Christmas Activities and Holiday Guide for San Francisco Bay Area Kids

The most magical time of year is here: the holiday season! Find fun Christmas activities near San Francisco and the whole Bay Area, from San Jose to Oakland and beyond! Plus restaurants open on Thanksgiving, Hanukkah events, Christmas light shows, and find out where to see Santa Claus this season.

Check out our Holiday and Christmas Activities Guide to all the best things to do in San Francisco Bay Area this holiday season.

Christmas Activities for San Francisco Kids
Meet Santa amid dazzling lights. Photo courtesy of Enchant Christmas
Top Places to See Santa in San Francisco
Those eight crazy nights are approaching and we’ve got everything you need to celebrate Hanukkah with your family. Photo courtesy Cottonbro Studios
8 Ways to Celebrate Hanukkah with Kids: Hanukkah Gifts, Fun Crafts, and a Little History
Christmas in the Park is an annual festive affair in San Jose. Photo courtesy of Christmas in the Park.
Best Christmas Light Displays and Holiday Lights in San Francisco
Check out the life-size gingerbread house when you take holiday tea at the Fairmont! Photo courtesy of the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco
44 Must Do Christmas Events and Holiday Activities in San Francisco for Kids
Glowfari is an otherworldly and amazing experience. Photo courtesy of the Oakland County Zoo
Best Holiday Lights Drive-Thrus and Christmas Light Shows in San Francisco
Mingle with Santa Claus while aboard a holiday train! Photo courtesy of the Sacramento River Fox Train
Polar Express Train Rides and Christmas Trains Near San Francisco for 2023

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Holiday & Christmas Crafts for Kids
Armed with our giant list of Christmas crafts, you'll keep kids busy until the New Year!
101 Christmas Crafts for Kids, Plus Christmas Games and More At-Home Activities
Keep Rudolph's teeth clean with this Christmas science experiment.
Reindeer Toothpaste Recipe Christmas Science Activity for Kids
We’ve tested out dozens of Christmas cookie recipes over the years, and these are the very best.
10 Best Christmas Cookie Recipes To Bake with Kids
Easy Handmade Thumbprint Holiday Cards Kids Craft
Hot chocolate bombs are a tasty winter treat for kids!
How to Make Hot Chocolate Bombs in 5 Easy Steps
Get in the holiday spirit with Christmas movies filled with Santa, elves, and reindeer.
A Charlie Brown Christmas and More Kids' Holiday Movies to Watch This Holiday Season

Latest Christmas/Hanukkah News

Step into an illuminated experience at Glowfari. Photo by Rachelle Haun, via Flickr CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Christmas Vacation in San Francisco: 37 Staycation Ideas for Things To Do With Kids
We've got loads of ideas to entice kids away from new toys and video games!
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Christmas jokes for kids make the season a bit jollier all around!
25 Christmas Jokes for Kids and Holiday Riddles
Why was the Grinch such a great gardener?
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Christmas in the Park is an annual festive affair in San Jose. Photo courtesy of Christmas in the Park.
Best Christmas Light Displays and Holiday Lights in San Francisco
The Bay Area bursts with extra holiday spirit in December.
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Put on a holiday sweater—ugly or not!—and strike a pose!
Best Family Christmas Card Photo Ideas
Want to make your family Christmas photo cards stand out this year? Here's how! We're making...
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Meet Santa amid dazzling lights. Photo courtesy of Enchant Christmas
Top Places to See Santa in San Francisco
SANTA! I Know Him! And a selfie with him will prove it.
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Uh-oh! The elf tangled up your tree lights! Photo by Mark Baylor, courtesy of Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
  VIDEO
50 Fun Elf on the Shelf Ideas for 2023: Easy To Set Up Tricks for Mischievous Elves
Simple but hilarious Elf on the Shelf shenanigans that will delight your kids.
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