Weekend Fun For Everyone
Get kids into the holiday spirit with loads of great events happening all across the Bay Area.
Check out my lists for:
Christmas Houses :: Holiday Tea :: Photos with Santa
Holiday Train Rides :: Ice Skating Rinks
Friday, December 21, 2018
NUTCRACKER
San Francisco Ballet Nutcracker, San Francisco’s War Memorial Opera House (map)
THEATER
An Irish Christmas, Spreckels Performing Arts Center (map)
The Wizard Of Oz, Berkeley Playhouse (map)
Sleeping Beauty, The Panto! PantoSF @ Custom Made Theatre (formerly The Tides) (map)
Circus Bella Presents Kaleidoscope, Mersea Meadow (map)
Cinderella, African-American Shakespeare Company (map)
Mary Poppins, San Francisco Playhouse (map)
A Christmas Carol, Geary Theater (map)
The Christmas Ballet, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco (map)
HOLIDAY LIGHTING
Illuminate SF, San Francisco (map)
IlluminOdyssey, CuriOdyssey, San Mateo (map)
Holidays Along the Farm Trails
Meet your farmers, vintners and artisan producers; cut down your own Christmas tree; shop for home-grown and handmade gifts; source ingredients for your holiday meals; see how cheese is made; greet farm animals; sample delicious food; and discover some of Sonoma County's best kept secrets! #SonomaStrong #FarmStrong
Fairy Winterland
Children's Fairyland (map)
In December, Fairy Winterland celebrates the winter holidays of many cultures: Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Las Posadas, Diwali, and Chinese New Year. Join us for stories, crafts, a festival of lights, and a visit from Santa.
’Tis The Season For Science
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco (map)
Experience a winter wonderland in the heart of San Francisco. Outdoor snow flurries, a hands-on polar-themed exhibit, and festive ice rink make the Academy a holiday destination for science lovers of all ages.
Commemorating Apollo 8 And Holiday Shopping
3:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Pacheco Plaza Center, Novato (map)
Come visit us on December 21 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 8 launching and mission.
Night Bloom
5:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Conservatory of Flowers, Golden Gate Park (map)
Light and sound will transform the iconic San Francisco landmark into a glowing landscape of interactive experiences this holiday season.
Lantern Light Festival
5:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton (map)
Lantern Art Festival is a huge light show, Bigger, Better, more beautiful than your traditional light show. Lanterns are built on site up to 30 feet tall.
Home Alone Feature Film With The San Francisco Symphony
7:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Davies Symphony Hall (map)
See the beloved holiday hit Home Alone on the big screen like you never have before, with John Williams’ exuberant score performed live by the San Francisco Symphony and unforgettable carols sung live by three children’s choruses in a special guest appearance at Davies Symphony Hall.
Saturday, December 22, 2018
CRAFT FAIRS
Craneway Craft Fair, Craneway Pavilion (map)
BREAKFAST WITH SANTA
Breakfast With Santa Is Back For The Holiday! Hyatt Regency, San Francisco (map)
NUTCRACKER
San Francisco Ballet Nutcracker, San Francisco’s War Memorial Opera House (map)
Graham Lustig's The Nutcracker, The Paramount Theatre (map)
Mark Foehringer’s Nutcracker Sweets, Cowell Theater (map)
THEATER
Wonderland: Alice's Rock And Roll Adventure, BACT Berkeley Center (map)
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Christmas Show, Creativity Theatre, San Francisco (map)
The Wizard Of Oz, Berkeley Playhouse (map)
Sleeping Beauty, The Panto! PantoSF @ Custom Made Theatre (formerly The Tides) (map)
Wizard Of Oz, Young People's Edition, Novato Theatre Company (map)
Mittens And Mistletoe, A Winter Circus Cabaret, Mission Theater (map)
Circus Bella Presents Kaleidoscope, Mersea Meadow (map)
Cinderella, African-American Shakespeare Company (map)
Mary Poppins, San Francisco Playhouse (map)
A Christmas Carol, Geary Theater (map)
The Christmas Ballet, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco (map)
A NOH Christmas Carol, Theatre of Yugen (map)
HOLIDAY LIGHTING
Illuminate SF, San Francisco, CA (map)
Holidays Along the Farm Trails
Meet your farmers, vintners and artisan producers; cut down your own Christmas tree; shop for home-grown and handmade gifts; source ingredients for your holiday meals; see how cheese is made; greet farm animals; sample delicious food; and discover some of Sonoma County's best kept secrets! #SonomaStrong #FarmStrong
Sunrise Solstice Hike At Deer Island
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM
Deer Island Preserve (map)
Hike the 2 mile deer island loop trail with a ranger and watch the sunrise.
Fun Family Fitness Class
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Mill Valley Recreation (map)
Join Coach Tilda for a fun workout for the entire family!
Steve’s Machines & Santa Will Be At The Marin Country Mart Farmers Market
9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Marin Country Mart (map)
Chock full of things with springs and drawing machines,
Flocks of bots and mechanical props.
Don’t miss the contraption fun at the Marin Country Mart and all the fun things you can take apart!
Joan Schoettler - Ruth Asawa
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Book Passage (map)
Meet author Joan Schoettler as she talks about her book Ruth Asawa: A Sculpting Life which portrays a remarkable artist, teacher, and woman.
Family Art Making
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
de Young museum (map)
Family Art Making offers a free, drop-in art project led by professional teaching artists.
Naturalist Creekwalk Tours In Search Of Coho Salmon
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Samuel P. Taylor State Park (map)
Each winter we look forward to following the endangered coho salmon as they return to Lagunitas Creek to spawn.
The Great Dickens Christmas Fair
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Cow Palace, San Francisco (map)
Visit London - at the historic Cow Palace Exhibition Halls! Enter the winding lanes of Victorian London and immerse yourself in a world of music halls, theatres, pubs, dance parties, and charming shops overflowing with hand-made holiday treasures.
IlluminOdyssey
CuriOdyssey, San Mateo (map)
A WINTER LIGHT EXPERIENCE FOR KIDS!
’Tis The Season For Science
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco (map)
Experience a winter wonderland in the heart of San Francisco. Outdoor snow flurries, a hands-on polar-themed exhibit, and festive ice rink make the Academy a holiday destination for science lovers of all ages.
Polar Express
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Lawrence Hall of Science (map)
This year, the Hall invites our Member families to embark on a fantastic journey in The Polar Express.
Fairy Winterland
12:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Children's Fairyland (map)
In December, Fairy Winterland celebrates the winter holidays of many cultures: Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Las Posadas, Diwali, and Chinese New Year. Join us for stories, crafts, a festival of lights, and a visit from Santa.
Christmas With Walt Disney (2009)
4:00 PM
The Walt Disney Family Museum (map)
In this charming film directed by Don Hahn and produced exclusively for the museum, Diane Disney Miller shares stories of Walt’s life during the holidays—at work and at home with his family.
Night Bloom
5:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Conservatory of Flowers, Golden Gate Park (map)
Light and sound will transform the iconic San Francisco landmark into a glowing landscape of interactive experiences this holiday season.
Lantern Light Festival
5:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton (map)
Lantern Art Festival is a huge light show, Bigger, Better, more beautiful than your traditional light show. Lanterns are built on site up to 30 feet tall.
Sunday, December 23, 2018
Brunch With Santa, Terrapin Crossroads, San Rafael (map)
Breakfast With Santa Is Back For The Holiday! Hyatt Regency, San Francisco (map)
CRAFT FAIRS
Craneway Craft Fair, Craneway Pavilion (map)
NUTCRACKER
San Francisco Ballet Nutcracker, San Francisco’s War Memorial Opera House (map)
The Royal Ballet Nutcracker, Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center (map)
Bolshoi Ballet: The Nutcracker, Lark Theatre (map)
Mark Foehringer’s Nutcracker Sweets, Cowell Theater (map)
Graham Lustig's The Nutcracker, The Paramount Theatre (map)
THEATER
Wonderland: Alice's Rock And Roll Adventure, BACT Berkeley Center (map)
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Christmas Show, Creativity Theatre, San Francisco (map)
The Wizard Of Oz, Berkeley Playhouse (map)
Sleeping Beauty, The Panto! PantoSF @ Custom Made Theatre (formerly The Tides) (map)
Wizard Of Oz, Young People's Edition, Novato Theatre Company (map)
Mittens And Mistletoe, A Winter Circus Cabaret, Mission Theater (map)
Circus Bella Presents Kaleidoscope, Mersea Meadow (map)
Cinderella, African-American Shakespeare Company (map)
Mary Poppins, San Francisco Playhouse (map)
A Christmas Carol, Geary Theater (map)
The Christmas Ballet, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco (map)
HOLIDAY LIGHTING
Illuminate SF, San Francisco, CA (map)
Holidays Along the Farm Trails
Meet your farmers, vintners and artisan producers; cut down your own Christmas tree; shop for home-grown and handmade gifts; source ingredients for your holiday meals; see how cheese is made; greet farm animals; sample delicious food; and discover some of Sonoma County's best kept secrets! #SonomaStrong #FarmStrong
Marine Science Sunday: Seal And Sea Lion Superstars Of 2018
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
The Marine Mammal Center (map)
Our own backyard in the bay is full of amazing marine mammals!
The Great Dickens Christmas Fair
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Cow Palace, San Francisco (map)
Visit London - at the historic Cow Palace Exhibition Halls! Enter the winding lanes of Victorian London and immerse yourself in a world of music halls, theatres, pubs, dance parties, and charming shops overflowing with hand-made holiday treasures.
’Tis The Season For Science
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco (map)
Experience a winter wonderland in the heart of San Francisco. Outdoor snow flurries, a hands-on polar-themed exhibit, and festive ice rink make the Academy a holiday destination for science lovers of all ages.
King Tide Hike
11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
China Camp State Park (map)
Celebrate winter with a beautiful short hike and lots of science at China Camp State Park!
Christmas With Walt Disney (2009)
1:00 PM
The Walt Disney Family Museum (map)
In this charming film directed by Don Hahn and produced exclusively for the museum, Diane Disney Miller shares stories of Walt’s life during the holidays—at work and at home with his family.
Family-Friendly Holiday Cruise
4:15 PM - 6:00 PM
Bridge 2 Bridge Cruise (map)
Santa himself will be aboard for meet-and-greets and photo ops, and the ship will be sporting a shiny red Rudolph nose as this special festive holiday cruise sails through San Francisco Bay.
Night Bloom
5:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Conservatory of Flowers, Golden Gate Park (map)
Light and sound will transform the iconic San Francisco landmark into a glowing landscape of interactive experiences this holiday season.
Lantern Light Festival
5:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton (map)
Lantern Art Festival is a huge light show, Bigger, Better, more beautiful than your traditional light show. Lanterns are built on site up to 30 feet tall.
SF Symphony Celebrates The Season With 'Twas The Night
7:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Davies Symphony Hall (map)
Delight in a warm and intimate holiday program and sing along with your favorite seasonal tunes at San Francisco Symphony's Davies Symphony Hall which will be cheerfully decorated for the season, putting you and yours in a holiday mood.
EVENT LISTINGS ARE CHECKED AT THE TIME OF POSTING BUT SCHEDULES MAY CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. LINKS ARE AVAILABLE TO ALL VENUES FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE. PLEASE CONFIRM INFORMATION WITH THE WEBSITE.