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HURLBUT TEAM BAY AREA HOLIDAY ROUND-UP
There are SO many reasons to live in the Bay Area, but during the month of December our community shines particularly bright. Celebrating the beliefs of all and welcoming locals and visitors alike our community truly comes alive with the spirit of the season. We will be visiting a few of our favorite events and hope this guide helps you find a great way to spend time with those you love.
CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTINGS & HOLIDAY FESTIVALS
- Macy’s 25th Annual Union Square Christmas Tree
A San Francisco staple, towering over Union Square with its 40,000 lights and thousands of ornaments, this tree is worth the BART trip. Wander down to see the window displays of Macy’s department store full of kittens and puppies for adoption through the SF SPCA and classic holiday characters like Snoopy and Charlie Brown. Union Square also has a ice skating rink running through January 15th.
Ice Skating Rink hours 10am- 11:30pm
90 minutes sessions starting on the even hour
General Admission $12/ Children (8 & under) $7
Skate Rental $6
Union Square Ice Rink information & details
- Rainbow World Tree of Hope
This 12th annual tradition is one full of hope and well wishes. Thousands of oragami cranes inscribed with wishes for the future will decorate the large Christmas tree in San Francisco’s City Hall. From world dignitaries to school children in Sri Lanka this tree will warm your heart with its powerful expression of love.
- Grand Menorah Lighting and Chanukah Celebration
Featuring the lighting of Contra Costa’s Largest Menorah for the 6th night of Chanukah, music, and entertainment for the whole family. Special Jewish Blues Concert with music. Donuts available.
December 17th 4 pm
Broadway Plaza, Broadway Plaza Street
- Chanukah on Ice
Celebrate the 3rd night of Chanakuh at the Walnut Creek Ice Skating Rink circling a Grand Menorah and enjoying Jewish Music. Kosher food concessions available.
December 14th 7-8:30pm
Walnut Creek Ice Rink, 1365 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek
- Concord Tree Lighting & Mayor’s Sing-Along
Local school choirs, community entertainment, carriage ride, a traditional tree lighting, a holiday sing-along led by the town mayor and mayor at this town favorite. The big guys himself will roll in around 4pm complete with a bright red fire truck.
Todos Santos Plaza, December 2nd, 4pm- 6pm
- Parkway Estates Lights
This South San Francisco neighborhood goes all out each holiday season. 2 plus blocks of homes pull out all the stops and is at the least worth a drive-by.
Woodside Court off of Chestnut, San Francisco
- Christmas Tree Lane, Alameda
The famed Alameda block does not take the holidays lightly. Nearly every home is adorned with some sort of decoration, many going as far as timed, musical light shows, themes, and more. This street has gained a following for a reason!
Thompson Avenue (between High St & Fernside)
Nightly from 5pm-10pm until New Years
Santa appearances 12/9- 12/23 from 6:30pm- 8pm
- Oakland Mormon Temple
Perched atop the hill, glowing so brightly it shines like a beacon sits the Mormon Temple of Oakland. Complete with a stunning view of the city and lights adoring nearly every part of the grounds.
4766 Lincoln Avenue, Oakland
- San Francisco & Oakland Zoo Lights
Experience the wonder of the zoo under the lights of the holiday season. In addition to the lights there will be caroling, a holiday market, and a nightly show complete with costumed characters, snow fall and Santa.
- Benicia Christmas Parade & Holiday Market
Featuring local marching bands, dancers, and Santa this holiday parade begins at First and D streets and continues up First Street ending at H Street. The Holiday Market offers handmade presents and gourmet gifts from 10am-3 pm.
December 9th at 10am
- It’s a Wonderful Life in Lafayette
A small-town family friendly event with tree lighting, live music, community sing-a-long, crafts and photos with the Town Hall Elves and Santa.
Plaza Park, December 1, 4-6:30pm
FAMILY FUN & PERFORMANCES
- Great Dickens Christmas Fair & Victorian Holiday
Transport yourself to the world of Victorian London where it is always Christmas Eve. Three acres of halls transformed into dance floors, music halls, tea-rooms, pubs and lamplit lanes all accentuated by costumed characters bringing the whole scene to life. Fun for the whole family including crafts and stations for kids.
Cow Palace Exhibition Halls, San Francisco
Runs till December 17th
Hours are 10am-7 pm
General Admission $30/ Children 5-12 $14/ Children under 5 FREE
- Fun on the Farm
Have a traditional holiday family experience including visits with a Victorian Santa and his reindeer, old-fashioned ornament making, a puppet show, holiday entertainment and refreshments.
Forest Home Farms
19953 San Ramon Valley Road, San Ramon
11am-3 pm
- ‘Twas the Opening Night Before Christmas
The Peter Pan Foundation puts on wonderful performances many times a year but this year’s holiday shows sounds like one that will bring a bit of levity to the hectic season. The story of a high school in the midst of auditions, callbacks, opening night and the comedy and drama that comes with putting on a pageant during the Holiday season.
Northgate School
425 Castle Rock Road
December 8-10 multiple showtimes
Tickets from $15-25
- CAPA Dance Studio
For 35 years local CAPA dance studio located in Moraga has been teaching the art of dance and a love for movement to young people. Their annual Nutcracker performance is a wonderful, accessible way to see the famed classic performed by those in the CAPA program.
Campolindo Performing Arts Center
December 15th, 16th & 17th 2 performances per day
Tickets $20
- Impressions of the Nutcracker
Presented by San Ramon Valley Dance Academy has served the greater San Ramon area and beyond for over 50 years. Offering a wide range of classes, all skill levels and ranging in age from 3 years to over 70 this dance studio has trained student who go on to dance all over the world. Their performance of the Nutcracker is not one to miss.
Dougherty Valley Performing Arts Center
10550 Albion Road, San Ramon
December 9th & 11th, performances twice a day
Tickets $20- $25
- A Homemade Holiday, Danville
A community center event geared towards the teens of the family finally! Kids 8-12 can enjoy an evening event of creating homemade gifts for their loved ones. Refreshments served and no walk-ins permitted. Registration is required through the link listed below.
420 Front Street, Danville Community Center
December 7th
4-5:30 pm
tickets $9-$11
Danville Homemade Gift Registration
ADULTS
- SantaCon San Francisco
The annual holiday barcrawl is back on December 9th. One part wholesome fun, other part 8,000 people dressed like Santa looking to have a booze- filled evening. Free but a toy to donate to Toys for Tots is highly encouraged and Santa gear is a must!
Union Square
Saturday December 9th
12 Noon
- Santa Beer Crawl
Sample more than 20 local craft beers as you stroll the downtown corridor of Martinez stationed inside downtown businesses while sporting your favorite ugly Christmas sweater or favorite holiday garb.
Decembre 9th
Creek Monkey Tap Houseat 611 Escobar St. , Martinez
Check in 1 pm, tasting from 2:30pm-5:30pm
General Admission $12/ Children (8 & under) $7
Skate Rental $6
Union Square Ice Rink information & details
- Rainbow World Tree of Hope
This 12th annual tradition is one full of hope and well wishes. Thousands of oragami cranes inscribed with wishes for the future will decorate the large Christmas tree in San Francisco’s City Hall. From world dignitaries to school children in Sri Lanka this tree will warm your heart with its powerful expression of love.
- Grand Menorah Lighting and Chanukah Celebration
Featuring the lighting of Contra Costa’s Largest Menorah for the 6th night of Chanukah, music, and entertainment for the whole family. Special Jewish Blues Concert with music. Donuts available.
December 17th 4 pm
Broadway Plaza, Broadway Plaza Street
- Chanukah on Ice
Celebrate the 3rd night of Chanakuh at the Walnut Creek Ice Skating Rink circling a Grand Menorah and enjoying Jewish Music. Kosher food concessions available.
December 14th 7-8:30pm
Walnut Creek Ice Rink, 1365 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek
- Concord Tree Lighting & Mayor’s Sing-Along
Local school choirs, community entertainment, carriage ride, a traditional tree lighting, a holiday sing-along led by the town mayor and mayor at this town favorite. The big guys himself will roll in around 4pm complete with a bright red fire truck.
Todos Santos Plaza, December 2nd, 4pm- 6pm
- Parkway Estates Lights
This South San Francisco neighborhood goes all out each holiday season. 2 plus blocks of homes pull out all the stops and is at the least worth a drive-by.
Woodside Court off of Chestnut, San Francisco
- Christmas Tree Lane, Alameda
The famed Alameda block does not take the holidays lightly. Nearly every home is adorned with some sort of decoration, many going as far as timed, musical light shows, themes, and more. This street has gained a following for a reason!
Thompson Avenue (between High St & Fernside)
Nightly from 5pm-10pm until New Years
Santa appearances 12/9- 12/23 from 6:30pm- 8pm
- Oakland Mormon Temple
Perched atop the hill, glowing so brightly it shines like a beacon sits the Mormon Temple of Oakland. Complete with a stunning view of the city and lights adoring nearly every part of the grounds.
4766 Lincoln Avenue, Oakland
- San Francisco & Oakland Zoo Lights
Experience the wonder of the zoo under the lights of the holiday season. In addition to the lights there will be caroling, a holiday market, and a nightly show complete with costumed characters, snow fall and Santa.
- Benicia Christmas Parade & Holiday Market
Featuring local marching bands, dancers, and Santa this holiday parade begins at First and D streets and continues up First Street ending at H Street. The Holiday Market offers handmade presents and gourmet gifts from 10am-3 pm.
December 9th at 10am
- It’s a Wonderful Life in Lafayette
A small-town family friendly event with tree lighting, live music, community sing-a-long, crafts and photos with the Town Hall Elves and Santa.
Plaza Park, December 1, 4-6:30pm
FAMILY FUN & PERFORMANCES
- Great Dickens Christmas Fair & Victorian Holiday
Transport yourself to the world of Victorian London where it is always Christmas Eve. Three acres of halls transformed into dance floors, music halls, tea-rooms, pubs and lamplit lanes all accentuated by costumed characters bringing the whole scene to life. Fun for the whole family including crafts and stations for kids.
Cow Palace Exhibition Halls, San Francisco
Runs till December 17th
Hours are 10am-7 pm
General Admission $30/ Children 5-12 $14/ Children under 5 FREE
- Fun on the Farm
Have a traditional holiday family experience including visits with a Victorian Santa and his reindeer, old-fashioned ornament making, a puppet show, holiday entertainment and refreshments.
Forest Home Farms
19953 San Ramon Valley Road, San Ramon
11am-3 pm
- ‘Twas the Opening Night Before Christmas
The Peter Pan Foundation puts on wonderful performances many times a year but this year’s holiday shows sounds like one that will bring a bit of levity to the hectic season. The story of a high school in the midst of auditions, callbacks, opening night and the comedy and drama that comes with putting on a pageant during the Holiday season.
Northgate School
425 Castle Rock Road
December 8-10 multiple showtimes
Tickets from $15-25
- CAPA Dance Studio
For 35 years local CAPA dance studio located in Moraga has been teaching the art of dance and a love for movement to young people. Their annual Nutcracker performance is a wonderful, accessible way to see the famed classic performed by those in the CAPA program.
Campolindo Performing Arts Center
December 15th, 16th & 17th 2 performances per day
Tickets $20
- Impressions of the Nutcracker
Presented by San Ramon Valley Dance Academy has served the greater San Ramon area and beyond for over 50 years. Offering a wide range of classes, all skill levels and ranging in age from 3 years to over 70 this dance studio has trained student who go on to dance all over the world. Their performance of the Nutcracker is not one to miss.
Dougherty Valley Performing Arts Center
10550 Albion Road, San Ramon
December 9th & 11th, performances twice a day
Tickets $20- $25
- A Homemade Holiday, Danville
A community center event geared towards the teens of the family finally! Kids 8-12 can enjoy an evening event of creating homemade gifts for their loved ones. Refreshments served and no walk-ins permitted. Registration is required through the link listed below.
420 Front Street, Danville Community Center
December 7th
4-5:30 pm
tickets $9-$11
Danville Homemade Gift Registration
ADULTS
- SantaCon San Francisco
The annual holiday barcrawl is back on December 9th. One part wholesome fun, other part 8,000 people dressed like Santa looking to have a booze- filled evening. Free but a toy to donate to Toys for Tots is highly encouraged and Santa gear is a must!
Union Square
Saturday December 9th
12 Noon
- Santa Beer Crawl
Sample more than 20 local craft beers as you stroll the downtown corridor of Martinez stationed inside downtown businesses while sporting your favorite ugly Christmas sweater or favorite holiday garb.
Decembre 9th
Creek Monkey Tap Houseat 611 Escobar St. , Martinez
Check in 1 pm, tasting from 2:30pm-5:30pm
