Marin Weekend Family Fun, November 28–30

November 27, 2025

Explore a mile-long light and music experience at Lightscape at the San Francisco Botanical Garden this weekend!

Here are our picks for great events and activities for children and families this Weekend. Find more events for the whole week in Marin and beyond in our Family Events Calendar.

All Weekend

Get a head start on the holidays at West End Nursery's amazing Christmas House in San Rafael, Friday & Saturday, 8:30 am–5 pm, Sunday, 9 am–4 pm.
Go skating at Union Square's holiday ice rink in San Francisco, Friday–Sunday, 10 am–11 pm.
Skate on the Bay Area Discovery Museum's iceless skating rink, Friday–Sunday, 10 am–3:30 pm.
The Great Dickens Christmas Fair brings Victorian London to life at the Cow Palace in Daly City, Friday–Sunday, 10 am–6 pm.
Visit the Charles M. Schulz Museum for a Family Fun Weekend with cartooning, performances, and more, Friday & Saturday, 10 am–5 pm.
Visit a local tree farm to pick out that perfect Christmas tree and visit Santa too!
It's the opening weekend of the Marin Holiday Light Spectacular at the Marin County Fairgrounds in San Rafael, Friday–Sunday, 4–9 pm.
FanExpo at Moscone Center in San Francisco features favorite celebrities, cosplay, comics, gaming, and more, Friday, 4–9 pm, Saturday, 10 am–7 pm & Sunday, 10 am–5 pm.
Explore a mile-long light and music experience at Lightscape at the San Francisco Botanical Garden, Friday–Sunday, 5–9 pm.
See Pixar's Turning Red (2022) on the big screen at the Lark Theatre in Larkspur, Saturday, 9 am & Sunday, 3 pm.
Stroll the pasture and shop for handmade gifts from local artisans at Windrush Farm Holiday Art Faire in Petaluma, Saturday & Sunday, 10 am–3 pm.

Friday, November 28

Take an after-Thanksgiving hike at General Vallejo's home in Sonoma, Friday, 11 am–12:30 pm.
Santa illuminates Ghirardelli Square with Christmas lights.Take a photo with Santa and get a Ghirardelli Chocolate chocolate square! Friday, 4:30–8 pm.
Santa Rosa rings in the holiday season at its annual Winter Lights tree lighting event, Friday, 4–7 pm.

Welcome Santa and Mrs. Claus as they arrive by tugboat in downtown Petaluma, Saturday, 11:30 am–1:30 pm.

Saturday, November 29

Welcome Santa and Mrs. Claus as they arrive by tugboat in downtown Petaluma, Saturday, 11:30 am–1:30 pm.
Meritage Resort in Napa celebrates its holiday tree lighting with music, a skating performance, special appearances, falling "snow", and more, Saturday, 4–8 pm.
Celebrate the season in downtown San Rafael at the annual Holiday of Lights & Winter Wonderland and tree lighting, Saturday, 5–7 pm.
Visit the Jelly Belly Factory in Fairfield for a fun factory tour, tree lighting ceremony, and holiday festivities, Saturday, 5:30–8 pm.
Experience a tree lighting, laser light show, and special performances at Jack London Square in Oakland, Saturday, 5:45–8 pm.
Tractors decorated with holiday lights parade around the historic Sonoma Plaza, Saturday, 6:30 pm.

Sunday, November 30

Shop for fresh produce and locally made foods and enjoy live music at the Marin Civic Center farmer's market in San Rafael, Sunday, 8 am–1 pm.
Shop for fresh produce at Sausalito's Sundays Farmers Market, Dunphy parking lot (1600 Bridgeway, Sausalito), 9 am–2 pm.
Makr a holiday wreath with rangers at McNears Beach Park in San Rafael, Sunday, 11:30–1 pm.
Santa joins Songbird Parlour in Glen Ellen for photos and stories with the little ones, with holiday crafts, cookies, and hot chocolate, Sunday, noon–2 pm.
Enjoy hot toddies, cocoa, roasted chestnuts, cookie decorating, Nutracker storytime (4–5 pm) with Marin Ballet, and more at Marin Country Mart's tree lighting, Sunday, 4–7 pm.
Tip off the holiday season with festive activities and the lighting of the Bay Area’s tallest tree at Chase Center's Thrive City in San Francisco, Sunday, 6:30 pm.