Here are some upcoming events for the holidays in the Bay Area. Most are in the South Bay, but we have also included some notable events further afield. Nutcracker performances are listed separately.
Through Dec. 29: Enchant Christmas 2024, Paypal Park 1123 Coleman Ave. San José.
Through Dec. 15: San José Stage A Sherlock Carol, 490 South 1st Street San José.
Through Jan. 1: Winchester House Holiday Tours, Victorian décor and seasonal music.
Nov. 24 – Dec. 1: Opera San José’s La Boheme, set in Christmastime Paris after the Great War, California Theatre, 345 South First St., San José.
Nov. 25-Jan 1: Holiday WinterFest & Ice Rink: California’s Great America, Great America Park, 4701 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara.
Nov. 29, 2 p.m., 6:30 p.m.: Merry-Achi Christmas with José Hernández, Mariachi Sol de Mexico, Hammer Theatre, 101 Paseo de San Antonio, San José.
Nov. 29-30, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.: SJMade Holiday Fair, reservations required. Westfield Valley Fair at 2855 Stevens Creek Blvd. Santa Clara
Nov. 29, 6-9 p.m. Saratoga Holiday Wine Stroll Tickets required.
Nov. 29 – Jan. 1: Christmas in the Park, Plaza de César Chavez , San José.
Nov. 30- Dec. 28, Saturdays: Winchester House Menagerie Yuletide Oddities Market, Winchester House, 525 South Winchester Blvd. San José.
Dec. 2 – 23: Elf on the Shelf Scavenger Hunt , Santana Row, San José
Dec. 2, 7:30 p.m. You-Sing-It Messiah, San José Symphonic Choir, San José Baroque Orchestra, Vivace Youth Chorus of San José with carols in the lobby beginning at 7 p.m. Hammer Theatre, 101 Paseo de San Antonio, San José.
Dec. 3 – 31, Tuesdays & Saturdays 6 – 8 p.m., Santana Row Snow Showers, Park Valencia in front of Maggiano’s at Santana Row.
Dec. 3 – 31, Tuesdays 6-8 p.m., Spirit of the Row Holiday Performances — Music, Dance, Theater and a short performance of A Christmas Carol on Dec. 3, Santana Row Park.
Dec. 3 7:30 p.m.: San José State University Jazz Orchestra‘s Cool Yule , Hammer Theatre, Sobrato Auditorium, 101 Paseo De San Antonio, San José
Dec. 5-8, Smuin’s The Christmas Ballet, Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St., Mountain View.
Dec. 5-21: A Christmas Carol, Silicon Valley Shakespeare, Montalvo Arts Center 15400 Montalvo Rd., Saratoga.
Dec. 6, 6-10 p.m., Dec. 7, 12-5 p.m. Santa Clara Historic Home Tour, Must purchase tickets in advance.
Dec. 6, 5:30 – 8 p.m.: Santa Clara Holiday Tree Lighting, Central Park, Kiely Ave., Santa Clara.
Dec.. 6-8 & 13-14: Holiday Teas & Tours at Ainsley House in Campbell. Reservations required.
Dec. 7: 8:30 – 11:a.m. Breakfast With Santa, Senior Orchard Pavilion, Sunnyvale, Tickets required.
Dec. 7:11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Holiday Maker Market, MAKER NEXUS 1330 Orleans Drive, Sunnyvale.
Dec. 7 9:30-11:30 a.m. Holiday Storywalk, Sunnyvale Community Center, 550 E. Remington Dr, Sunnyvale.
Dec. 7 5-7:300 p.m. Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration, Murphy Ave., in front of Fashion Wok, 163 S Murphy Ave, Sunnyvale
Dec. 7: 4 p.m. Carol of Lights Celebration, E Campbell Ave and N 1st St, Campbell.
Dec. 7-8 4:45-8 p.m. CalTrain Holiday Train, Check schedule for stops.
Dec. 7-8.: Symphony San José Holiday Spectacular, including 12 Days of Silicon Valley, With Symphony San Jose Chorale, Cantabile Youth Singers & New Ballet, California Theater, 345 South First St., San José.
Dec. 7-8, 4 p.m. Fantasy of Lights Walk-Thru at Vasona Park, 333 Blossom Hill Rd. Los Gatos. Tickets required
Dec. 7, 11 a.m. Children’s Holiday Parade, Santa Cruz Ave., Los Gatos.
Dec. 8, 3 p.m. San José Wind Symphony Hollywood Holidays, McAfee Performing Arts Center, 20300 Herriman Dr. Saratoga.
Dec. 8 – early January: Community Gingerbread Village Show. Sunnyvale Public Library. Submit gingerbread creations on Dec. 7, noon-5:30 p.m. 665 W. Olive Ave, Sunnyvale.
Dec. 8, 4 p.m.: Wintersongs With Kitka , St. Bede’s Church, 2650 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park.
Dec. 8, 7:30 p.m. Nova Vista Symphony Winter Wonderland, Church of the Ascension 12033 Miller Ave. Saratoga
Dec 8, 3:00 p.m. San Jose Metropolitan Band – Holiday Spectacular, Hammer Theatre, 101 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose
Dec. 10-14, 5-10 p.m. Fantasy of Lights Drive-thru at Vasona Park, 333 Blossom Hill Rd, Los Gatos. Tickets required.
Dec. 14, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.: German Holiday Market, City Hall Plaza 500 Castro St., Mountain View.
Dec. 13-15 Silicon Valley Gay Men’s Chorus Winter Journey, Campbell United Methodist ell Church, 1675 Winchester Blvd Campbell.
Dec. 13, 6 p.m. Holiday Mixology Workshop, Florra 350 East Campbell Ave. Campbell.
Dec. 14 5:30 p.m. Fiesta Navideña, School of Arts and Culture, Mexican Heritage Plaza at 1700 Alum Rock Ave. San José.
Dec. 14, 15: Academy of Classical Ballet – A Winter Wonderland, Campbell Heritage Theatre, 1 W Campbell Ave, Campbell.
Dec. 15, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.: Menorahs and Miracles, Children’s Discovery Museum, 180 Woz Way, San Jose
Dec. 16, 7:30 p.m. San Jose Symphonic Choir and Silicon Valley Arts Coalition’s Season of Hope free concert, Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph, 80 S Market St, San José.
De . 17, 6:30 p.m. Enchant Fiesta Navideña, 1123 Coleman Avenue, San José.
Dec. 19, 7 p.m. Winter Movie, The Grinch, Sunnyvale Theatre, 550 Remington Dr. Sunnyvale.
Dec. 20, 7:30 p.m. Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St. Mountain View.
Dec. 20-22: Bayer Ballet Snow Queen, Cupertino Visual & Performing Arts Center (VPAC), De Anza College 21250 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino.
Dec. 21, 6 a.m. Winter Solstice Illumination at San Juan Bautista, 406 2nd St, San Juan Bautista
Dec. 21 6:30 p.m. SVBC and Bike Sunnyvale’s Annual Holiday Lights Bike Ride. Starts at De Anza Park, 1150 Lime Dr. Sunnyvale.
Dec. 22, 7:30 p.m. Choral Project with San José Chamber Orchestra Winter’s Gifts, Mission Santa Clara (SCU campus) 500 El Camino Real.
Dec. 22, 11:30 a.m. Chabad Palo Alto Menorah Workshop, 1781 E Bayshore RD, East Palo Alto. Registration required.
Dec. 28, 7-8 p.m.: Palo Alto Menorah Parade.
Dec. 28-29, 7:30 p.m. The MeshugaNutcracker! Movie, Guggenheim Entertainment, 3Below Theaters & Café, 288 S 2nd St., San José.
Dec. 29 4-6:30 p.m.: Chabad Santa Clara Chanukkah Celebration, Park Valencia Santana Row.
Dec. 29, 3 p.m. Greet the New Year with San José Chamber Orchestra’s Joy and Delights, with Pianist Jon Nakamatsu, and clarinetists Jon and Alec Manasse. After-concert bubbly toast.
Nutcrackers, Nutcrackers & More
Nov. 19-30: Pacific Ballet Academy’s Annual Nutcracker., special children’s and sensory-friendly show Nov. 29 2 p.m., Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St. Mountain View.
Dec. 6-8, 13-14: San Jose Dance Theatre Nutcracker, Center for the Performing Arts, 255 Almaden Blvd., San José.
Dec. 7-8, 4:30 p.m.: Peninsula Ballet Nutcracker Sweet for 3-9 year-olds, Peninsula Lively Arts Studio, 1880 S. Grant St. San Mateo.
Dec. 7-22, 11 a.m., 1:30 & 4 p.m.: Mark Foehringer’s Nutcracker Sweets, 50-minute version designed for families with young children, e Cowell Theater at Fort Mason Center for Arts and Culture, 2 Marina Boulevard (at Buchanan Street) Landmark Building C, San Francisco.
Dec. 14-15, 20-23: San José Nutcracker, New Ballet with Symphony San José, California Theatre 345 S. First St. San José.
Dec. 15, 22 11 a.m. (1 hour) : New Ballet My First Nutcracker, California Theatre, 345 S. First St., San José.
Dec. 16-19, 7 p.m.: Los Gatos Ballet Nutcracker, McAfee Performing Arts Center, 20300 Herriman Dr. Saratoga.
Dec. 18, 2024 3 p.m., 7 p.m.: NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet, Campbell Heritage Theatre, 1 W Campbell Ave, Campbell.
Dec. 21-22, 2 p.m.: Peninsula Ballet Classic Nutcracker, San Mateo Performing Arts Center San Mateo, 600 North Delaware St. San Mateo.
Dec. 21-22, 2 p.m.: Peninsula Ballet Hip Hop Nutcracker, Fox Theatre, 2215 Broadway, Redwood City.
Dec. 28-29, 7:30 p.m. The MeshugaNutcracker! Movie, Guggenheim Entertainment, 3Below Theaters & Café, 288 S 2nd St., San José.