Holiday events around the Bay Area to fire up your festive spirit

Image courtesy of Safeway Holiday Ice Rink.

No matter what holiday – or holidays –  you celebrate, you’ll find a plethora of events around the Bay Area to get you in the most festive of spirits. It’s the most BARTable time of the year, after all!

Hanukkah falls first, from December 18 to 26, followed by Christmas on December 25 and Kwanzaa from December 26, 2022 to January 1, 2023.

Ring in the holiday season by checking out one of the many local happenings we’ve rounded up below, all of which are accessible by BART. Keep reading...

The Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square | Powell St

If you go to San Francisco and bring your holiday cheer, the odds are high that you’ll find yourself at the holiday ice rink in Union Square. Tourists and locals alike slide across the ice at this well-sized rink, nestled among department stores and high-end shops dressed up for the season. Before you lace up, drop by Macy’s across the street to view its display of adoptable kittens and puppies.  

Image courtesy of Club Fugazi.

Dear San Francisco at Club Fugazi | Montgomery St

At Club Fugazi, attendees are encouraged to “eat, drink, and be merry!” That’s hardly a tall task when watching Club Fugazi’s latest holiday-themed show, which features high-flying acrobatics, dancing, song, and more. Tickets are available for purchase on the Club Fugazi website.

Image courtesy of BroadwaySF.

Disney’s “Frozen” | Civic Center

The Orpheum Theatre (1192 Market St, San Francisco) in San Francisco has transformed into Arendelle just in time for the holidays. Based on Disney’s hit movie “Frozen,” the touring musical of the same name tells the story of two sisters, Elsa and Anna, and the travails they face. The Tony-nominated musical features a dozen new songs, along with those much-loved hits. You’ll be “let(ting) it go” all the way to Civic Center Station. View our Family Guide to taking BART to “Frozen” on bart.gov here. 

“Winter Wanderland” in Union Square | Powell St

A monthlong celebration of “culture, community, and holiday cheer,” Visit Union Square’s “Winter Wanderland” (900 Market St, San Francisco) promises holiday delights in the form of artisanal crafts, goods, food, performances, and more. The market is located at Hallidie Plaza adjacent to Powell St Station and continues through the city to Union Square and beyond.

Image courtesy of Creativity Explored.

Creativity Explored Holiday Art Pop-Up Shop | Embarcadero

Support local artists by doing your holiday shopping at the Holiday Art Pop-Up Shop by Creativity Explored at the San Francisco Ferry Building (1 Ferry Building, Suite 31, San Francisco). Creativity Explored is an arts collective based in San Francisco that partners with developmentally disabled artists. At the pop-up, expect cards, wrapping paper, original paintings and sculptures, books, and more.

Image courtesy of ACT.

“A Christmas Carol” at American Conservatory Theater | Powell St.

“A Christmas Carol” at American Conservatory Theater is the gold standard for the beloved Dickens classic. Running at the Toni Rembe Theater (405 Geary St, San Francisco) through Christmas Eve, ACT’s “A Christmas Carol” will become your family’s newest holiday tradition.

Christmas Tree Lighting at Castro Village | Castro Valley

Castro Valley hosts its annual tree lighting in Castro Village Shopping Center on Dec 2. Expect live music, entertainment, and free photos with Santa. The tree lighting takes place at 6 pm.

Image courtesy of the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir.

Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir 37th Annual Holiday Concert | 19th St Oakland

The Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir will take over the Scottish Rite Center’s Grand Auditorium (1547 Lakeside Dr, Oakland) for an evening of music and community. Tickets for the choir’s 37th annual holiday concert range from $30 to $100 and can be purchased on their website.

Walnut Creek on Ice | Walnut Creek

Walnut Creek on Ice (1365 Civic Dr, Walnut Creek) returns once again to bring holiday cheer to the East Bay. For $20 (including skate rental), you can skate for 90 minutes at this well-maintained rink in the heart of Walnut Creek’s Civic Park.  Frequent skater passes are available, as well as private lessons.

Hanukkah Candle Making for Families with Young Children | El Cerrito del Norte

On the Shabbat before Hanukkah, Jewish Gateways and PJ Library Bay Area will get you ready for the holiday with a candle making event for parents and their young children. In addition to candles, there will be food, crafts, and holiday-themed stories.

Image courtesy of Yelp/Victor G.

Christmas at Meek Mansion | Hayward

Historic Meek Mansion in Hayward (917 A St, Hayward) gets a holiday makeover each year just in time for Santa’s arrival. Open for three Saturdays in December, the mansion’s halls will be decked and the spirit cheery. Crafts and special tours are on offer.

African-American Shakespeare Company’s “Cinderella” | Powell St

For 25 years, the African-American Shakespeare Company has been “envisioning the classics with color.” The company was founded in 1994 to open classical theater to a diverse audience and provide space for actors of color to hone their talents. This December, the company puts on the classic “Cinderella” at Marines’ Memorial Theatre (609 Sutter St, San Francisco).

San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus Holiday Spectacular | Downtown Berkeley

From “Jingle Bells” to “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” you can expect all the holiday hits at the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus annual Holiday Spectacular, held on Dec 11 at Freight and Salvage (2020 Addison St, Berkeley). Expect some songs you might not have heard before, including a holiday-themed Cher medley.

Image courtesy of SFJAZZ.

Pink Martini at SFJAZZ | Civic Center 

There’s a reason every performance by the band Pink Martini is almost sold out at SFJAZZ (201 Franklin St). Pink Martini is comprised of a dozen musicians, who will join forces to present their take on classic holiday music. Tickets range from $65 to $165 and can be purchased on the SFJAZZ website here.

Smuin’s “The Christmas Ballet” | Powell St

A “fiercely festive” dancing delight, Smuin’s “The Christmas Ballet” will make your heart sing with its signature combination of ballet, contemporary, and more in two acts. The show will be held at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (701 Mission St, San Francisco) starting Dec 14. 

Image courtesy of Hollie’s Homegrown.

Drink Up! Wine for the Holidays with Hollie | Lafayette

Start the holidays a little jollier with Drink Up! Wine for the Holidays at Hollie’s Homegrown (998 Moraga Rd, Lafayette). Hollie herself will take guests on a taste of her family’s holiday wines, from bubblies to bold reds, and tell stories along the way.

Image courtesy of the Lesher Center.

“The Biggest Gift” Presented by Fantasy Forum Actors Ensemble | Walnut Creek

Tucker the Elf and friends set out to save Christmas in this long-running holiday show at Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center for the Arts (1601 Civic Dr, Walnut Creek). Recommended for the young and young at heart, the annual show has made hearts sing for decades.

Graham Lustig’s The Nutcracker at Oakland Ballet | 19th St

Each year, the Oakland Ballet puts on a gorgeous rendition of The Nutcracker, that beloved holiday ballet written by Tchaikovsky. The dancers will be joined by the Oakland Symphony and the Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir, who will bring the music to effervescent life. Tickets are on sale on the Oakland Ballet website here.

ArtBash Your Way: Hanukkah at the Contemporary Jewish Museum | Powell St.

San Francisco’s Contemporary Jewish Museum makes it easy to craft with your family on Hanukkah with its latest iteration of Family ArtBash. Reserve your kit online and pick it up at one of the locations listed on the website. Then on Dec 18, a short video will guide you through the creation of the project. The project is designed for children ages four through 12. 

Image courtesy of Head West Marketplace.

Head West Holiday Marketplace | Concord

Todos Santos Plaza in Concord (2175 Willow Pass Rd, Concord) will become a veritable holiday bazaar on Dec 17 when Head West comes to town. The marketplace will feature 50+ local brands, along with live music, food, and drinks.

Hanukkah Celebration at Lake Temescal | Rockridge

The Jewish Baby Network presents a Hanukkah celebration at Lake Temescal (6502 Broadway Terrace, Oakland) with singing, community, card making, and more. The event is free and open to everyone – no matter the religious affiliation.

Image courtesy of San Francisco Public Library.

Kwanzaa Family Game Day at the Main San Francisco Public Library | Civic Center

Ring in the first day of Kwanzaa with your friends at the Main San Francisco Public Library (100 Larkin St, San Francisco). The library, with the African American Center and The Village Project, presents Kwanzaa Family Game Day. The event will include the Kwanzaa ritual, a pouring of libations and honoring of ancestors, as well as the lighting of the first candle.

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