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Christmas Weekend 2023 in San Francisco Top Things To Do: Santa Visits, Holiday Shows, and More

Admire Toy Trains before Santa places some under the tree! Photo courtesy of the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
Admire Toy Trains before Santa places some under the tree! Photo courtesy of the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
12/20/23 - By Sandra Lee

Looking for the best things to do in San Francisco and the Bay Area over Christmas weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list.

All the last-minute shopping, gift wrapping, stocking stuffer quick trips, holiday lights, and grocery runs have all led up to this: Christmas weekend. Check out the adorable puppies and kittens at Macy's Union Square Holiday Windows, see The Nutcracker with the San Francisco Ballet or the Mark Foehringer‘s Nutcracker Sweets version for smaller kids, and grab a warm cup of hot cocoa and lace up your skates for ice skating at the Union Square Holiday Ice Rink. 

Whether you are traveling or staying local, staying home or spending it with family and friends close by, we here at Mommy Poppins wish you a very Merry Christmas from our family to yours. 

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Skate into Christmas weekend in winter style. Photo courtesy of the Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square
Skate into Christmas weekend in winter style. Photo courtesy of the Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square

Best Things To Do Christmas Weekend in San Francisco Bay Area with Kids

A Charlie Brown Christmas- Live!

San Francisco
Wednesday - Saturday, December 20 - 23, 2023
Part of Holidays at the Symphony, families can see Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the whole Peanuts gang together on the big screen for A Charlie Brown Christmas. Featuring live actors, an animated backdrop, and Vince Guaraldi's score performed live by the SF Symphony.  READ MORE

Twinkle Twinkle at the Mart

Larkspur - FREE
Thursday, December 21, 2023
The Mart is open late with activities for the whole family, including cookie decorating, live music, hot chocolate, holiday vendors (for your holiday shopping), a holiday petting zoo, and cocktails for parents.  READ MORE

Santa Days at Filoli

Woodside
Thursday & Friday, December 21 & 22, 2023
Meet Santa in the beautiful garden at Filoli for Santa Days. Get a photo with the busy man himself, and enjoy a hot drink and holiday treat in the Woodland Court. Afterward, take a stroll through the garden and the house and see all the twinkling lights and holiday decor.  READ MORE

Magical Gingerbread House Workshop

San Mateo
Thursday - Saturday, December 21 - 23, 2023
The baking elves from Kathy's Creative Kakes are at Hillsdale Shopping Center helping you decorate your own gingerbread house. The houses are baked, cooled, and ready to decorate with icing, candies, and unique house decor. Choose from a medium or large chalet-style house that is big enough for two people to decorate. This year, Kathy's Creative Kakes is also offering a Christmas Cookie Decorating Experience that includes icing, sprinkles, and sparkles.  READ MORE

Fairy Winterland

Oakland
Thursday - Saturday, December 21 - 23, 2023
December sparkles at Children's Fairyland for the return of Fairy Winterland. See twinkling lights, Santa Claus leading the Festival of Lights Parade, special performances, a holiday scavenger hunt, and a cup of hot chocolate or cider. Don't forget to drop your letter to Santa in the special mailbox!  READ MORE

The Holiday Train 2023

Los Gatos
Thursday - Saturday, December 21 - 23, 2023
The Holiday Train is back for its 22nd season with a ride through the beautiful Vasona Park to see the beautiful Fantasy of Lights display.  Grab a bite to eat at the Snack Shack before getting onboard for a magical holiday evening.  READ MORE

Selfies with Santa at Alexander Square

San Ramon - FREE
Thursday - Saturday, December 21 - 23, 2023
Santa's calendar has him landing at Alexander Square with time for selfies with families. Parents can take photos for the Santa chats, kids can tell Santa what they want for Christmas, and take in all the holiday cheer.  READ MORE

Toy Trains 2023

Santa Cruz - FREE
Thursday - Sunday, December 21 - 24, 2023
The toy train pop-up event is at the Museum of Art and History for free this year, inviting all families of train lovers to see trains, tracks, and all things locomotive.  READ MORE

Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella Enchanted

Berkeley
Ends Friday, December 22, 2023
A fairytale classic with a Bay Area twist, Cinderella Enchanted tells the story of a free-spirited Berkeley artist who falls in love with a wealthy Silicon Valley romantic. Kids and adults alike can enjoy this romantic tale of glitz and glamour, all in the Bay Area setting.  READ MORE

Film with Live Orchestra: Home Alone

San Francisco
Friday & Saturday, December 22 & 23, 2023
Did you know that Home Alone is one of the highest-grossing films of all time? See one of the most popular holiday movies on the big screen while the score (by John Williams) is performed live by the San Francisco Symphony.  READ MORE

Mark Foehringer‘s Nutcracker Sweets

San Francisco
Friday & Saturday, December 22 & 23, 2023
A unique, 50-minute production perfect for small kids, Nutcracker Sweets takes the best parts of the classic ballet and makes it fun. With beautiful costumes, contemporary dance, ballet, and recognizable characters, it's a great way to introduce this holiday tradition.  READ MORE

Reindeer Games

San Francisco
Friday & Saturday, December 22 & 23, 2023
On the day before Christmas, Santa's reindeer are passing the time before flying the sleigh to deliver presents to all the kids.  Circus acts, live music, and interactive games for all families are going down at the Reindeer Games holiday show. See acrobatics, juggling, and more circus acts, music by The Vivants, and games that get everyone involved.  READ MORE

Tilden Merry Go Round Breakfast with Santa

Berkeley
Friday & Saturday, December 22 & 23, 2023
Have a buffet-style breakfast of eggs, pancakes, pastries, fruit, and more with the big man himself. Then, enjoy unlimited rides, character visits, games, Christmas movies, and a special gift from Santa with family and friends.  READ MORE

Cookies & Cocoa with Santa

Oakland
Saturday, December 23, 2023
The 3rd annual Cookies & Cocoa with Santa event is happening at Kids Play Zone in West Oakland. Kids can meet Santa and take some pictures, then run around and play at the family-owned indoor playground. READ MORE

Free Selfies with Santa

Oakland - FREE
Saturday & Sunday, December 23 & 24, 2023
Jack London Square is inviting Santa to take selfies with families and well-behaved pets. Bring your camera (phones work too!) and take a photo with the big man himself.  READ MORE

A Christmas Carol

San Francisco
Ends Sunday, December 24, 2023
Music, costumes, and those spooky ghosts, A Christmas Carol is at the Toni Rembe Theater in San Francisco this holiday season. As one of their family-friendly productions, this production is a Bay Area tradition and is inviting families of all ages to enjoy.  READ MORE

Winter Walk at Union Square

San Francisco - FREE
Daily through December 24, 2023
The Union Square tradition is back by popular demand! Bring the whole crew to downtown San Francisco for two blocks of fun from Post to O'Farrell St. Enjoy food trucks, bar gardens, entertainment, family-friendly activities, and all the holiday cheer. READ MORE

Enchant Christmas

San Jose
Daily through Saturday, December 30, 2023
Get ready for the biggest light show coming to San Jose for the holidays. Enchant features over 4 million sparkling lights creating an immersive story-themed maze that families can walk through. Additional activities include ice skating, entertainment, dining, holiday shopping, and, of course, visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus.  READ MORE

San Francisco Ballet: The Nutcracker

San Francisco
Select dates through Saturday, December 30, 2023
Exquisite dancing, beautiful sets, beloved characters, and the music of Tchaikovsky are performed live by the San Francisco Orchestra and the San Francisco Ballet Company. A favorite show for the holidays, it's the story of a young girl, a nutcracker, and a Sugarplum fairy.   READ MORE

Potted Potter

San Francisco
Select dates through January 7, 2024
Fans of Harry Potter are in for a treat as two-time  Olivier Award-nominated actors Daniel Clarson and Jefferson Turner try to condense all seven Harry Potter books into 70 minutes. The hilarious duo brings The Unauthorized Harry Potter Experience to the Palace of Fine Arts for a limited time.  READ MORE

Union Square Holiday Ice Rink

San Francisco
Daily through Monday, January 15, 2024
Ice skating is back at San Francisco's favorite outdoor rink in Union Square. Enjoy special events like Learn to Skate, Simba Saturdays (until December 30), and Flashback Fridays. Grab a cup of hot chocolate, admire the beautiful tree, and celebrate the holidays. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad