There are so many holiday activities happening in and around San Francisco, that it can be hard to know where to start. While adults might get their fill of Christmas spirit at seasonal pop-up bars, holiday markets, or the Guardsmen’s annual crab dinner, we can’t forget about the joy this time of year brings to the under-18 crowd. Read on for a full breakdown of our favorite Christmas events for kids in the San Francisco Bay Area.
1. Let’s Glow SF holiday light projections in Downtown SF
Dec. 1-10, 2023
Downtown SF is once again pulling out all the stops with Let’s Glow SF, their popular holiday light display that uses projection mapping on buildings around the Financial District. Each building’s façade will be brilliantly illuminated with a dynamic light show designed specifically for that location, created with eleven 4K 32,000-lumen projectors and two 4K 22,000-lumen laser projectors.
2. Holiday voyages aboard Roaring Camp’s vintage train
Dec. 2-3, 9-10, 16-23, 2023
Roaring Camp’s Santa Cruz train route always has fun seasonal events throughout the year, and the holiday voyages are always a big hit. See the gorgeous vintage train decked out with sparkling holiday lights and decorations and continue the fun at the Boardwalk. This year you can also board a new Chanukah-themed train on Dec. 7 with Chanukah stories, dreidel games, and kosher treats.
3. Dancing around SF with the Tree Twins
Dec. 1-24, 2023
This pair of anonymous well-wishers makes the rounds in SF dressed as luminous Christmas trees, spreading holiday cheer to all who are lucky enough to encounter them. Although the Twins haven’t revealed specific times and locations for their SF appearances (this type merriment is more effective when spontaneous), you can follow @treetwins on Instagram for clues.
4. Holiday Craft Making at the Ferry Building
Dec. 3, 10, 17, 2023
This series of kid-friendly crafting workshops is completely free! Sprinkle some fun and creativity into your gift-shopping errands at the Ferry Building. Families can create homemade ornaments, art, terrariums, gift tags, and more. Kids can also write a Christmas wish list and hand it to Santa in person on Dec. 3.
5. Welcome Winter Night at the Academy of Sciences
Dec. 5, 2023
Two live reindeer named Holly and Noel will visit the California Academy of Sciences. Kids can enjoy music and magic shows, hear exciting stories from an Academy penguin biologist, decorate cookies, get their face painted, stargaze at the Planetarium, and more.
6. Civic Center Tree Lighting
Dec. 6, 2023
Don’t miss a free, festive afternoon in the city to kick off the holidays! Civic Center Plaza will be taken over by food tents, DIY activities, entertainment and more. Enjoy “snow” flurries and interact with special guests including Christmas elves, Santa, and the Grinch. Don’t forget a massive toy giveaway from 4-5pm for the first 400+ children under 12.
7. Sing you a Merry Christmas at Grace Cathedral
Dec. 16, 21, 22, 2023
Grace Cathedral is putting on countless Christmas concerts and events throughout the season, but the most kid-friendly one is Sing You A Merry Christmas, a family-friendly sing-along event led by toys brought to life from St. Nicholas’s workshop.
8. The Great Dickens Christmas Fair in Daly City
Weekends through Dec. 17, 2023
This beloved annual event drops you into Victorian London, brought to life by hundreds of costumed players and a plethora of shops, stages, parties, and memorable performances. Guests can enjoy a spectrum of performances across 7 stages including Irish singers, English pantomime, Bedouin belly dancers, and juggling.
9. Santa visits, crafts, and movies at Ghirardelli Square
One of the coziest escapes in the city is Ghirardelli Square, which is a must for shoppers on any day of the year, but turns up the charm during the holidays. This year there’s a Peppermint Bark Day hosted by Ghirardelli Square on Dec. 1, a menorah lighting on Dec. 10, and Santa visits on Dec. 8 and 17.
10. Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and New Year’s at Thrive City
Thrive City’s Winter Wonderland is here! Check out the tallest holiday tree in the Bay Area at 90 feet tall, plus a North Pole mailbox to send letters to Santa, nightly “snowfall,” and a series of special events. Make sure you RSVP for the free events in advance.
- Dec. 7 – Hanukkah Celebration – Celebrate the Festival of Lights with a menorah lighting ceremony, live entertainment, festive arts and crafts, and Jewish treats.
- Dec. 31 – Kwanzaa and Noon Year’s Eve Celebration – Celebrate Kwanzaa and ring in 2024 with a daytime concert featuring Soji Sai Afrobeat.
11. Giant menorah lightings at Union Square
Dec. 7-14, 2023
The Bill Graham Menorah Project is gearing up for its 48th annual giant menorah lighting and display! A 25-foot menorah will glow over Union Square every night of Hanukkah.
On the fourth night, you can enjoy fun activities, food, music, and more for “Bill Graham Menorah Day” from 2-6pm. This celebration will accompany the fourth lighting ceremony at 4:45pm. Enjoy a variety of kids’ crafts and entertainment.
12. Christmas in the Park in San Jose
Through Jan. 1, 2024
Christmas in the Park is back this year! San Jose is decked out in tens of thousands of sparkling lights, decorations, and more prepared by community groups. At History Park you can embark upon a magical musical journey by car, where you’ll pass through a mind-blowing light tunnel and enjoy a synchronized holiday light show with millions of colors. But don’t forget to stop by nearby Cesar Chavez Plaza for more surprises.
13. Special events at Union Square Ice Rink
Open through Jan. 16
Union Square Ice Rink has some fun events on the calendar that are enjoyable for all ages. Here are some to keep an eye out for.
- Dec. 7 – Drag Queens On Ice
- Dec. 8, Jan. 12 – Flashback Fridays
- Dec. 14 – Silent Skate Party
- Jan. 1 – Polar Bear Skate
- Saturdays through Dec. 30 – Simba Saturdays presented by Disney’s The Lion King
14. Glowfari animal lantern festival at Oakland Zoo
Through Jan. 28, 2024
Hundreds of gigantic hand-painted animal lanterns have been placed throughout the Oakland Zoo’s campus, making for a totally unique tour of the zoo by night. The spectacular lanterns are arranged throughout a mile-long pathway, taking you through the forests of North America with mountain lions and wolves, a frozen Arctic scene with puffins and polar bears, the Deep Ocean with mysterious and rare sea creatures, and an alligator-filled swamp.
15. Entwined: Elder Mother at Golden Gate Park
Through Mar. 12
Charles Gadeken’s Entwined, a sprawling immersive LED light installation in Golden Gate Park’s Peacock Meadow, has been delighting San Franciscans since it first opened in 2020. The whimsical installation is an otherworldly ecosystem of glowing trees, bushes, and other natural elements created from colorful pixel-like LED lights. This year, it returns with a new iteration: Entwined: Elder Mother. The sculpture stands at 30 feet tall and casts a 25-foot canopy of light that welcomes people to sit and enjoy its glow.
16. 22-foot gingerbread house at the Fairmont Hotel
Through Jan. 1, 2024
One of San Francisco’s most celebrated holiday installations is the two-story gingerbread house at the Fairmont Hotel. The fascinating creation is 22 feet tall, composed of thousands of gingerbread bricks and gallons of royal icing.
17. Essential Bay Area ice skating rinks
If you want to look beyond Union Square, there are plenty of other fantastic ice skating rinks that are worth a visit in the Bay Area. We found a mix of seasonal and permanent rinks that offer the chance to strap on a pair of skates and hit the ice.
18. Most beautiful Christmas trees in San Francisco
San Francisco has so many gorgeous Christmas trees in December, it’s hard to keep track. We decided to round up the best ones so you can catch them all before the season ends! Whether you’re totally feeling the Christmas spirit or you could just use some holiday cheer, these displays around the city are worth seeking out.
- Pier 39
- Uncle John’s Tree at Golden Gate Park
- Thrive City tree at Chase Center
- And more
19. Try the best hot chocolate in SF
You don’t have to be a kid to know that hot chocolate is one of the most underrated drinks on any cafe’s menu. As we head into the fall and winter seasons, it’s a great time to compile some spots to visit next time you’re craving this delicious drink.