Seasonal & Holidays
Mill Valley Holidays: Christmas Events & Hanukkah Fests 2023
See Santa stops, menorah lightings, Christmas concerts, lights extravaganzas, Nutcrackers & more festivities in Mill Valley & North Bay.
MILL VALLEY, CA — The holiday season is in full swing throughout Mill Valley and the North Bay!
Grab your calendars, so you don't miss a moment ... as the New Year will be here before your know it.
Hanukkah's "Festival of Lights" ends Friday, Dec. 15. Christmas, Dec. 25, is on a Monday this year, followed by New Year's Eve on Sunday, Dec. 31.
Find out what's happening in Mill Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Peruse our annual guide to finding Santa, menorah lightings, "Nutcracker" ballets, Christmas concerts, theater productions, winter ice rinks, walk- and drive-thru, holiday-lights extravaganzas and more.
And to all, from Patch, Happy Holidays!
Find out what's happening in Mill Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Note: Always confirm with organizers that events are proceeding as planned when posted.
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ANTIOCH:
THROUGH DEC. 17: Black Diamond Ballet 'Nutcracker': El Campanil Theatre. "Join us for an afternoon or evening of enchantment & artistic excellence." Sensory-friendly show offered, too.
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BENICIA:
DEC. 13: Meghan Campbell Memorial Chanukah Menorah Lighting. At City Park Gazebo.
DEC. 16-17: Benicia Ballet Theatre 'Nutcracker': Solano Community College. "Come share the magic of the traditional story with some unexpected twists."
DEC. 17: Sing it Yourself Messiah. Join the fun in Historic Clock Tower.
THROUGH DEC. 22: Museum Of History Christmas Tree Lot Fundraiser. Featuring various kids' activities on weekends.
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CORTE MADERA:
DEC. 12: Chanukah Celebration & Menorah Lighting. Hosted by Chabad of Larkspur - Corte Madera.
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COTATI:
DEC. 16: Kids' DIY-U Workshop: Holiday Delivery Truck: Lowe's. Sign up for a time slot.
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DAVIS:
DEC. 31: 'Seussical The Musical' New Year's Eve Show & Dinner. Catered diner, plus "witty, wild & whimsical" show.
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DIXON:
DEC. 15: Christmas 'Carols In The Tunnel' Tradition. Join singers at underpass with amazing tunnel acoustics.
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FAIRFAX:
DEC. 14: Chanukah Festival & Menorah Lighting: Bolinas Park. Music, crafts, photo booth, food & more planned.
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FAIRFIELD:
DEC. 14: Annual Chanukah Wonderland: Jelly Belly. With jelly bean-filled menorah!
DEC. 16-17: Benicia Ballet Theatre 'Nutcracker': Solano Community College. "Come share the magic of the traditional story with some unexpected twists."
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HEALDSBURG:
DEC. 16: Holiday Drop N' Shop For Kids 3-10. Fun for little ones while parents shop & run errands.
DEC. 19: Creativebug: DIY Gift Boxes. Advance registration encouraged, but not required.
DEC. 20: Gingerbread House Workshop for Kids. At library for grades K-6.
DEC. 31: New Year's Eve Party With John Courage Trio: Elephant In The Room. With special guests The Gill Brothers Band.
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LARKSPUR:
DEC. 12: Chanukah Celebration & Menorah Lighting. Hosted by Chabad of Larkspur - Corte Madera.
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MILL VALLEY:
DEC. 17: 'Winterfest' Holiday Entertainment & Kids' Fun. Jumpy house, cornhole & movie, too.
DEC. 17: Christmas Caroling With Our Lady Of Mount Carmel Church. Followed up with cocoa & cookies.
DEC. 21: Christmas Jug Band & Special Guest Kathy Kennedy, Sweetwater. Get ready for musical, holiday wackiness!
DEC. 30: Pre-New Year's Eve Singles Dance Party. At Club at Harbor Point, Lighthouse Grill.
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NAPA:
DEC. 15-17: Napa Regional Dance 'Nutcracker' With Orchestra: Performing Arts Center. "Combination of this beloved ballet & live symphony is truly stunning & you, all, are in for a real treat!"
DEC. 17: Sing Napa Valley 'A Christmas Carol' Concert. Featuring professional soloist from SF Opera Chorus as Scrooge.
DEC. 17: Santa’s Workshop at Ackerman Heritage House. "Our iconic Victorian’s Carriage House becomes Santa’s workshop."
DEC. 17: 3rd Annual Holiday Krampus Pop Up Market. Cocktails, entertainment, Krampus, minions & Santa!
DEC. 24: Family Christmas Eve Morning Service & Candlelight Christmas Eve Service. At First Christian Church.
THROUGH JAN. 7: 'Merry Meritage' Holiday Ice Skating Rink & Winter Village. Enjoy igloo experience & fire pits!
THROUGH DEC. 25: Santa Visits & Storytime: Meritage Resort. No reservations required.
DEC. 31: New Year's Eve Celebration. At Carneros Resort and Spa with dinner & dancing.
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NOVATO:
DEC. 16: 'Come One, Come All Christmas Caroling' Cocoa & Cookies. Promenade led by professional singers with jingles all can sing.
DEC. 17: Marin Conservatory Of Dance 'Nutcracker' - "Celebrate the holidays with our original version of 'The Nutcracker'!"
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OAKLAND:
DEC. 15-16: KITKA Women's Vocal Ensemble: Wintersongs. Seasonal songs from Balkan, Baltic, Caucasian, Mediterranean & Slavic lands.
DEC. 16-17: Oakland Ballet School 'Ronn Guidi’s The Secret Nutcracker': Performing Arts Center. In San Leandro & set to Tchaikovsky’s classical score.
DEC. 16-17: Winter Open House: Homesteading Holiday Social, Tasting & Sale. At Mariposa Grove.
DEC. 16-17: Oakland Ballet 'Nutcracker' With Symphony: Paramount Theatre. With Oakland Symphony & Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir.
THROUGH DEC. 30: 'Fairy Winterland' Holiday Celebration: Children’s Fairyland. See Black Santa & Festival of Lights Parade before they head back to North Pole Dec. 23.
DEC. 31: New Year's Eve Balloon Drop Celebration: Chabot Space & Science Center. Perfect for families with little ones.
THROUGH JAN. 28: Oakland Zoo 'Glowfari' Holiday Lantern Festival. "Wildly popular, family-friendly experience is back with hundreds of ALL new, larger-than-life animal lanterns."
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PENNGROVE:
DEC. 17: Holiday Parade Of Lights. A community tradition with lighted tractors & more.
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PETALUMA:
DEC. 15-17: 2 Capote & Thomas Holiday Classics On Stage: Polly Klaas Community Theater. Enjoy Truman Capote's "A Christmas Memory' & Dylan Thomas' "A Child's Christmas in Wales."
DEC. 16: Wacky Holidays: Christmas Jug Band, Big Easy. Get ready for musical holiday wackiness!
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ROHNERT PARK:
DEC. 15-17: Santa Rosa Dance Theater 'Nutcracker': Spreckels Performing Arts Center. "Snow falling, flowers waltzing and children delighting."
DEC. 16: San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus 'Holiday Spectacular': Green Music Center. Concert experience that blends enchantment of season with compassion & community.
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SAN ANSELMO:
DEC. 20: Violin and Cello Winter Concert. Free at the library.
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SAN FRANCISCO:
DEC. 13-30: SF Ballet 'Nutcracker' With Orchestra: War Memorial Opera House. "This dazzling production is a kaleidoscope of over 150 dancers accompanied by SF Ballet Orchestra performing Tchaikovsky’s beloved score. "
DEC. 15-17: 'Million Dollar Quartet Christmas' Holiday Rock N' Roll: Curran Theater. Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins & Elvis Presley come to life!
DEC. 16: Ugly Sweater Bar Crawl. Tickets on sale.
DEC. 16: Holiday Bingo With Sisters Of Perpetual Indulgence. "Festive holiday edition of bingo at enchanting Hotel Zeppelin."
DEC. 16-17: Dance-Along Nutcracker 'Nutmare Before Christmas': Yerba Buena Center For Arts. "You’ll waltz! You’ll march! You’ll pirouette! You’ll sing along!
DEC. 16-17: Stapleton School Of Performing Arts 'Nutcracker': Palace Of Fine Arts. Family-friendly Nutcracker Ball follows Saturday evening performance.
DEC. 16-23: 'Elf' Movie Party: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. With games, props & a very loud sing-along!
DEC. 17: KITKA Women's Vocal Ensemble: Wintersongs. Seasonal songs from Balkan, Baltic, Caucasian, Mediterranean & Slavic lands.
DEC. 19: NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet: Golden Gate Theatre. "Beloved family tradition."
DEC. 24: SF Gay Men’s Chorus 'Holiday Spectacular': Castro Theatre. A 34-year, heartwarming holiday tradition.
THROUGH DEC. 23: 'The Golden Girls: The Christmas Episodes': Victoria Theatre. Four drag legends stage eagerly-awaited holiday tradition.
THROUGH DEC. 24: 'A Christmas Carol': A.C.T. Toni Rembe Theater. American Conservatory Theater's celebrated production of the Charles Dickens classic.
THROUGH DEC. 26: Chase Center 'Winter Wonderland' Ice Skating Rink. Event is free!
DEC. 27: River Otter Snow Days: Aquarium Of The Bay, Pier 39. See otters frolic in snowy wonderland.
THROUGH DEC. 30: 'Dear San Francisco' Holiday Version: Club Fugazi. Homage to SF with world-class acrobats.
THROUGH DEC. 31: Macy's & SPCA Annual Holiday Windows. Tradition returns with kitties & puppies in need of forever homes.
DEC. 31: SF New Year’s Eve Fireworks 2023-24: Embarcadero. "Say goodbye to 2023 and ring in the 2024 new year with 200,000 fellow bundled-up San Franciscans."
DEC. 31: New Year's Eve Pub Crawl Party. Featuring multiple SF hot spots.
DEC. 31: New Year's Eve 'Dear San Francisco': Club Fugazi. Two special NYE performances.
DEC. 31: Thrive City Kwanzaa & Noon Year’s Eve: Chase Center. With arts, crafts, treats & dancing.
THROUGH JAN. 15: Safeway Holiday Ice Rink: Union Square. Special events include Simba Saturdays, Flashback Fridays & Polar Bear Skate.
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SAN RAFAEL:
DEC. 14: Hanukkah Cocktail-Making Workshop & Kid-Friendly Event: Osher Marin JCC. Includes dinner for the youngsters!
DEC. 15: Hanukkah 'Shabbat Shmooze' Celebration & Menorah Lighting: Osher Marin JCC. Free event with music, wine, latkes & donuts.
DEC. 31: New Year's Eve Stand-Up Comedy Showcase. LOL while you ring in the new year.
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SANTA ROSA:
DEC. 15-17: Santa Rosa Dance Theater 'Nutcracker': Spreckels Performing Arts Center. "Snow falling, flowers waltzing and children delighting."
DEC. 18: Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet: Luther Burbank Center for the Arts. "The peak of classical European Ballet."
DEC. 23: New World Ballet 'Duke Ellington Nutcracker' & Orchestra: Luther Burbank Center. "New World Ballet & Marcus Shelby Orchestra come together in this special holiday production."
THROUGH DEC. 31: 'Winter Lights' Outdoor, Holiday Skating Rink: Downtown. Themed-day fun planned, too.
THROUGH JAN. 16: 'Northern Lights' Winter Walk-Thru: Luther Burbank Center Sculpture Garden. Free with twinkling tunnels & lights.
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SONOMA:
DEC. 16: 'Here Comes Santa Claus' Photos & Kids' Fun: Sonoma Marketplace. Bring your camera!
DEC. 19: Pop-Up Workshop: Holiday Paper Lantern. At Community Center.
DEC. 19: Christmas Line Dancing & Lessons. For all levels & all ages.
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SUISUN CITY:
DEC. 14: Suisun Waterfront Hanukkah Fest & Menorah Lighting. With entertainment, latkes, donuts & music.
DEC. 28: 1st Annual Kwanzaa Celebration. Free, community event with food, music, dance & more.
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VALLEJO:
DEC. 14: Drive-In Chanukah & Grand Menorah Lighting: City Hall. With music & holiday food.
THROUGH JAN. 7: Six Flags Discovery Kingdom 'Holiday In The Park.' Featuring Santa, dazzling lights, entertainment & more holiday activities.
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FOR ENTIRE SF BAY AREA GUIDE: SF Bay Area Holidays: Christmas Events & Hanukkah Fests 2023
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