If you’re wondering what there is to do during Christmas in San Francisco, I’ve got you covered!
The holiday season is my favorite time of year to visit San Francisco, and we spend time there every year. From ice skating and gingerbread houses to some amazing San Francisco Christmas events, there are so many ways to get into the holiday spirit when you’re in the Bay Area.
I’ve lived in California for more than 25 years, but I grew up in New York. San Francisco – particularly Union Square – is the closest I’ve come to experiencing NYC energy during the holidays. I am excited to share all the festive ways you can celebrate!
Top 5 Picks: San Francisco Christmas Activities
If you are just looking for a quick list of the can’t miss, very best family-friendly things to do at Christmas in San Francisco, here are our Top 5 recommendations.
► Ride a cable car to Union Square and check out the beautiful Christmas tree and decorations, and maybe do a little Christmas shopping
► Show some love to the dogs and cats at the beautiful San Francisco SPCA Holiday Windows at Macy’s Union Square
► Check out the massive Gingerbread House at the Fairmont Hotel (and enjoy Holiday Tea while you’re there!)
► Go ice skating and sip hot chocolate under the twinkling lights of a Christmas tree
► Catch a performance of The Nutcracker
Keep reading for more details on these top five holiday activities in San Francisco, plus lots more ideas to help you plan your trip! Here are 17 fun things to do during Christmas in San Francisco.
Things to Do in San Francisco at Christmas Time
1. Visit Union Square
I’ll kick off this list in Union Square, because it truly is the center of it all when it comes to celebrating Christmas in San Francisco.
Union Square is truly the heart of San Francisco during the holiday season. Its centerpiece is the ice rink and a gorgeous towering Christmas tree with 40,000 twinkling lights and ornaments. Pose the family here for a holiday family photo!
This past year, we were lucky enough to once again stay at the iconic Westin St. Francis Hotel, in a room overlooking Union Square. It was the perfect place to take in all the amazing San Francisco Christmas vibes.
Union Square also has a giant Menorah, and daily lighting ceremonies take place each evening of the eight nights of Hanukkah. Throughout the season there are musical performances. With its prime location in the center of the city’s best shopping and iconic hotels, Union Square simply exudes holiday glam.
2. Macy’s Department Store
Macy’s Department Store in Union Square is a must-see destination during the holidays. The store’s towering exterior is adorned with wreaths and Christmas lights, and their window displays are spectacular during the holiday season.
But the best thing about Macy’s is their San Francisco SPCA Holiday Windows at Macy’s Union Square.
If you are an animal-lover like me, you will love Macy’s at Christmastime. They have made a heart-warming tradition out of turning store windows into an adoption center for dogs and cats in need of loving families during the holiday season.
This year, the fur babies will be “on display” in the windows from November through December 31, 2024. With the announcement of Macy’s closing their Union Square location possibly as early as next year, this might be your last chance to them.
Even if you are not in the market for a new pet, the window displays are adorable and who doesn’t want to look at cute animals? Kids will love watching the pups and cats play, and if you feel so inspired you can even make a little donation.
3. See the Christmas Tree Pier 39
San Francisco has so many beautiful Christmas trees on display during the holiday season! You’ll find them at almost all the big hotels and shopping centers, and many other tourist attractions.
But don’t worry if you’re not able to make the official tree lighting ceremony, which usually takes place right after Thanksgiving. At Pier 39, the beautiful 60-foot-tree lighting ceremony happens every night from late November through early January.
Pier 39’s nightly Christmas tree lightly sees the tree come to life every half hour between 5 and 10 pm. Synchronized to holiday music, the tree transforms into a kaleidoscope of swirling colors, adorned with thousands of specialty lights and ornaments.
4. Westin St. Francis Sugar Castle & Sweet Shop
Every holiday season, the Westin St. Francis Hotel unveils two one-of-a-kind holiday castles in the Landmark Lobby.
Since we stayed there last year for our most recent San Francisco Christmas season getaway, it was a fantastic treat to see it and see everyone enjoying the Westin St. Francis sugar castle every time we walked though the lobby.
Handcrafted by Executive Pastry Chef Jean François Houdré and his team, the towering 12-ft. Medieval Sugar Castle resembles a life-like magical French Chateau. The castle weighs more than 1,200 pounds and features 20 grand circular towers, 30 rooms, glowing windows and two trains running around the castle.
The castle is on display through January 2. There is also a special sweet shop in the lobby during the holidays.
5. Fairmont Hotel Gingerbread House
For more than a century, the Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill in San Francisco has wowed visitors with its intricately decorated two-story gingerbread house in the hotel’s grand lobby. If you are heading to San Francisco during the holidays, this is a must-see attraction. You have not smelled gingerbread until you’ve inhaled the delicious scent of this dazzling display!
The gingerbread house stands at more than 25 feet high and 35 feet wide. It features more than 6,000 house-made gingerbread bricks (largest bricks to date), 1,650 pounds of candy and 3,300 pounds of royal icing.
6. Holiday Tea at the Fairmont
Looking for a refined holiday experience? Stop by Laurel Court at the Fairmont Hotel for Holiday Tea!
Afternoon tea has been a tradition at the Fairmont San Francisco tradition since 1907. Step back in time with polished silver, fine china, fine tea and scones and pastries. During the holiday season, team time gets a seasonal twist with additional treats including Winter Spiced Scones, Christmas Macarons, Eggnog Pannacotta, and lots more Victorian delights.
Holiday tea is served after 1 pm daily beginning December 14. Reservations are recommended.
7. Fisherman’s Wharf Boat Parade
San Francisco’s oldest Christmas parade takes place on the water! Head to the wharf for the Fisherman’s Wharf Lighted Boat Parade and watch 75-100 boats cruise by dressed up in holiday lights.
You can watch the parade from anywhere along the route, which begins just off Pier 39 and goes past Fisherman’s Wharf, Fort Mason, and the St. Francis Yacht Club before turning around near Crissy Field to return to Pier 39. This free annual event takes place on December 15.
8. San Francisco Love Tours Holiday Lights
View San Francisco’s holiday trees, decorations, and lights from aboard a 1970s VW hippie bus. It is truly a unique and fun way to see San Francisco.
Complete with shag carpet and holiday music, San Francisco Love Tours takes you around the city at night to see the best holiday lights and views. We did the regular tour before the Christmas season and it was so cool; I can only imagine what a dash of holiday cheer adds to the experience!
The hippie buses take only up to six people at a time, so it’s an intimate experience and the small vehicle can go places that big tour buses cannot. Two photo stops are included on the two-hour tour, and a picture in front of the VW is a great photo op in itself.
9. Ghirardelli Square
Ghiradelli Square is one of our favorite San Francisco landmarks to visit any time of year, but the holiday season makes it even more special.
Located in the Marina area just a short walk from Fisherman’s Wharf, Ghirardelli Square decorates its 50-foot-tall Christmas tree with lights and oversized chocolate bars! Don’t miss this sweet display, and while you’re there, stop into the shop for some chocolatey gifts and other sweet treats.
10. Telegraph Avenue Holiday Street Fair
Once of the most popular and longest-running San Francisco Christmas markets (40 years to be exact!), the Telegraph Avenue Holiday Street Fair is full of live music, food, and over 200 local artists selling their work in a festive holiday atmosphere. The street fair runs 11 am to 6 pm every weekend in December, including Christmas Eve!
11. Visit the POP! Lounge at the St. Francis
After a day of shopping, sightseeing and looking at Christmas decorations in San Francisco, stop back in to the Westin St. Francis Hotel in Union Square.
The Westin St. Francis Hotel’s Pop-Up Champagne Bar is open through New Years Eve. Located off the Landmark Lobby, the beautifully decorated space boasts expansive windows overlooking Union Square and the iconic cable cars.
The menu features splits of Moët Impérial Brut and Chandon Rosé, along with Anchor Steam Christmas Lager and assorted treats such as cheeses and freshly baked goodies. Kids are welcome (but of course no champagne).
12. Go Ice Skating
Nothing says holiday fun like ice skating. There are two major ice skating rinks in San Francisco:
- The Embarcadero Holiday Ice Rink: Located adjacent to the Hyatt Regency and across from San Francisco’s historic Ferry Building, the Holiday Ice Rink at Embarcadero Center offers views of the Bay Bridge and waterfront.
- The Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square: This is probably the most popular of all the San Francisco Bay Area outdoor ice skating rinks. Families can skate beside a gorgeous tree and surrounded by festive lights and the sounds of the holiday season. If you’ve ever visited Rockefeller Center in New York City during the holidays, you’ll definitely get that same vibe at the Union Square ice rink!
13. Let’s Glow SF
One of the newest holiday events in San Francisco, Let’s Glow SF, the country’s largest holiday projection event. It runs in downtown San Francisco December 6 through 15. This free outdoor event uses high-tech projectors and lasers to project images across the facade of five iconic SF buildings from 5:30 to 10 pm nightly.
You can see Let’s Glow SF 2024 at the following San Francisco locations:
- 101 California Street
- The East Cut (425 Folsom Street)
- The Ferry Building
- One Bush Plaza
- Pacific Coast Stock Exchange (301 Pine Street)
- Salesforce Tower (415 Mission Street)
14. Snow at the Hyatt
Soaring 17 stories high with an open atrium, Hyatt Regency in San Francisco’s Financial District has the world’s largest hotel lobby. We’ve stayed at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco a few times, and the hotel is truly breathtaking!
During the holiday season, the Hyatt Regency has a daily snowfall in its atrium lobby. Complementing the thousands of cascading lights and towering Christmas tree, snow falls three times a day in the hotel’s lobby near the front desk, at 1, 6, and 8 pm every day.
15. Winter Events at the California Academy of Sciences
If you are visiting San Francisco with teens or older kids, they’ll love visiting the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park. It is one of the best museums for kids in San Francisco any time of year, but it’s even more special during the holidays.
During the “‘Tis the Season for Science” event, kids can frolic under indoor snow flurries, meet real reindeer, watch a movie inside the Snowman Theater, and learn about animals that live in snowy climates. Animals include polar bears, weasels, snow geese, and snow leopards. (There is also a really cool planetarium here. We saw the “Expedition Reef” show – not at all Christmas-related but still awesome! There is also a “Passport to the Universe” show, narrated by Tom Hanks.)
16. San Francisco Ballet Nutcracker
The Nutcracker is an iconic holiday ballet, and if you are in San Francisco during the holidays, this is the place to see it! Performances will run December 6 through 29, 2024.
The Nutcracker actually made its American debut in San Francisco in 1944. Since then, it has been a holiday tradition every year in San Francisco.
In addition to the regular performances, there are several family performances geared toward younger kids.
The Nutcracker is performed by the SF Ballet at the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco’s Civic Center District.
17. The Great Dickens Christmas Fair
San Francisco transforms into Victorian London for this elaborate Christmas party. Experience what Christmas was like during Victorian times while enjoying shopping, holiday treats (roasted chestnuts!) and entertainment. You’ll see all of Charles Dickens’ classic Christmas characters roaming around during this immersive holiday event.
The Great Dickens Christmas Fair takes place at the Cow Palace Arena & Event Center in Daly City. For the 2024 holiday season, the event will take place for five weekends from November 23 through December 22.
Final Thoughts: Christmas in San Francisco
San Francisco is truly magical during the holiday season. The weather is just crisp enough to feel like winter, yet not too cold to enjoy being outside. There are endless options of fun and festive things to do, plus lots of Christmas decorations and light displays all across the city.
If you love the idea of a bustling, urban destination during Christmas time, San Francisco is one of the best places to celebrate the holiday season.
Save These San Francisco Christmas Events & Activities for Later!
Planning a visit to the San Francisco Bay Area during the holidays? Pin the image below for future reference!
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