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95 Events Found

Refine by label:Paid ✕Christmas / Winter holidays ✕Family friendly ✕Indoor 69 Outdoor 26 Accessible 29 Live music 36 Live acts 54 Food vendors 3 Drinks & tastings 1 Local makers 3 Parking available 15 Transit friendly 29

A Sherlock Carol

A Sherlock Carol

Masquers Playhouse, East Bay/Tri-Valley

Diablo Ballet: The Nutcracker Suite

Diablo Ballet: The Nutcracker Suite

Lesher Center for the Arts, East Bay/Tri-Valley

Fri Nov 13, 7:30 PM; Sat Nov 14, 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM

San Jose Holiday Lights

San Jose Holiday Lights

Discovery Meadow Park, South Bay

Nightly Nov 13, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027, 4:30-10:30 PM (last entry 10 PM)

San Mateo on Ice

San Mateo on Ice

Central Park, Peninsula

Nov 13, 2026 – Jan 10, 2027

Holidays at Filoli

Holidays at Filoli

Filoli Historic House & Garden, Peninsula

Nov 14, 2026 to Jan 10, 2027: Daytime 10am-3:30pm (last entry 1:30pm); Holiday Lights 4pm-10pm (last entry 8pm). Thistlewyck Village closes Jan 3.

Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet (San Jose)

Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet (San Jose)

Center for the Performing Arts, South Bay

Sat Nov 14, 2026, 3 PM

Santa's Tree Farm & Village

Santa's Tree Farm & Village

Santa's Tree Farm & Village, Peninsula

Tree cutting Nov 14-Dec 23, 2026 (weekends 8 AM-5 PM, weekdays 9 AM-5 PM); train, gift shop and Mrs. Claus' kitchen weekends Nov 21-Dec 13, 9 AM-4 PM; Santa visits Fri Nov 27 and weekends through Dec 13, 11 AM-4 PM (Santa not here 12/5); weekend storytimes Nov 21-Dec 13: 10:30 AM Storytime with Santa (not on 12/5), 12 PM Storytime with Buddy the Elf, 1 PM Reindeer Talk with Rudolph at the North Pole, 2 PM Storytime with Buddy the Elf

Coney Island Christmas (Mountain Community Theater)

Coney Island Christmas (Mountain Community Theater)

Park Hall, Santa Cruz

Nov 20 - Dec 13, 2026; showtimes TBD

Lightscape

Lightscape

San Francisco Botanical Garden, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

Nightly Nov 20, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027; timed entry every 15 min, 5pm-8:15pm (to 8:30pm on peak dates)

Niles Canyon Railway Train of Lights

Niles Canyon Railway Train of Lights

Niles Station, East Bay/Tri-Valley

Nov 20-23, 28-29; Dec 2, 4-6, 9, 11-13, 16, 18-21, 23, 27-30. Departures 4:30 pm from Niles Station, 7:30 pm from Sunol Depot (some days may differ)

Walnut Creek on Ice

Walnut Creek on Ice

Civic Park, East Bay/Tri-Valley

Nov 20, 2026–Jan 18, 2027; 90-minute sessions; daily hours TBD

Los Gatos Ballet: The Nutcracker

Los Gatos Ballet: The Nutcracker

McAfee Performing Arts Center, South Bay

Sat Nov 21 and Sun Nov 22, 2026, 1 PM and 6 PM

North Pole Nights

North Pole Nights

Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park, South County

Select evenings Nov 21 - Dec 31, 2026; operating days and hours TBD

The Great Dickens Christmas Fair

Cow Palace, Peninsula

Weekends plus the Friday after Thanksgiving, 10am to 6pm, Nov 21 to Dec 20

Cruz Holiday Lights Train

Cruz Holiday Lights Train

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk (in front of the Merry-Go-Round), Santa Cruz

Nov 27-28, Dec 5-6 and Dec 12-23; departures 5:00 PM and 6:30 PM (60-minute round trip)

Holiday Tree Walk at Roaring Camp

Holiday Tree Walk at Roaring Camp

Roaring Camp Railroads, Santa Cruz

Nov 27-29, Dec 5-6, 12-13 and 19-23, 2026; times TBD

Santa Train Jolly Journeys

Santa Train Jolly Journeys

Napa Valley Wine Train Station, North Bay

Select dates Nov 27-Dec 23, 2026: evening journeys, plus daytime journeys Dec 21-23; times TBD

Sparky's Holiday Lights

Sparky's Holiday Lights

Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, Santa Cruz

Select dates Nov 27–Dec 24, 2026; nightly hours TBD

White Christmas

White Christmas

Morgan Hill Community Playhouse, South County

Nov 27-Dec 20, 2026; showtimes TBD

WinterFest at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom

WinterFest at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, North Bay

Select nights, Nov 27, 2026-Jan 3, 2027; operating nights and hours TBD

Alice in Wonderland (Presidio Theatre holiday panto)

Alice in Wonderland (Presidio Theatre holiday panto)

Presidio Theatre, San Francisco

Nov 28-Dec 27, 2026; 1 PM and 6 PM performances (days vary)

Christmas in My Hometown

Christmas in My Hometown

Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre, North Bay

Sat Nov 28, 6 PM

Ho Ho Holiday Carnival

Ho Ho Holiday Carnival

Sycamore Grove Park (Arroyo Road parking lot), East Bay/Tri-Valley

Nutcracker Piñata

Nutcracker Piñata

The Douglas Morrisson Theatre, East Bay/Tri-Valley

Sat Nov 28 at 7 pm; Sun Nov 29 at 2 pm, Douglas Morrisson Theatre

The Velveteen Rabbit (ODC/Dance)

The Velveteen Rabbit (ODC/Dance)

Blue Shield of California Theater, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco

Nov 28-Dec 6, 2026: weekdays and Saturdays 11 AM; Sundays 2 PM

Swing Into The Holidays with Caity Gyorgy & Christian Wiggs

Swing Into The Holidays with Caity Gyorgy & Christian Wiggs

Miner Auditorium, SFJAZZ Center, San Francisco

Sun Nov 29, 2026, 3pm

A Celtic Christmas by A Taste of Ireland (Santa Cruz)

A Celtic Christmas by A Taste of Ireland (Santa Cruz)

Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, Santa Cruz

Wed Dec 2, 2026, 7:30-10 PM (doors 6 PM)

Hip Hop Nutcracker (San Jose)

Hip Hop Nutcracker (San Jose)

Center for the Performing Arts, South Bay

Wed Dec 2 and Thu Dec 3, 2026, 7 PM

A Christmas Carol (Santa Cruz Shakespeare)

A Christmas Carol (Santa Cruz Shakespeare)

Veterans Memorial Hall, Santa Cruz

Dec 3-24, 2026 (preview Dec 3, opens Dec 4); most shows at 2 PM and/or 7 PM; Dec 24 at 11 AM, 2 PM and 6 PM

Gamble Garden Winter Festival

Gamble Garden Winter Festival

Gamble Garden, Peninsula

Grand Opening Party Thu Dec 3, 2026, 5-7 PM; Once Upon a Garden family night Fri Dec 4, 5-7 PM; Holiday Marketplace Fri-Sat Dec 4-5, 10 AM-4 PM; Holiday Tea Fri-Sat, 11 AM and 2 PM seatings (reservations required)

Smuin's The Christmas Ballet (Mountain View)

Smuin's The Christmas Ballet (Mountain View)

Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, Peninsula

Thu Dec 3 and Fri Dec 4, 7:30pm; Sat Dec 5, 2pm and 7:30pm; Sun Dec 6, 2pm

A Celtic Christmas

A Celtic Christmas

Fox Theatre, Peninsula

Fri Dec 4, 2026, 7:30pm (doors 6:30pm)

A Christmas Carol, the Musical

A Christmas Carol, the Musical

Coastal Repertory Theatre, Peninsula

Dec 4–20, 2026: Fridays and Saturdays 7pm, Sundays 2pm

Black Diamond Ballet: The Nutcracker

Black Diamond Ballet: The Nutcracker

El Campanil Theatre, East Bay/Tri-Valley

Fri Dec 4, 7 PM; Sat Dec 5, 11 AM (sensory-friendly); Sun Dec 6, 2 PM; Sat Dec 12, 7 PM; Sun Dec 13, 2 PM

Cherish the Ladies: A Celtic Christmas (Rohnert Park)

Cherish the Ladies: A Celtic Christmas (Rohnert Park)

Weill Hall, Sonoma State University, North Bay

Fri Dec 4, 2026, 7:30 PM

It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play (Lucky Penny, Napa)

It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play (Lucky Penny, Napa)

Lucky Penny Community Arts Center, North Bay

Dec 4–20, 2026; evenings 7:30 PM, matinees 2 PM

San Francisco Ballet: The Nutcracker

San Francisco Ballet: The Nutcracker

War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco

Dec 4, 2026 – Dec 27, 2026

Ballet America's Nutcracker

Ballet America's Nutcracker

Cañada College, Peninsula

Dec 5, 2026 – Dec 6, 2026

Breakfast with Santa (Cupertino)

Breakfast with Santa (Cupertino)

Quinlan Community Center, South Bay

Sat Dec 5, 2026; seatings at 8:30, 9:30 and 10:30 AM

Fantasy of Lights at Vasona Lake

Fantasy of Lights at Vasona Lake

Vasona Lake County Park, South Bay

Sat-Sun Dec 5-6 and Sat-Sun Dec 12-13, 2026

Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir 41st Annual Holiday Concert: Scoopin' Up Joy

Calvin Simmons Theatre, Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts, East Bay/Tri-Valley

Sat Dec 5, 2026, 2 PM and 7 PM

Puppet Wars: Silent Night, Broken Strings

Puppet Wars: Silent Night, Broken Strings

Almanac Adventureland & Brewery, East Bay/Tri-Valley

Reindeer Run/Walk

Reindeer Run/Walk

Wetlands Edge Trailhead, North Bay

Sat Dec 5, 2026; 10K 9 AM, 5K 9:05 AM

Season's Greeting Singalong with Zoë Ellis and Janice Maxie Reid

Season's Greeting Singalong with Zoë Ellis and Janice Maxie Reid

The Freight, East Bay/Tri-Valley

Sat Dec 5, 2026, 11:00 AM

Deck the Hall (SF Symphony)

Deck the Hall (SF Symphony)

Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco

Sun Dec 6, 2026, 3:30 PM holiday concert (11:30 AM performance is the signature fundraiser concert)

Solano Symphony Orchestra: Holiday Celebration

Solano Symphony Orchestra: Holiday Celebration

Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre, North Bay

Sun Dec 6, 2026, 3pm

Isaiah J. Thompson: A Guaraldi Holiday

Isaiah J. Thompson: A Guaraldi Holiday

Kuumbwa Jazz Center, Santa Cruz

Tue Dec 8, 2026, 7 PM (doors 6 PM)

A Christmas Carol (Center REP)

A Christmas Carol (Center REP)

Hofmann Theatre, Lesher Center for the Arts, East Bay/Tri-Valley

Dec 9, 2026 – Dec 23, 2026

Canadian Brass: Making Spirits Bright

Canadian Brass: Making Spirits Bright

Bing Concert Hall, Peninsula

Wed Dec 9, 2026, 7:30pm

Chanukah Train

Chanukah Train

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Santa Cruz

Thu Dec 10, 2026, 5:00 PM

Smuin's The Christmas Ballet (San Francisco)

Smuin's The Christmas Ballet (San Francisco)

Blue Shield of California Theater, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco

Dec 10-24, 2026: Thu Dec 10 and Fri Dec 11, 7:30 PM; Sat Dec 12 and Sun Dec 13, 2 PM; Fri Dec 18, 7:30 PM; Sat Dec 19, 2 PM and 7:30 PM; Sun Dec 20, 2 PM; Tue Dec 22, 7:30 PM; Wed Dec 23 and Thu Dec 24, 2 PM

20th Annual Posada Navideña by Calidanza Dance Company

20th Annual Posada Navideña by Calidanza Dance Company

Ruth Finley Person Theater, Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, North Bay

Fri Dec 11, 2026, 6:30pm (lobby arts and crafts 5:30pm)

Christmas Celebrations at Mount Hermon

Christmas Celebrations at Mount Hermon

Mount Hermon Conference Center, Santa Cruz

Dec 11-13 and Dec 18-19, 2026; concerts Fri-Sat 7:30 PM, Sun 2:30 PM; buffet Fri-Sat 5-6:30 PM, Sun 11:30 AM-1 PM; craft boutique Fri-Sat 1:30-7:30 PM, Sun 11 AM-3 PM

Family Holiday Lights Cable Car Tour

Family Holiday Lights Cable Car Tour

Morgan Hill Train Depot, South County

Dec 11-23, 2026; family tours 5:30 and 6:30 PM, sing-along tours 6 and 7 PM, 21+ tours 7:30 and 8 PM

The Midwinter Revels: American Crossroads

The Midwinter Revels: American Crossroads

The Douglas Morrisson Theatre, East Bay/Tri-Valley

Dec 11, 2026 – Dec 20, 2026

The Nutcracker - Ballet Academy of Silicon Valley

The Nutcracker - Ballet Academy of Silicon Valley

Gavilan College Theater, South County

Dec 11, 2026 – Dec 12, 2026

Broadway Holiday (Transcendence Theatre Company)

Broadway Holiday (Transcendence Theatre Company)

Jackson Theater (Santa Rosa) and Sebastiani Theatre (Sonoma), North Bay

Dec 12-13 and Dec 16-20, 2026 at the Jackson Theater (Santa Rosa) and Sebastiani Theatre (Sonoma); showtimes TBD

Fairy Winterland

Fairy Winterland

Children's Fairyland, East Bay/Tri-Valley

Dec 12-13, 19-20 and 26-27, 2026, 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Symphony San Jose: Holiday Spectacular

Symphony San Jose: Holiday Spectacular

California Theatre, South Bay

Sat Dec 12, 2026, 2:30 PM and 7:30 PM; Sun Dec 13, 2:30 PM

The Original San Jose Nutcracker

The Original San Jose Nutcracker

Center for the Performing Arts, South Bay

Sat Dec 12, 2026, 2 PM and 7:30 PM; Sun Dec 13, 1 PM and 6 PM

Valley Dance Theatre: The Nutcracker

Valley Dance Theatre: The Nutcracker

Bankhead Theater, East Bay/Tri-Valley

Dec 12-13 and Dec 18-20, 2026; 2pm and 7pm shows vary by date

Oakland Symphony: Let Us Break Bread Together – A Tribute to Quincy Jones

Oakland Symphony: Let Us Break Bread Together – A Tribute to Quincy Jones

Paramount Theatre, East Bay/Tri-Valley

Silicon Valley Santa Run

Silicon Valley Santa Run

Downtown San Jose (start at W Santa Clara St and Almaden Ave), South Bay

Sun Dec 13, 2026, 3 PM start

Elf the Musical – BroadwaySF

Elf the Musical – BroadwaySF

Golden Gate Theatre, San Francisco

Dec 15, 2026 – Dec 20, 2026

A Magical Cirque Christmas (San Jose)

A Magical Cirque Christmas (San Jose)

Center for the Performing Arts, South Bay

Wed Dec 16 and Thu Dec 17, 2026, 7 PM

The Gift of Nothing (Marin Theatre)

The Gift of Nothing (Marin Theatre)

Marin Theatre, North Bay

Wed Dec 16 – Sun Dec 27, 2026 (preview Dec 16, opening Dec 17); times TBD

World Ballet Company: The Nutcracker

World Ballet Company: The Nutcracker

Heritage Theatre, South Bay

Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet (Santa Rosa)

Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet (Santa Rosa)

Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, Ruth Finley Person Theater, North Bay

Thu Dec 17, 2026, 7 PM

A Christmas Carol (Pittsburg Theatre Company)

A Christmas Carol (Pittsburg Theatre Company)

California Theatre, East Bay/Tri-Valley

Fri Dec 18, 7:30 PM; Sat Dec 19, 2 PM; Sun Dec 20, 2 PM; Mon Dec 21, 7:30 PM

A Magical Cirque Christmas

A Magical Cirque Christmas

Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, North Bay

Fri Dec 18, 2026, 7:30 PM

Napa Regional Dance Company: The Nutcracker

Napa Regional Dance Company: The Nutcracker

Napa Valley College Performing Arts Center, North Bay

Sat, Dec 19, 1 PM and 6 PM; Sun, Dec 20, 2 PM

Nutcracker: Experience the Magic (Santa Cruz City Ballet)

Nutcracker: Experience the Magic (Santa Cruz City Ballet)

Crocker Theater, Cabrillo College, Santa Cruz

Sat-Sun, Dec 19-20, 2026, 1 PM and 4:30 PM each day

Oakland Ballet: Graham Lustig's The Nutcracker

Oakland Ballet: Graham Lustig's The Nutcracker

Paramount Theatre, East Bay/Tri-Valley

Dec 19, 2026 – Dec 20, 2026

SSF Civic Ballet: The Nutcracker

SSF Civic Ballet: The Nutcracker

South San Francisco High School Auditorium, Peninsula

Sat Dec 19, 1pm and 7pm; Sun Dec 20, 1pm

The Nutcracker (Santa Cruz Dance Theater)

The Nutcracker (Santa Cruz Dance Theater)

Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, Santa Cruz

Sat-Sun, Dec 19-20, 2026, two performances each day; showtimes not posted yet

The Nutcracker Bird (Berkeley Ballet Theater)

The Nutcracker Bird (Berkeley Ballet Theater)

Regents' Theater, Valley Center for the Performing Arts, East Bay/Tri-Valley

Sat Dec 19 and Sun Dec 20, 2026, 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM

The San Jose Nutcracker

The San Jose Nutcracker

California Theatre, South Bay

Dec 19, 2026 – Dec 27, 2026

A Charlie Brown Christmas Tribute featuring Jason Crosby

A Charlie Brown Christmas Tribute featuring Jason Crosby

Sweetwater Music Hall, North Bay

Sun Dec 20, 2026, 1 PM (doors noon)

My Very First Nutcracker

My Very First Nutcracker

California Theatre, South Bay

Sun Dec 20, Tue Dec 22, Wed Dec 23 and Sun Dec 27, 2026, 11 AM

San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus: Holiday Spectacular (Rohnert Park)

San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus: Holiday Spectacular (Rohnert Park)

Weill Hall, Green Music Center, Sonoma State University, North Bay

Sun Dec 20, 2026, 5 PM

Dave Koz & Friends Christmas Tour (San Jose)

Dave Koz & Friends Christmas Tour (San Jose)

San Jose Civic, South Bay

Tue Dec 22, 2026, 8 PM

The Grand Kyiv Ballet: The Nutcracker Symphony of Lights

The Grand Kyiv Ballet: The Nutcracker Symphony of Lights

Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, San Francisco

Wed Dec 23, 2026, 7 PM (doors 6 PM)

World Ballet Company: The Nutcracker (San Francisco)

World Ballet Company: The Nutcracker (San Francisco)

Curran Theater, San Francisco

Wed Dec 23, 2026, 7 PM

Boulder Creek Reindeer Run

Boulder Creek Reindeer Run

Junction Park, Santa Cruz

Thu Dec 24, 2026, 9 AM to noon

San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus Holiday Spectacular: Home for the Holidays (Castro Theatre)

San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus Holiday Spectacular: Home for the Holidays (Castro Theatre)

The Castro Theatre, San Francisco

Thu Dec 24, 2026, 3 PM, 5:30 PM and 8 PM

New Year's Train

New Year's Train

Roaring Camp Railroads, Santa Cruz

Dec 26-31, 2026; times TBD

Derek Hough Dance For The Holidays

Derek Hough Dance For The Holidays

San Jose Civic, South Bay

Wed Dec 30, 2026, 8 PM

Happy New Year, Charlie Brown!

Happy New Year, Charlie Brown!

Charles M. Schulz Museum, North Bay

Thu Dec 31, 2026; 10 AM–4 PM; balloon drops at noon (plus a baby drop for ages 4 and under) and 3 PM

Noon Year's Eve

Noon Year's Eve

Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose, South Bay

Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square

Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square

Union Square, San Francisco

Daily, Nov 4, 2026 to Jan 18, 2027; hour-long sessions start every 90 minutes

San Francisco on Ice (Fisherman's Wharf)

San Francisco on Ice (Fisherman's Wharf)

Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco

Daily Nov 4, 2026 – Jan 18, 2027; standard days 10 AM–11 PM, value days 12 PM–10 PM

Glowfari

Glowfari

Oakland Zoo, East Bay/Tri-Valley

Nov 6, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027

Santa Trains & Santa Starlight Experience

Santa Trains & Santa Starlight Experience

Western Railway Museum, North Bay

Santa Starlight Experience: Fridays Dec 4, 11 and 18, 2026, from 6:00 PM. Santa Trains: Saturdays and Sundays Dec 5-20, 2026, 1:00 PM to 8:30 PM

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Garden of D'Lights

Garden of D'Lights

Ruth Bancroft Garden, East Bay/Tri-Valley

2026 dates coming soon

WinterFest at Chabot Space & Science Center

WinterFest at Chabot Space & Science Center

Chabot Space & Science Center, East Bay/Tri-Valley

2026 dates coming soon

Venues

Places that host concerts and shows all year. Each links to its own calendar.

See all 74 venues →

Center for the Performing Arts

TheaterSan Jose, South Bay

Center for the Performing Arts

See their calendar ↗

Orpheum Theatre

TheaterSan Francisco

Orpheum Theatre

See their calendar ↗

Golden Gate Theatre

TheaterSan Francisco

Golden Gate Theatre

See their calendar ↗

The Warfield

TheaterSan Francisco

The Warfield

See their calendar ↗

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