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 27-30, 2025.
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 2025 holiday season.
1. 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 23rd 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.
đ Date: Nov. 27, 2025
đ Location: Golden Gate Park Polo Field, San Francisco, CAÂ
đ Website: SF Turkey Trot
2. SF restaurants open on Thanksgiving
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
3. Alcatraz Thanksgiving Indigenous Peopleâs 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. Although the movement failed, it is commemorated each year with a sunrise gathering on Thanksgiving Day.
đ Date: Nov. 27, 2025
đ Location: Alcatraz Island, San Francisco, CA
đ Learn more: Alcatraz City Cruises
4. AURA at Grace Cathedral
AURA at Grace Cathedral presents a 45-minute immersive journey that blends music, dynamic projections, and the cathedralâs breathtaking architecture. This globally celebrated production transforms the historic landmark into a living artwork, illuminating its arches and intricate details through light and sound.
5. Evening Lightscape event and daytime free admission to SF Botanical Garden
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. If you’re planning to spend part or all of Thanksgiving alone this year, this is a great place to go solo.
đ Location: 1199 9th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94122
6. Holiday markets
Holiday spirit is already in the air and the crafters of San Francisco are working at full throttle to sell their wares! Weâve 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.
- 2025 Crystal Fair (Nov. 29-30, 2025) â SF County Fair Building, San Francisco
- Great Dickens Christmas Fair (Weekends, Nov. 22 â Dec. 21, 2025) â Cow Palace, Daly City
- Christmas in the Park (Nov. 28, 2025 â Jan. 1, 2026) â Plaza de Cesar Chavez, San Jose
- SJMADE Holiday Market 2025 (Nov. 28-29, 2025) â Santa Clara Convention Center, Santa Clara
- Yuletide Menagerie Oddities Market (Saturdays from Nov. 29 â Dec. 27, 2025) â Winchester Mystery House, San Jose
- Blackout Holiday Market (Nov. 28, 2025) â 2323 Broadway, Oakland
7. 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. 28th. Here are a couple of roundups summarizing our favorite destinations for a shopping spree:Â
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.
8. 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. Per their website, holiday shift signups are already open for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. You can sign up to help out with food distribution or donate toys as gifts for local children.
đ Location: 1199 9th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94122
đ Website: GLIDE
9. Candlelight Concerts
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.
10. Bay Area ice rinks
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)
- Meritage Resort Winter Village (Napa)
- See the full list of Bay Area ice rinks here
11. Friendsgiving activities
In recent years, Friendsgiving has become a popular trend among the younger generations, but hosting a dinner party isnât always the easiest. Here are a few staff picks for ways to celebrate Friendsgiving in SF â minus all the post-dinner dishes.
12. GLOW at the Exploratorium
The Exploratoriumâs visitor-favorite GLOW: Discover the Art of Light will return again in 2025. See brand new installations that play with light and darkness in innovative ways. The exhibition expands upon the Exploratoriumâs typical exhibits and is a must during the holiday season in San Francisco.
đ Date: Nov. 20, 2025 â Jan. 25, 2026
đ Location: Pier 15, Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94111
13. The Guardsmen Christmas Tree Lot
The Guardsmen Christmas Tree Lot will open its doors at the Festival Pavilion at San Franciscoâs Fort Mason Center. You can stock up on holiday essentials including trees, garlands, wreaths, and ornaments. In addition to the tree lot itself, you donât 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.Âđ Date: Nov. 29 to Dec. 18, 2025
đ Location: Fort Mason Festival Pavilion, 2 Marina Boulevard, San Francisco, CA 94123
14. The Jury Experience
This gripping live theater production immerses guests in a tense 75-minute trial simulation at the Brava Theater Center. Audience members follow the compelling case in detail, weighing evidence and arguments before rendering a final verdict that ultimately decides the showâs outcome.
15. World Tree of Hope at Grace Cathedral
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.
đ Location: 1100 California St, San Francisco, CA 94108
16. Great Dickens Christmas Fair
The Great Dickens Christmas Fair and Victorian Holiday Party will soon return to Daly Cityâs 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.
đ Date: Nov. 22 â Dec. 21, 2025
đ Location: Cow Palace Exhibition Halls, 2600 Geneva Avenue, Daly City
17. Garden of D’Lights in Walnut Creek
The Ruth Bancroft Garden rolls out its whimsical Garden of dâLights 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.
18. Fairmont gingerbread house
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 heightsâ and yes, the walls are actually gingerbread glued together with icing.
đ Date: Opening Nov. 22, 2025
đ Location: Fairmont Hotel, 950 Mason St, San Francisco, CA 94108
19. Seasonal activities at the Ferry Building
The Ferry Building really turns up the charm over the holidays with festive decor, fun seasonal products from local makers, and special activities. November kicks off with the SF International Tea Festival on Nov. 1-2, and the Pickwick Vintage Show comes later on Nov. 23. Additional November events are still TBA, but we’re keeping an eye on their calendar for Thanksgiving weekend festivities.
đ Location: Ferry Building – 1 Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA 94105
20. 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.
đ Dates: Nov. 27-30, 2025
đ Location: Burlingame Hyatt Regency SFO – 1333 Old Bayshore Hwy, Burlingame, CA 94010
đ Website: GobbleCon
21. NorCal day trips
We love San Francisco for its countless activities to enjoy everywhere you go. But anytime thereâs a long weekend or a free day, weâre 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.
22. Miracle at PCH
Miracle at Pacific Cocktail Haven is a San Francisco favorite this time of year, as it offers up the best in seasonal cocktails, festive photo ops, and holiday cheer. Be transported to an over-the-top Christmas explosion outfitted with thousands of colorful lights, wrapping paper decorations, garlands, ornaments, bows, frills, glowing trees, Santa hats, and a huge stack of presents. Festive attire is absolutely non-negotiable here, so make sure you dress to impress.
đ Dates: Opening Nov. 24, 2025
đ Location: Pacific Cocktail Haven, 550 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94108
23. 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.
24. Major league home games
Thanksgiving weekend will coincide with multiple major league sports games this year. Here are a few to plan ahead for:
- Wednesday, Nov. 26 – Golden State Warriors vs. Houston Rockets at Chase Center
- Saturday, Nov. 29 – Golden State Warriors vs. New Orleans Pelicans at Chase Center
- Friday, Nov. 28 – San Jose Sharks vs. Vancouver Canucks at SAP Center
25. 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 Californiaâs 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 youâll ride alongside the shore for some beautiful ocean views.
26. Christmas in the Park and Blinky’s Drive Thru Light Show
Christmas in the Park is back this year, decking out San Jose in tens of thousands of sparkling lights. Their beloved drive-thru experience has moved to the Santa Clara Fairgrounds, where guests can take a trip through a magical glowing winter wonderland by car. There will also be a tree lighting and other events at Cesar Chavez Plaza.
đď¸Â Dates: Drive-through opens Nov. 21, 2025. Downtown displays open Nov. 28, 2025.