With the holiday season in full swing, December is full of exciting and festive events — from giant tree lightings to whimsical versions of The Nutcracker and breakfast with Santa on a merry-go-round. Here are the best things to do in the East Bay this December.
Featured Photo: Courtesy of Jack London Square
2025 Dates TBD
Join fellow Oakland residents and see the annual holiday tree lighting at Jack London Square. It is a FREE event featuring a laser light show with snow, photos with Santa and special live performances by Oaktown Jazz Workshops’ Performance Ensemble, and The Lyric Performing Arts Academy.
2025 Dates TBD
For nearly 50 years, East Bay Open Studios has hosted local artists and given the community an opportunity to buy art directly from artists. You can participate in the monthly art walk as part of Oakland’s First Fridays festival — the same night as two exhibition openings, one at Oakland Photo Workshop and the other at Mercury 20 Gallery. All these events are free to attend, so you can experience an art tour while scouting holiday gifts. Bring the kids and see what Oakland is creating!
2025 Dates TBD
Every holiday season, the Tilden Park Merry Go Round in Berkeley transforms into a magical winter wonderland with decorated trees and trinkets, holiday lights, seasonal treats and even a place to mail letters to the North Pole. To take it up a notch, there’s Breakfast with Santa on select days, which includes a breakfast buffet, unlimited rides on the go-round, a special gift and of course the opportunity to sit on the Big Guy’s lap and whisper into his ear.
2025 Dates TBD
Each year the Richmond Holiday Arts Festival offers visitors a chance to shop for unique gifts from local arts and crafts vendors, enjoy food and beverages, learn about inspiring community organizations, and participate in art-making activities for the whole family.
2025 Dates TBD
Enjoy some holiday shopping throughout select December weekends at the Telegraph Avenue Holiday Street Fair. The event will feature over 200 local artisans selling handcrafted wares. Free gift wrapping will be available at the fair.
2025 Dates TBD
Oakland Ballet’s artistic director Graham Lustig puts his own spin on the classic ballet by basing it on the original story by E.T.A. Hoffmann, in which a young girl named Marie receives a nutcracker doll from her Uncle Drosselmeyer. Lustig’s version of The Nutcracker is even more fantastical with beautiful dancing, magnificent scenery and imaginative costumes. Oakland Symphony along with the Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir bring Tchaikovsky’s magnificent score to life.
Event Venues
Looking to see what’s happening right now in the East Bay? Our comprehensive list of venues below will help you find what you need to know what’s going on.
Looking for more things to do in the area?
Visit our What to Do in Northern California page!
