Holiday Events In Palo Alto 2022: Christmas Parades; Tree Lightings

PALO ALTO, CA — 'Tis the season!

It's time to start filling your 2022 calendars with such holiday events as Christmas parades, tree lightings, Hanukkah menorah celebrations, breakfasts with Santa, Nutcracker ballets, concerts and other extravaganzas in Palo Alto and throughout Peninsula communities.

Christmas this year falls on Sunday, Dec. 25, while Hanukkah runs Dec. 18 through Dec. 26.

Peruse Patch's annual guide to find festivities going on near you. Always confirm with organizers that events are proceeding as planned when posted.

And to all our readers, Happy Holidays, from Patch!

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ATHERTON:

DEC. 1-2: Sacred Heart Schools Holiday Boutique. Get that gift shopping started!

DEC. 10-11: The Nutcracker. Performances from Ramon Moreno School of Ballet.

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BELMONT:

DEC. 8: Santa At Firehouse & Toy Drive. Free with one unwrapped toy for child in need for entry.

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BURLINGAME:

NOV. 30: Christmas at Kohl. Mercy High School Alumnae Association’s annual event.

DEC. 2: Holiday Tree Lighting. At City Hall.

DEC. 3-4: Caltrain Holiday Train & Santa: SF Bay Area Peninsula Cities. Don't miss out at your local station stop Dec. 3-4 weekend.

DEC. 18: Chanukah on Burlingame Avenue with Chabad NP. Latkes, donuts, crafts & Grand LEGO Menorah Lighting.

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COLMA:

DEC. 1: Holiday Tree Lighting & Santa. Enjoy visit from Santa, hot cocoa & treats.

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CUPERTINO:

DEC. 2: Holiday Tree Lighting, Outdoor Movie & Santa. Caroling & cocoa, too.

DEC. 3: Breakfast With Santa: Quinlan Community Center. Space is limited so book soon.

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DALY CITY:

THROUGH DEC. 18: Great Dickens Christmas Fair & Ice Skating Rink: Cow Palace. Back & in-person after two-year hiatus. The ice rink is new!

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EAST PALO ALTO:

THROUGH FEB. 25: Après Village & Skate Rink: Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley. "Winter wonderland with rustic wooden chalets, sleek fire tables & lighted alpine trees." Skating rink is new this year.

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FOSTER CITY:

DEC. 1- 18: Elf the Musical. Presented by Hillbarn Theatre & Conservatory.

DEC. 3: 'Walking In A Winter Wonderland' Holiday Lights Stroll. Complimentary candy canes at the end!

DEC. 14: Holiday Tree-Lighting Ceremony & Santa. Music, light refreshments & more fun planned.

DEC. 18: Chanukkah Concert and Party with Isaac Zones. Advance registration required.

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HALF MOON BAY:

NOV. 25: 'Nights Of Lights' Christmas Tree Lighting. Children welcome to bring handmade ornaments to hang on tree!

DEC. 2: 'Nights Of Lights' Holiday Lighted Parade & Santa. With kids' zone activities, too.

DEC. 10 & 22: Holiday Jazz & Vibrant Dining at Fattoria e Mare. Sonya Jason's Stardust Trio.

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HILLSBOROUGH:

DEC. 1: Holiday 'Light Up The Town' Event. Annual festivities at city hall.

DEC. 3: Holiday In. "A hip, sophisticated twist on classic holiday tunes."

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LOS ALTOS:

NOV. 27: Festival Of Lights Holiday Parade. Floats, bands & Santa!

DEC. 1: Holiday Tree Lighting: Downtown. Hosted by Los Altos Village Association.

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LOS ALTOS HILLS:

DEC. 4: Holiday Barn Lighting, Petting Zoo & Santa: Westwind Community Barn. Cookies, hot cider, wine, face painting, crafts & more.

DEC. 11: Festival Of Lights Hanukkah Party: Congregation Beth Am. Open to all.

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MENLO PARK:

DEC. 2: "Old Fashioned" Tree Lighting. Festivities at Oak + Violet.

DEC. 3: Allied Arts Guild Christmas Market. Mini Christmas tree auction, too.

DEC. 3-4: Caltrain Holiday Train & Santa: SF Bay Area Peninsula Cities. Don't miss out at your local station stop Dec. 3-4 weekend.

DEC. 11: KITKA Women's Vocal Ensemble: Wintersongs. "Abundant feast of sacred & secular songs for holiday season."

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MILLBRAE:

DEC. 3: Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony & Santa. Toy drive planned, too.

DEC. 3-4: Caltrain Holiday Train & Santa: SF Bay Area Peninsula Cities. Don't miss out at your local station stop Dec. 3-4 weekend.

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MOSS BEACH:

DEC. 28: Holiday Jazz Sax & Guitar at Moss Beach Distillery. Open seating. No cover.

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MOUNTAIN VIEW:

NOV. 25-27: Pacific Ballet Academy's Annual Nutcracker Ballet. A community tradition in its 31st year.

NOV. 27: Holiday Sing-Along With TACO (Terrible Adult Chamber Orchestra). Free at Civic Center Plaza.

DEC. 1-4: Smuin Contemporary Ballet's "The Christmas Ballet" - "Classical ballet set to beloved carols & red-hot contemporary numbers set to pop favorites."

DEC. 3-4: Caltrain Holiday Train & Santa: SF Bay Area Peninsula Cities. Don't miss out at your local station stop Dec. 3-4 weekend.

DEC. 5: Tree Lighting Holiday Celebration & Santa. With refreshments & train rides.

DEC. 10: German Holiday Market - Weihnachtsmarkt. A traditional open-air, European winter market in heart of Silicon Valley.

DEC. 17-18: Bayer Ballet’s “Snow Queen” - At Center for Performing Arts.

DEC. 22: Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir Holiday Concert: Performing Arts Center. "Experience sheer joy & message of unity."

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PACIFICA:

DEC. 2-3: Holiday 'Elf Market' - Plus, Pacifica Community Center Building Lighting is Dec. 2.

DEC. 4: Rockaway Beach Tree Lighting, Holiday Fest & Santa. With snow, music, food trucks, pony rides & more.

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PALO ALTO:

DEC. 1-18: Children's Theatre 'Nutcracker'- "Enchanting winter adventure will appeal to audiences of all ages!"

DEC. 2: Holiday Tree Lighting At Lytton Plaza. With bell ringers, carols & holiday treats.

DEC. 3: Holiday Storytime. Tickets on sale at Gamble Garden.

DEC. 17: Choral Project & San José Chamber Orchestra Holiday Concert. Winter’s Gifts returns to celebrate & exalt peace.

DEC. 17-18: Children's Theatre 'The Gingerbread Man' - Perfect for little ones.

DEC. 18: Hanukkah Celebration, Menorah Lighting & Concert: Oshman Family JCC. Tickets on sale.

THROUGH APRIL 8: 'Winter Lodge' Outdoor Ice Skating Rink. Holiday tree goes up week after Thanksgiving.

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REDWOOD CITY:

DEC. 3-4: Caltrain Holiday Train & Santa: SF Bay Area Peninsula Cities. Don't miss out at your local station stop Dec. 3-4 weekend.

DEC. 10: A Holiday Tamalada. A hands-on tamale making & tasting workshop.

DEC. 10: Hometown Holidays Parade, Festivities & Santa. Full day of festivities.

DEC. 18: Chanukah Festival & Menorah Lighting. With "first ever Graffiti Menorah in NorCal."

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SAN BRUNO:

NOV. 25: Holiday Toy Drive with Junk King: Shops at Tanforan. Supports Boys & Girls Clubs of South San Francisco.

NOV. 26: Holiday Boutique: Senior Center. Free admission & 40+ vendors planned.

NOV. 26-DEC. 24: Free Photos With Santa: The Shops at Tanforan. Select dates & first-come, first-served.

DEC. 1: Holiday Tree Lighting: Centennial Plaza. Hosted by the city.

DEC. 3: Sea Biscuit’s Tree Lighting & Santa: Shops at Tanforan. Festive events throughout the mall, too.

DEC. 11: 4-H Holiday Craft Fair. With fairy house, gift wrapping, refreshments & more.

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SAN CARLOS:

DEC. 2: Night Of Holiday Lights. Community tradition with lights, snow, cocoa & more.

DEC. 10: Holiday Workshop & Toy Drive. For ages 4-10. Registration required.

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SAN FRANCISCO:

NOV. 23-DEC. 31: 'Dear San Francisco' Holiday & NYE Edition: Club Fugazi. ""Leap into the holiday season with the show thousands have fallen head over heels for!"

NOV. 26-DEC. 16: The Guardsmen Christmas Tree Lot. A Bay Area tradition since 1947.

NOV. 26-DEC. 18: Creativity Explored Holiday Pop-Up. Saturdays & Sundays at Ferry Building & supporting neurodiverse & disabled Bay Area artists.

NOV. 27 & DEC. 4, 11 & 18: Holiday Craft Making. Ideal for families.

NOV. 30: Holiday Open House. With music, family fun, food & gingerbread house display.

NOV. 30-DEC. 24: 'A Christmas Carol': American Conservatory Theater. A holiday tradition for San Francisco Bay Area families for nearly 50 years.

DEC. 1-30: World Premiere of New 'Sleeping Beauty' Panto for the Holidays. "Slapstick humor, one-line zingers, outrageous characters & send-ups of current events."

DEC. 3: Baltic Christmas Fair. Offering variety of gifts from makers, sellers & artisans from local Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian communities.

DEC. 3-4: Caltrain Holiday Train & Santa: SF Bay Area Peninsula Cities. Don't miss out at your local station stop Dec. 3-4 weekend.

DEC. 3-4, 10-11 & 17-18: Mark Foehringer's Nutcracker Sweets. Unique 50-minute version designed for families with young children.

DEC. 4: Holiday Concert with the San Francisco Youth Chorus. "Holiday choral music from throughout the ages."

DEC. 10: Christmas with Intermediate Chorus & Handbells of SF Boys Chorus. Program of carols & holiday songs.

DEC. 14-24: Smuin Contemporary Ballet's "The Christmas Ballet" - "Declared 'sheer joy…the finest toast to the season' by the San Francisco Chronicle."

DEC. 17-18: Dollie & Me Holiday Tea. At The Westin St. Francis.

DEC. 18: KITKA Women's Vocal Ensemble: Wintersongs. "Abundant feast of sacred & secular songs for holiday season."

DEC. 24: SF Gay Men’s Chorus 'Holiday Spectacular: Home for the Holidays': Castro Theatre. The return to historic Castro Theatre for first time in three years.

DEC. 24: Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir Christmas Eve Concert. At Great American Music Hall.

DEC. 31: New Year's Eve with ALESSO + Open Bar. "Regarded as one of best New Year’s events in the country!"

THROUGH JAN. 16: SF Union Square Safeway Holiday Ice Rink. Bay Area tradition with themed Drag Queens On Ice, Learn to Skate, Flashback Fridays, Polar Bear Skate & more.

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SAN JOSE:

NOV. 25-JAN. 1: 'Christmas In The Park' Holiday Walk-Thru: Plaza de Cesar Chavez. Free to all. Tree lighting is Nov.25.

NOV. 26-JAN. 1: Blinky's Holiday Lights Drive-Thru: Lake Cunningham Park. Load up the gang! Tickets on sale.

DEC. 1: Holiday Candle Workshop @Wheelhouse. Create custom candles to take home.

DEC. 2: Winterdance: A Christmas Celebration. Starring music of Celtic & Nordic lands, New World String Project & champion Irish Dancers.

DEC. 2-4, 8-11, 15-18: Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. Presented by Silicon Valley Shakespeare.

DEC. 3-4: Winchester Mystery House Annual 'Menagerie Holiday Oddities Market' - A most unique spot to start holiday shopping!

DEC. 3, 10 & 17: Winchester Mystery House 'Holidays with the Historian' - Step back in time with treats, caroling & more. Victorian costumes encouraged.

DEC. 4: Menorahs & Miracles: Children’s Discovery Museum Of San Jose. Day includes puppet show, songs, scavenger hunt & glow-in-the-dark dance party.

DEC. 6: Hammer Theatre presents Cool Yule. With San José State University Jazz Orchestra & Valley Christian High School Jazz Ensemble.

DEC. 9-11 & 16-18: History Park Heritage Holiday Light Show. With "sleigh" rides, games, food trucks & more.

DEC. 10: Christmas Sweater Dance Party. Featuring holiday-inspired dance music from DJ duo SOULMAT3S!, hot chocolate & coffee.

DEC. 10: 'Carols In The California' with Symphony SJ Chorale. Traditional sing-along that has become a family holiday tradition.

DEC. 19: Menorah Lighting. At Westfield Oakridge with Chabad of San Jose .

DEC. 29-30: Aiden Sinclair’s Ghost Of Christmas Passed: Winchester Mystery House. "Once upon a time, Christmas was more than a celebration of giving."

DEC. 31: New Year's Eve San José Chamber Orchestra 'Celebration' Concert. "Reception following with a bubbly New Year's Eve toast!"

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SAN MATEO:

THROUGH DEC. 24: Photos With Santa: Hillsdale Shopping Center. Choose from a variety of photo packages.

THROUGH JAN. 8: 'San Mateo On Ice' Outdoor, Holiday Skating Rink: Central Park. "Skate in sunshine during the day & under stars at night."

THROUGH JAN. 16: 'IlluminOdyssey' Winter Light Holiday Experience: CuriOdyssey. Interactive exhibits create an even more immersive experience.

DEC. 3: 'Winter Wonderland' Games, Rides & Snow: Central Park. A community tradition!

DEC. 3-4: Caltrain Holiday Train & Santa: SF Bay Area Peninsula Cities. Don't miss out at your local station stop Dec. 3-4 weekend.

DEC. 3-4, 10-11 & 17-18: Brunch With Santa At Pinstripes: Hillsdale Shopping Center. Bring your letters to Santa, too.

DEC. 11: Nutcracker Ballet. At San Mateo Performing Arts Center.

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SANTA CLARA:

NOV. 25-JAN. 1: Holiday WinterFest & Ice Rink: California's Great America. Winter wonderland with ice skating, Santa's workshop, millions of lights & more.

DEC. 2-3: Santa's Craft Workshop at Westfield Valley Fair. Space is limited. Supplies provided.

DEC. 3-4: Caltrain Holiday Train & Santa: SF Bay Area Peninsula Cities. Don't miss out at your local station stop Dec. 3-4 weekend.

DEC. 9: SVGMC's EVERGREEN Holiday Concert. With Silicon Valley Gay Men's Chorus.

DEC. 16: Choral Project & San José Chamber Orchestra Holiday Concert. Winter’s Gifts returns to celebrate & exalt peace.

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SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO:

DEC. 4: Santa Comes To Town: City Hall. Meet & greet with Old St. Nick!

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SUNNYVALE:

NOV.-JAN.: Winter Ice Skating Rink: Downtown Sunnyvale. Not planned for 2022-23.

DEC. 3: Annual Holiday Tree Lighting & Santa. With entertainment from local carolers, choirs & dance groups.

DEC. 3-4: Caltrain Holiday Train & Santa: SF Bay Area Peninsula Cities. Don't miss out at your local station stop Dec. 3-4 weekend.

DEC. 4-JAN. 7: Gingerbread Village Display: Public Library. A sweet exhibit to put you in the holiday spirit.

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WOODSIDE:

DEC. 3-4, 10-11, 17-18 & 23: Filoli Santa Days. "Jolly old Saint Nick is available for family photos & magical memories" at the grand estate.

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FOR FULL SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA HOLIDAY GUIDE: Holiday Events In SF Bay Area 2022: Christmas Parades; Tree Lightings