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Marin & Bay Area Family Events

Find family-friendly events, activities, and things to do with kids in Marin and the San Francisco Bay Area.

All event listings are believed accurate at the time of posting, but schedules are subject to change without notice. Please confirm with event organizer before attending. Submit your events to us via our contact form.

Holiday Light Spectacular 2026 at Marin Center in San Rafael
Promoted event
Marin Center—San Rafael

Get into the holiday spirit at the Holiday Light Spectacular at Marin Center in San Rafael! This free, family-friendly holiday event returns November 27, 2026, through January 3, 2027, with thousands of sparkling lights, glowing tunnels, and larger-than-life illuminated displays throughout the Marin County Fairgrounds.

Sunday, December 20, 2026

Families ice skating at Merry Meritage in Napa, with a decorated Christmas tree and festive holiday lights.
11:00 am
The Meritage Resort & Space, Village Lawn, Napa
Celebrate the holiday season with outdoor ice skating at Merry Meritage at The Meritage Resort...
Families ice skating at Merry Meritage in Napa, with a decorated Christmas tree and festive holiday lights.
11:00 am
The Meritage Resort & Space, Village Lawn, Napa
Celebrate the holiday season with outdoor ice skating at Merry Meritage at The Meritage Resort...
Marin Farmers Market
8:00 am
Marin Civic Center Parking Lot, San Rafael
Visit the market every Sunday, rain or shine, and see why the Marin farmers market is one of the...
Festively decorated Christmas trees, sparkling lights, and holiday ornaments at West End Nursery's Christmas House in San Rafael, Marin County.
8:30 am
West End Nursery, San Rafael
Get into the holiday spirit at the magical Christmas House at West End Nursery in San Rafael,...
Santa Claus posing with a child beside a decorated Christmas tree and wrapped presents at Little Hills Christmas Tree Farm in Petaluma.
9:00 am
Little Hills Christmas Tree Farm, Petaluma
Visit Little Hills Christmas Tree Farm in west Petaluma for a fun family holiday tradition! Choose...
Giant decorated Christmas tree and life-size Victorian gingerbread house in the Fairmont San Francisco hotel lobby.
9:00 am
The Fairmont, San Francisco
Experience holiday magic at the Fairmont San Francisco on Nob Hill! Each holiday season, the hotel'...
Two children wearing Santa hats pulling a green wagon along a path at Frosty Mountain Christmas Tree Farm in Sebastopol.
9:00 am
Frosty Mountain Tree Farm, Sebastopol
Get into the holiday spirit at Frosty Mountain Tree Farm in Sebastopol! This family-friendly...
Two children posing with Santa Claus at Reindeer Ridge Christmas Tree Farm in Sebastopol.
9:00 am
Reindeer Ridge Christmas Tree Farm, Sebastopol
Celebrate the holiday season at Reindeer Ridge Christmas Tree Farm in Sebastopol! Bring the family...
Horse-drawn wagon carrying families through Garlock Christmas Tree Farm in Sebastopol.
9:00 am
Garlock Tree Farm, Sebastopol
Celebrate the holiday season at Garlock Tree Farm in Sebastopol, a family Christmas tradition since...
GymWorld Gymnastics & Parkour
9:00 am
GymWorld Gymnastics & Parkour, San Rafael
Let your kids run, jump, climb, and explore in a safe, playful space at GymWorld Gymnastics...
Sausalito Farmers Market
9:00 am
Dunphy Park parking lot, Sausalito
The Sausalito Recreation Department is excited to be partnered with a seasoned group of local...
Charles Dickens reading at the Great Dickens Christmas Fair
10:00 am
Cow Palace, Daly City
Step back in time to Victorian London at the Great Dickens Christmas Fair at the Cow Palace in Daly...
Teddy Bear Tea Ritz Carlton San Francisco
10:00 am
The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco
Children are invited for Teddy Bear Tea in the winter wonderland of The Ritz-Carlton Ballroom...
Families and children ice skating at the Union Square Holiday Ice Rink in San Francisco, with kids using penguin skating helpers.
10:00 am
Union Square, San Francisco
Skate through the holidays at The Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square presented by Kaiser...
Drop-In Play at Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito
10:00 am
Bay Area Discovery Museum, Sausalito
Bring the little ones for a day of drop-in play at the Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito!...
Brunch with Santa Bennett Valley
10:00 am
Bennett Valley Golf Course, Santa Rosa
Includes brunch buffet, desserts, beverage station, Photos with Santa. Additional Beverage, tax,...
Outdoor holiday ice skating rink at Fisherman's Wharf near PIER 39 in San Francisco.
10:00 am
Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco
New for 2026! Enjoy outdoor holiday ice skating along San Francisco's waterfront at San Francisco...
Gingerbread cookies
10:30 am
Mark Hopkins Hotel, San Francisco
3 seatings:  10:30 AM, 11:00 AM, and 11:30 AM (Event concludes and room closes at 2:00 pm) $135*...
Mark Foehringer's Nutcracker Sweets
11:00 am
Cowell Theater, Fort Mason Center, San Francisco
Celebrate the holidays with Mark Foehringer‘s Nutcracker Sweets, a unique 50-minute production of...
Tinsel tea with princess Belle
11:00 am
Meritage Resort, Napa
This special holiday tradition includes scrumptious presentations of desserts, scones, and tea...
Hornblower boat and San Francisco Bay Bridge
11:00 am
San Francisco City Cruises, San Francisco
Join San Francisco City Cruises for a Santa Brunch Cruise and enjoy a festive day of dining on the...
Families ice skating at Merry Meritage in Napa, with a decorated Christmas tree and festive holiday lights.
11:00 am
The Meritage Resort & Space, Village Lawn, Napa
Celebrate the holiday season with outdoor ice skating at Merry Meritage at The Meritage Resort...
Three-tiered afternoon tea stand filled with sandwiches, pastries, and desserts at the Claremont Resort & Club in Berkeley, decorated for the holidays.
12:00 pm
Claremont Resort & Club, Berkeley
Celebrate the holiday season with a festive Holiday Tea at the Claremont Resort & Club in...
Little girl on carousel with santa hat
12:00 pm
Children's Fairyland, Oakland
The return of Fairy Winterland and an Adults-only (21+) holiday party make Fairyland your winter...
Garden Court Palace Hotel with Christmas Tree
12:30 pm
Palace Hotel, San Francisco
Delight in the festive spirit with our Santa Afternoon Tea at the Garden Court—a magical experience...
Little girls at holiday tea party with dolls
1:00 pm
Westin St. Francis Hotel, San Francisco
Make this season unforgettable with the Dollie & Me Holiday Tea at The Westin St. Francis on...
Festive holiday tea table with a Santa figurine, elegant glassware, and sparkling Christmas lights at the Fairmont San Francisco.
1:00 pm
Fairmont San Francisco–Laurel Court Restaurant & Bar, San Francisco
Celebrate the holiday season with a festive afternoon tea at the Fairmont San Francisco! This...
Santa at Meritage Napa
2:00 pm
The Meritage Resort & Spa, Napa
Experience the wonder of the season as Santa Claus himself makes The Meritage his home for the...
The Secret Garden holiday theater production by Marin Shakespeare Company at the Downtown Theatre in San Rafael, November 27–December 20, 2026.
2:00 pm
Marin Shakespeare Company Downtown Theatre, San Rafael
Discover the magic of The Secret Garden this holiday season at Marin Shakespeare Company's Downtown...
San Francisco Ballet Nutcracker
2:00 pm
War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco
Celebrate the holiday season with San Francisco Ballet's beloved Nutcracker, returning to the War...
Colorful illuminated lion and rabbit lanterns promoting Glowfari, the family-friendly holiday light festival at Oakland Zoo.
4:30 pm
Oakland Zoo, Oakland
Experience the magic of Glowfari at Oakland Zoo! This popular, family-friendly holiday lantern...
Pier 39 Christmas Tree
5:00 pm
Pier 39, San Francisco
November 23, 2026–January 10, 2027 PIER 39, San Francisco Celebrate the holiday season at PIER 39...
Marin Holiday Light Spectacular
5:00 pm
Marin County Fairgrounds, San Rafael
Experience the magic of the holidays at Marin Center's Holiday Light Spectacular! Stroll through...
Colorful illuminated ZooLights entrance at the San Francisco Zoo featuring glowing animal decorations and families enjoying the holiday light display.
5:30 pm
San Francisco Zoo, San Francisco
Celebrate the holiday season with ZooLights at the San Francisco Zoo! Returning for the first time...
Holiday Light Spectacular 2026 at Marin Center in San Rafael
5:30 pm
Marin Center, San Rafael
Get into the holiday spirit at the Holiday Light Spectacular at Marin Center in San Rafael! This...
San Francisco Ballet Nutcracker
7:00 pm
War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco
Celebrate the holiday season with San Francisco Ballet's beloved Nutcracker, returning to the War...
San Francisco Ballet Nutcracker
7:00 pm
War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco
Our most magical production returns to the Opera House stage, transporting audiences of all ages...
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