Christmas in San Francisco 2025: 22+ Things to Do with Kids to Celebrate the Holiday Season

My favorite time of year in the San Francisco Bay Area is almost here! The weeks leading up to Christmas in San Francisco are always filled with kid-friendly special events and activities, so it is no surprise that many travelers choose to make their way to my hometown for the holidays.

Whether you are a lucky local like me or just planning a visit to San Francisco's mild climate to escape the cold back home, here are my top picks for families spending time during December and the holidays in San Francisco.

What's in Store for the Holidays in 2025 in San Francisco?

After some rough years for tourism, San Francisco really appears to be on an upswing this year (finally!). So if it's been awhile since you've come to the city for the holiday season, now is a really good time - before it gets too crowded again.

One change that you might notice from several years past is that many offerings are now announced earlier than ever. And that means some of them also sell out earlier than ever! If you want have a few magical outings with your family, you likely need to start making a few reservations ASAP. Every year, more and more activities sell out in November and even a few in October.

That said, a lot of venues still don't release their full holiday lineup all at once. I update this post multiple times each year, so bookmark it and keep checking back. That's the best way to learn about any straggler events and to fill in additional details for previously-announced activities as they are released. I also link to event websites where available where you can confirm further details, as they may change throughout the season.

A couple of years ago, I added a second section to this post highlighting family-friendly events all over the greater San Francisco Bay Area. I've decided to keep that addition permanently. Many of the events just outside the city are amazing and worthy of a visit in their own right, especially for locals who can make time for more than a couple of these offerings in a single season.

11 Things to Do to Celebrate the Holidays in the City of San Francisco

If you want to stay within the city limits for holiday fun, here are 11 of the best shows, events, celebrations, activities, and outings in San Francisco during the Christmas season suitable for families.

While there are plenty of splurges on the list, note that quite a few of these activities are free to view and attend. It's entirely possible to put together a full day of holiday fun even on a tight budget! (See more free things to do in San Francisco with kids.)

1. Union Square Festivities

Union Square is the center of many of San Francisco's best holiday decorations and events. Most of the decorations are already up long before Thanksgiving, usually from Veterans Day Weekend until New Year's Eve. There is no longer an official tree lighting ceremony to kick off the season like there was in years past, but it is usually lit around the Veterans Day holiday weekend.

There is an annual Chanukah Menorah on display as well, with a lighting ceremony each night of Chanukah. This year, the nightly lighting will take place December 14-22, 2025. (see more details here from the Bill Graham Menorah Project).

Coming back in 2025 is Union Square's "Winter Walk." Two blocks will be completely closed off to cars, creating a turf-covered pedestrian zone for shopping, food trucks, live entertainment, and even a visit from Santa.

Winter Walk is scheduled this year to run from December 13-24, 2025. The whole area has other festive decor as well, including larger-than-life painted ornaments on the Ornament Trail along the cable car line and snowflakes on Maiden Lane.

Also in Union Square, you can window shop (or just shop) 'til you drop. Always a hit with everyone in the family is the SPCA's Holiday Window at Macy's where adoptable pets frolic in adorable holiday scenes. The cute kittens and puppies are back live again this year. Animals will be present November 21, 2025–December 31, 2026 on Wednesday–Sunday from noon to 5pm, and you can also watch them daily 9am-6pm on live cams too.

(Sadly, Santa will not be available at the Macy's Union Square location this year, but the Mayor of San Francisco just announced that the store has been saved from closing, so here's to hoping Santa returns in future seasons. There are other spots to see Santa in SF in the meantime, including a few new additions in 2025, so keep reading for those!)

2. Ice Skating

Ice skating is an always-popular activity with families during the holidays. This year the large rink in Union Square sponsored by Safeway returns once more. It's open from November 5, 2025 until January 19, 2026.

Prices in 2025 are $22 for adults and $17 for children 8 and under (plus processing fees) for a 60 minute session, with skate rental included. I highly recommend booking this activity online early (direct link to book here), as it regularly sells out, especially on the weekends and when schools are on winter break.

(Note that the rink near the Ferry Building on Justin Herman Plaza by Embarcadero 4 in the Financial District as well as the T-Mobile Winter Park at Civic Center by City Hall closed permanently several years ago. The status of the synthetic-ice Thrive City Rink at Chase Center is TBD in 2025, but tends to be announced later in the season and only has a very limited run.)

3. Fairmont Gingerbread House

San Francisco hotels really get in the holiday mood each year, and one of the most magnificent hotel holiday displays is at San Francisco's Fairmont Hotel atop Nob Hill. The hotel constructs an enormous two story gingerbread house every year on display in the lobby open for the public to view for free. It's so big that adults can walk through it. The design changes every few years, so it is well worth a return trip even if you've seen it in years past.

Related: 17 Best Family-Friendly Hotels in San Francisco

The grand opening for the Fairmont's gingerbread house is often on the Saturday following Thanksgiving, but with Thanksgiving falling late this year, it will open a week earlier on November 22, 2025. A special opening ceremony is planned at 11am that day. The decorations remain until the New Year.

The hotel has a number of holiday packages and offerings to make a staycation or a trip out of it, including a Santa Suite experience with a seasonally decorated room, included breakfast, and a number of holiday treats. The hotel also hosts kid-friendly holiday teas (see #8 below for more details).

4. Westin St. Francis Sugar Castle & Breakfast with Santa

Not to be outdone, another of San Francisco's iconic hotels also goes all out for the season. The Westin St. Francis Hotel located right on Union Square always has a number of special holiday offerings.

Returning this year is the Sugar Castle created by the hotel's Executive Pastry Chef. It usually opens in the hotel's grand lobby around Thanksgiving with a special open-to-the-public unveiling. This year the event's date is TBD and the castle usually remains on display daily through the new year.

Another main event this year is the December 6, 2025 Breakfast with Santa (tickets here). There are also returning special "Dollie + Me" teas offered on December 13 and 14, 2025 (see more on hotel holiday teas in #8 below).

5. Let's Glow SF

Hosted by the Downtown SF Partnership, Let's Glow SF is a projection mapping show featuring vibrant holiday artwork illuminated on the facades of several large buildings in the Financial District. It's entirely free and you can take in as much or as little as your schedule allows.

The displays are visible nightly December 5-14, 2025 from 5:30pm to 10pm.

If you want to see the first lighting, there is also an opening night show December 4, 2025 at 7pm on Market Street facing the Ferry Building. Viewers can grab prime viewing spots during Countdown To Glow at 6pm. There's also a companion event that's free and open to the public "After Glow" at the Ferry Building's South Plaza from 4-8pm as well with complimentary hot chocolate and a few other treats.

The 2025 building projection sites are:

• 101 California St
• The Ferry Building
• East Cut Electric (424 Folsom St.)
• Mechanics Monument Plaza (488 Market St.)
• Yerba Buena Lane at Market St.
• Hobart Building (828 Market St., view from 1 Post)
• Transamerica Pyramid (600 Montgomery St.)
• Salesforce Tower (415 Mission St.)
• Pacific Coast Stock Exchange (301 Pine St.)

Shows at each building are 5 minutes long and run every 10 minutes. The Downtown SF Partnership's site has a handy map to help you plan out an efficient route to see them all.

6. San Francisco Ballet Nutcracker

A performance of the Nutcracker has been a San Francisco ballet tradition since 1944. Performances normally run from mid to late December. This year, the ballet's performance dates are December 5-28, 2025, with matinees and evening shows on many days.

The ballet permits children ages 3 and over to attend but recommends its performances for ages 8+. There are special performances for school groups and one sensory-friendly performances as well, as well as three dance-along performances on on December 21 targeted to families with kids ages 3-7.

7. San Francisco Symphony Christmas Shows

During the holiday season, the San Francisco Symphony presents a several festive and family-friendly film concerts that can be an excellent way to introduce kids to orchestral music. During these events, Davies Symphony Hall projects a beloved holiday film while the supremely talented musicians of the San Francisco Symphony play the score live along with it.

This year, the show line up is as follows (and kids tickets for these shows are also half off!):

• Disney’s Frozen in Concert: December 13, 2025
• Home Alone - Live with Orchestra: December 19 & 20, 2025
• A Charlie Brown Christmas - LIVE!: December 21 & 22, 2025

8. High Tea for the Holidays

San Francisco may be known for its free-spirited and alternative reputation, but some very historic traditions are alive and well in the City by the Bay -- namely afternoon tea. Several of the fanciest San Francisco hotels host tea year round, but the holiday teas are a tradition for many San Francisco families year after year.

Tea with your kids is a pricey outing, but it's also a truly unique experience that might be well worth it, especially if your children love an excuse to dress up.

Hotels offering teas that welcome families for the holidays include:

• Holiday Tea at The Fairmont San Francisco: Tea is served in the hotel's signature restaurant Laurel Court just off of the lobby's grand gingerbread house display. The holiday tea will be offered November 22, 2025-January 4, 2026 most days of the week. New in 2025: Tea with Santa on November 22, 30 & December 9.
• Teddy Bear Tea at the Ritz-Carlton: The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco, offers a tea with teddy bear gifts and an interactive show for a good cause (some proceeds go to the Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area and kids are also encouraged to bring a toy to donate to UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals). Tea is offered in the Ballroom on Saturdays and Sundays (plus daily in the days leading up to Christmas) from November 29-December 23, 2025.
• Magical Tea at Top of the Mark in the InterContinental Mark Hopkins: The Top of the Mark has one of the most stunning locations in the city atop the historic InterContinental Mark Hopkins Hotel on Nob Hill. This the place for tea with a view! The Magical Tea serves up a number of classic tea dishes as well as plenty of kid-friendly food choices like mac and cheese, sliders, and french fries. Activities like cookie decorating with the chef are also included. Magical Teas are offered Saturdays and Sundays in December from November 29-December 21, 2025. Book on OpenTable.
• Dollie + Me Holiday Tea at the Westin St. Francis: The hotel offers a special "Dollie + Me" tea in conjunction with kit & sis on December 13 & 14 at 11am where children can bring along their favorite doll and enjoy holiday goodies. Reserve on Eventbrite.

9. "Pier for the Holidays" at Pier 39 & "Merry Time at the Wharf" at Fisherman's Wharf

Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf also have a number of events during the holiday season. The major attraction on Pier 39 proper is its holiday celebration and tree ("Pier for the Holidays"). The holiday event runs from December 5, 2025 until January 11, 2026 this season, although a lot of the lights, decor and the tree itself go up earlier in November.

During the official event, the Pier features a nightly show synchronized to holiday music where the tree is lit every half hour from 5 to 10 p.m.

And in the blocks around the Pier, the whole wharf area comes alive during "Merry Time at the Wharf." Details are still TBD for 2025, but in previous years, the SkyStar Wheel at the Wharf was fully decorated for a nightly holiday light show. Last year saw the addition of Gingerbread Lane - an enormous gingerbread house village.

Last but certainly not least, the annual lighted boat parade in partnership with the St. Francis Yacht Club is always a highlight on the waterfront. It's usually hosted on a Friday evening in mid-December, and this year will place on December 12, 2025. The boats sail from Pier 39 all the way down to Crissy Field and back, so there are lots of vantage points in the city.

10. Ghirardelli Square Holiday Festivities

Down on the other end of the waterfront, Ghirardelli Square traditionally has celebrations all its own. Santa always kicks off the season by lighting the Square in late November. This year, the event will be on November 28, 2025 from 4-8:30pm, and the San Francisco Boys Chorus will join.

There are even more events than ever before the remainder of the holiday season, mostly on weekends. Put the following on your calendar and watch the Square's official events page for additional updates:

• Peppermint Bark Day (December 5, 2025, 3-7pm): Santa photos, free peppermint bark squares, holiday crafts, and photo booth.
• JCCSF's Menorah Lighting for Hanukkah (December 14, 2025, 3-6pm)
• Santa Visits the Square (December 12, 2025, 3-7pm & December 19, 2025, 4-7pm)
• Surprise Event (December 20, 2025, 4-5pm): TBD!

Related: Complete Guide to Ghirardelli Square for Families

11. Welcome Winter Night at California Academy of Sciences

The California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate park is one of the most kid-friendly things to do in San Francisco. This natural history museum, planetarium, and aquarium all in one always has holiday celebrations that make it worth an extra visit in the winter months.

This year the main special event is Welcome Winter Night on November 22, 2025. Visitors to the museum during the event can experience winter magic shows, decorate cookies, get face paintings, and most importantly - see live reindeer!

BONUS: 11 More Bay Area Holiday Events Beyond San Francisco City Limits in 2025

Even though I enjoy a chance to go into the "big city" for special holiday outings, the entire Bay Area has so many special events and activities to celebrate the season. Here are a few of our family's personal favorites elsewhere in the Bay Area, from Oakland to the South Bay and everywhere in between!

1. Oakland Zoo's Glowfari (Oakland)

• When: November 7, 2025-January 25, 2026
• Cost: $29.75 & up adults, $26.80 & up seniors (65+), $25.30 & up children (2-14), discount for Oakland Zoo members, free for under 2, free parking.

A few years ago, the Oakland Zoo retired its Zoo Lights holiday event and debuted a new night time festival, Glowfari. I was able to visit with my family when the event debuted, and it is truly breathtaking.

Animal shaped lanterns dot the zoo grounds, and guests take a one mile stroll through the sights. The California Trail gondola is open to take in views from above, including some prehistoric additions to the festival. Santa is available for a visit in the area outside the zoo with the amusement park rides on Fridays through Sundays in November and every night December 1-23 from 6pm to 9pm (line closes at 8:45pm).

Tickets sales have already opened for some dates this year. Tickets for later dates are released on a rolling basis 28 days in advance so there are plenty of opportunities to snag a ticket - even as popular as this event is!

2. Fairy Winterland at Children's Fairyland (Oakland)

• When: December 13-14, 20-21, & 27-28, 2025
• Cost: $22 per adult & $20 per child general admission, discounts for Fairyland members

This classic local theme park by Oakland's Lake Merritt is a favorite any time of year. But during the holidays, it gets decked out in lights and culturally-diverse holiday displays from around the world for Fairy Winterland. Black Santa leads kids in the Festival of Lights Parade. Kids can make ornaments, candles, and chalk art in addition to enjoying Fairyland's engaging puppet shows and attractions. Complimentary hot cocoa or cider is available to all.

Dated tickets are required. Be sure to book in advance online as the event will likely sell out. Tickets usually go on sale around November 1.

3. Christmas in the Park (San Jose)

• When: Evenings November 21 to December 31, 2025 (drive through experience), November 28, 2025 to January 1, 2026 from 12:00pm-10:00pm (walk through downtown park event)
• Cost: $25-30 per car for drive through experience, free walk through event

This holiday light display has been a tradition in the South Bay for many decades. This year, Christmas in the Park is again having two celebrations - the traditional free event in downtown San Jose's Plaza de Cesar Chavez Park and a drive through lights experience.

The downtown event has live performances from community groups, a decorated tree forest, and Santa visits. The drive through experience has thousands of lights set to music and will be held in 2025 in a new location at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds.

4. Christmas Tree Lane (Alameda)

• When: Early December TBD - approximately December 31, 2025, usually evenings 5:00-10:00pm
• Cost: Free (but donations are welcome to help cover the street's electricity costs).

A residential street in the little East Bay town of Alameda that I call home is a holiday attraction that draws in guests from around Northern California. Houses are decked in thousands of lights, most with a unique theme, from Nightmare Before Christmas to Peanuts and more.

Visitors can slowly drive the street for a quick visit or park in surrounding blocks (if you can find parking!) and take stroll by each house instead. Enterprising local organizations often sell goodies and warm drinks for good causes on weekends. Exact details will be posted closer to time on the street's Facebook page.

5. Niles Canyon Train of Lights (Fremont/Sunol)

• When: Select dates November 21-December 30, 2025
• Cost: $40 per person (ages 3+)

This full scale historic Bay Area railroad has a magnificent holiday train ride offered each winter season. The Niles Canyon Train of Lights is a 1.5 hour journey from the East Bay towns of Fremont or Sunol with Santa sightings, hot cocoa, and seasonal decor.

This is a popular holiday tradition with Bay Area families. Weekend dates sell out almost instantaneously when tickets are released each fall (usually in October), so plan ahead!

Related: Ultimate Guide to Train Rides and Attractions in Northern California

6. Roaring Camp Railroad Holiday Lights Train (Santa Cruz)

• When: November 28-29, December 6-7 & 13-23, 2025 (New Year's Train: December 26-31, 2025)
• Cost: $58.25 adult (age 13+)/$38.11 child (ages 2-12)

A bit farther south in Santa Cruz is yet another holiday train experience. Every winter season, Roaring Camp Railroads turns its Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk train into a family-friendly Holiday Lights Train (direct ticket booking link here). The railroad then converts the train to a New Years one after December 25 and also hosts a Chanukah train on a single night TBD.

My extended family and I finally had the chance to ride the Holiday Lights Train for the first time last year and everyone from age 2 to 80+ had a magical evening. Included were hot drinks and a visit with Santa who walks the length of the train. My kids especially enjoyed the included $10 per person MyBoardwalk cards, which we used for some game time at the Beach Boardwalk's arcade afterwards.

Standard cars on the train are open air, so be sure to bundle up. The sea breeze off the Monterey Bay can get chilly in winter months!

7. WinterFest at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (Vallejo)

• When: Mostly Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays November 28, 2025 - January 4, 2026 plus some weekdays near Christmas and New Year's.
• Cost: As low as $49 if purchased in advance online, $35 parking

This large Bay Area theme park hosts an afternoon and evening holiday event on all days the park is open between Thanksgiving and the New Year. WinterFest at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom combines holiday lights, live performances, characters, and seasonal snacks and shopping with plenty of regular theme park rides.

If the name of this event sounds familiar, that's because WinterFest used to be the holiday event at another Bay Area theme park, California's Great America. That park is not open during winter months anymore (and is slated to close in the next few years), so the event was moved to Discovery Kingdom now that both theme parks are owned by Cedar Fair.

8. North Pole Nights at Gilroy Gardens (Gilroy)

• When: Select nights November 28, 2025 - December 31, 2025.
• Cost: $45+ per person when purchased in advance online, $25 parking

Gilroy Gardens - another theme park south of San Jose that caters to younger kids - has holiday lights and a seasonal event all its own every winter. The holiday fun is back in 2025 with a celebration called North Pole Nights, and the offerings are pretty robust for a smaller theme park.

In 2025, the entire park will be transformed to become the North Pole. Santa and his elves will be available for meet and greets. There's also an ice skating under the stars (for an additional fee), sparkling light displays, and lots of seasonal food offerings. New in 2025 is the chance to dine at lunch with Santa the weekend before Christmas for an additional fee.

Discounted tickets on specific days are available as well as flexible tickets good for entry any day of the holiday schedule.

9. Snowland at Great Wolf Lodge (Manteca)

• When: November 24, 2025 - January 6, 2026
• Cost: Included in an overnight hotel booking, day passes ($40-$100 per person) also available on select dates

While Great Wolf Lodge is a family entertainment destination a lot of American families already know and love, it's still a pretty new arrival to the Bay Area. The holidays are a great time for a first visit, as Great Wolf Lodge's Northern California location in Manteca is jumping in on the holiday fun with a Snowland event again this year. Our family went a few years ago for a stay just before Thanksgiving and really had a blast.

The hotel is decked out in holiday decor and the event includes visits with Santa (check for availability), seasonal arts & crafts, a "Frosty Fest" family dance party, trivia games, and more.

10. Great Dickens Christmas Fair & Victorian Holiday Party (Daly City)

• When: Saturdays and Sundays (+ Friday after Thanksgiving) from November 22 through December 21, 2025
• Cost: $49.99 adult, $29.29 kids for admission to the fair ($20 parking)

If it's not quite enough to just watch A Christmas Carol during the holiday season, you can actually live it at the Great Dickens Christmas Fair. Held in Daly City's Cow Palace, this event celebrates Victorian Christmas traditions with performances, shops, and food and drink. And of course, guests can see many of their favorite period characters in costume or wear costumes themselves.

Tickets are only sold online in advance to the fair itself and do sell out, so plan a visit in advance.

11. IlluminOdyssey at CuriOdyssey (San Mateo)

• When: November 15, 2025-January 25, 2026 (select dates)
• Cost: $23.95 child/senior 62+, $27.95 adult

CuriOdyssey is a beloved outdoor science museum and zoo near the San Francisco Airport. During the holiday season, the museum offers a winter light experience that is as beautiful as it is educational. The museum's IlluminOdyssey exhibition focuses on the science and characteristics of light. The light creations are interactive and meant to be touched so kids can really explore them with all of their senses.

Bonus that this is one seasonal activity that is often open on many weekdays when many of the rest of them are only offered on already jam-packed weekends in December!

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Do you have any San Francisco or Bay Area kid-friendly traditions in your family? Share your recommendations in the comments.

For more holiday decorations and events on the West Coast, don't miss Stuffed Suitcases's guide to the 10 best Christmas towns on the West Coast.

Disclosure: I have attended a few of the events listed over the years as a hosted guest, including the Ritz-Carlton Teddy Bear Tea, a holiday stay at the Westin St. Francis, and the Safeway ice rink. All opinions are my own.