Los Altos Holiday Event Guide 2021: Christmas Parades & Santa

LOS ALTOS, CA — Get out your calendars! Time to start planning as holiday festivities gear up in Los Altos and throughout the Peninsula.

Christmas this year falls on a Saturday, Dec. 25. Hanukkah 2021 came a bit early, beginning Sunday, Nov. 28 at sundown, and runs through Monday, Dec. 6.

Peruse Patch's annual holiday guide, find nearby events and select the outings that appeal to you and yours. Many events kick off soon, while several require advance bookings, and space may be limited.

Do note: Always confirm with organizers that the listed activities are proceeding as planned when posted.

And to all of our readers, wishing you the happiest of holidays, from Patch!
----------

ATHERTON:

DEC. 2: Sacred Heart Schools Holiday Boutique. Get going on your holiday shopping!
--------

BELMONT:

DEC. 9: Toy Drive & Santa Visits At Firehouse. Registration required.

DEC. 14: Gingerbread House Decorating Contest. Show off your skills! Deadline Dec. 14.

--------

BURLINGAME:

DEC. 3: Holiday Tree Lighting, Winter Fest & Wine Walk. The kiddie fun zone is free.

DEC. 5: Chanukah Car Parade. With music & doughnuts courtesy of Chabad North Peninsula.

DEC. 5: Caltrain Holiday Train & Toy Drive. Community tradition returns for 2021!

--------

CUPERTINO:

DEC. 3: Tree Lighting, Holiday Movie & Santa. Admission is free, but registration required.

DEC. 4: Breakfast With Santa: Quinlan Community Center. Likely to sell out, but wat list will be started.
--------

DALY CITY:

DEC. 4-19: Great Dickens Christmas Fair Drive-Thru: Cow Palace. With street scenes, music & tasty food - to enjoy from your car.
----------

EAST PALO ALTO:

DEC. through FEB. 26: 'Après Village' Winter Pop-Up & Fireside Movies: Four Seasons Silicon Valley. With mini-chalets, fireside movies, indulgent winter treats & more.
------------

FOSTER CITY:

DEC. 4: Walking In A Winter Wonderland. Space is limited, so sign up soon.

DEC. 8: Tree Lighting Ceremony & Kids' Activities. Meet "Special Visitor" in a red suit.
-----------

HALF MOON BAY:

NOV. 20-DEC. 23: Santa’s Tree Farm & U-Cut Christmas Trees. With six types of trees, plus weekends include train rides & Mrs. Claus Kitchen.

DEC. 3, 10 & 17: 'Nights Of Lights' -Tree Lighting, Parade & Santa. With different events each Friday.
------------

LA HONDA:

DEC. 5: La Honda Christmas Market. Benefits La Honda Volunteer Fire Brigade.
---------

LOS ALTOS:

DEC. 3: Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony & Santa. With performances by Mountain View High School Madrigals & Los Altos High School Volare.
-------

MENLO PARK:

DEC. 4: Christmas Market at Allied Arts Guild. Shop for handcrafted gifts, see silent auction featuring themed Christmas trees & enjoy activities, treats & visits with Santa!

DEC. 5: Caltrain Holiday Train & Toy Drive. Community tradition returns for 2021!

-----------

MILLBRAE:

DEC. 4: Tree Lighting Celebration. Includes Millbrae Community Foundation’s Holiday Star Fundraiser!

DEC. 5: Caltrain Holiday Train & Toy Drive. Community tradition returns for 2021!

----------

MOUNTAIN VIEW:

DEC. 2-5: Smuin's 'The Christmas Ballet.' "Smuin’s most fiercely festive The Christmas Ballet ever."

DEC. 4: Caltrain Holiday Train & Toy Drive. Community tradition returns for 2021!

DEC. 6: Community Tree Lighting Celebration & Santa. With free refreshments & train ride.

DEC. 10-12: Western Ballet's 'The Nutcracker.' A holiday tradition.

DEC. 11: German Holiday Market - GISSV Weihnachtsmarkt. Recreating feel of open-air winter markets throughout Austria, Germany & Switzerland.

DEC. 18-19: Bayer Ballet’s Snow Queen. "One of Hans Christian Andersen’s most beloved fairytales." At Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts.

DEC. 21: Horns for the Holidays. Enjoy original arrangements & familiar holiday tunes.
-----

PACIFICA:

DEC.: Rockaway Beach Tree Lighting. Canceled.
----------

PALO ALTO:

DEC. 2: Hanukkah Celebration at Stanford Shopping Center. With music, puppet show, crafts for the kids, dreidel games & menorah lighting ceremony.

DEC. 3: Tree Lighting At Lytton Plaza. With festive entertainment, too.

DEC. 3: Gamble Garden's Evening of Holiday Cheer. Fun for the entire family, plus trees & wreaths for auction.

DEC. 4: Art Center Studio Holiday Sale. "Your one-stop shop" for unique gifts.

DEC. 4: Winter Crafting with Environmental Volunteers. Online with Environmental Volunteers of Palo Alto & South Bay.

DEC. 5: Chanukah Menorah Lighting & Gelt Drop: City Hall. Latkes, donuts & kids' crafts, too!

DEC. 11: 'Festive Wreaths' Workshop: Gamble Garden. Create stunner decor for front doors & tabletops.

DEC. 11: December Flea Market. Supports Paly Music Boosters.

DEC. 17: Holiday Concertos: Bach, Corelli & More. Presented by Voices of Music.

DEC. 18-19: 'The Gingerbread Man': Children's Theatre. Ideal for little ones.

Through APRIL 22, 2022: 'Winter Lodge' Outdoor Ice Skating. A Bay Area tradition since 1956.
----------

REDWOOD CITY:

DEC. 4: Hometown Holidays Parade, Tree Lighting, Rides, Snow & Santa. Full day of non-stop festivities.

DEC. 4: Caltrain Holiday Train & Toy Drive. Community tradition returns for 2021!

DEC. 4-5: Ballet America's Nutcracker. With cast of nearly a hundred local dancers alongside professionals.

DEC. 5: Highlands Community Club Holiday Boutique. Browse for those perfect gifts.

DEC. 31: New Years Eve "A Blast form the Past" Joan Brant, Tribute to Sade" & Tribute to The Temptations. Tickets on sale.
----------

SAN BRUNO:

DEC. 4: Tree Lighting & Santa: Shops At Tanforan. With caroling, live music & more.
-----------

SAN CARLOS:

DEC. 3: Annual Night Of Holiday Lights. Community extravaganza with music, family fun & twinkling holiday lights.
-----------

SAN FRANCISCO:

NOV. 3-JAN. 17, 2022: Safeway Holiday Ice Rink: Union Square. Fun includes "Learn to Skate," "Flashback Fridays," "Polar Bear Skate" and "Drag Queens on Ice."

NOV.-JAN.: Holiday Ice Skating Rink: Embarcadero. Canceled.

NOV. 19-JAN. 1: Macy's Annual Great Tree: Union Square. No tree-lighting ceremony this year.

DEC. 1-31: World Premiere of 'The Magic Lamp' Panto for Holidays. "With humor, audience participation, dance, magic& hope for the whole family."

DEC. 2: Choir! Choir! Choir! Presents ‘Hallelujah’ Epic Singalong: Jewish Community Center. "Equal parts singing, comedy & community-building."

DEC. 2: Warriors' Thrive City Winter Wonderland: Lighting Ceremony: Chase Center. With entertainment & special guests.

DEC. 3-12: 'Let's Glow SF': Downtown San Francisco. Four buildings will transform nightly into winter wonderland display.

DEC. 4-5: Caltrain Holiday Train & Toy Drive. Community tradition returns for 2021!

DEC. 4-19: Mark Foehringer's Nutcracker Sweets. Designed for families with young children & features live, nine-piece chamber orchestra.

DEC. 5: Glowing Hanukkah Party Pop-Up At Ghirardelli Square. Free with crafts, games & music.

DEC. 5: Young Women’s Choral Projects ' Carols by Candlelight' Livestream. Online is option, as in-person is sold out.

DEC. 7: Holiday Heroes Returns to Oracle Park for Magical Night. Raises funds for children & families in crisis.

DEC. 10-11, 17-18: Kat Robichaud's A Very Merry Misfit Cabaret. "Here to bring the holiday cheer."

DEC. 10-11: 'Holigays Are Here...Again' Concert: SF Gay Men's Chorus. "A joyous, hilarious, and celebratory evening with something for everyone."

DEC. 11: 'Angelic Voices' Young Women’s Choral Holiday Concert. "Hear the sounds of angels this holiday season."

DEC. 11-12: Patchwork Show Makers Market: Westfield San Francisco Centre. Also features DIY craft stations!

DEC. 12: Oh, What Fun! Holiday concert with Santa, music of Vince Guaraldi & vocalist Olivia Chindamo.

DEC. 15: Holiday 'Science Under The Sea Stars': California Academy of Sciences. With holiday-themed crafts, shows & cookie decorating.

DEC. 18: SweaterCon: San Francisco Ugly Sweater Pub Crawl. "Throw on your best ugly Christmas Sweater, Hanukkah-inspired gear or whatever tickles your fancy."

DEC. 18: Warriors Thrive City Winter Wonderland Holiday Spectacular & Santa: Chase Center. Fun is free, but RSVPs required.

DEC. 18-19: Dollie + Me Holiday Tea at Westin St. Francis Hotel, Union Square. Each child receives a goodie bag.

DEC. 19: Holiday Concertos: Bach, Corelli & More. "Voices of Music returns to the stage with our signature holiday program."

DEC. 31: NYE Yacht Party San Francisco. Tickets on sale.

DEC. 31: 'Dinner Detective' New Year's Eve Show: Le Meridien Hotel. "Solve a hilarious mystery while you feast on a fantastic dinner."
----------

SAN JOSE:

NOV. 19-JAN. 9, 2022: 'Downtown Ice' Holiday Skating Rink. "Skate under the stars and palm trees in Downtown San Jose!"

NOV. 26-JAN. 9: Blinky's Illuminated Holiday Drive-Thru. "Mile of smiles" with synchronized light show & favorite tunes.

DEC. 5: Hanukkah Menorahs & Miracles: Children's Discovery Museum. With scavenger hunt, story time, dreidel games & candle lighting.

DEC. 5: Chanukah Concert & Menorah Lighting: Santana Row. With fan-fave Israeli rock band, The Peatot.

DEC. 7: Hammer Theatre Center's Cool Yule. Jazz concert with festive & familiar holiday songs.

DEC. 11: Symphony San Jose Chorale 'Carols In The California' - "Traditional sing-along of your favorite carols with choir & brass ensemble."

DEC. 11: Hammer Theatre's Mariachi Sol de Mexico's "A Merry-Achi Christmas." Fusion of traditional holiday spirit with colors& traditions of Mexican and American Christmas songs & carols.

DEC. 30: A Magical Cirque Christmas: Performing Arts Center. "Magic of Christmas with dazzling performers and breathtaking cirque artists... holiday music performed live."

DEC. 31: Noon Year’s Eve Party! (Family Event) 3Below Theaters. Includes film, games and prizes, & dessert buffet with sparkling cider.

DEC. 31: New Year’s Eve Party & Moulin Rouge Sing-Along: 3Below Theaters & Café. "Come dressed to impress in costumes to match the movie, cocktail attire, OR fancy PJs/loungewear!"
----------

SAN MATEO:

NOV. 13-JAN. 9: 'San Mateo On Ice' Holiday Skating Rink: Central Park. With four dates for free, community skates.

DEC. 4: Winter Wonderland: Central Park. A community tradition!

DEC. 4-5, 11-12, 18-19: Brunch With Santa: Pinstripes. Little ones will love the Reindeer Waffles.

DEC. 5: Caltrain Holiday Train & Toy Drive. Community tradition returns for 2021!

----------

SANTA CLARA:

NOV. 26-DEC. 9: California's Great America WinterFest & Ice Skating. Seasonal extravaganza is back!

DEC. 4: Caltrain Holiday Train & Toy Drive. Community tradition returns for 2021!

DEC. 19: Choral Project's 'Winter's Gifts: Stars' Holiday Concert. Featuring award- winning, Silicon Valley-based choir & San Jose Chamber orchestra.
----------

SUNNYVALE:

NOV. 19-JAN. 2: Winter Ice Skating Rink. Back for 2021 with such events as Learn to Curl & Robots on Ice.

DEC. 4: Caltrain Holiday Train & Toy Drive. Community tradition returns for 2021!

----------

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO:

DEC. 4: Wreath-Making Workshop. Don't delay, as spaces fill fast.

DEC. 5: 'Santa Comes To Town': City Hall. Take photos with St. Nick!
------------

WOODSIDE:

NOV. 22-DEC. 27: Christmas & Hanukkah Themed Monday Nights: Filoli. Different theme each week.

DEC. 4-19: Santa Weekends: Filoli Estate. Meet St. Nick on his festive throne on Woodland Garden Court.
--------

SEE ENTIRE SF BAY AREA EVENT GUIDE: SF Bay Area Holiday Guide 2021: Christmas Parades & Santa Stops & More

-----------

HEADING OUT FOR THE HOLIDAYS?

• Orange County Holiday Events 2021
• San Diego County Holiday Events 2021
• Riverside County Holiday Events 2021