20+ San Francisco Christmas Things To Do That Locals Love

The San Francisco Christmas season is one of my favorite times of year in the city. I love how festive people decorate their Victorians, ice skating in Union Square, going to holiday shows and pop-up bars, and best of all, how peaceful the city gets this time of year.

I moved to San Francisco in 2014, and after 12 years here, I’m so excited to share my vetted San Francisco Christmas things to do, plus my favorite holiday activities in the Bay Area.

Get ready for all my favorite San Francisco Christmas activities: the best pop-up bars, holiday shows, where to see Christmas lights, and more! If you also love Christmas, this post is for you.

My Top 4 San Francisco Christmas Things To Do

If you only have one weekend, do these:

1. Ice skating in Union Square: skate laps around the giant tree (open November 4, 2026 through January 18, 2027)
2. Christmas pop-up bars: Sippin’ Santa and Miracle at PCH are my two must-dos
3. Holiday high tea at the Fairmont: then go gawk at their two-story gingerbread house
4. Riding the Christmas cable car: a decked-out trolley tour of the best holiday lights in the city

My newest obsession is Lightscape in Golden Gate Park, which is #4 on the full list below.

Now, onto the fun holiday things for Christmas in San Francisco! There’s everything from shows to bars to holiday lights to Christmas cheer.

21 San Francisco Christmas Activities Locals Love

1. San Francisco Christmas Lights Hunting Is So Fun

Self-guided holiday lights tours with my friends are my literal favorite thing to do during the holidays. So many Victorian homeowners take a lot of pride in decorating for Christmas and have huge, elaborate scenes set up that are free for the public to enjoy.

There are some classic houses that always have something going on in December, but there are also surprises and new light displays to hunt down each year. I usually set aside a couple nights each year to drive around the city until I find a light display outside a house.

I have a guide on all my favorite San Francisco Christmas Lights you can check out for my full list, but here are my favorite houses:

• 68 Castro Street House: Looks like the North Pole threw up on it, in all the best ways
• Castro Rainbow Tree: Best viewed in the daytime, actually!
• 45 Upper Terrace House: They also do Halloween, Valentine’s Day and St Patty’s Day decor. It’s awesome!

2. Union Square Ice Skating Is How I Start Every Holiday Season

Heading down to see the Union Square Christmas Tree and ice skating around it is always my favorite! I told my husband, I wanted to ice skate, hold hands and have hot chocolate.

There’s a little bakery on Union Square, so I recommend you grab hot chocolate and cookies either before or after your skate time. I prefer the time slot around sunset. Dusk is my favorite time of day (plus the rink will be slightly less busy during this session).

For the 2026 season, the Safeway Holiday Ice Rink is open November 4, 2026 through January 18, 2027 at 333 Post Street. Hour-long sessions start every 90 minutes, and a regular session with skates is $22. Two special nights to put on your calendar: Drag on Ice on December 3 and the Silent Skate silent disco on December 10 (both $35).

Pro-tip: get tickets online so you don’t have to scan the mobile code at the ice rink and risk no more tickets being left. December is always the busiest!

3. Alamo Drafthouse Holiday Movie Parties Are A Fun Way To Watch Classic Movies

One year I grabbed my bestie and we went to see Elf at the Alamo Drafthouse for one of their holiday parties and it was SO MUCH FUN! What’s special about Alamo Drafthouses is you can order food to your seat.

They have everything from cocktails, wine, beer, popcorn and really, really good food. There’s something extra fun about watching Elf with a bunch of people, all screaming lines out and laughing together. It’s my San Francisco Christmas tradition now!

4. Lightscape At The San Francisco Botanical Garden Is My New Favorite Holiday Lights Walk

Lightscape started in 2025 and I went that first year. It was SO much fun. They take over the entire San Francisco Botanical Garden in Golden Gate Park with very elaborate light shows, so walking the trail feels like wandering through a holiday paradise.

I loved the music. There’s one stretch that’s straight-up disco music and lights in a forest, and every millennial in there was dancing. Such a fun way to kickstart the holiday season.

For 2026, Lightscape runs November 20 through January 3, 2027 on a one-mile trail with more than a million lights. Entry is timed. In 2025, adult tickets ran $32 to $42 depending on the night, kids 5 to 17 were $20 to $24, and kids 4 and under got in free. Buying the same day cost $5 extra, so book ahead.

Pro-tip: skip the 5pm slot unless you have kids. That’s stroller hour. Everyone brings their kids and babies, and it’s really hard to walk around. Grab a later ticket time to avoid the crowds. If you do have little ones, go at 5, since that’s the most popular time for families.

Enter at the Main Gate on 9th Avenue at Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. The garden recommends taking Muni (the N-Judah and the 5, 7, 43 and 44 buses all get you close) or a rideshare.

Sad news if you loved Entwined in Golden Gate Park as much as I did: the glowing tree forest isn’t returning, so Lightscape is the Golden Gate Park light walk to book now.

5. Holiday High Tea Is A Must For The Girlies

Look, I’m a Christmas girl and there’s nothing more fun than grabbing Holiday High Tea (donning cute dresses and probably a few bad British accents). Here are the best places for Christmas tea in the city:

1. Fairmont Hotel: Have tea in Laurel Court over pots of fine loose-leaf tea, house-made scones, tea sandwiches, pastries and sweets. After, make sure to check out their two-story gingerbread house, another famous Christmas in SF stop! I went one year and had the best afternoon gossiping and sipping Champagne and tea.
2. Palace Hotel: The most famous high tea is probably the Palace Hotel in their beautiful and large Garden Court.
3. The Rotunda at Neiman Marcus: I’ve been here with the girls and I love this tea since you can order champagne, too! It’s right off Union Square, so do those back to back.

6. San Francisco Christmas Pop-Up Bars Are Party Spots

I’m such a sucker for Christmas pop-up bars and the San Francisco Bay Area always has so many good ones!! Some get all dressed up with tinsel and lights, others have special holiday meals or cocktails, and some even have cool events.

I always aim to visit a few. The best ones are below:

• Sippin’ Santa at Kona’s Street Market (32 3rd St): Sippin’ Santa is my favorite Christmas bar pop-up company. It’s like Tiki meets the North Pole! 2026 is Sippin’ Santa’s 10th anniversary, so expect new cocktails and new collectible glassware.
• Miracle at PCH (550 Sutter St): Miracle is the other big Christmas bar company, and their bars always go all out with decor and good drinks! It’s a few blocks from Union Square. Note: they only have one mocktail option here, the others do a better job at non-alcoholic drinks.
• Deck the Halls Bar: Complete with a fireplace and stockings! They moved to the Castro (2298 Market St) in 2025, and they have good mocktail options.
• Grinchville at Thriller Country Club: The arcade bar formerly called Thriller Social Club turns its second floor into a Grinch-themed Christmas speakeasy.

Pop-up dates shift every year, so check each bar’s Instagram before you head over.

7. Fisherman’s Wharf Lighted Boat Parade Is Best For The Family

Every year, the St. Francis Yacht Club puts on a Lighted Boat Parade that starts off Pier 39, heads west past Fisherman’s Wharf to the Marina Green and Crissy Field, and comes back. It’s usually a Friday night in mid-December starting around 6pm (in 2025 it was December 12). Best viewing is from Pier 39, Aquatic Park, Fort Mason or the Marina Green.

Make sure to grab some hot chocolate at Ghirardelli Square beforehand!

While you’re at Pier 39, pop into the Christmas in San Francisco store on Level 1. It’s been selling San Francisco holiday decor since 1964, with ornaments of city scenes and landmarks, and a lot of them get personalized right there.

8. Seeing The Holiday Lights On A Night Trolley Tour Is So Very SF

What’s cuter than a San Francisco cable car? A Cable Car all dressed up in holiday decor that takes you around to all the best light displays in the city!! Book tickets for the holiday trolley tour.

9. Getting Dressed Up For The Nutcracker at San Francisco Ballet Is A Must

Experience the winter wonderland of toy soldiers, King of the Mice, Sugar Plum Fairy, and so much more via The Nutcracker at the War Memorial Opera House! The San Francisco Ballet is world-class and attracts top-tier talent, so this is always the best Christmas show to catch in the city.

10. Catch A Christmas Carol At ACT

Every year the American Conservatory Theater (aka ACT) puts on A Christmas Carol at the Toni Rembe Theater on Geary Street, and it’s a long-standing tradition for the Bay Area. ACT debuted a brand-new production in 2024 with a new script and new songs, so it’s not the same show you saw as a kid.

11. Macy’s Window Display With Puppies Is Always Cute

Get ready for the cutest dang thing in the entire city each Christmas: the Macy’s Christmas Window! They partner with the SF SPCA to showcase puppies and kittens that are up for adoption. It’s like that song “(How Much Is) That Doggie in the Window?” come to life.

In 2025 the windows at Macy’s Union Square (170 O’Farrell St) ran November 21 through December 31, Wednesday to Sunday from noon to 5pm. You can also watch their puppy and kitten cams online if you can’t make it down. LOVE.

12. Channel Your Ole Timey Side At San Francisco Dickens Christmas Fair

Who else loves a good costume moment? Every year at Cow Palace, the Dickens Christmas Fair happens and is the biggest old timey holiday party of the year. It’s a one-of-a-kind immersive adventure into Victorian London, where actors dress up and wander around sets that make you feel like you stepped back in time.

There are shops, pubs, music halls, shows and way more. Set aside a whole day for this.

The 2026 fair runs Saturdays and Sundays from November 21 to December 20, plus Friday, November 27, from 10am to 6pm. Tickets start at $35 and are sold online only (no box office at the door), and the Cow Palace charges $20 to park.

13. The Conservatory Of Flowers Light Show Is A Free Golden Gate Park Stop

The Conservatory of Flowers used to do a holiday event called Night Bloom inside the greenhouse. These days the move is their free outdoor light show: after sunset, projections inspired by the tropical flowers growing inside wash over the white Victorian greenhouse. Bring a blanket and sit on the lawn out front, or walk up close for the details. It’s an easy add-on before or after Lightscape, but check their site to confirm it’s running when you go.

14. You Haven’t Lived Until You’ve Seen A Christmas Drag Show

I guarantee you that all of your favorite local drag performers will be doing something fun for Christmas and all the best drag bars and venues will be putting on some fantastic shows.

Top spots to check the event calendar for are:

• Oasis
• Diva Royale
• 620 Jones
• Aunt Charlie’s Lounge

Want drag on skates? Drag on Ice at the Union Square rink is December 3, 2026.

15. Civic Center Christmas Gets All Dressed Up And It’s Cute

A huge 50-foot Christmas tree gets plopped outside City Hall and is even bigger than the Union Square tree! This special tree lighting ceremony usually kicks off Christmas events in San Francisco each year.

City Hall also always projects creative light displays on the side of the dome that can be seen from blocks away to really get you in the holiday spirit. In 2025 that turned into a nightly winter lights show with animated projections through December 30.

16. The Westin St. Francis Sugar Castle Is So Very Impressive

Come see grand circular towers, 30 rooms, and 12 feet of detail at the Westin St. Francis Sugar Castle. It’s a giant chateau replica in the lobby that is free to visit for the public and always so dang impressive. It turned 20 in 2025, when it was on display from November 26 to January 2.

17. Getting Dressed Up To Bar Crawl Santa Con

I’ll be honest, my 30-something self feels too old for Santa Con now, but if you are looking for a day of day drinking with friends while everyone dresses up as Santa, then this event is for you!

It’s usually a Saturday in mid-December (in 2025 it was December 13). Bars all around the city take part in the con and you can bar hop all day. It kicks off in Union Square around noon, and you can find more details on the SantaCon website.

18. Picking Out The Perfect Tree At Clancy’s Christmas Tree Farm

I grew up in Wisconsin and we would always go to a Christmas Tree farm to cut down a real tree and bring it home. While you can’t find that within San Francisco, Clancy’s Christmas Tree Farm is pretty dang close.

I love this lot. We go every year to pick up garland for decor. The first year in San Francisco we bought a real tree here (now we use this faux one) but Clancy’s has amazing trees of all types and sizes.

19. Grace Cathedral Christmas Eve Service Is Holy

Grace Cathedral is beautiful. To me, it looks like Paris’ Notre Dame. They’re famous for their Christmas Eve services and Midnight Mass, along with Christmas Day service. If church is your thing, you have to check this out.

20. San Francisco Symphony Has The Best Music

Charlie Brown Christmas is a classic, but imagine watching it on the big screen with live classical music to accompany it?! The San Francisco Symphony is famous for putting on special movie screenings, like Harry Potter, Charlie Brown and Home Alone.

21. Après-ski Igloo At The Mark Hopkins Is Almost As Good As Tahoe

In 2023, the InterContinental Mark Hopkins hotel started a new Après-ski Winter Chalet experience in an igloo dome. Bring your friends or date to the igloo, but come hungry since you’ll be feasting on cheese fondue, chocolate fondue, bread, roasted veggies, meats, fruits and desserts.

This is such a fun, unique Christmas activity in San Francisco that’s different from holiday tea or a pop-up bar. I recommend grabbing a night-time reservation when all the igloo’s lights are glowing!

Heads up: when I checked in early November 2026, the hotel’s Winter Chalet page said it was closed, so confirm it’s back before you plan a night around it.

Bay Area Christmas Events Worth Leaving The City For

Outside San Francisco are tons of cool Bay Area holiday activities! Here are my top picks.

Mountain View City Hall Plaza German Christmas Market For A Glühwein Fix

Sadly there’s no San Francisco Christmas Market (at least not a proper German one, I think they totally should put one in Fort Mason), but if you are willing to head down to Mountain View, you can find a German Christmas Market there!

The 2026 market is Saturday, December 12, from 11am to 9pm at Mountain View City Hall Plaza (500 Castro St). It’s free with no tickets needed, and over 20,000 people go, so get there early.

San Jose Bar Crawl With Friends

I did a fun San Jose Christmas bar crawl with friends! A few downtown San Jose holiday pop-up bars are worth the trip down. Start at Paper Plane, a Miracle bar, then cross the street to 55 South, a Sippin’ Santa spot with all the fun tiki energy you want.

Then, end it all at MINIBOSS, an arcade bar that goes all out for Christmas. Just don’t forget to bring quarters!

San Jose Holiday Brew Bikes For A Unique Bar Crawl

Beer + bikes + Willow Glen’s famous holiday lights?! Heck yes! Holiday Brew Bikes are so much fun. My friends did one and they had a blast drinking and touring around all the best Christmas Lights the San Francisco Bay Area has to offer.

Pelican Inn Christmas Eve Dinner

Pelican Inn is the most unique Northern California hotel for Christmas. It’s built like a 16th century English inn! When London is too far away, head here to Marin County instead.

They have special Christmas Eve dinners, so when I saw they had a room left to book on Christmas Eve in 2023, I made a reservation! And holy cow, it was the most relaxing, unique way to spend Christmas in the Bay Area.

We drove up, did some hiking around Muir Beach, then checked in and had happy hour drinks. The inn has something called The Snug which is usually just for guests but they open it up on Christmas Eve for caroling with the local town.

We had a divine dinner and sang classic holiday songs and it was so nice. I highly recommend it!!

Napa Valley Merry Ice Skating With Fake Snow

If you’re visiting Napa Valley during this time of year, you have to stop by the Meritage Resort and Spa’s “Merry Meritage” festivities! They transform the Village Lawn with Napa Valley’s largest outdoor ice skating rink, a massive Christmas tree, fire pits, igloo domes and food trucks, and they even pipe in fake snow. It’s open to the public, too, and usually runs from mid-November into early January.

Oakland Zoo Glowfari For The Kids

Every year the Oakland Zoo puts tons of larger-than-life animal lanterns throughout the Zoo to turn it into a glowing safari. Aka “Glowfari.” It’s so much fun, especially for kids! If you’re searching East Bay Christmas events, start here.

The 2026 season runs November 6 through January 31, 2027, with entry between 4:30 and 6:30pm (closed a handful of nights, including December 24 and 25). Tickets use plan-ahead pricing and release 28 days out, so the earlier you book, the cheaper they are. Parking is free.

Filoli Holiday Lights Are Out Of This World

What To Do In San Francisco on Christmas Day

Most Christmas activities in San Francisco will be done by the time it’s Christmas Day, but there are still plenty of fun things to do on December 25th.

• Chinatown: The oldest Chinatown in the USA will have plenty of things open, restaurants included.
• Ice Skate Rink: Union Square’s rink will be open on the 25th for sessions!
• Lightscape: In 2025 it was open Christmas night (and closed Christmas Eve), so check the 2026 calendar if you want a festive evening plan.
• Take a long walk: my favorite thing to do with visitors is take a long walk around the city. Start at Market, go past Union Square, up through Chinatown, North Beach and down to Fisherman’s Wharf. You can also head to Marshall’s Beach for a hike with Golden Gate Bridge views. My husband and I usually do a nice big Christmas Day walk around the city before heading inside to watch the latest Doctor Who Christmas Special and drink wine.
• Picnic: Park picnic culture is sacred here in SF, and December days can bring 70 degree weather and sun. Bring wine, snacks and a blanket and head to a park on Christmas Day!
• Boat Tours: Select companies down at Fisherman’s Wharf will have scenic boat tours available.

Christmas in California is never people’s first idea of the holidays. New York City and places like Berlin’s Christmas Markets always overshadow it, but I love staying close to home this time of year. And thankfully, there are so many local holiday events to stay busy with.

What’s The Weather Like For Christmas In San Francisco?

San Francisco Christmas weather is usually wonderful, in my opinion. Expect highs in the high 50s, often with sunshine, and every so often a 70-degree day sneaks in (aka, still wear that ugly Christmas sweater!). Fun fact for anyone who’s only visited in summer: December here is often sunnier than August, when the fog rolls in and tourists shiver in shorts.

December can also bring rain (but never snow!) I remember the first year we moved here, I had a temp job near Oracle Park and had to wade through 3 feet of water to get to the office since the streets flooded. Basically, if you are visiting from out of state, keep an eye on the weather and maybe pack an umbrella.

2026 San Francisco Christmas Events Calendar

These are the holiday events San Francisco locals plan around, with the 2026 dates I could confirm. Always double-check before you go, since schedules change.

San Francisco Christmas Things To Do FAQ

What are the best San Francisco Christmas things to do?

My top four are ice skating in Union Square, Christmas pop-up bars like Sippin’ Santa and Miracle at PCH, holiday high tea at the Fairmont, and riding the holiday trolley to see the lights. Add Lightscape in Golden Gate Park if you love holiday lights.

What holiday events are happening in San Francisco this weekend?

From Thanksgiving weekend through mid-December, almost every weekend is stacked. The Dickens Fair runs every Saturday and Sunday, Lightscape and the Union Square rink are open most nights, and the pop-up bars are going. If you’re searching “holiday events this weekend near me” from anywhere in the Bay Area, those plus Glowfari cover most holiday weekend events.

Is there a holiday event today in San Francisco?

In December, almost always, since most SF holiday events run daily. For free holiday events today, walk past the Macy’s puppy windows (Wednesday to Sunday), the Westin St. Francis Sugar Castle and the Union Square tree. If you want a ticketed holiday event today, Lightscape and the ice rink sell timed slots, though same-day Lightscape tickets cost $5 more in 2025.

What are the best family-friendly holiday activities in San Francisco?

My top holiday activities SF families will love: Lightscape at 5pm (that’s when all the families go), the Macy’s puppy and kitten windows, the lighted boat parade at Fisherman’s Wharf, and Glowfari at the Oakland Zoo. The Dickens Fair also has puppet shows and Father Christmas for kids.

Where are the best spots for Christmas in San Francisco photos?

Lightscape after dark, the Union Square tree from the ice rink, the City Hall dome light projections, the Fairmont’s gingerbread house and the decorated houses in the Castro. For the best view of the tree, skate the sunset session.

What is the “Christmas in San Francisco” song?

It’s a holiday song by Vic Damone about the city at Christmastime. The Christmas in San Francisco song lyrics name-drop Union Square and the Golden Gate, so it’s a cute soundtrack for a lights-hunting drive. If you want the full Christmas in San Francisco lyrics, look them up on a licensed lyrics site.

Where is the Christmas in San Francisco store?

The Christmas in San Francisco store is at Pier 39 on Level 1, toward the back of the pier. It’s an ornament shop that’s been around since 1964, and Pier 39 lists it as open 10am to 8pm.

What are the best Bay Area Christmas events outside the city?

For Christmas activities Bay Area locals love, I’d pick Filoli Holiday Lights in Woodside, Glowfari in Oakland, Merry Meritage in Napa, the German Christmas Market in Mountain View and Christmas Eve dinner at the Pelican Inn. Those are my favorite holiday events Bay Area-wide, and each one is a different kind of day trip.

Is there a Christmas market in San Francisco?

Not a proper German one, sadly. The closest is the free German Holiday Market in Mountain View on December 12, 2026. For holiday shopping in the city, the Dickens Fair has tons of handmade gifts.

I hope this helps you plan a fantastic trip to the Bay Area, or helps you plan San Francisco holiday events with your family if you’re local. If you travel here in December, you’ll discover the city at its coziest.

I adore my city during the holidays and I hope you have fun, too! I’m sure I missed fun events and pop-up bars, there’s always something new happening, so if you know of something please drop the details in the comments below!!