Ho-ho-holy moly, we cannot believe it’s Christmas.
Spread some cheer by singing loud for all to hear at Elf in concert, take a ride with Santa on the Napa Valley Wine Train, spend Christmas Eve in the Fine Arts Museum galleries, BYOB to the Dorian's annual Cab & Slab dinner, take a self-guided tour of the Bay Area's larger-than-life gingerbread houses, and more.
Wishing you and yours a happy and healthy holiday. Have a good one!
Get a taste for aprés ski without driving to the mountains. Temescal Brewing’s No Jerks Ski Village will be serving up flaming hot cocoa, seasonal beers, shotskis, and general merriment. Plus, you can also purchase a “season pass” which includes custom swag, 20 percent off to-go purchases, a free round on Monday nights, and more; through February 12, 2023. // Temescal Brewing, 4115 Telegraph Ave. (Oakland); details at temescalbrewing.com.
Head to the Castro for a jumbo menorah lighting complete with music, singing, dancing, and jelly donuts; Monday at 6pm. // Jane Warner Memorial Plaza, 401 Castro St. (Castro); details at facebook.com
Experience 12 days of Christmas with 12 action-packed days of holiday festivities at Ghirardelli Square's Winter Wonderland. Kick things off with a showing of Elf on Monday December 19th, followed by opportunities to mingle over mulled wine, take in a Christmas concert, and much more; through 8pm on December 23. // Ghiradelli Square, 900 North Point St. (Russian Hill), ghiradellisq.com
Thanks you to our partners at Ghiradelli Square.
Join Lady Camden and Smuin Ballet for a special LGBTQ+ night performance and after-party. Proceeds will support Project Open Hand and LYRIC; Tuesday at 7:30pm. // Blue Shield of California Theater at YBCA, 700 Howard St. (SoMa); tickets at smuinballet.org
FTX, Elon Musk, and layoffs—oh my! Find out what on earth is going on in the world of tech in conversation with Sway podcast host and New York Times columnist Kara Swisher, and tech reporter Casey Newton; Tuesday at 6:30pm. // Manny's 3092 16th St. (Mission); tickets at eventbrite.com
Immerse yourself in the world of mahjong. Learn how to play the Chinese game during an intimate evening with Andrew Chau, cofounder of Boba Guys. There will also be snacks from Sunday Bakeshop and tea flights from Tea People; Wednesday, 8pm to 11pm. // Boba Guys, 8 Octavia St. #308 (Hayes Valley); tickets at eventbrite.com
Settle in for a free screening ofHome Alone under the stars at Springline Menlo Park’s First Annual Holiday Fest. Stay warm with fresh donuts and hot beverages, and grab a bite from the food trucks on site. The free celebration starts at 5pm. // Springline Plaza, 1300 El Camino Real (Menlo Park); details on instagram.
Tour of some of Northern California’s most spectacular gingerbread houses—from a two-story Victorian that's big enough to dine in to a 12-foot tall sugar castle. Words of advice: Don't go hungry. // 7x7.com
If smiling is your favorite, don't miss Elf in concert. You've probably watched the movie approximately a zillion times, but likely never on a giant screen with the SF Symphony performing the score, live; Wednesday at 7:30pm and Thursday at 2pm. // Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave. (Civic Center); tickets at sfsymphony.org
Traditional British holiday entertainment comes to San Francisco in panto in the Presidio’s Sleeping Beauty. The family-friendly pantomime experience combines outrageous characters with music and dance; Thursday at 6pm, Friday at 1pm and 6pm, Saturday at 1pm (with additional performances December 26-30). // Presidio Theatre, 99 Moraga Ave. (Presidio); tickets at presidiotheatre.org
Hop aboard the Napa Valley Wine Train with Santa for caroling, hot cocoa and cider, fresh baked cookies, three-course meals, and tableside visits from the jolly guy; Thursday and Friday at 6:10pm. // 1275 McKinstry St. (Napa); tickets at winetrain.com
The Outer Sunset Winter Holiday Block Party has it all: a petting zoo, photos with Santa, story time, drag performances, live music, arts and crafts, and more; Thursday, noon to 5pm. // 1825 Irving St. (Outer Sunset); details at eventbrite.com
Crack on at the Dorian’s Fifth Annual Cab & Slab Dinner. Bring a bottle of your favorite cab to share (no corkage fees here) and feast on a family-style dinner. Arrive early to enjoy a Manhattan or martini at the bar; Thursday at 7pm. // The Dorian, 2001 Chestnut St. (Marina); tickets at eventbrite.com
Gather your crew and a few bottles of wine for a BYOB adult cookie decorating class. You'll leave this beginner-friendly class with a box of decorated cookies along with shortbread and royal icing recipes to keep the fun going at home; Thursday and Friday at 7pm. // Kat's Cookies Pop-Up, 276 Magnolia Ave. (Larkspur); tickets at eventbrite.com
Step aboard the San Francisco Belle for a holiday rager on the Bay. Dance to the sounds of DJ Noodles, Sosupersam, and some of your favorite local spinsters; Doors open Friday at 7:30pm. // The San Francisco Belle, Pier 3 (Embarcadero); tickets at eventbrite.com.
Spend Christmas Eve at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. Both the de Young and Legion of Honor galleries will be open on Christmas Eve with free admission for Bay Area residents; Saturday, 9:30am to 4pm. // The de Young (Golden Gate Park) and Legion of Honor (Sea Cliff); details at famsf.org
Celebrate Christmas Eve with a Feast of the Seven Fishes at A16. The Italian-born tradition celebrates the end of the Advent season with a grand meal inspired by the sea. Highlights of A16's rendition include oysters with Meyer lemon, baccalà alla Napoletana, orecchiette with Dungeness crab, and much more. Wine pairings, vegetarian alternatives, and family-friendly options are also available; Saturday, noon to 8pm. // A16, 2355 Chestnut St. (Marina); details at a16pizza.com
Looking for more dining delights? We rounded up the best options for dining or takeout for Hanukkah, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day 2022 in the Bay Area.
