101 Ideas for Holiday Family Fun in San Jose - 2023 | Kids Out and About San Jose <

101 Ideas for Holiday Family Fun in San Jose - 2023

 

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 in 2023!

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

November 11 & 12, 2023 Jingle & Mingle - St. Francis Church
November 11 & 12, 2023 Santa Paws: Pet Photo Event - Alamadea South Shore Center
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 24, 2023 Selfies with Santa - City Center Bishop Ranch
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 24, 2023 Winter Wonderland - Tilden Park Merry Go Round
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 24, 2023 Santa's Landing - Enchant: San Jose
December 1, 2023 Holiday Night with Santa - Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden
December 2, 2023 Santa Arrives by Helicopter - Hiller Avaiation Museum
December 2, 2023 Breakfast with Santa - Colma Town Hall
December 2, 2023 Hometown Holidays 17th Annual Celebration - City of Redwood City, CA
Multiple dates starting on Dec. 2, 2023 Santa Days - Filoli Historic House & Garden
December 7, 2023 Making Spirits Bright - Campbell Chamber of Commerce

 

Old-Time Christmas

Multiple dates starting on Nov. 18, 2023  The Great Dickens Christmas Fair - Daly City, CA
   
   

 

Light Displays

Multiple dates starting on Nov. 1, 2023 Sonic Runway - Downtown San Jose
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 10, 2023 IlluminOdyssey - CuriOdyssey
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 11, 2023 Glowfari: A Wildly illuminating Adventure - Oakland Zoo
November 11, 2023 Dazzling Holiday Light Celebration - Fourth Street Shops
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 22, 2023 Guilded Guide Tour: Tour with the Curator - Filoli Historic House & Garden
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 23, 2023 Winter Wonderland - Sana Cruz Beach Boardwalk
November 24, 2023 Tree Lighting Ceremony - Downtown Santa Rosa
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 24, 2023 Holiday Lights Train - Roaring Camp
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 24, 2023 Days of Christmas - Temple Hill, CA
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 24, 2023 Holiday Tree Walk - Roaring Camp
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 24, 2023 Holiday Magic - Gilroy Gardens
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 24, 2023 Holidays in the Park - Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 24, 2023 California Christmas Lights - Various Locations, CA
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 24, 2023 Light Maze - Enchant: San Jose
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 24, 2023 Drive Thru Light Show - Christmas in that Park
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 24, 2023 Garden d'Lights - Ruth Bancroft Garden & Nursery 
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 24, 2023 Holiday Lights - Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds & Event Center
November 25, 2023 Holiday Tree Lighting - Downtown Martinez & Co. 
November 25, 2023 Parade of Lights & Winter Wonderland - Downtown San Rafael Business Improvement District
November 30, 2023 Annual Holiday Tree Lighting - Colma Town Hall
December 1, 2023 Tree Lighting - City of Cupertino, CA
December 1, 2023 Christmas Tree Lighting - City Center Bishop Ranch
December 2, 2023 67th Annual Children's Christmas and Holiday Parade. -Los Gatos, CA
Multiple dates starting on Dec. 2, 2023 Capistrano Lights - Hiller Avaiation Museum
December 3, 2023 Holiday Lights Spectacular - Westlake Shopping Center
December 4, 2023 Community Tree Lighting - City of Mountain View, CA
December 9, 2023 36th Annual Lighted Boat Parade - Winterfest Sausalito 

 

Living Nativities

   

 

Holiday Theatre

November 3 - 4, 2023 Diablo Ballet's: The Nutcracker - Lesher Center for the Arts
November 3 - 4, 2023 The Elves and the Shoemaker - Peninsula Youth Theatre
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 11, 2023 Elf the Musical - Peninsula Youth Theatre
November 18 & 19, 2023 Smunin's: The Christmas Ballet - Lesher Center for the Arts
November 24 - 26, 2023 Contra Costa Ballet's: The Nutcracker - Lesher Center for the Arts
November 25, 2023 Nutcracker Sweet starring The Puppet Company - San Francisco Chamber Orchestra
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 28, 2023 How The Grinch Stole Christmas! - Broadway San Jose
December 1 & 2, 2023 Once Upon a Christmas - Lesher Center for the Arts
December 2, 2023 The Nutcracker - San Mateo Performing Arts Center
Multiple dates starting on Dec. 7, 2023 A Christmas Carol - Lesher Center for the Arts
Decembet 15 - 17, 2023 The Biggest Gift - Lesher Center for the Arts
December 19, 2023 Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet - Golden Gate Theater
Decembet 15 - 17, 2023 The Biggest Gift - Lesher Center for the Arts

 

Holiday Concerts

November 29, 2023 Trans-Siberian Orchestra - The Ghost of Christmas Eve - SAP Center
December 2, 2023 Holidays in Harmony - Novato Music Association Chorus
December 2, 2023 Winter Tales - Livermore-Amador Symphony
December 2, 2023 Holiday Concert with Community Dance  - All Saints Epsicopal Church
December 2, 2023 Winter Dreams: Musical Stories for the Holidays - City of Walnut Creek, CA 
December 2, 2023 Family Concert - Livermore-Amador Symphony
December 8, 2023 The 40th Annual Christmas Gift to San Jose Musical Production
December 9 & 10, 2023 Christmas in the California - Symphony San Jose
Multiple dates stating on Dec. 15, 2023 Million Dollar Quartet Christmas - The Curran Theatre
December 16, 2023 Sing You a Merry Christmas - Grace Cathedral 
Decembet 17, 2023 A Holiday Tribute to:A Charlie Brown Christmas - Sweetwater Music Hall
December 20 - 23, 2023 A Charlie Brown Christmas: LIVE! - San Franscisco Symphony 

 

Christmas Tree Experience

 Multiple dates starting on Nov. 18, 2023 Santa's Tree Farm & Village - Half Moon Bay, CA
 Multiple dates starting on Nov. 25, 2023 Christmas Trees - Guardsman Tree Lot
 Multiple dates starting on Nov. 25, 2023 Wonderland Trees - Speer Family Farm

 

Ice Skating

Multiple dates starting Nov. 1, 2023 Ice Skating Rink - Union Square
Multiple dates starting Nov. 10, 2023 Kristi Yamaguchi Holiday Ice Rink - City Center Bishop Ranch
Multiple dates starting Nov. 17, 2023 Downtown Ice - Downtown San Jose
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 24, 2023 Ice Skating Trail - Enchant: San Jose
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 25, 2023 Ice Skating Rink - Downtown Santa Rosa
Multiple dates starting Dec. 1, 2023 Winter Wonderland - Marin Art & Garden Center

 

Hanukkah

December 7, 2023 Chanukah Train - Roaring Camp
December 7 - 15, 2023 Community Menorah Lighing - Downtown Martinez & Co.

 

Shopping & Craft Fairs

November 19, 2023 Craft Fest - Lesher Center for the Arts
November 24 & 25, 2023 Holiday Fair - Santa Clara Convention Center
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 24, 2023 The Village - Enchant: San Jose
November 25, 2023 Holiday Sparkle Sip & Shop - Downtoan Martinez & Co. 
December 1, 2023 Holiday Open House - City on Benicia, CA
December 1 & 2, 2023 Winter Festival Marketplace - Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden
December 9, 2023 Christmas Parade & Holiday Market - City of Benicia, CA
December 2, 2023 Petaluma Merchant Holiday Open House & Kentucky Street Marketplace - Petaluma Downtown Association

 

New Year's Eve

December 31, 2023  Happy New Year, Charlie Brown! - Charles M. Schulz Museum

 

Miscellaneous

November 8, 2023 Mini Masterpieces: Holiday Gifts Show - Rhythemix Cultural Works
November 18, 2023 Family Friendly Diwali Celebration with Non Stop Bhangra - Rhythemix Cultural Works
November 19, 2023 Nutcracker Holiday Tea - Palo Alto Auxilary 
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 20, 2023 Enchanted Elegance: Holiday Tea in the Garden House - Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 24, 2023 Winterfest - California's Great Adventure: Bay Area
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 24, 2023 Winter Wonderland - Downtown San Jose
Multiple dates starting on Nov. 29, 2023 Flora Party: Holiday Wreaths - Filoli Historic House & Garden
December 2, 2023 Family Holiday Tea - Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden
December 2, 2023 6h Annual Hometown Holiday Faire - El Sobrante Chamber of Commerce
December 2, 2023 Holiday Celebration & Art Show - Schuring Center for Brain Injury Recovery
December 2, 2023 Run! Grinch! Run! - City of San Ramon, CA
December 2, 2023 Carol of Lights - Campbell Chamber of Commerce
Multiple dates starting on Dec. 2, 2023 Holiday on the Farm - City of San Ramon
Multiple dates starting on Dec. 2, 2023 Snow Showers - Santana Row
Multiple dates starting on Dec. 5, 2023 Spirit of the Row - Santana Row
December 10, 2023 Jingle Bell 5K & Brunch - Winterfest Sausalito 
December 17, 2023 12th Annual Santa Run - Santa Run Silicon Valley

 

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