Seasonal & Holidays
Sonoma Valley Holidays: Christmas Events & Hanukkah Fests 2023
See Santa stops, menorah lightings, Christmas concerts, lights extravaganzas, Nutcrackers & more festivities in Sonoma Valley & North Bay.
SONOMA VALLEY, CA — The holiday season is in full swing throughout Sonoma Valley and the North Bay!
Grab your calendars, so you don't miss a moment ... as the New Year will be here before your know it.
Hanukkah's "Festival of Lights" ends Friday, Dec. 15. Christmas, Dec. 25, is on a Monday this year, followed by New Year's Eve on Sunday, Dec. 31.
Find out what's happening in Sonoma Valleyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Peruse our annual guide to finding Santa, menorah lightings, "Nutcracker" ballets, Christmas concerts, theater productions, winter ice rinks, walk- and drive-thru, holiday-lights extravaganzas and more.
And to all, from Patch, Happy Holidays!
Find out what's happening in Sonoma Valleyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Note: Always confirm with organizers that events are proceeding as planned when posted.
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ANTIOCH:
THROUGH DEC. 17: Black Diamond Ballet 'Nutcracker': El Campanil Theatre. "Join us for an afternoon or evening of enchantment & artistic excellence." Sensory-friendly show offered, too.
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BENICIA:
DEC. 13: Meghan Campbell Memorial Chanukah Menorah Lighting. At City Park Gazebo.
DEC. 16-17: Benicia Ballet Theatre 'Nutcracker': Solano Community College. "Come share the magic of the traditional story with some unexpected twists."
DEC. 17: Sing it Yourself Messiah. Join the fun in Historic Clock Tower.
THROUGH DEC. 22: Museum Of History Christmas Tree Lot Fundraiser. Featuring various kids' activities on weekends.
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CORTE MADERA:
DEC. 12: Chanukah Celebration & Menorah Lighting. Hosted by Chabad of Larkspur - Corte Madera.
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COTATI:
DEC. 16: Kids' DIY-U Workshop: Holiday Delivery Truck: Lowe's. Sign up for a time slot.
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DAVIS:
DEC. 31: 'Seussical The Musical' New Year's Eve Show & Dinner. Catered diner, plus "witty, wild & whimsical" show.
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DIXON:
DEC. 15: Christmas 'Carols In The Tunnel' Tradition. Join singers at underpass with amazing tunnel acoustics.
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FAIRFAX:
DEC. 14: Chanukah Festival & Menorah Lighting: Bolinas Park. Music, crafts, photo booth, food & more planned.
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FAIRFIELD:
DEC. 14: Annual Chanukah Wonderland: Jelly Belly. With jelly bean-filled menorah!
DEC. 16-17: Benicia Ballet Theatre 'Nutcracker': Solano Community College. "Come share the magic of the traditional story with some unexpected twists."
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HEALDSBURG:
DEC. 16: Holiday Drop N' Shop For Kids 3-10. Fun for little ones while parents shop & run errands.
DEC. 19: Creativebug: DIY Gift Boxes. Advance registration encouraged, but not required.
DEC. 20: Gingerbread House Workshop for Kids. At library for grades K-6.
DEC. 31: New Year's Eve Party With John Courage Trio: Elephant In The Room. With special guests The Gill Brothers Band.
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LARKSPUR:
DEC. 12: Chanukah Celebration & Menorah Lighting. Hosted by Chabad of Larkspur - Corte Madera.
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MILL VALLEY:
DEC. 17: 'Winterfest' Holiday Entertainment & Kids' Fun. Jumpy house, cornhole & movie, too.
DEC. 17: Christmas Caroling With Our Lady Of Mount Carmel Church. Followed up with cocoa & cookies.
DEC. 21: Christmas Jug Band & Special Guest Kathy Kennedy, Sweetwater. Get ready for musical, holiday wackiness!
DEC. 30: Pre-New Year's Eve Singles Dance Party. At Club at Harbor Point, Lighthouse Grill.
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NAPA:
DEC. 15-17: Napa Regional Dance 'Nutcracker' With Orchestra: Performing Arts Center. "Combination of this beloved ballet & live symphony is truly stunning & you, all, are in for a real treat!"
DEC. 17: Sing Napa Valley 'A Christmas Carol' Concert. Featuring professional soloist from SF Opera Chorus as Scrooge.
DEC. 17: Santa’s Workshop at Ackerman Heritage House. "Our iconic Victorian’s Carriage House becomes Santa’s workshop."
DEC. 17: 3rd Annual Holiday Krampus Pop Up Market. Cocktails, entertainment, Krampus, minions & Santa!
DEC. 24: Family Christmas Eve Morning Service & Candlelight Christmas Eve Service. At First Christian Church.
THROUGH JAN. 7: 'Merry Meritage' Holiday Ice Skating Rink & Winter Village. Enjoy igloo experience & fire pits!
THROUGH DEC. 25: Santa Visits & Storytime: Meritage Resort. No reservations required.
DEC. 31: New Year's Eve Celebration. At Carneros Resort and Spa with dinner & dancing.
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NOVATO:
DEC. 16: 'Come One, Come All Christmas Caroling' Cocoa & Cookies. Promenade led by professional singers with jingles all can sing.
DEC. 17: Marin Conservatory Of Dance 'Nutcracker' - "Celebrate the holidays with our original version of 'The Nutcracker'!"
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OAKLAND:
DEC. 15-16: KITKA Women's Vocal Ensemble: Wintersongs. Seasonal songs from Balkan, Baltic, Caucasian, Mediterranean & Slavic lands.
DEC. 16-17: Oakland Ballet School 'Ronn Guidi’s The Secret Nutcracker': Performing Arts Center. In San Leandro & set to Tchaikovsky’s classical score.
DEC. 16-17: Winter Open House: Homesteading Holiday Social, Tasting & Sale. At Mariposa Grove.
DEC. 16-17: Oakland Ballet 'Nutcracker' With Symphony: Paramount Theatre. With Oakland Symphony & Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir.
THROUGH DEC. 30: 'Fairy Winterland' Holiday Celebration: Children’s Fairyland. See Black Santa & Festival of Lights Parade before they head back to North Pole Dec. 23.
DEC. 31: New Year's Eve Balloon Drop Celebration: Chabot Space & Science Center. Perfect for families with little ones.
THROUGH JAN. 28: Oakland Zoo 'Glowfari' Holiday Lantern Festival. "Wildly popular, family-friendly experience is back with hundreds of ALL new, larger-than-life animal lanterns."
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PENNGROVE:
DEC. 17: Holiday Parade Of Lights. A community tradition with lighted tractors & more.
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PETALUMA:
DEC. 15-17: 2 Capote & Thomas Holiday Classics On Stage: Polly Klaas Community Theater. Enjoy Truman Capote's "A Christmas Memory' & Dylan Thomas' "A Child's Christmas in Wales."
DEC. 16: Wacky Holidays: Christmas Jug Band, Big Easy. Get ready for musical holiday wackiness!
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ROHNERT PARK:
DEC. 15-17: Santa Rosa Dance Theater 'Nutcracker': Spreckels Performing Arts Center. "Snow falling, flowers waltzing and children delighting."
DEC. 16: San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus 'Holiday Spectacular': Green Music Center. Concert experience that blends enchantment of season with compassion & community.
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SAN ANSELMO:
DEC. 20: Violin and Cello Winter Concert. Free at the library.
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SAN FRANCISCO:
DEC. 13-30: SF Ballet 'Nutcracker' With Orchestra: War Memorial Opera House. "This dazzling production is a kaleidoscope of over 150 dancers accompanied by SF Ballet Orchestra performing Tchaikovsky’s beloved score. "
DEC. 15-17: 'Million Dollar Quartet Christmas' Holiday Rock N' Roll: Curran Theater. Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins & Elvis Presley come to life!
DEC. 16: Ugly Sweater Bar Crawl. Tickets on sale.
DEC. 16: Holiday Bingo With Sisters Of Perpetual Indulgence. "Festive holiday edition of bingo at enchanting Hotel Zeppelin."
DEC. 16-17: Dance-Along Nutcracker 'Nutmare Before Christmas': Yerba Buena Center For Arts. "You’ll waltz! You’ll march! You’ll pirouette! You’ll sing along!
DEC. 16-17: Stapleton School Of Performing Arts 'Nutcracker': Palace Of Fine Arts. Family-friendly Nutcracker Ball follows Saturday evening performance.
DEC. 16-23: 'Elf' Movie Party: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. With games, props & a very loud sing-along!
DEC. 17: KITKA Women's Vocal Ensemble: Wintersongs. Seasonal songs from Balkan, Baltic, Caucasian, Mediterranean & Slavic lands.
DEC. 19: NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet: Golden Gate Theatre. "Beloved family tradition."
DEC. 24: SF Gay Men’s Chorus 'Holiday Spectacular': Castro Theatre. A 34-year, heartwarming holiday tradition.
THROUGH DEC. 23: 'The Golden Girls: The Christmas Episodes': Victoria Theatre. Four drag legends stage eagerly-awaited holiday tradition.
THROUGH DEC. 24: 'A Christmas Carol': A.C.T. Toni Rembe Theater. American Conservatory Theater's celebrated production of the Charles Dickens classic.
THROUGH DEC. 26: Chase Center 'Winter Wonderland' Ice Skating Rink. Event is free!
DEC. 27: River Otter Snow Days: Aquarium Of The Bay, Pier 39. See otters frolic in snowy wonderland.
THROUGH DEC. 30: 'Dear San Francisco' Holiday Version: Club Fugazi. Homage to SF with world-class acrobats.
THROUGH DEC. 31: Macy's & SPCA Annual Holiday Windows. Tradition returns with kitties & puppies in need of forever homes.
DEC. 31: SF New Year’s Eve Fireworks 2023-24: Embarcadero. "Say goodbye to 2023 and ring in the 2024 new year with 200,000 fellow bundled-up San Franciscans."
DEC. 31: New Year's Eve Pub Crawl Party. Featuring multiple SF hot spots.
DEC. 31: New Year's Eve 'Dear San Francisco': Club Fugazi. Two special NYE performances.
DEC. 31: Thrive City Kwanzaa & Noon Year’s Eve: Chase Center. With arts, crafts, treats & dancing.
THROUGH JAN. 15: Safeway Holiday Ice Rink: Union Square. Special events include Simba Saturdays, Flashback Fridays & Polar Bear Skate.
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SAN RAFAEL:
DEC. 14: Hanukkah Cocktail-Making Workshop & Kid-Friendly Event: Osher Marin JCC. Includes dinner for the youngsters!
DEC. 15: Hanukkah 'Shabbat Shmooze' Celebration & Menorah Lighting: Osher Marin JCC. Free event with music, wine, latkes & donuts.
DEC. 31: New Year's Eve Stand-Up Comedy Showcase. LOL while you ring in the new year.
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SANTA ROSA:
DEC. 15-17: Santa Rosa Dance Theater 'Nutcracker': Spreckels Performing Arts Center. "Snow falling, flowers waltzing and children delighting."
DEC. 18: Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet: Luther Burbank Center for the Arts. "The peak of classical European Ballet."
DEC. 23: New World Ballet 'Duke Ellington Nutcracker' & Orchestra: Luther Burbank Center. "New World Ballet & Marcus Shelby Orchestra come together in this special holiday production."
THROUGH DEC. 31: 'Winter Lights' Outdoor, Holiday Skating Rink: Downtown. Themed-day fun planned, too.
THROUGH JAN. 16: 'Northern Lights' Winter Walk-Thru: Luther Burbank Center Sculpture Garden. Free with twinkling tunnels & lights.
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SONOMA:
DEC. 16: 'Here Comes Santa Claus' Photos & Kids' Fun: Sonoma Marketplace. Bring your camera!
DEC. 19: Pop-Up Workshop: Holiday Paper Lantern. At Community Center.
DEC. 19: Christmas Line Dancing & Lessons. For all levels & all ages.
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SUISUN CITY:
DEC. 14: Suisun Waterfront Hanukkah Fest & Menorah Lighting. With entertainment, latkes, donuts & music.
DEC. 28: 1st Annual Kwanzaa Celebration. Free, community event with food, music, dance & more.
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VALLEJO:
DEC. 14: Drive-In Chanukah & Grand Menorah Lighting: City Hall. With music & holiday food.
THROUGH JAN. 7: Six Flags Discovery Kingdom 'Holiday In The Park.' Featuring Santa, dazzling lights, entertainment & more holiday activities.
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FOR ENTIRE SF BAY AREA GUIDE: SF Bay Area Holidays: Christmas Events & Hanukkah Fests 2023
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