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Bay Area Holiday Events

Tree lightings, holiday markets, light shows, Santa visits and more, all around the Bay. Pick a region to see what's close to you.

Region:All regionsSan FranciscoPeninsulaSouth BayEast Bay/Tri-ValleyNorth BaySanta CruzSouth County

129 events

A Sherlock Carol

A Sherlock Carol

Masquers Playhouse, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Nov 13–Dec 6
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
Kristi Yamaguchi Holiday Ice Rink

Kristi Yamaguchi Holiday Ice Rink

City Center Bishop Ranch, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Opening ceremony Fri Nov 6, 6-7pm; rink open daily through Jan 3, 2027
La Selva Beach Holiday Fair

La Selva Beach Holiday Fair

La Selva Beach Clubhouse, Santa Cruz
Sat Nov 14, 2026, 10 AM-4 PM
Pinole Holiday Craft Fair

Pinole Holiday Craft Fair

Pinole Senior Center, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Nov 14, 2026
Light Up Orinda Tree Lighting

Light Up Orinda Tree Lighting

Orinda Library Plaza, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Thu Nov 19, 2026, 5 PM
City Center Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony

City Center Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony

City Center Bishop Ranch, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Nov 20, 2026
Coney Island Christmas (Mountain Community Theater)

Coney Island Christmas (Mountain Community Theater)

Park Hall, Santa Cruz
Nov 20 - Dec 13, 2026; showtimes TBD
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)
Pink Friday FEST Holiday Kickoff

Pink Friday FEST Holiday Kickoff

Main Street Plaza and downtown Martinez, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Nov 20, 2026
Walnut Creek Civic Park Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony

Walnut Creek Civic Park Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony

Civic Park, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Nov 20, 2026
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
Craft Fest 2026

Craft Fest 2026

Lesher Center for the Arts, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Nov 21, 2026
Light Up the Night (Pleasant Hill)

Light Up the Night (Pleasant Hill)

Downtown Pleasant Hill, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Sat, Nov 21, 2026, 4:30 to 7:30 PM; tree lighting 5:30 PM near Jack's; fire dancers 7:10 PM
UCSC Arboretum Holiday Gift & Wreath Sale

UCSC Arboretum Holiday Gift & Wreath Sale

UC Santa Cruz Arboretum & Botanic Garden, Horticulture 2 Meeting Hall, Santa Cruz
Sat, Nov 21, 2026, 10 AM to 4 PM (members hour 9 to 10 AM); rain or shine
A Song for You: The Music of Karen Carpenter At Christmas

A Song for You: The Music of Karen Carpenter At Christmas

Firehouse Arts Center, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Sun Nov 22, 2–4 pm
Irish Christmas in America

Irish Christmas in America

Yoshi's, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Wed Nov 25; doors 7 pm, show 7:30 pm
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)
Farley's Christmas Wonderland

Farley's Christmas Wonderland

Farley's Christmas Wonderland, Santa Cruz
Nightly Nov 27, 2026 - Jan 1, 2027, 5:30-8:30 PM (later just before Christmas; closed when raining)
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
Niles Festival of Lights Parade and Tree Lighting

Niles Festival of Lights Parade and Tree Lighting

Niles Boulevard and Niles Town Plaza, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Nov 27, 2026
Sparky's Holiday Lights

Sparky's Holiday Lights

Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, Santa Cruz
Select dates Nov 27–Dec 24, 2026; nightly hours TBD
Brentwood Holiday Parade

Brentwood Holiday Parade

Downtown Brentwood, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Sat Nov 28, 2026, 5-7 PM
Felton Santa & Tree Lighting

Felton Santa & Tree Lighting

Felton Deck, Santa Cruz
Sat, Nov 28, 2026, 5 to 7:30 PM (caroling and cocoa 5 PM; Santa arrives and tree lighting 5:30 PM; photos with Santa 5:45 PM)
Ho Ho Holiday Carnival

Ho Ho Holiday Carnival

Sycamore Grove Park (Arroyo Road parking lot), East Bay/Tri-Valley
Nov 28, 2026
Jeff Bordes: A New Orleans Christmas

Jeff Bordes: A New Orleans Christmas

Bankhead Theater, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Sat Nov 28, 8 pm, Bankhead Theater
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
Santa Cruz Mountains Holiday Makers Market

Santa Cruz Mountains Holiday Makers Market

Felton Community Hall, Santa Cruz
Sat, Nov 28, 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
Ben Lomond Tree Lighting

Ben Lomond Tree Lighting

Ben Lomond County Park, Santa Cruz
Sun Nov 29, 2026, 4:30-7 PM
Pacific Chamber Orchestra: Handel's Messiah

Pacific Chamber Orchestra: Handel's Messiah

Bankhead Theater, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Nov 29, 2026
Choir! Choir! Choir! Un-Silent Night: Holiday Sing-Along

Choir! Choir! Choir! Un-Silent Night: Holiday Sing-Along

The Freight, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Tue Dec 1 and Wed Dec 2, 8:00 PM (doors 7:00 PM)
Holiday Circle of Lights (Mountain View Cemetery)

Holiday Circle of Lights (Mountain View Cemetery)

Mountain View Cemetery, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Daily, Dec 1, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027, 5–9 pm
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)
Lights Up Piedmont

Lights Up Piedmont

Piedmont Community Hall, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Wed, Dec 2, 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
Broadway Plaza Holiday Parade of Lights & Tree Lighting

Broadway Plaza Holiday Parade of Lights & Tree Lighting

Broadway Plaza, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Dec 3, 2026
Dublin Holiday Tree Lighting

Dublin Holiday Tree Lighting

Dublin Civic Center, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Thu, Dec 3, 2026, 6 to 8 PM (school choirs and bands, 30-foot tree lighting, Clover Express, crafts, Letters to Santa)
Oakley Holiday Tree Lighting

Oakley Holiday Tree Lighting

Civic Center Plaza, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Dec 3, 2026
San Pablo Holiday Tree Lighting & Winter Wonderland

San Pablo Holiday Tree Lighting & Winter Wonderland

San Pablo Community Center, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Thu Dec 3, 2026, 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
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
Concord Tree Lighting & Mayor's Sing-Along

Concord Tree Lighting & Mayor's Sing-Along

Todos Santos Plaza, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Fri, Dec 4, 2026, 5:30 to 8 PM
Douglas Morrisson Chorus: Celebrate the Season

Douglas Morrisson Chorus: Celebrate the Season

Douglas Morrisson Theatre, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Fri Dec 4, 8 PM; Sat Dec 5, 2 PM; Sun Dec 6, 2 PM
Emeryville Tree Lighting and Holiday Parade

Emeryville Tree Lighting and Holiday Parade

Emeryville City Hall (1333 Park Ave) to Bay Street, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Dec 4, 2026
Heritage Holiday Craft & Gift Fair

Heritage Holiday Craft & Gift Fair

Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, Santa Cruz
Fri-Sat Dec 4-5, 2026, noon-9 PM
It's A Wonderful Life in Lafayette Holiday Celebration

It's A Wonderful Life in Lafayette Holiday Celebration

Lafayette Plaza, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Dec 4, 2026
It's a Wonderful Night (San Leandro)

It's a Wonderful Night (San Leandro)

Downtown San Leandro (E. 14th St & W. Juana Ave), East Bay/Tri-Valley
Fri, Dec 4, 2026, 5 to 9 PM
Magical Holiday Evening

Magical Holiday Evening

Downtown Pleasanton, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Dec 4, 2026
Cherish the Ladies Celtic Christmas

Cherish the Ladies Celtic Christmas

Freight & Salvage, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Dec 5, 2026
Downtown Alameda Winter Market

Downtown Alameda Winter Market

Downtown Alameda (Park Street), East Bay/Tri-Valley
Dec 5, 2026
Downtown Santa Cruz Holiday Parade

Downtown Santa Cruz Holiday Parade

Downtown Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz
Sat Dec 5, 2026, 10 AM
Frost Fest at the MAH

Frost Fest at the MAH

Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History, Santa Cruz
Sat, Dec 5, 2026, 12 to 6 PM
GIFTY: The Crucible's Holiday Craft Fair

GIFTY: The Crucible's Holiday Craft Fair

The Crucible, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Sat Dec 5, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM; Sun Dec 6, 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Holiday Delites Celebration & Parade (Antioch)

Holiday Delites Celebration & Parade (Antioch)

Rivertown, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Sat, Dec 5, 2026, 1 to 7:30 PM
Holiday Sights & Sounds Parade and Tree Lighting

Holiday Sights & Sounds Parade and Tree Lighting

First Street, Downtown Livermore, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Dec 5, 2026
Holidays in The Grove

Holidays in The Grove

The Grove Park, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Dec 5, 2026
Hometown Holiday Celebration

Hometown Holiday Celebration

Main Street, Downtown Pleasanton, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Dec 5, 2026
Kamasi Washington KEXP Yule Benefit

Kamasi Washington KEXP Yule Benefit

The UC Theatre, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Sat Dec 5, 2026, doors 7:00 PM, show 8:00 PM
Lighted Yacht Parade

Lighted Yacht Parade

Oakland–Alameda Estuary, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Sat Dec 5, 2026, starting around 5:30 PM
Lights of Livermore

Lights of Livermore

Concannon Vineyard, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Dec 5-23, 2026; tours 5:30-7:45 PM and 7:00-9:15 PM
Livermore-Amador Symphony Free Family Holiday Concert

Livermore-Amador Symphony Free Family Holiday Concert

Bankhead Theater, East Bay/Tri-Valley
Sat Dec 5, 2026, 3 PM
Show all 129 events