Holidays 2021: 30+ Bay Area events and shows to help celebrate the season
Garden of D’Lights 2021: 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. Nov. 11-Dec. 23, Ruth Bancroft Garden and Nursery, 1552 Bancroft Road, Walnut Creek. Wander through 3.5 acres of mature cacti, succulents and trees that are transformed into magical and colorful botanical sculptures by thousands of lights. $8-$24. ruthbancroftgarden.org
Opera San Jose: Dido and Aeneas by Henry Purcell; Nov. 13-28. Live in the California Theatre - Opera San José returns to LIVE performances with one of opera’s most brilliant works, a thrilling new production full of drama, passion and magic! operasj.org
Holiday Collection for Artful Giving: Nov. 13-Dec. 31, Valley Art Gallery, 1661 Botelho Drive, Suite 110, Walnut Creek.The 56th annual holiday market includes ceramic, wood and glass pieces, original designer jewelry, holiday decorations and small paintings. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 19-21 and Dec. 7-10. valleyartgallery.org
San Jose Stage Company: Great Expectations: Nov. 17-Dec. 12, 490 S. First St., San Jose. Desire becomes destiny in Neil Bartlett’s powerful adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic tale filled with intrigue and unexpected twists. $32-$72. Thestage.org
Smuin’s fiercely festive: The Christmas Ballet: Nov. 19 – Dec. 26, is a confection for everyone on your list. Your favorite choreography by Michael Smuin returns along with new delights from brilliant guest dancemakers. This year includes two world premieres and our signature showcase of classical and contemporary dances set to songs of the season. smuinballet.org
Kristi Yamaguchi Holiday Rink at City Center: Nov. 17-Jan. 2, City Center Holiday Ice Rink, 6000 Bollinger Canyon Road, San Ramon, CA 94583. General Admission $19 - CityCenterHolidayIceRink.com
Kristi Yamaguchi Downtown Ice in San Jose: Nov. 19-Jan. 9, Located in front of the San Jose Museum of Art and across the street from The Tech Interactive - 120 S. Market Street, San Jose, CA 95113. General Admission $19 Downtownicesj.com
The Christmas Ballet: Nov. 19-Dec. 26, Walnut Creek, Mountain View, Carmel, and San Francisco. This joyful program features classical ballet and festive contemporary numbers set to holiday tunes and incorporating ballet, tap, jazz and swing. $25-$99. Find details at smuinballet.org.
Filoli will be open for the holiday season: Nov. 20, 2021 through Jan. 2, 2021, daily from 10:00am to 8:00pm. The House and Garden as well as the Clock Tower Shop and Quail’s Nest Café will be open during all holiday hours. Filoli will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. Visit filoli.org/ holidays for tickets and more information
Great America Winterfest: Nov. 26-Jan. 1, 4701 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara. Enjoy more than 60 rides and holiday attractions, send letters to the North Pole, check out Santa’s workshop, bake cookies in Mrs. Claus’ kitchen and go ice skating. Tickets start at $30. cagreatamerica.com/events/ winterfest
Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony: 4-6 p.m. Nov. 26, Lawn at Vista Collina, 850 Bordeaux Way, Napa. Enjoy holiday carolers, a seasonally-inspired artisan market and a visit from Santa Claus, as well as locally crafted beer and wine. Cellarpass: bit.ly/3q3ZULn
Holidays in Wine Country: Nov. 26-Dec. 30. Healdsburg offers seasonal events centered around food, wine and timehonored traditions. Enjoy festive décor and holiday lights in Healdsburg Plaza, holiday wine country walking tours, breakfast with Santa and more. cm.healdsburg.com/events
Fairmont San Francisco’s Holiday Festivities: Giant Gingerbread House, Nov. 27 through the holiday season. Check out the giant, two-story gingerbread house adorned in hundreds of pounds of See’s candies in the hotel’s grand lobby. Holiday Tea ,1and 3:30 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, Nov. 26-Jan. 2. (Tea not available Dec. 2-3, 24-25). 950 Mason St., San Francisco. $89-$149. fairmont-san-francisco.com/holidays
Holiday Radio play — A Red Carol: Streaming Nov. 26-Jan 9. San Francisco Mime Troupe presents a new activist adaptation of the Dickens classic as a radio play. Free (suggested $20 donation). sfmt. org
Christmas at Kohl: 5-9 p.m. Dec. 1, Kohl Mansion, 2750 Adeline Drive, Burlingame. This holiday boutique features 65 vendors displaying holiday treasures, jewelry, clothing and decorations. There will be a docent presentation and history of the historic Kohl Mansion at 6:30 p.m. Beverages and light holiday snacks will be available for sale. $10 donation. kohlmansion.com
It’s a Wonderful Life — A Live Radio Play: Dec. 1-26, Lucie Stern Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. America’s favorite holiday classic is on tonight at a snowbound 1940s radio station, with every memorable character, wacky sound effects and heartwarming conclusion of the iconic film recreated live before your ears and eyes. $25-$60. theatreworks.org/
The Magic Lamp Panto:
Dec. 1-31, Presidio Theatre, 99 Moraga Ave., Presidio of San Francisco. A holiday parody updates the story of Aladdin with humor, music, dance and
magic. $10-$75. presidiotheatre.org/
Diablo Ballet — The Nutcracker Suite: Streaming Dec. 3-12, $40. diabloballet.org
An Irish Christmas — A Bit of Ireland for the Holidays!: 8 p.m. Dec. 3, Uptown Theatre Napa, 1350 Third St., Napa. Experience an Irish Christmas with dancing, singing and traditional Irish music celebrating the international spirit of the holiday season. Ticketmaster: bit.ly/3D8214p
Los Gatos Chamber Holiday Promenade: Dec. 4, The Promenade is a street festival that will combine the flair of the Los Gatos Summer Promenades with a few of our favorite elements of the holiday parade and a European-style artisan and crafts market. losgatoschamber.com
Annual BayLUG Holiday Show: 11 a.m.3:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays Dec. 4-Jan. 9, Museum of American Heritage, 351 Homer Ave., Palo Alto. Enjoy displays of custom creations, including holiday trains, miniature cities and more. $4. baylug.org/holiday-show
Alameda Artworks Holiday Art Event:
11 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 4, 1068 The Alameda, San Jose. Some 23 artists will welcome you into their private studios to view the creative process. facebook.com/ TheAlamedaArtworks
History Park Children’s Heritage Holiday: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 4, History Park, 635 Phelan Ave., San Jose. Santa Claus arrives at noon, riding through the park on the historic trolley. New Ballet San José will perform with costumed characters from the Nutcracker. Other activities include holiday crafts, lawn games and special holiday treats at O’Brien’s Ice Cream and Candy Shop. $5-$10. historysanjose.org/programs-events
Performing Arts Academy of Marin
— A Scarf in Union Square: 7 p.m. Dec. 4, 1 p.m. Dec. 5, Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, 3301 Lyon St., San Francisco. This holiday spectacular features classic melodies, dynamic choreography and a heartwarming story. $30-$50. palaceoffinearts.org/
Mark Foehringer’s Nutcracker Sweets: Dec. 4-19, Cowell Theater, Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture, 2 Marina Blvd, San Francisco. This 50-minute version of “The Nutcracker” was designed for families with young children. $22.50$44.50. mfdpsf.org/ nutcracker-sweets
Drive Thru Dickens’ London: 11 a..m.-5 p.m. Dec. 4-19, Cow Palace, 2600 Geneva Ave., Daly City. Enjoy a taste of The Great Dickens Christmas Fair from the comfort of your car, from the fair’s famous foods and handcrafted gifts to multiple tableaux from Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” and two stages of continuous live music, dance and comedy. $25. dickensfair.com
Holiday Concert:
1 p.m. Dec. 4, San Mateo County History Museum, 2200 Broadway, Redwood City. Bell Appeal will perform a variety of holiday tunes. After the concert, meet the ringers and learn to ring a handbell. Free. historysmc.org
Winter Open Studios: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 4-5, ICB Building, 480 Gate Five Road, Sausalito. Browse the work of more than 100 Bay Area artists, including painters, sculptors, photographers, filmmakers, fiber artists, printmakers, animators and jewelers. Free. Eventbrite: bit.ly/2YbWvP6
Help is on the Way for the Holidays XX — Feliz Navidad: 7:3010:30 p.m. Dec. 5, Brava Theatre Center, 2781 24th St., San Francisco. This holiday celebration features holiday music and an after-party with the cast. $45-$2,500. Eventbrite: bit. ly/3BGGq1K
Cool Yule: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7, Hammer Theatre Center, 101 Paseo De San Antonio, San Jose. Enjoy a jazz concert featuring festive holiday songs. $29. hammertheatre.com
Elise and Steve Trio at The Bistro: 7-9:30 p.m. Dec. 7, 1001 B St., Hayward. Hear this indie/ folk trio of Elise Brown, Steve Witt and Dan Garvin perform. Free. eliseandstevemusic.com
Photo: Los Gatos Carriage Rides_Holiday