition and elevates it to new heights— and yes, the walls are actually gingerbread glued together with icing.
The Ferry Building really turns up the charm over the holidays with festive decor, fun seasonal products from local makers, and special activities. Details are still TBA for 2026
GobbleCon
GobbleCon is back all weekend long at the Burlingame Hyatt Regency. Enjoy an afternoon with family playing board games in a large open gaming area with the purchase of a two-night stay at the hotel.
🌐 Website: GobbleCon
Starting in November, you can take a scenic tour by candlelight through the historic Fort Point site. The tours only happen for a few months on weekends between November and February, and you can learn all about the unique history of the incredible site. Tickets are typically released two weeks before the tour.
We love San Francisco for its countless activities to enjoy everywhere you go. But anytime there’s a long weekend or a free day, we’re quite well-located to check out some neighboring California gems. Be sure to put these day trips on your to-do list for the next time you want to get out of the city and into nature.
SF museums open on Thanksgiving
Most San Francisco museums and gardens are closed on Thanksgiving Day, including SFMOMA, the Legion of Honor, the de Young, the Asian Art Museum, MoAD, and the Conservatory of Flowers.
However, you can still catch a few open attractions worth visiting. Some SF museums and gardens confirmed open on Thanksgiving include the California Academy of Sciences, the Aquarium of the Bay, the San Francisco Zoo, the Japanese Tea Garden, and the SF Botanical Garden.
Vintage train rides
Escape to another era on these gorgeous vintage locomotives, many of which are decked out for the holidays.
Napa Valley Wine Train
Take a trip through rolling vineyards in wine country while enjoying gourmet food and the best wines in California, all on a gorgeous vintage train with plush chairs, brass accents, glass etchings, and lux tableware.
Roaring Camp Steam Trains
Want to enjoy California’s beautiful redwood forests, without having to don hiking boots? This steam train from Roaring Camp is an absolute must! Hop on this authentic train from 1890 for an open-air trip through the redwoods. Roaring Camp also offers a train route to Santa Cruz, where you’ll ride alongside the shore for some beautiful ocean views.