Updated for 2023

December has always been my favorite time of year. I love Christmas, the whole Holiday season. Growing up, my dad always took off two weeks around Christmas and filled it with seasonal activities. We would get hot cocoa and see holiday lights, visit a living nativity scene, and our annual trip into New York City to see the tree at Rockefeller Plaza and the amazing store windows. Now that I have a family of my own I wanted to create these memories with my own children, here in the Bay Area.

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Tilden Merry-Go-Round – Berkeley

This is one we go to every year. The old fashion Merry-Go-Round at Tilden decorate for the holiday with lights and runs at night. $4 a ride, plus there was a Santa, a field with lights you could run around, and free blocks to play with. Who wouldn’t love it! In the past they have had Breakfast with Santa, the first three Saturdays in December. You can make the reservations for times online for both events.

Santa Train– Napa Valley Wine Train

Santa trains are always fun but combine that with wine in one of the best wine valleys in the country and you know you are in for a good time.  We did this when the kids were little, and they loved riding on the train, seeing Santa and the Elves, singing songs and seeing the North Pole from the train windows.  The adults loved the gourmet hot chocolate accompanied by some of the best wines in the area.  Now, they have different levels you can enjoy.  There is the Santa Cookie Car, the cheapest option with just a cookie, to gourmet options that include kid friendly three course meals.  All include visits with Santa.  Book something that will make the kids and the parents happy with the experience.

Glowfari at the Oakland Zoo – Oakland

Oakland Zoo Lights has always been a fun event, but in 2020, the Oakland Zoo decided to step up their game with Glowfari. Instead of lights and decorations, the zoo has hundreds of giant animal glowing lanterns that are beautifully created. Due to COVID they could not do it during the holiday season as planned, but it was a smashing success when it opened in March and April of this year. It’s back this year as a holiday event, and tickets are now on sale. Get them before they sell out.

Outdoor Ice Skating – Various Locations

There are several locations around the Bay that are planning to bring back their outdoor temporary ice skating rings. We have enjoyed taking a day in San Francisco, and attending the Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square. But for those who want to stick to the east bay, there is a nice one in The Little Ice Rink at Alameda Point, the Ice at the Veranda in Concord, and Walnut Creek on Ice.

Enchant Christmas – San Jose, CA

This is an event we added on last year and loved!  It’s a holiday lights display set up at PayPal Park.  There is a holiday lights maze that is set up in the main field.  It’s filled with gorgeous, Instagram-able displays.  For the kids, there is a mission to complete.  Last year we had to help Santa find all his reindeer, so as we went through the maze, we found the stamping station at each reindeer.  There is also a dance floor, tunnels, and other photo spots along the way.  Outside the maze there is an ice rink for ice skating, and a village filled with little shops and shows.  Be sure to get a fun drink, either hot chocolate for the kids, or a more fun light-up drink for the adults.  This is great for kids of all ages, so don’t be afraid to bring the little ones or the teens.  They will all enjoy it. 

Holiday in the Park – Six Flags Discovery Kingdom

We have done this before, but now that we are season pass holders, the kids and I agreed this is a must attend this year.  Every year, around the holidays, Six Flags will deck out the park in beautiful decorations.  There are new shows they add, holiday themed character meet and greets, photos with Santa, a Victorian Marketplace, meeting penguins, and the best – sled riding!  That is novelty for our Northern California Kids.  They use fake snow to keep a sled hill, and you get to go down as many times as you want, as long as you are willing to wait in the long line.  It’s incredibly fun for all ages. 

Christmas Tree Lane – Alameda

Unofficially known as Christmas Tree Lane, there is a neighborhood in Alameda that goes all out for Christmas every single year. Each house is elaborately decorated with lights and decorations. Pre COVID there was a Santa who saw kids, and some houses who sold hot chocolate to support local Scout troops. People come from all over the Bay Area. You can drive through and see the lights, or park (outside the neighborhood) and walk up and down. I prefer walking becuase you can hear the music, see performances, and spend more time enjoying each of the displays.

Sundar Shadi Holiday Display – El Cerrito

Every year, on a hillside in El Cerrito, volunteers set up the Sundar Shadi Holiday Display. This is a display that show not only the typical nativity scene, but shows the town of Bethlehem and Jerusalem. It’s lit up in lights, and a gorgeous site that can be seen from all around. The hillside encapsulates the hills in Israel itself and is a beautiful tribute to the season. There is usually parking along the street, so you can get out and take a quick picture and closer look.

The Nutcracker – San Francisco and Oakland

Since my daughter was 4 and first started ballet classes, we have seen the Nutcracker every year. We usually go to the Nutcracker in San Francisco which is a world class production in the beautiful War Memorial Opera House. We love to dress up. go to the dinner in the city, and then attend one of their family performances, that include photo opportunities with the dancers, and other activities. In 2019 we attended the Oakland Ballet Nutcracker and were amazed at the quality of the performance. It’s done in the Paramount Teacher, a beautiful 1920s Art Deco theater in the heart of downtown Oakland.

I can already tell the lasting impact these memories have on my children. My daughter now wants to dance in the Nutcracker. My kids keep asking me when we are going to Glowfari. We plan out our cookie baking weekend, and our weekend to see the lights. The excitement they feel is contagious, and it makes the whole family excited for the holiday. I hope that my children will have the same lasting memories and love of the season that my parents installed in me. And I hope sharing this with you, you can make your own memories that last a lifetime.