Though 2023 is slowing down, holiday events are only just ramping up. From museum exhibitions to concerts to yacht parades, the Bay Area offers so many ways to celebrate the festive season. Here are our picks for the most exciting events happening for the holidays, put together with the help of our partners and other businesses.
Concerts and Holiday Music
With six different show offerings through December 23, the SF Symphony has programming for every viewer this holiday season. Holiday music can sound like a classical brass ensemble, a drag variety show or a film showing with a live orchestra. Families may especially enjoy A Charlie Brown Christmas, a performance of the film with live actors and, of course, the symphony orchestra.
Dominican University will be alive with holiday music December 18 for a performance by Marin’s own Sewer Band, otherwise known as the Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District Non-Marching Band. This community concert band is dedicated to spreading the joy of music and the local arts scene. You can catch them at 7 p.m. in Dominican’s Angelico Concert Hall.
Community Events and Holiday Giving
Make sure you include a return address on your letter to Santa because Marinwood’s North Pole Mailbox, open through December 20, will ensure you get a response. Anybody looking ahead to the new year can also mark their calendars for Marinwood Community Services’ 13th Annual Winter Wine Tasting fundraiser on March 2.
Consider shopping for a foster child this giving season. Marin Foster Care supports Marin foster children and caregivers alike. Become an angel donor by funding or fulfilling a gift request, or purchase a present directly from Marin Foster Care’s Amazon wish list or stocking stuffers list. With a range of donation options and price ranges, it’s easier than ever to make a foster child’s holiday wishes come true.
Seasonal Food and Wine Events
Step away from the stove. Petite Left Bank has got you covered for Christmas Eve dinner — and brunch, and happy hour. On December 24, Downtown Tiburon’s Petite Left Bank will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., with a four-course prix fixe dinner from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. I’ll take the crème brûlée!
Savor the taste of Sonoma’s Carneros Region at Anaba Wines’s gorgeous vineyard estate. Anaba features a range of tasting experiences. You can pair delicious food with lauded vintages in their Carneros Culinary Experience or the playful Pinot, Pizza and Bocce selection. Regular flights are also available and perfect for trying the many flavors of Anaba Wines.
For your catering and dining needs, check out Comforts in San Anselmo. With a holiday menu ready for any Hanukkah, Christmas or New Year’s celebration, Comforts is sure to please at your event. Comforts also provides takeout daily and sit-down dining from Wednesday through Sunday, so stop by for a delicious breakfast, grab a signature Chinese chicken salad on your lunch break or bring home an entree for the whole family.
Holiday Events and Activities
What could be better than spending an evening aboard a 92-foot luxury yacht decked out in Christmas lights? Stretch out in a spacious cabin and enjoy a curated dinner menu on the Bay from Live It Up Charter. If you want to plan a memorable party, consider Living It Up. Landlubbers can see Live It Up’s boat aglow this weekend in the San Rafael or SF lighted boat parades.
Santa has landed at the mall! Stop by the Village any day now through December 24 for a free visit, and tell the jolly old elf what you want for Christmas. Visitors can book ahead to receive a personalized video from Santa Claus. With photo packages ready to purchase at the event, these are memories that will last forever.
A holiday movie night, photos with Santa, charity gift drive and more — there’s so much to do at Marin Country Mart. Be sure to stop by on a Thursday evening: Every Thursday until Christmas, shops stay open late and holiday activities begin for “Twinkle Twinkle at the Mart.”
Grab your gifts and your wish list for free gift wrapping and photos with Santa at Town Center. Festivities continue December 16 – 24, and the Grinch is rumored to be making an appearance from the 21 – 24. Gift wrapping is available while supplies last, so get there early!
Ever seen Santa pull up in a firetruck? Greenbrae’s Bon Air is hosting a suite of festivities and seasonal sales among its many shops. See Santa on Saturday December 16 or check out the Menorah, lit up every night through the end of Hanukkah. Feeling generous? Bring a donation to the holiday food drive at Mollie Stone’s.
Meander through a life-sized gingerbread house with a champagne flute in hand. Dine among marble columns for afternoon tea or a Christmas buffet. Get away from it all in a Santa Suite complete with festive family activities, or escape to a holiday cocktail bar for a winter gimlet. Whatever you’re looking for, the Fairmont’s holiday events already have it.
Along with its regular lineup of charming shops and fabulous restaurants, Pier 39 is lit up by a 60-foot living Christmas tree! Every half hour from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., the tree’s lights synchronize with holiday music for a dazzling show. Anybody still looking for holiday gifts can glance at the pier’s holiday gift guide before arriving.
Museum Events
Looking for an adorable and educational activity after all the Christmas hype? Come to Aquarium of the Bay on December 27 to see river otters play in shaved ice while otter biologists teach about their role in the ecosystem. With cocoa, pastries and VIP tours also available, this early access viewing experience will amuse and amaze the whole family.
Lights, lights and more lights! The Exploratorium’s seasonal installations show off light sculptures, kinetic light concerts and games with LEDs, plus a hands-on workshop tricking out jitterbug robots with festive decoration. Whether you need family fun or 21+ diversions, you can find festive fun at the Exploratorium.
Play in the snow or tour the winter night’s sky at Cal Academy. The Academy has a host of winter activities, including an “Ice Lab” with activities to learn about cold-weather environments and performances in the piazza by musicians and tap dancing penguins.
