SF Bay Weekend: Holiday-Light Shows Galore; 'Nutcrackers' Abound

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA, CA — To keep your weekend fun and lively, Patch has rounded up some entertaining events going on throughout the San Francisco Bay Area — from the beaches of Santa Cruz, through the South Bay, East Bay and the Peninsula, to the uppermost points of North Bay and Wine Country.

Some are free. Some have a fee.

Whether you opt for an activity close to home or a mini day trip, see what's slated this weekend from Saturday, Dec. 16 to Sunday, Dec. 17.

Always double-check with organizers that events are proceeding as planned.

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EAST BAY:

Winter Solstice Holiday Carols Sing-A-Long: Albany

Black Diamond Ballet 'Nutcracker': El Campanil Theatre, Antioch

Locavore Wonderland: Farmers’ Market Gifting Series, Berkeley

Emmy & Tony Winner Billy Crudup In 'Harry Clarke': Repertory Theatre, Berkeley

San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus 'Holiday Spectacular': Berkeley

Christmas Village & Outdoor Ice Skating Rink: Castro Valley

Crafternoon: Let’s Build a “Gingerbread” House, Castro Valley

'Christmas Is Real - A Joyous Christmas' Free Concert: First Presbyterian Church, Concord

Drive-Thru Christmas Nativity: Bethel Baptist Church, Concord

'Ice At The Veranda' Outdoor, Winter Skating Rink: Concord

Wreaths Across America, Concord

Encounter- A Festive Christmas Concert, Danville

Friends of Jazz Dixieland Music, Danville

Selfies with Santa, Dublin

Tiffany’s Dance Academy 'The Nutcracker': Dublin

Sundar Shadi Holiday Display: El Cerrito

'Las Posadas' Christmas Traditions & Caroling: Mission San Jose, Fremont

Bay Philharmonic 'Holiday Spectacular' & Ballet Folklorico: Chabot College, Hayward

Breakfast with Santa, Hercules

Danville Community Band Free, Christmas Concert: Lafayette

Richard March Live @ LPV, Livermore

A Holiday Story Soiree, Livermore

'Hittin' the Holiday Road' Concert, Livermore

Valley Dance Theatre 'Nutcracker' With Orchestra: Bankhead Theater, Livermore

Deacon Dave’s 'Casa Del Pomba' Christmas Lights Display: Livermore

Lowell Ensemble Holiday Concert: Martinez Campbell Theater, Martinez

Mele Kalikimaka by Ohana Ke Akua Ministries, Newark

'Santa At Firehouse' & Christmas Toy Drive: Newark

Newark Symphonic Winds - Free Holiday Concert & Sing-Along, Newark

Winter Open House: Homesteading Holiday Social, Tasting & Sale, Oakland

KITKA Women's Vocal Ensemble: Wintersongs, Oakland

Oakland Gay Men's Chorus "Make the Yuletide Gay," Oakland

Oakland Zoo 'Glowfari' Holiday Lantern Festival: Oakland

'Fairy Winterland' Holiday Celebration: Children’s Fairyland, Oakland

Oakland Ballet 'Nutcracker' With Symphony: Paramount Theatre, Oakland

6th Annual Christmas Miracles Event, Pleasanton

Annual 'Widmer World' Christmas Lights Display: Pleasanton

Oakland Ballet School 'Ronn Guidi’s The Secret Nutcracker': Performing Arts Center, San Leandro

Kristi Yamaguchi Holiday Ice Skating Rink: City Center Bishop Ranch, San Ramon

San Ramon Valley Dance Academy 'Impressions Of The Nutcracker': San Ramon

Open House: Free Community Game Building Session, Walnut Creek

The Biggest Gift, Walnut Creek

Center Rep's 'Christmas Carol': Lesher Center, Walnut Creek

WestCAT’s Holiday Bus Toy & Canned Food Drive: Western Contra Costa

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NORTH BAY/WINE COUNTRY:

Sing it Yourself Messiah!- Benicia

Museum Of History Christmas Tree Lot Fundraiser: Benicia

Kids' DIY-U Workshop: Holiday Delivery Truck: Lowe's, Cotati

Benicia Ballet Theatre 'Nutcracker': Solano Community College, Fairfield

Spanish Music & Movement, Library, Healdsburg

Holiday Drop N' Shop For Kids 3-10: Healdsburg

'Dragon Lady': Marin Theatre Company, Mill Valley

'Winterfest' Holiday Entertainment & Kids' Fun: Mill Valley

Christmas Caroling With Our Lady Of Mount Carmel Church, Mill Valley

Sing Napa Valley 'A Christmas Carol' Concert: Napa

Napa Regional Dance 'Nutcracker' With Orchestra: Performing Arts Center, Napa

Santa’s Workshop at Ackerman Heritage House, Napa

3rd Annual Holiday Krampus Pop Up Market, Napa

'Merry Meritage' Holiday Ice Skating Rink & Winter Village: Napa

Organ Odyssey "Quartet" Napa Yard - Oxbow Gardens, Napa

'Come One, Come All Christmas Caroling' Cocoa & Cookies: Novato

Marin Conservatory Of Dance 'Nutcracker': Novato

Holiday Parade Of Lights: Penngrove

2 Capote & Thomas Holiday Classics On Stage: Polly Klaas Community Theater, Petaluma

Wacky Holidays: Christmas Jug Band, Big Easy, Petaluma

San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus 'Holiday Spectacular': Green Music Center, Rohnert Park

Santa Rosa Dance Theater 'Nutcracker': Spreckels Performing Arts Center, Rohnert Park

'Northern Lights' Winter Walk-Thru: Luther Burbank Center Sculpture Garden, Santa Rosa

'Winter Lights' Outdoor, Holiday Skating Rink: Downtown Santa Rosa

'Here Comes Santa Claus' Photos & Kids' Fun: Sonoma Marketplace, Sonoma

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom 'Holiday In The Park': Vallejo

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PENINSULA:

A Christmas Cantata: First Presbyterian Church Of Burlingame

Great Dickens Christmas Fair: Cow Palace, Daly City

Après Village & Skate Rink: Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley, East Palo Alto

Movies at Foothills - Gaslight (1944), Los Altos

Sunday Worship: Telling the Christmas Story, Los Altos

Palo Alto Dance Connection 'Nutcracker Ballet & 'Hip Hop Nutcracker': Los Altos Hills

Family Nature Walk @ Foothills Nature Preserve, Los Altos Hills

Holiday Extravaganza Presented by Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra, Los Altos Hills

Bayer Ballet Company's 'Snow Queen': Center For Performing Arts, Mountain View

'Nutcracker: Not A Ballet': Center For Performing Arts, Mountain View

'Santa Is Coming To Nancyland' Visits & Photo Ops, Pacifica

'Christmas Tree Lane' Drive & Walk-Thru: Fulton Street, Palo Alto

'Winter Lodge' Outdoor Ice-Skating Rink: Palo Alto

Choral Project & San José Chamber Orchestra 'Winter’s Gifts' Concert: Portola Valley

Peninsula Ballet Theatre 'Nutcracker': Fox Theatre, Redwood City

Bay Area Youth Ballet 'Nutcracker': Cañada College Theater, Redwood City

'Hip-Hop Nutcracker': Fox Theatre, Redwood City

Free Photos With Santa: The Shops At Tanforan, San Bruno

Breakfast With Santa: Par 3 Restaurant At Poplar Creek, San Mateo

'IlluminOdyssey' Winter Light Experience: CuriOdyssey Museum, San Mateo

'San Mateo On Ice' Holiday, Outdoor Skating Rink: San Mateo

SSF Civic Ballet 'The Nutcracker': South San Francisco

Santa Days: Filoli Estate, Woodside

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SAN FRANCISCO:

Ugly Sweater Bar Crawl, San Francisco

Macy's & SPCA Annual Holiday Windows: San Francisco

'Elf' Movie Party: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, San Francisco

'To Kill A Mockingbird' With Richard Thomas: San Francisco

Disney’s 'The Lion King': Orpheum Theatre, San Francisco

SF Ballet 'Nutcracker' With Orchestra: War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco

Stapleton School Of Performing Arts 'Nutcracker': Palace Of Fine Arts, San Francisco

'A Christmas Carol': A.C.T. Toni Rembe Theater, San Francisco

Dance-Along Nutcracker 'Nutmare Before Christmas': Yerba Buena Center For Arts, San Francisco

Safeway Holiday Ice Rink: Union Square, San Francisco

'The Golden Girls: The Christmas Episodes': Victoria Theatre, San Francisco

'Dear San Francisco' Holiday Version: Club Fugazi, San Francisco

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SANTA CRUZ COUNTY/BEACHES:

"The Best Santa Cruz Nutcracker at Cabrillo Crocker Theater." Aptos

'Christmas On The Wharf' Festivities: Monterey

'Ice Skating By The Bay' Outdoor, Holiday Rink: Monterey

Holiday 'Winter On The Wharf' Santa & Snow: Santa Cruz

Reindeer Round-up, Santa Cruz

Visits with Santa, Santa Cruz

A Celtic Christmas, Santa Cruz

Teen Movie "The Nightmare Before Christmas" at Advisory Council of Teens Meeting, Santa Cruz

Holiday Lights Train & Santa: Roaring Camp Railroads, Santa Cruz

'Boardwalk Winter Wonderland' Santa & Holidays, Santa Cruz

The Nutcracker Ballet, Scotts Valley

Taiko Holiday Cookies Workshop, Watsonville

Holiday Lights Drive-Thru: Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, Watsonville
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SOUTH BAY:

Ainsley House Holiday Open Houses & Tours: Campbell

Strolling Santa at Gilroy Premium Outlets, Gilroy

Gilroy Gardens 'North Pole Nights' Santa & Holiday Ice Rink: Gilroy

'Fantasy Of Lights' Holiday Drive-Thru: Vasona Lake County Park, Los Gatos

Milk and Cookies with Santa at Great Mall, Milpitas

'Christmas On The Hill' Free, Lights Extravaganza: West Hills Community Church, Morgan Hill

Holiday Lights Pedicab Tour of Willow Glen, San Jose

The Official Christmas Bar Crawl - San Jose

'The San Jose Nutcracker': California Theatre, San Jose

'Mamma Mia!': Center For Performing Arts, San Jose

'Enchant' Christmas Light Maze, Village & Ice Skating Trail: PayPal Park, San Jose

'Downtown Ice' Outdoor, Winter Skating Rink: San Jose

Winchester Mystery House Holiday Candlelight Tours: San Jose

Choral Project & San José Chamber Orchestra 'Winter’s Gifts' Concert: Santa Clara

WinterFest & Holiday Ice Rink: California’s Great America, Santa Clara
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ALSO SEE:

• SF Bay Area Guide To Outdoor, Ice Skating Rinks: Holidays 2023-24
• 'The Nutcracker': Where To See The Holiday Ballet In SF Bay Area 2023

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HITTING THE ROAD THIS WEEKEND?

• OC Weekend: Oceanfront Ice Skate; 'Capistrano Lights'; 'Nutcrackers'
• Inland Empire Weekend: Temecula On Ice; 'Christmas Story' On Stage; Toy Drives
• San Diego Weekend: 'Scrooge’s BIG Show' At Old Globe; 'Nutcrackers'
• LA Weekend: Car Wash Santa; 'Nutcrackers' Galore; 'Love Actually' Live

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