A round-up of holiday events in San Francisco and beyond
Posted by admin on Oct 29, 2008
A unique city at any time of the year, San Francisco definitely puts its own spin on holiday traditions. Whether you’re driving in from out of town, flying in from out of the country, or simply stepping out your front door, you’re sure to find something to put you in the holiday spirit and chase away the "bah humbugs."
You’ll also find holiday festivities in San Francisco’s outlying areas, such as a family Kwanzaa celebration in Sausalito, and historic events in Half Moon Bay and Sacramento where you can step back in time to Yuletides of yore.
Ice Skating in San Francisco
Yerba Buena Ice Skating
Available year-round
Yerba Buena Gardens (6 blocks from the San Francisco Downtown Hostel)
Cost: $8 Adults / $6.25 Children 12 and under / $5.50 Seniors over 55. Skate rental additional $3.
Located in an urban rooftop garden in the Yerba Buena Gardens, the view of the city from the rink’s wall of windows is especially charming around the holiday season. skatebowl.com
Holiday Ice Rink at Union Square
November 12 - January 4
Union Square (1 block from the San Francisco Downtown Hostel)
Cost: $8 Adults / $4 Children 8 and under
The Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square debuts this holiday season under the festive Union Square holiday tree. There is a 50 cent surcharge from Friday at 6 p.m. until closing on Sunday. unionsquareicerink.com
Holiday Ice Rink at Embarcadero Center
November 12 - January 4
Justin Herman Plaza
Cost: $8.50 Adults / $5 Seniors / $5 Children 10 and under
Ice skating returns to Justin Herman Plaza with the Holiday Ice Rink at Embarcadero Center. Delighting families, couples, and ice skating enthusiasts for 15 years, the Embarcadero Center’s rink is open to the public for nine weeks. embarcaderocenter.com/ec/attractions
Holiday Lightings in San Francisco
Market Street Lighting Ceremony
November 18
Downtown San Francisco
Cost: Free
For the first time in 103 years, San Francisco’s Market Street will be lit for the holiday season. Five-foot-wide energy-saving LED illuminated snowflakes decorate a portion of Market Street’s signature "Path of Gold" light poles (originally installed in 1916) between Second and Fifth streets, through January 2009. A lighting ceremony is scheduled for November 18 near the cable car turn-around at Powell and Market. marketstreetassociation.org
Embarcadero Center’s Building Lighting
November 21
Embarcadero Center
Cost: Free
The Embarcadero Center’s building lighting is "going green" for its 27th annual lighting ceremony. This year, the exterior building is being illuminated with 17,000 two-watt bulbs using cold cathode technology, rather than the traditional 15-watt bulbs. The lighting ceremony is followed by an ice show, fireworks display, and Winter Carnival at the Holiday Ice Rink at Embarcadero Center. embarcaderocenter.com/ec/attractions
PIER 39 Holiday Tree Lighting
November 23
Pier 39
Cost: Free
A multi-cultural celebration, San Francisco’s Pier 39 Holiday Tree Lighting features Bay Area musical groups performing seasonal favorites from around the world, celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. The majestic tree, adorned with 400 glistening ornaments, 500 bows, and 2,000 twinkling LED lights is lit at 5:30 p.m. in the Entrance Plaza, by the Bay Area’s NBC-TV chief meteorologist, John Farley. pier39.com
Ghirardelli Square Tree Lighting
November 28
Ghirardelli Square
Cost: Free
Head to Ghirardelli Square for their annual tree lighting ceremony, a special event that has become a tradition for many San Francisco families. This year’s festivities include live music from the Black Olive Jazz Band, the Merrie Olde Carolers, and the Contra Costal Chorale, a visit from Santa, and, of course, the lighting of the 50-foot Christmas tree. ghirardellisq.com
Live Performances in San Francisco
A Christmas Carol
December 4-27
American Conservatory Theater (1 block from the San Francisco Downtown Hostel, 6 blocks from the San Francisco City Center Hostel)
Cost: Tickets start at $14 for preview performances (December 4-7). ACT also offers half-price rush tickets to hostel guests, starting at $7.25 — click here for more information.
Scrooge is back, and he’s meaner than ever in A.C.T.’s A Christmas Carol, a favorite holiday tradition. Featuring adorable Tiny Tim, those spooky Christmas ghosts, and a multi-generational cast of dozens, A Christmas Carol is a sparkling, music-infused celebration of goodwill. act-sf.org
A Cathedral Christmas
December 7, 13, 14, 20, and 22
Grace Cathedral
Cost: $15-$30
Celebrate the season with the Grace Cathedral’s Choir of Men and Boys, featuring their signature performances of favorite carols, along with sacred masterpieces and yuletide classics. gracecathedral.org
A Brass and Organ Christmas
December 8
Grace Cathedral
Cost: $15 -$50
One of the Grace Cathedral’s holiday traditions is a brass concert with trumpets, tubas, trombones, and more playing festive music. The program includes holiday favorites and light classical masterpieces, with a few surprises thrown in. gracecathedral.org
Handel’s Messiah
December 18-19
Grace Cathedral
Cost: $15-$50 Price Change: $17.99-$60
Handel’s Messiah has long captivated and intrigued audiences with its near-operatic qualities. American Bach Soloists conductor Jeffrey Thomas leads America’s "best specialists in early music," including a splendid quartet of soloists in performances that have been treasured by audiences for more than a decade. gracecathedral.org
Also in San Francisco
Season’s "Greenings" Gift-Making Extravaganza
December 6
Crissy Field Center
Cost: Free admission; individual activities range from $1-$5
Create unique gifts from recycled materials during the fifth annual Season’s Greenings event at the Crissy Fields Center in San Francisco. Container gardens and digital greeting cards are some of the gifts that guests can make for their friends and family. Organic hot cider and popcorn is also available for purchase. All ages are welcome; adults must accompany children. crissyfield.org
Contemporary Jewish Museum’s Annual Free Family Day
December 25
Contemporary Jewish Museum (5 blocks from the San Francisco Downtown Hostel)
Cost: Free
Visitors may visit the new Contemporary Jewish Museum for free on December 25 and enjoy unique and educational exhibitions, lively music, family-friendly hands-on activities, storytelling, and more. As the only museum open on Christmas Day, the museum provides an alternative for children and their families to come together and experience art, culture, and ideas. thecjm.org
In Sacramento
Old Sacramento Heritage Holidays
November 26 - December 31
Old Sacramento (7 blocks from the Sacramento Hostel)
Cost: Free
Starting with Sacramento’s first tree lighting of the year and finishing with the best New Year’s Eve fireworks show in the area, Heritage Holidays infuses Sacramento’s historic district with the spirit of the season. Old Sacramento businesses will be decked out for the holidays, and offer a festive shopping experience you can’t find anywhere else. oldsacramento.com
Christmas Memories at the Historic Governor’s Mansion
December 6 and 13, Governor’s Mansion State Historic Park (6 blocks from the Sacramento Hostel)
Cost: $5 Adults / $3 Youth 6-17 / Free for Children 5 and under
Visit the Sacramento Governor’s Mansion State Historic Park to celebrate "Christmas Memories" with lavishly recreated period decor and costumed docents. Let yourself be transported back to the time of the earlier Governors’ families and their Christmas traditions. Live music, storytelling, mansion tours, and visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus are part of the holiday festivities. parks.ca.gov
In Half Moon Bay
Johnston Holiday House
November 1, 2, 8, and 9
Johnston House (7 miles from the Point Montara Lighthouse Hostel)
Cost: $10 (includes admission for all 4 days)
The historic Johnston House in Half Moon Bay presents its annual Holiday House boutique and tour. Dozens of thematically decorated holiday trees are on display throughout the saltbox house, as well as one-of-a-kind holiday wreaths, handcrafted jewelry, and other arts and crafts by local and regional artists. As always, all tree ornaments and other house decor will be available for sale, and the kitchen will be filled with holiday cookies, candies, jams, and other delicacies for every taste. johnstonhouse.org
In Sausalito
Kwanzaa Celebration
December 26
Bay Area Discovery Museum (5 miles from the Marin Headlands Hostel)
Cost: Free
Join the Bay Area Discovery Museum’s celebration of family and community while experiencing the rich traditions of Kwanzaa. Experience a celebration of African American culture through hands-on activities, performances, and food. Also featured throughout the museum are art projects inspired by the African continent, and a Kwanzaa altar in the museum’s Entry Pavilion. Renowned jazz drummer E.W. Wainwright and his ensemble, The African Roots of Jazz, take visitors on a musical journey that traces African American musical forms — including jazz, gospel, and spirituals — from their earliest beginnings in African cultures to today. The program features instrumental music, songs, theater, and audience participation. baykidsmuseum.org