40+ Holiday pop-ups, parades and performances in the Bay Area
The holiday season is nearly over, but wreaths, twinkling lights adorning houses and the smell of hot cocoa still wafts through the air. If you’re looking for ways to join the festivities, look no further. There are countless ways to celebrate this wonderful time of year around the Bay Area. Here’s just a sampling.
Après Village & Skate Rink: 4 to 9 p.m. Friday through Sunday until Feb. 25, Four Seasons Silicon Valley, 2050 University Ave. in East Palo Alto. Simulating a cozy mountainside retreat with mini-chalets and a new outdoor skate rink, this seasonal pop-up features a festive, family-friendly village like no other. Grab some hot cocoa and get your camera ready for the “snow globe” and winter sleigh photo experiences too. $20 to $30 skate rink admission, other prices vary. fourseasons.com/siliconvalley/landing-pages/property/apres-village
Annual BayLUG Holiday Show featuring Legos: Select days now through Jan. 15, Museum of American Heritage, 351 Homer Ave., Palo Alto. BayLUG and BayLTC’s imaginative holiday displays change each year. This year, the show’s theme celebrates Dia De Los Muertos with a Lego Display inspired by Disney Pixar’s Film “Coco.” $4. baylug.org/holiday-show
Safeway Holiday Ice Rink: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. now through Jan. 16, Union Square, San Francisco. Celebrating its 15th anniversary, the Safeway Holiday Ice Rink is set in San Francisco’s bustling Union Square. The rink’s roster of events includes the return of the highly anticipated Drag Queens On Ice, Flashback Fridays and Polar Bear Skate, plus some new events for the 2022 season. $15 to $20. unionsquareicerink.com
Illuminate SF Festival of Light: Now through January, various San Francisco locations. Embrace the power of light this winter with a tour of one of the country’s most extensive permanent collections of light art. For Illuminate SF’s 10th annual celebration, the city will shine bright with more than 40 luminous public artworks by internationally renowned light artists. Free. illuminatesf.com/home-page
Merry Meritage: Now through Jan. 8, The Meritage Resort and Spa, 875 Bordeaux Way, Napa. The Merry Meritage ice rink will be open daily for guests and locals to show off their skating skills and embrace the winter season. The resort’s event lineup also includes snow days, artisan holiday markets, a tree lighting ceremony, tinsel teas and Santa visits. $25 rink admission, other event prices vary. meritageresort.com/holiday-ice-rink
‘Tis the Season for Science: Now through Jan. 8, California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Drive, San Francisco. Come on out to twirl under indoor snow flurries, enjoy spirited holiday performances, and so much more. Head to the Ice Lab, or stop by the Naturalist Center to feel wolf fur and look at snowflakes under a microscope, and visit the planetarium for a presenter-led tour of San Francisco’s wondrous night sky. Then, step outside to the East Garden to enjoy penguin- and polar bear-themed photo ops, plus festive decor and lights in Wander Woods. Admission prices vary according to day/time. calacademy.org/tis-the-season-for-science
Holidays at Filoli: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. now through Jan. 8, 86 Cañada Road, Woodside. Take in this premier Bay Area light attraction where thousands of glittering lights will adorn the estate garden’s trees, plants and hedges for a must-see experience. Don’t forget to check out Santa Days, when Saint Nick arrives at his festive golden throne in Filoli’s exquisitely decorated Woodland Court for family photos and magical memories. $24 to $40. filoli.org/events/holidays/
San Francisco’s Largest Sugar Castle: On display now through Jan. 2, The Westin St. Francis, 335 Powell St., San Francisco. Join us as we unveil our incredible 12-feet tall Sugar Castle, one of the largest in the country! Resembling a French Chateau, the castle weighs more than 1200 pounds with over 20 grand circular towers and more than 30 rooms with illuminated windows. It is surrounded by a quaint village and a running train. The castle was created in 2005 and becomes more extravagant with each passing year. Free viewing. marriott.com/en-us/hotels/sfouw-the-westin-st-francis-san-francisco-on-union-square/overview/
Christmas in the Park: Through Dec. 31, Plaza de Cesar Chavez Park, 1 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose. Christmas in the Park is back with a downtown walk-through that includes lights, trees, exhibits, performances, displays and hot chocolate. In addition, a Holiday Drive Through offers a fantastic light show programmed to music by Pentatonix, Michael Bublé, Luis Miguel and more. Park admission is free, drive through is $30 per car (reservations are a must). christmasinthepark.com/p/about/2020-christmas-in-the-park
Ice Skating by the Bay: Now till Jan. 1, Custom House Plaza, Monterey. Celebrate the holidays at this seasonal ice skating rink. Skaters can spend the day in a winter wonderland next to the glittering bay. $13 to $15. iceskatingbythebay.com
Holiday Happenings at the Winchester Mystery House: Now till Jan. 1, 525 S. Winchester Blvd., San Jose. Built during the Victorian era, Sarah Winchester’s eccentric house is a sight to behold any time of year, but it’s especially inspiring during the holidays. To celebrate the season, Winchester Mystery House will present daily mansion tours developed specifically for the holidays. Guests will be treated to a sprinkling of Victorian holiday traditions, beautiful décor, festive music, and more. Included with tour admission. winchestermysteryhouse.com/holidays
Holidays at the Fairmont: Now through Jan. 1, 950 Mason St., San Francisco. For more than a century, Fairmont San Francisco has enchanted guests with its joyful holiday festivities and exuberant seasonal ambience. This year, the Fairmont elves have transformed the lobby into a wonderland that includes a giant Gingerbread House adorned in thousands of See’s Candies in the hotel’s grand lobby. Lobby is free to enter, prices vary for specific holiday events. fairmont-san-francisco.com/explore/holidays/
Snow Village at Hyatt Regency: On display now till Jan. 1, 5 Embarcadero Center, San Francisco. This holiday season, the Hyatt Regency San Francisco will be hosting a 100-foot-long holiday display features thousands of hand-made miniature houses, iconic San Francisco buildings and structures, and a train. Glenn Leveque created the Snow Village in 2010, and has continued to add to the collection throughout the years. Free for viewing. hyattregencysanfrancisco.com
Fairy Winterland: 4 to 7 p.m. now through Dec. 30, 699 Bellevue Ave., Oakland. Evenings in late December sparkle with the return of Fairy Winterland at Children’s Fairyland in Oakland. After sharing holiday wishes and snapping photos with Santa, children receive a special treat and can join him each evening at for the Festival of Lights Parade. While at the park, drop your child’s “Letter to Santa” in the special mailbox at the Chapel of Peace, as you stroll through Fairy Winterland, enjoy a culturally-inclusive holiday scavenger hunt, special performances, and a snow flurry in the Old West Junction. $9 to $18. fairyland.org/fairy-winterland
Flynn Creek Circus presents “Winter Fairytale”: Now through Jan. 1, Capitola Mall, 1855 41st Ave., Capitola. Featuring wild acrobatics, hilarious comedy, and extreme skills, ‘Winter Fairytale’ is an original holiday circus. The Woodsmen, the Fairy, and the Spring Sprite are just some of the colorful characters you will meet along the way. With an eclectic blend of multi-cultural folklore, this heartwarming tale speaks to the quiet darkness of Winter and the value of rest and reflection. $23 to $180. flynncreekcircus.com/
“Fool La La: Holiday Gift!”: On select days and times now through Dec. 30, The Marsh, 2120 Allston Way, Berkeley. The Bay Area’s favorite Clown Prince of Fools, Unique Derique, returns to The Marsh this holiday season. Wrapped with goofy goodies and full of circus surprises, this annual holiday show invites audience members to dive into the imagination of Unique Derique as he embarks on a whimsical adventure. After this family-friendly show, Unique Derique welcomes audiences to enhance their circus fun with a hambone and juggling workshop for the whole family. $10 to $100. themarsh.org/shows_and_events/fool-la-la-holiday-gift
First Night Monterey: 3 p.m. to 12 a.m. Dec. 31, Downtown Monterey. Save the date and buy your buttons soon to enjoy a fabulous New Year’s Eve celebration in beautiful Monterey! The exciting lineup of performers features 22 acts including gypsy jazz, bluegrass, pop, rock and roll, marimba, salsa, Latin jazz, rap, Americana, two orchestras, Folk and seven different cultural dance troupes! There will also be lots of art-making activities and selfie murals to bring out the child in all of us! $20 to $100. firstnightmonterey.org/
Three Kings Day Fiesta: 2 to 5 p.m. Jan. 7, Peralta Hacienda Historical Park, 2465 34th Ave., Oakland. Get together and raise a cup of hot chocolate at the annual Three Kings Day Fiesta and Youth Exhibition, featuring art-making and story time for the kids, plus Rosca cake for all! Free admission. peraltahacienda.org
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