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Christmas Vacation in San Francisco: 15 Staycation Ideas for Things To Do with Kids

Step into a winter wonderland at Enchant Christmas at PayPal Park. Photo courtesy of the event.
Step into a winter wonderland at Enchant Christmas at PayPal Park. Photo courtesy of the event.
12/15/24 - By Sandra Lee

Christmas vacation plans can be tricky, but luckily, plenty is going on in San Francisco and the Bay Area to keep the kids busy. While movie marathons and pajamas all day sound perfect, there are some entertaining events and things to do in the Bay Area that get your family out of the house and exploring. Catch holiday events you might've missed, like WinterFest at Great America and the Union Square Holiday Ice Rink. Visit a museum in the middle of the week for festive programs like Polar Play Days in San Jose and 'Tis the Season for Science at Cal Academy to see baby yaks. Or see a show like Hamilton to end or start the year. 

These are my favorite things to do when my kids are on Christmas vacation! However, more events are added to our San Francisco activities calendar every day. 

If you plan to take a local getaway during Christmas vacation, get inspired with things to do in Lake Tahoe with kids, discover the best things to do in Oakland with kids, embark on the best day trips from San Francisco, and peruse our Weekend Getaway Guide and Day Trips for San Francisco. 

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Fly to Neverland by seeing Panto in the Presidio: Peter Pan. Photo by Terry Lorant
Fly to Neverland by seeing Panto in the Presidio: Peter Pan. Photo by Terry Lorant

Top Things To Do During Holiday Break in San Francisco

New Year's Train at Roaring Camp

Felton
Thursday - Tuesday, December 26 - 31, 2024
Bring in the new year aboard the New Years Holiday Train. Ride vintage train cars beautifully decorated with holiday lights through the streets of Santa Cruz. Light-up hula hoopers and a live DJ will keep spirits bright and help bring in 2025 right. READ MORE

Enchant Christmas at PayPal Park

San Jose
Daily through Sunday, December 29, 2024
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, kids play space, and, of course, visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus.  READ MORE

Panto in the Presidio: Peter Pan

San Francisco
Select dates through Sunday, December 29, 2024
Panto is a UK holiday tradition, bringing satire, audience participation, and sing-along to popular fairy tales. Audience members can help boo villains, cheer for the heroes, and sing along to popular songs played by a live band. Oh, and watch out for flying candy!  READ MORE

39th Annual Japanese New Year’s Bell-Ringing Ceremony

San Francisco
Sunday, December 29, 2024
The Asian Art Museum is ready to ring in the New Year with a 2,100-pound, 16th-century Japanese temple bell. The ceremony includes a purification ritual and chanting of the Buddhist Heart Sutra. Then it's open to the public, giving families the chance to leave behind anything negative from the previous year. READ MORE

Noon Year's Eve at Bay Area Discovery Museum

Sausalito
Tuesday, December 31, 2024
The Bay Area Discovery Museum is hosting a Noon Year's Eve Party complete with a dance party and a countdown with an epic ball drop. Then, enjoy all the winter-themed spaces and activities around the museum for the rest of the day like iceless skating!  READ MORE

Hamilton in San Francisco

San Francisco
Select Days through Sunday, January 5, 2025
Hamilton is the epic saga that follows the rise of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton as he fights for honor, love, and a legacy that would shape the course of a nation. In addition to its 11 Tony Awards, it has won Grammy®, Olivier Awards, the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and an unprecedented special citation from the Kennedy Center Honors. READ MORE

Polar Play Days at the Tech Interactive

San Jose
Daily through Sunday, January 5, 2025
It's snowy, chilly, and full of STEM-tastic activities at The Tech Interactive in San Jose for Polar Play Days. Build sweet candy structures to withstand a blizzard, slide into some serious fun at our new Sock Skating Rink, take a spin at ICESat-2, and so much more.  READ MORE

'Tis the Season for Science at Cal Academy

San Francisco
Daily through Sunday, January 5, 2025
Indoor flurries, icy science experiments, and musical performances are going on now at the California Academy of Arts and Sciences. Families can check out the Naturalist Center and learn how animals thrive in arctic climates, tour a winter night sky at the Planetarium, see baby reindeer, or explore the Ice Lab.  READ MORE

Dog Man: The Musical in San Francisco

San Francisco
Saturday & Sunday, January 4 & 5, 2025
Based on the worldwide bestselling hit series by Dav Pilkey, Dog Man: The Musical is a hilarious and heartwarming new production following the chronicles of Dog Man, who with the head of a dog and the body of a policeman, loves to fight crime and chew on the furniture. But while trying his best to be a good boy, can he save the city from Flippy the cyborg fish and his army of Beasty Buildings? Find out in this epic musical adventure featuring the hilarity and heart of beloved characters from Dav Pilkey, the creator of Captain Underpants. READ MORE

WinterFest at Great America

Santa Clara
Select dates through Sunday, January 5, 2025
Festive food, shopping, special rides, holiday activities, lights, and live entertainment, the park is transformed into a holiday festival. Ice skate in front of the Carousel Columbia, sip on hot chocolate, send letters to the North Pole, and bake cookies in Mrs. Claus' kitchen.  READ MORE

Circus Bella's Kaleidoscope at The Crossing

San Francisco
Select dates through Sunday, January 5, 2025
Circus Bella returns to San Francisco with their new indoor seated show. The original 90-minute circus spectacularly features international acts, local favorites, and the Circus Bella All-Star band. See daring acts to feats of wonder, to the engaging delight of our clowns. READ MORE

Snowland at Great Wolf Lodge

Manteca
Daily through Monday, January 6, 2025
Enter a winter wonderland at Great Wolf Lodge's annual holiday celebration, Snowland. The lodge is decked out in holiday cheer, with all the favorites like trivia, bingo, and dance parties ongoing.  The immersive experience is filled with seasonal must-dos like visits with Santa Claus, gingerbread house making, and more.  READ MORE

Union Square Holiday Ice Rink

San Francisco
Daily through Monday, January 20, 2025
Ice skating is back at San Francisco's favorite outdoor rink in Union Square. Enjoy special events like Learn to Skate, Polar Bear Skate, and Flashback Fridays. Grab a cup of hot chocolate, admire the beautiful tree, and celebrate the holidays. READ MORE

Northern Lights at LBC Sculpture Center

Santa Rosa - FREE
Daily through Monday, January 20, 2025
Bringing families into the magic of winter nightfall, Winter Lights attracts more than 25,000 people each year. The self-guided tour takes you through new sculptures by local artists, tunnels of twinkling lights, and much more.  READ MORE

Glow: Play in the Light at the Exploratorium

San Francisco
Tuesday - Sunday through January 26, 2025
Play experimental LED dungeon crawlers, see real objects float with movie screen technology, paint the walls with digital light, walk inside 3D illusions, and so much more.  Tons of family programs will get everyone thinking and exploring the magic of light. READ MORE

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