Celebrating the holidays in the San Francisco Bay Area can be done on the cheap, and even for free. Concerts, festivals, a Santa-themed pub crawl and arts-and-crafts-making sessions are among the fun and free offerings; all you have to do is show up.
Besides live music, there’s caroling and photo-taking with Santa and Mrs. Claus on weekends. Merchants are collecting books for homeless children. Fourth Street is decorated with lights, and between Hearst and Virginia, it’s a hub of gourmet food, cosmetics, jewelry, apparel, chocolate, kitchenware, interior decor, gardening and stationery shops.
Activities happen across from Peet’s, 1776 Fourth St., Berkeley.More »
Nov. 28-Jan. 1, 2015
At this pop-up pedestrian plaza, a light art show, projected nightly onto Macy's Men's Building, stars Jack Frost traipsing across San Francisco. Food trucks are on hand, carolers and musicians perform and Macy’s offers free makeup consultations on select dates.
On Stockton St. between Geary and Ellis streets, San Francisco.More »
Dec. 6, at 3-7 pm
Ponies, a horse-drawn carriage and costumed characters cruise the main drag of Cow Hollow, whose Victorians are decked in lights. For kids, there are balloon toys, cupcake decorating and photos with Santa,
On Union Street between Van Ness and Steiner, San Francisco.More »
Play in the snow and meet the Snow Queen. Make holiday cards and other crafts and enjoy pony rides, hot cider and store specials.
On Shattuck Ave. between Rose and Vine streets, Berkeley 94709.More »
Dec. 7, at 2:30-3:30 pm
Dancers from Mark Foehringer Dance Project/SF perform excerpts from Nutcracker Sweets, a kid-friendly rendition of The Nucracker Suite.
At San Francisco Public Library, 100 Larkin St., San Francisco. More »
Dec. 10, at 6-8:30 pm
Music by the Bernal Jazz Quartet, holiday craft-making and a cookie contest (with judges).
At San Francisco Public Library’s Bernal Heights Branch, 500 Cortland Ave., San Francisco. More »
Dec. 10, at 6:30-8:30 pm
A screening of the wildly popular Walt Disney Animation Studios movie about two sisters, which was inspired by Hans Christian Anderson's fairy tale The Snow Queen.
At San Francisco Public Library’s West Portal Branch, 190 Lenox Way, San Francisco.More »
Dec. 12, at 12:30-1:30 pm
Pianist Jeffrey Chin and his trio play seasonal favorites at this historic Tenderloin hotel.
At the Cadillac Hotel, 380 Eddy St., San Francisco 94102.More »
Dec. 12, at 5:30-8 pm
More than 60 boats festooned in lights and holiday decorations parade along the waterfront.
Boats start off of Pier 39, go west past Fisherman's Wharf and Fort Mason, turn around at Crissy Field and head back, San Francisco. More »
Dec. 13, at noon
Dress up as Santa (or as a creative interpretation of him) or one of his sidekicks (e.g., an elf or reindeer) to join this mass pub crawl through the city. Be prepared to sing warped versions of Christmas carols, drink and act responsibly and civilly and belt out “Ho, ho, ho!”
Starting location and details are to be posted on the SantaCon Twitter feed; in San Francisco. More »
•Holiday Happenings on Fourth Street
Nov. 21-Dec. 21, Saturdays & Sundays; and Dec. 22 & 23Besides live music, there’s caroling and photo-taking with Santa and Mrs. Claus on weekends. Merchants are collecting books for homeless children. Fourth Street is decorated with lights, and between Hearst and Virginia, it’s a hub of gourmet food, cosmetics, jewelry, apparel, chocolate, kitchenware, interior decor, gardening and stationery shops.
Activities happen across from Peet’s, 1776 Fourth St., Berkeley.More »
•Winter Walk SF
Nov. 28-Jan. 1, 2015
At this pop-up pedestrian plaza, a light art show, projected nightly onto Macy's Men's Building, stars Jack Frost traipsing across San Francisco. Food trucks are on hand, carolers and musicians perform and Macy’s offers free makeup consultations on select dates.
On Stockton St. between Geary and Ellis streets, San Francisco.More »
•Union Street Fantasy of Lights
Dec. 6, at 3-7 pm
Ponies, a horse-drawn carriage and costumed characters cruise the main drag of Cow Hollow, whose Victorians are decked in lights. For kids, there are balloon toys, cupcake decorating and photos with Santa,
On Union Street between Van Ness and Steiner, San Francisco.More »
•Snow Day in the Gourmet Ghetto
Dec. 7, at 10 am-3 pmPlay in the snow and meet the Snow Queen. Make holiday cards and other crafts and enjoy pony rides, hot cider and store specials.
On Shattuck Ave. between Rose and Vine streets, Berkeley 94709.More »
•"Nutcracker Sweets"
Dec. 7, at 2:30-3:30 pm
Dancers from Mark Foehringer Dance Project/SF perform excerpts from Nutcracker Sweets, a kid-friendly rendition of The Nucracker Suite.
At San Francisco Public Library, 100 Larkin St., San Francisco. More »
•Annual Winter Celebration
Dec. 10, at 6-8:30 pm
Music by the Bernal Jazz Quartet, holiday craft-making and a cookie contest (with judges).
At San Francisco Public Library’s Bernal Heights Branch, 500 Cortland Ave., San Francisco. More »
•"Frozen"
Dec. 10, at 6:30-8:30 pm
A screening of the wildly popular Walt Disney Animation Studios movie about two sisters, which was inspired by Hans Christian Anderson's fairy tale The Snow Queen.
At San Francisco Public Library’s West Portal Branch, 190 Lenox Way, San Francisco.More »
•Cadillac Holiday Concert
Dec. 12, at 12:30-1:30 pm
Pianist Jeffrey Chin and his trio play seasonal favorites at this historic Tenderloin hotel.
At the Cadillac Hotel, 380 Eddy St., San Francisco 94102.More »
•Lighted Boat Parade
Dec. 12, at 5:30-8 pm
More than 60 boats festooned in lights and holiday decorations parade along the waterfront.
Boats start off of Pier 39, go west past Fisherman's Wharf and Fort Mason, turn around at Crissy Field and head back, San Francisco. More »
•SantaCon
Dec. 13, at noon
Dress up as Santa (or as a creative interpretation of him) or one of his sidekicks (e.g., an elf or reindeer) to join this mass pub crawl through the city. Be prepared to sing warped versions of Christmas carols, drink and act responsibly and civilly and belt out “Ho, ho, ho!”
Starting location and details are to be posted on the SantaCon Twitter feed; in San Francisco. More »
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