Last updated: November 11, 2024
Get thrilled for holiday fun in South San Francisco! Our guide will lead you to all the best events. Whether you're deeply rooted in South San Francisco or just branching out, this guide helps your holiday spirit grow.
Popular Events: One enchanting highlight this season is the Winter Walk in Union Square, where the streets come alive with festive lights and seasonal cheer. Alongside this, SF's Drag Queens on Ice offers a vibrant performance on ice that celebrates the spirit of inclusivity and fun. And the Let’s Glow SF event is something you definitely don't want to miss, featuring dazzling light displays that illuminate the season. For more details on these and other fun events and activities, check out the rest of the page below!
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South San Francisco Holiday Light Displays
Let’s Glow SF
- What to Expect
- High-tech projection of animated art on iconic SF buildings.
- Description
- Let’s Glow SF is a free outdoor holiday event featuring high-tech projectors and lasers showcasing large-scale animated art across seven iconic SF buildings nightly.
- Where
- San Francisco | More Info : Let’s Glow SF
Holidays at Filoli
- What to Expect
- Immersive holiday light display with behind-the-scenes tours.
- Description
- Filoli Estate & Gardens transform into a vibrant holiday display with thousands of lights, 3,600 strands of lights, and over 7,000 ornaments. The event features daytime and evening admissions, including a 210-foot-long light tunnel and festive decorations throughout the house and gardens.
- Where
- Woodside | More Info : Holidays at Filoli
Union Square Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
- What to Expect
- Iconic 83-foot tall tree with 43,000 LED lights.
- Description
- The Union Square Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony features Macy's Great Tree, an 83-foot tall tree decorated with 43,000 twinkling LED lights and 700 ornaments, located in Union Square Park. The event is a prominent holiday attraction in San Francisco, drawing both locals and visitors.
- Where
- San Francisco | More Info : Union Square Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
Pier 39 Christmas Tree
- What to Expect
- Iconic holiday tree with festive lights and decorations.
- Description
- The Pier 39 Christmas Tree is a prominent holiday attraction featuring a beautifully decorated tree surrounded by festive lights and decorations, creating a vibrant and cheerful atmosphere.
- Where
- San Francisco | More Info : Pier 39 Christmas Tree
Giant Menorah Lighting in Union Square
- What to Expect
- Historic giant public menorah lighting.
- Description
- The Bill Graham Menorah in Union Square is a 48-year tradition featuring a 25-foot tall menorah, live music, and various activities. Celebrate Hanukkah with lighting ceremonies, kids' crafts, and community events.
- Where
- San Francisco | More Info : Giant Menorah Lighting in Union Square
Fairy Winterland
- What to Expect
- Twinkly lights and culturally diverse holiday displays.
- Description
- Fairy Winterland at Children's Fairyland in Oakland, California, features twinkly lights, festive music, seasonal crafts, and a visit from Santa Claus. Enjoy hot cocoa and apple cider while exploring culturally diverse holiday displays.
- Where
- Oakland | More Info : Fairy Winterland
Holidays on Fourth Street Berkeley
- What to Expect
- Dazzling holiday light displays and diverse family-friendly activities.
- Description
- Fourth Street in Berkeley transforms into a vibrant holiday destination with dazzling light displays, live music, and various activities including puppet shows, holiday crafting, and visits from Santa. The event features a holiday artisan market, caroling, and festive events for all ages.
- Where
- Berkeley | More Info : Holidays on Fourth Street Berkeley
Entwined in Golden Gate Park
- What to Expect
- Interactive lighting control through QR codes on a monumental shade-bearing tree.
- Description
- Entwined in Golden Gate Park features a 30-foot metal sculpted tree, Elder Mother, with a 25-foot canopy that moves with the wind and offers ever-changing illumination and color. The installation includes six unique QR codes allowing attendees to control the lighting patterns. It is an immersive experience designed by San Francisco artist Charles Gadeken, combining art, technology, and nature.
- Where
- San Francisco | More Info : Entwined in Golden Gate Park
South San Francisco Holiday Markets and Shopping
Winter Walk in Union Square
- What to Expect
- Pedestrian plaza with diverse food trucks and live performances.
- Description
- Winter Walk in Union Square transforms two blocks into a pedestrian plaza with lush turf, diverse food truck offerings, enticing bars, and Instagram-worthy arctic-themed décor. The event features live performances and entertainment throughout, making it a wonderful experience for the whole family.
- Where
- San Francisco | More Info : Winter Walk in Union Square
California Academy of Sciences (CAS) NightLife Holiday Bazaar
- What to Expect
- Unique holiday shopping experience with local artisans.
- Description
- The California Academy of Sciences' NightLife Holiday Bazaar features a curated marketplace with gift-worthy treasures from dozens of local makers and merchants, showcasing a variety of handmade and unique items.
- Where
- San Francisco | More Info : California Academy of Sciences (CAS) NightLife Holiday Bazaar
South San Francisco Holiday Shows and Entertainment
SF’s Drag Queens on Ice
- What to Expect
- Glitzy drag performances on ice.
- Description
- SF’s Drag Queens on Ice features Bay Area drag queens delivering high-energy holiday performances with glitz and glam.
- Where
- San Francisco | More Info : SF’s Drag Queens on Ice
South San Francisco Other Holiday Activities
Santa Skivvies 2023: Holiday Underwear Run Through the Castro
- What to Expect
- Unique holiday underwear fun run/walk in the Castro neighborhood.
- Description
- Join the Santa Skivvies Run, a festive holiday underwear fun run/walk through the iconic Castro neighborhood. Participants can choose to walk, run, scooter, skip, or skate the one-mile course, welcoming every body.
- Where
- San Francisco | More Info : Santa Skivvies 2023: Holiday Underwear Run Through the Castro
Parol Lantern Festival
- What to Expect
- Unique Filipino cultural celebration with parol lanterns.
- Description
- The Parol Lantern Festival is an annual celebration at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, featuring traditional Filipino parol lanterns symbolizing hope, blessings, luck, and peace. The event includes the Taste of Christmas, Parol Stroll, and Tala Awards, fostering community and cultural traditions.
- Where
- San Francisco | More Info : Parol Lantern Festival
San Francisco Fire Engine Holiday Lights Tour
- What to Expect
- Vintage fire engine tour with personalized experience.
- Description
- Ride aboard a vintage fire engine through San Francisco's iconic sights, including Fisherman's Wharf, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Fort Baker. Wear fire gear to keep warm and enjoy a personalized tour experience.
- Where
- San Francisco | More Info : San Francisco Fire Engine Holiday Lights Tour
The Fairmont’s Giant Gingerbread House
- What to Expect
- Life-sized gingerbread house with thousands of bricks and gallons of royal icing.
- Description
- The Fairmont’s Giant Gingerbread House is a life-sized, intricately designed structure made from thousands of gingerbread bricks and gallons of royal icing, featuring elaborate decorations and a mountain of candy.
- Where
- San Francisco | More Info : The Fairmont’s Giant Gingerbread House
Tilden Park Merry-Go-Round
- What to Expect
- Antique carousel with hand-carved wooden animals.
- Description
- Tilden Park Merry-Go-Round features a historic, hand-carved carousel with calliope-style music, offering rides and a snack bar with hot chocolate, ice cream, and other carnival foods.
- Where
- Berkeley | More Info : Tilden Park Merry-Go-Round
Tilden Park Steam Trains at Christmas
- What to Expect
- Decorated steam trains with twinkling lights and Christmas ornaments.
- Description
- Tilden Park Steam Trains transform into a toddler-friendly holiday attraction with decorated steam trains, twinkling lights, and Christmas ornaments. The trains run along a scenic route through the redwoods, offering a festive experience for families.
- Where
- Berkeley | More Info : Tilden Park Steam Trains at Christmas