After a day of ice skating, gift shopping at holiday markets, and sipping hot chocolate, what should you do with all that leftover seasonal spirit? Not to worry, because San Francisco is the place to be for holiday-themed concerts, performances, and shows. Read on for our favorite San Francisco holiday concerts and shows this winter, ranging from jaw-dropping orchestral numbers to kid-friendly daytime performances.
1. Holiday Candlelight concerts
Celebrate the holiday season by immersing yourself in a candlelit concert paying tribute to some of the most popular Christmas classics. Traditional carols and timeless compositions are being brought to life at SF’s International Art Museum of America. Find your seat at one of these Candlelight holiday specials and ring in the most wonderful time of the year on a festive note.
- Dec. 14 – Candlelight: Holiday Pop Classics & Modern Favorites at IAMA
- Dec. 16 – Candlelight: Holiday Special ft. The Nutcracker & More at IAMA
2. SF Symphony performances
You can’t go wrong with a performance by SF Symphony, and their lineup for the holidays is unparalleled. Here are all the holiday-themed concerts on the calendar through December:
- Film concerts – Watch screenings of classic movies to the music of a live orchestra at these unforgettable performances.
- Nov. 30, Dec. 1 – The Nightmare Before Christmas
- Dec. 16 – 20th Anniversary: Love Actually
- Dec. 20-23 – A Charlie Brown Christmas – Live!
- Dec. 22-23– Home Alone
- Dec. 3 – Deck the Hall – A joyous holiday spectacular with traditional melodies including Leroy Anderson’s Sleigh Ride, Yiddish Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and more.
- Dec. 5-6 – Cirque Nutcracker – Troupe Vertigo performs a circus show with selections from The Nutcracker.
- Dec. 8-9 – Handel’s Messiah – SF Symphony’s rendition of this timeless holiday classic from 1742.
- Dec. 10 – SFS Youth Orchestra: Peter and the Wolf – Guest narrator Tom Kenny leads the SF Symphony Youth Orchestra in this performance of Peter and the Wolf.
- Dec. 10 – A Merry-Achi Christmas – Mariachi Sol de Mexico® performs a lively Christmas show.
- Dec. 13-14 – Colors of Christmas – A holiday program showcasing powerhouse vocalists including Peabo Bryson, Oleta Adams, Jennifer Holliday, and Ruben Studdard with the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir.
- Dec. 15 – Holiday Gaiety – Conductor Edwin Outwater and drag legend Peaches Christ co-host this holiday variety show.
- Dec. 21 – Holiday Brass – SF Symphony’s brass section performs holiday classics.
3. Holiday shows with the SF Gay Men’s Chorus
The beloved SF Gay Men’s Chorus presents several epic performances this season.
- Holiday Singalong (Nov. 28) – Sing along with the SF Gay Men’s Chorus in this fun family-friendly evening at the Chan National Queer Arts Center. This event is “pay what you can.”
- Holiday Spectacular – Spend a joyous evening listening to lively performances of classic songs and choral works.
- Dec. 8 – Sydney Goldstein Theatre, San Francisco
- Dec. 16 – Green Music Center, Sonoma
- Dec. 17 – Cal Performances (Zellerbach Auditorium), Berkeley
- Dec. 24 – Castro Theatre, San Francisco
4. SF Ballet’s Nutcracker
Dec. 13-30, 2023 at War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco
SF Ballet presents the 2023 rendition of Tchaikovsky’s beloved Nutcracker. A dazzling cast of 150 dancers will perform alongside the SF Ballet Orchestra for this holiday classic. See your favorite toy soldiers, King of the Mice, Sugar Plum Fairy, and endless others in a lively and magical performance for the Christmas season.
5. Grace Cathedral concerts and performances
Grace Cathedral is one of the most iconic churches in San Francisco, famous for its gorgeous stained glass windows, mosaics, floor labyrinths, and overall French Gothic design. It’s a beautiful place to attend for any church service, but at Christmastime it is especially spectacular thanks to a great lineup of performances and concerts.
Choir performances
- Dec. 10, 16-17, 22-23 – A Cathedral Christmas: The Choir of Men and Boys will perform classic Christmas carols accompanied by a full orchestra and organ.
- Dec. 24 – Christmas Lessons & Carols: The Choir of Men and Boys will perform an Anglican tradition of readings, hymns, and anthems.
- Choral Eucharists
- Christmas Eve: A mixed-voice choir sings the first Eucharist of Christmas.
- Midnight Mass: The Choir of Men and Boys and a full orchestra celebrate Christmas.
- Christmas Day: The men of the cathedral choir celebrate Christmas Day.
More Christmas concerts, music, and shows
- Dec 4 – 18th Annual World Tree of Hope Lighting Celebration – Grace Cathedral is home to the largest origami Christmas tree in the world. This year’s lighting ceremony features performances from the Choir of Men and Boys, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, and more.
- Dec 9 – Soulful Joy – Enjoy the holiday spirit reimagined with jazz, gospel, soul, and storytelling.
- Dec. 13-15 – American Bach Soloists presents Handel’s Messiah – A 25-year tradition featuring talented vocal soloists.
- Dec. 16, 21-23 – Sing you a Merry Christmas: A family sing-along event led by toys brought to life from St. Nicholas’s workshop.
- Dec. 18 – A Brass and Organ Christmas – Bay Area brass musicians play holiday classics accompanied by the cathedral’s 7,466-pipe organ.
- Dec. 24 – Bishop’s Christmas Pageant: The Christmas story told by the Right Rev. Dr. Marc Handley Andrus, Bishop of California, accompanied by children portraying magi, angels, and shepherds.
6. Union Square Menorah lightings
The Bill Graham Menorah Project displays a 25-foot menorah at Union Square on every night of Hanukkah (Dec. 7-14), which is a sight to behold during the lighting ceremonies. On the fourth night (Dec. 10), you can enjoy fun activities, food, music and more for “Bill Graham Menorah Day” from 2-6pm to accompany the lighting ceremony at 4:45pm. This includes a variety of kids’ crafts and shows, plus musical performances from SHAMATI with Greg Anton of Zero. The subsequent lighting ceremonies are preceded by smaller gatherings and musical performances.
7. How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
Nov. 28-Dec. 3, 2023 at San Jose Center for the Performing Arts
Enjoy a groundbreaking live version of this holiday favorite on its one local stop through the United States. Dr. Seuss’s magical Christmas tale is even more heart-warming live, with impressive Broadway performances of hits like “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch” and “Welcome Christmas.”
8. A Christmas Carol
Dec. 6-24, 2023 at Toni Rembe Theater
Discover Charles Dickens’ beloved holiday classic in this wholesome version adapted for the stage. The timeless production has been an annual staple of the American Conservatory Theater in SF for decades and draws faithful audiences every single year. There will be a new version playing in 2024, so this is your final chance to enjoy this classic version at Toni Rembe Theater.