Seasonal & Holidays
SF Bay Weekend: Holiday-Light Shows Galore; 'Nutcrackers' Abound
Looking for some cool things to do this weekend, Dec. 16-17, in the San Francisco Bay Area? Patch has you covered.
![Among top events Dec. 16-17, 2023, in SF Bay Area: light displays in El Cerrito, Livermore, Los Gatos, Morgan Hill, Oakland, Palo Alto, Penngrove, Pleasanton, San Jose, San Mateo, Santa Rosa, Vallejo, Watsonville; & "Nutcracker" ballets regionwide.](https://patch.com/img/cdn20/users/22511888/20231211/035929/styles/patch_image/public/nut2021rep-et31047-cejpgksfv-axcmrn1pzdjsakamvkoe5uvta___11152648282.jpg)
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA, CA — To keep your weekend fun and lively, Patch has rounded up some entertaining events going on throughout the San Francisco Bay Area — from the beaches of Santa Cruz, through the South Bay, East Bay and the Peninsula, to the uppermost points of North Bay and Wine Country.
Some are free. Some have a fee.
Whether you opt for an activity close to home or a mini day trip, see what's slated this weekend from Saturday, Dec. 16 to Sunday, Dec. 17.
Find out what's happening in San Franciscowith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Always double-check with organizers that events are proceeding as planned.
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Find out what's happening in San Franciscowith free, real-time updates from Patch.
EAST BAY:
Winter Solstice Holiday Carols Sing-A-Long: Albany
Black Diamond Ballet 'Nutcracker': El Campanil Theatre, Antioch
Locavore Wonderland: Farmers’ Market Gifting Series, Berkeley
Emmy & Tony Winner Billy Crudup In 'Harry Clarke': Repertory Theatre, Berkeley
San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus 'Holiday Spectacular': Berkeley
Christmas Village & Outdoor Ice Skating Rink: Castro Valley
Crafternoon: Let’s Build a “Gingerbread” House, Castro Valley
'Christmas Is Real - A Joyous Christmas' Free Concert: First Presbyterian Church, Concord
Drive-Thru Christmas Nativity: Bethel Baptist Church, Concord
'Ice At The Veranda' Outdoor, Winter Skating Rink: Concord
Wreaths Across America, Concord
Encounter- A Festive Christmas Concert, Danville
Friends of Jazz Dixieland Music, Danville
Selfies with Santa, Dublin
Tiffany’s Dance Academy 'The Nutcracker': Dublin
Sundar Shadi Holiday Display: El Cerrito
'Las Posadas' Christmas Traditions & Caroling: Mission San Jose, Fremont
Bay Philharmonic 'Holiday Spectacular' & Ballet Folklorico: Chabot College, Hayward
Breakfast with Santa, Hercules
Danville Community Band Free, Christmas Concert: Lafayette
Richard March Live @ LPV, Livermore
A Holiday Story Soiree, Livermore
'Hittin' the Holiday Road' Concert, Livermore
Valley Dance Theatre 'Nutcracker' With Orchestra: Bankhead Theater, Livermore
Deacon Dave’s 'Casa Del Pomba' Christmas Lights Display: Livermore
Lowell Ensemble Holiday Concert: Martinez Campbell Theater, Martinez
Mele Kalikimaka by Ohana Ke Akua Ministries, Newark
'Santa At Firehouse' & Christmas Toy Drive: Newark
Newark Symphonic Winds - Free Holiday Concert & Sing-Along, Newark
Winter Open House: Homesteading Holiday Social, Tasting & Sale, Oakland
KITKA Women's Vocal Ensemble: Wintersongs, Oakland
Oakland Gay Men's Chorus "Make the Yuletide Gay," Oakland
Oakland Zoo 'Glowfari' Holiday Lantern Festival: Oakland
'Fairy Winterland' Holiday Celebration: Children’s Fairyland, Oakland
Oakland Ballet 'Nutcracker' With Symphony: Paramount Theatre, Oakland
6th Annual Christmas Miracles Event, Pleasanton
Annual 'Widmer World' Christmas Lights Display: Pleasanton
Oakland Ballet School 'Ronn Guidi’s The Secret Nutcracker': Performing Arts Center, San Leandro
Kristi Yamaguchi Holiday Ice Skating Rink: City Center Bishop Ranch, San Ramon
San Ramon Valley Dance Academy 'Impressions Of The Nutcracker': San Ramon
Open House: Free Community Game Building Session, Walnut Creek
The Biggest Gift, Walnut Creek
Center Rep's 'Christmas Carol': Lesher Center, Walnut Creek
WestCAT’s Holiday Bus Toy & Canned Food Drive: Western Contra Costa
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NORTH BAY/WINE COUNTRY:
Sing it Yourself Messiah!- Benicia
Museum Of History Christmas Tree Lot Fundraiser: Benicia
Kids' DIY-U Workshop: Holiday Delivery Truck: Lowe's, Cotati
Benicia Ballet Theatre 'Nutcracker': Solano Community College, Fairfield
Spanish Music & Movement, Library, Healdsburg
Holiday Drop N' Shop For Kids 3-10: Healdsburg
'Dragon Lady': Marin Theatre Company, Mill Valley
'Winterfest' Holiday Entertainment & Kids' Fun: Mill Valley
Christmas Caroling With Our Lady Of Mount Carmel Church, Mill Valley
Sing Napa Valley 'A Christmas Carol' Concert: Napa
Napa Regional Dance 'Nutcracker' With Orchestra: Performing Arts Center, Napa
Santa’s Workshop at Ackerman Heritage House, Napa
3rd Annual Holiday Krampus Pop Up Market, Napa
'Merry Meritage' Holiday Ice Skating Rink & Winter Village: Napa
Organ Odyssey "Quartet" Napa Yard - Oxbow Gardens, Napa
'Come One, Come All Christmas Caroling' Cocoa & Cookies: Novato
Marin Conservatory Of Dance 'Nutcracker': Novato
Holiday Parade Of Lights: Penngrove
2 Capote & Thomas Holiday Classics On Stage: Polly Klaas Community Theater, Petaluma
Wacky Holidays: Christmas Jug Band, Big Easy, Petaluma
San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus 'Holiday Spectacular': Green Music Center, Rohnert Park
Santa Rosa Dance Theater 'Nutcracker': Spreckels Performing Arts Center, Rohnert Park
'Northern Lights' Winter Walk-Thru: Luther Burbank Center Sculpture Garden, Santa Rosa
'Winter Lights' Outdoor, Holiday Skating Rink: Downtown Santa Rosa
'Here Comes Santa Claus' Photos & Kids' Fun: Sonoma Marketplace, Sonoma
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom 'Holiday In The Park': Vallejo
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PENINSULA:
A Christmas Cantata: First Presbyterian Church Of Burlingame
Great Dickens Christmas Fair: Cow Palace, Daly City
Après Village & Skate Rink: Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley, East Palo Alto
Movies at Foothills - Gaslight (1944), Los Altos
Sunday Worship: Telling the Christmas Story, Los Altos
Palo Alto Dance Connection 'Nutcracker Ballet & 'Hip Hop Nutcracker': Los Altos Hills
Family Nature Walk @ Foothills Nature Preserve, Los Altos Hills
Holiday Extravaganza Presented by Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra, Los Altos Hills
Bayer Ballet Company's 'Snow Queen': Center For Performing Arts, Mountain View
'Nutcracker: Not A Ballet': Center For Performing Arts, Mountain View
'Christmas Tree Lane' Drive & Walk-Thru: Fulton Street, Palo Alto
'Winter Lodge' Outdoor Ice-Skating Rink: Palo Alto
Choral Project & San José Chamber Orchestra 'Winter’s Gifts' Concert: Portola Valley
Peninsula Ballet Theatre 'Nutcracker': Fox Theatre, Redwood City
Bay Area Youth Ballet 'Nutcracker': Cañada College Theater, Redwood City
'Hip-Hop Nutcracker': Fox Theatre, Redwood City
Free Photos With Santa: The Shops At Tanforan, San Bruno
Breakfast With Santa: Par 3 Restaurant At Poplar Creek, San Mateo
'IlluminOdyssey' Winter Light Experience: CuriOdyssey Museum, San Mateo
SSF Civic Ballet 'The Nutcracker': South San Francisco
Santa Days: Filoli Estate, Woodside
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SAN FRANCISCO:
Ugly Sweater Bar Crawl, San Francisco
Macy's & SPCA Annual Holiday Windows: San Francisco
'Elf' Movie Party: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, San Francisco
'To Kill A Mockingbird' With Richard Thomas: San Francisco
Disney’s 'The Lion King': Orpheum Theatre, San Francisco
SF Ballet 'Nutcracker' With Orchestra: War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco
Stapleton School Of Performing Arts 'Nutcracker': Palace Of Fine Arts, San Francisco
'A Christmas Carol': A.C.T. Toni Rembe Theater, San Francisco
Dance-Along Nutcracker 'Nutmare Before Christmas': Yerba Buena Center For Arts, San Francisco
Safeway Holiday Ice Rink: Union Square, San Francisco
'The Golden Girls: The Christmas Episodes': Victoria Theatre, San Francisco
'Dear San Francisco' Holiday Version: Club Fugazi, San Francisco
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SANTA CRUZ COUNTY/BEACHES:
"The Best Santa Cruz Nutcracker at Cabrillo Crocker Theater." Aptos
'Christmas On The Wharf' Festivities: Monterey
Holiday 'Winter On The Wharf' Santa & Snow: Santa Cruz
Reindeer Round-up, Santa Cruz
Visits with Santa, Santa Cruz
A Celtic Christmas, Santa Cruz
Teen Movie "The Nightmare Before Christmas" at Advisory Council of Teens Meeting, Santa Cruz
Holiday Lights Train & Santa: Roaring Camp Railroads, Santa Cruz
'Boardwalk Winter Wonderland' Santa & Holidays, Santa Cruz
The Nutcracker Ballet, Scotts Valley
Taiko Holiday Cookies Workshop, Watsonville
Holiday Lights Drive-Thru: Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, Watsonville
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SOUTH BAY:
Ainsley House Holiday Open Houses & Tours: Campbell
Strolling Santa at Gilroy Premium Outlets, Gilroy
Gilroy Gardens 'North Pole Nights' Santa & Holiday Ice Rink: Gilroy
'Fantasy Of Lights' Holiday Drive-Thru: Vasona Lake County Park, Los Gatos
Milk and Cookies with Santa at Great Mall, Milpitas
'Christmas On The Hill' Free, Lights Extravaganza: West Hills Community Church, Morgan Hill
Holiday Lights Pedicab Tour of Willow Glen, San Jose
The Official Christmas Bar Crawl - San Jose
'Mamma Mia!': Center For Performing Arts, San Jose
'Enchant' Christmas Light Maze, Village & Ice Skating Trail: PayPal Park, San Jose
'Downtown Ice' Outdoor, Winter Skating Rink: San Jose
Winchester Mystery House Holiday Candlelight Tours: San Jose
Choral Project & San José Chamber Orchestra 'Winter’s Gifts' Concert: Santa Clara
WinterFest & Holiday Ice Rink: California’s Great America, Santa Clara
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ALSO SEE:
- SF Bay Area Guide To Outdoor, Ice Skating Rinks: Holidays 2023-24
- 'The Nutcracker': Where To See The Holiday Ballet In SF Bay Area 2023
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HITTING THE ROAD THIS WEEKEND?
- OC Weekend: Oceanfront Ice Skate; 'Capistrano Lights'; 'Nutcrackers'
- Inland Empire Weekend: Temecula On Ice; 'Christmas Story' On Stage; Toy Drives
- San Diego Weekend: 'Scrooge’s BIG Show' At Old Globe; 'Nutcrackers'
- LA Weekend: Car Wash Santa; 'Nutcrackers' Galore; 'Love Actually' Live
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