KidsOutAndAbout is America's online guide to everything for kids, teens, and families! The activities we've listed here are confirmed for this year, but many require reserving ahead of time, so click through to make arrangements. Enjoy the holidays!
P.S. If you don't already receive our free weekly e-newsletter for San Jose, sign up today to make sure you're in the know about free stuff, festivals, classes, camps, vacation ideas, and all the best events near you! In the meantime, enjoy the ideas below for holiday family fun!
If we're missing an activity that should be on our list, please email Mindy Mangan at mindy@kidsoutandabout.com. Please make sure to include a link to the event when you email. Thank you!
Below are upcoming holiday events (virtual and in-person) that have been posted to our calendar. If you are affiliated with a business hosting an event that should be on our calendar, we'd love to see it there... it's free to post! Click here for instructions about how to add your organization to our list and easily post your events to our calendar!
Santa Sightings
| Multiple dates starting Nov 22, 2025 |
Visits with Santa in the Square - City Center Bishop Ranch |
| Multiple dates starting on Dec. 2, 2025 |
Photos with Santa Claus - Santana Row |
| December 5, 2025 |
Once Upon A Garden: Family Night - Elizabeth F. Gamble |
| December 6, 2025 |
Santa Arrives by Helicopter - Hiller Aviation Museum |
| December 6, 2025 |
Santa Paws - Santana Row |
| December 6, 2025 |
Breakfast with Santa - City of Cupertino, CA |
| December 11, 2025 |
Marking Spirits Bright - Campbell Chamber of Commerce |
| December 13, 2025 |
Signing Santa (ASL) - City of Cupertino, CA |
| Multiple dates starting on Dec. 17, 2025 |
Visit to the North Pole - Lesher Center for the Arts |
Old-Time Christmas
Light Displays
| Ongoing |
Sonic Runway - Sonic Runway |
| Multiple dates starting on Nov. 7, 2025 |
Glowfari: A Wildly Illuminating Lantern Festival - Oakland Zoo |
| Multiple dates starting on Nov. 14, 2025 |
DOCA Festival: San Jose Holiday Lights |
| Multiple dates starting on Nov. 15, 2025 |
IlluminOdyssey - CuriOdyssey |
| Multiple dates starting on Nov. 28, 2025 |
Christmas in the Park - San Jose, CA |
| November 21, 2025 |
Pink Friday Christmas Tree Lighting - Martinez, CA |
| November 21, 2025 |
Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony - Center City Bishop Ranch |
| Multiple dates starting on Nov. 21, 2025 |
Garden of d’Lights - Ruth Bancroft Garden & Nur |
| Multiple dates starting on Nov. 27, 2025 |
Winter Wonderland - Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk |
| Multiple dates starting on Nov. 28, 2025 |
Holiday Lights Train - Roaring Camp |
| Multiple dates starting on Nov. 28, 2025 |
Holiday Tree Walk - Roaring Camp |
| Multiple dates starting on Nov. 28, 2025 |
Holiday Magic - Gilroy Gardens |
| Multiple dates starting on Nov. 28, 2025 |
Holiday Lights - Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds & Events Center |
| Multiple dates starting on Dec. 1, 2025 |
2025 Holiday Glow Guide & Contest |
| December 5 & 6, 2025 |
The 11th Annual Winters Tractor Parade & Festival |
| November 30, 2025 |
Los Altos Festival of Lights Parade - City of Los Altos, CA |
| December 5, 2025 |
Tree Lighting - City of Cupertino, CA |
| December 8, 2025 |
Community Tree Lighting - City of Mountain View, CA |
| December 13, 2025 |
38th Annual Lighted Boat Parade & Fireworks - Winterfest Sausalito |
| December 20, 2025 |
Winter on the Wharf - City of Santa Cruz |
Holiday Theatre
| November 7 & 8, 2025 |
Diablo Ballet's The Nutcracker Suite - Lesher Center for the Arts |
| November 9, 2025 |
NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet - Center for the Performing Arts |
| November 22 & 23, 2025 |
Smuin's The Christmas Ballet - Lesher Center for the Arts |
| November 28 - 30, 2025 |
Once Upon a Christmas - Lesher Center for the Arts |
| Multiple dates starting on Dec. 10, 2025 |
A Christmas Carol - Lesher Center for the Arts |
| December 12, 2025 |
19th Annual Posada Navideña by Calidanza Dance Company |
| December 13, 2025 |
The Golden Follies – A Very Follies Holiday at Firehouse Arts Center |
| Multiple dates starting Dec. 13, 2025 |
The San Jose Nutcracker - Symphony San Jose |
| Multiple dates starting Dec. 13, 2025 |
Valley Dance Theatre: The Nutcracker - Livermore Arts - Bothwell Arts Center |
| Multiple dates starting on Dec. 14, 2025 |
My Very First Nutcracker: New Ballet - California Theatre |
| December 18 - 21, 2025 |
The Biggest Gift - Lesher Center for the Arts |
| December 20 & 21, 2025 |
Dance! To Your Heart's Delight: The Nutcracker - Downey Theatre |
| December 20 & 21, 2025 |
Roustabout Theater’s Apprentice Program Presents: White Christmas, The Musical |
| December 22, 2025 |
Campana Sobre Campana: Christmas in Mexico at the Bankhead Theater |
Holiday Concerts
| Multiple dates starting on December 2, 2025 |
Spirit of the Row - Santana Row |
| December 3, 2025 |
Holidays in Hawaii - City of Cupertino, CA |
| December 6, 2025 |
Livermore-Amador Symphony Free Family Concert |
| December 6 & 7, 2025 |
Holiday Spectacular - Symphony San Jose |
| December 7, 2025 |
Holiday Concert: "Joyful & Triumphant" - Presented by Walnut Creek Concert Band |
| December 8, 2025 |
Irish Christmas in America at the Bankhead |
| December 13, 2025 |
Home for the Holidays: Winter Lights - Presented by Diablo Symphony Orchestra |
| December 13 & 14, 2025 |
Santa Cruz Symphony Holiday Concert |
| December 14, 2025 |
Symphony Pops: Holiday Pops - Luther Burbank Center for the Arts |
| December 18, 2025 |
Chorus Eclectic – Gnome for the Holidays at Firehouse Arts Center |
| December 19, 2025 |
HSMC | Holiday Youth Music Festival |
| December 22, 2025 |
RAIN - A Beatles Christmas Tribute |
Christmas Tree Experience
Ice Skating
Hanukkah
Shopping & Craft Fairs
New Year's Eve
Miscellaneous
| November 28 & December 21, 2025 |
Photos with The Nutcracker & Mouse King - Santana Row |
| Multiple dates starting on Nov. 28, 2025 |
Days of Christmas - Oakland, CA |
| Multiple dates starting on Nov. 29, 2025 |
The 3rd Annual Great Downtown San Rafael ELF HUNT - Downtown San Rafael |
| Multiple dates starting on Dec. 1, 2025 |
Elf on The Shelf Scavenger Hunt - Santana Row |
| Multple dates starting on Dec. 2, 2025 |
Snow Showers - Santana Row |
| December 5, 2025 |
Annual Winter Celebration - Los Gatos, CA |
| December 5, 2025 |
Winter Festival Holiday Tea - Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden |
| December 6, 2025 |
The 2024 Bah Humbug! Run - City of San Ramon, CA |
| Decermber 6, 2025 |
Holiday Delites - Sip & Shop, Parade & Tree Lighting - Celebrate Antioch Foundation |
| December 7, 2025 |
Winterfest - Mill Valley Chamber of Commerce |
| December 11 & 13, 2025 |
Festive Holiday Wreaths - Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden |
| Multple dates starting on Dec. 13, 2025 |
Fairy Winterland - Children's Fairyland |
| December 14, 2025 |
Santa Run - Silicon Valley |
| December 14, 2025 |
Jingle Bell 5K and Brunch - City of Sausalito, CA |
| December 20, 2025 |
Celebrating 60 Years of A Charlie Brown Christmas - Charles M. Schulz Museum |
If you are affiliated with a business hosting a holiday event that should be on our calendar, we'd love to see it there... it's free to post! Click here for instructions about how to add your organization to our list and easily post your events to our calendar!
