101 Ideas for Holiday Family Fun in San Jose - 2024
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!
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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 on Nov. 29, 2024 | Holiday Tree Lighting - Roaring Camp |
| December 6, 2024 | Holiday Night with Santa - Elizabeth F. Gamble |
| December 7, 2024 | Santa Arrives by Helicopter - Hiller Avaiation Museum |
| Multiple dates starting on Dec. 7, 2024 | Breakfast with Santa - Tilden Park Merry Go Round |
| December 8, 2024 | Santa Paws - Santana Row |
| December 12, 2024 | Marking Spirits Bright - Campbell Chamber of Commerce |
| Multiple dates starting on Dec. 14, 2024 | Visit to the North Pole - Lesher Center for the Arts |
Old-Time Christmas
| Multiple dates starting on Nov 16, 2024 | Holidays at Filoli |
| Multiple dates starting on Nov. 23, 2024 | The Great Dickens Christmas Fair - Daly City, CA |
Light Displays
| Multiple dates starting on Nov. 7, 2024 | Sonic Runway - Sonic Runway |
| Multiple dates starting on Nov. 8, 2024 | Glowfari: A Wildly Illuminating Lantern Festival - Oakland Zoo |
| Multiple dates starting on Nov. 9, 2024 | IlluminOdyssey - CuriOdyssey |
| Multiple dates starting on Nov. 16, 2024 | Holidays at Filoli - Filoli Historic House & Garden |
| Multiple dates starting on Nov. 21, 2024 | Christmas in the Park - San Jose, CA |
| November 22, 2024 | Holiday Tree Lighting - Downtown Martinez & Co. |
| November 22, 2024 | Holiday Tree Lighting - Center City Bishop Ranch |
| Multiple dates starting on Nov. 22, 2024 | All-New Light Maze - San Jose, CA |
| Multiple dates starting on Nov. 22, 2024 | Garden of d’Lights - Ruth Bancroft Garden & Nur |
| Multiple dates starting on Nov. 28, 2024 | Winter Wonderland - Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk |
| Multiple dates starting on Nov. 29, 2024 | Holiday Lights Train - Roaring Camp |
| Multiple dates starting on Nov. 29, 2024 | Holiday Magic - Gilroy Gardens |
| Multiple dates starting on Nov. 29, 2024 | Holiday Lights - Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds & Events Center |
| Multiple dates starting on Nov. 29, 2024 | Holiday Tree Walk - Roaring Camp |
| November 30, 2024 | Holiday of Lights & Winter Wonderland - Downtown San Rafael |
| December 1, 2024 | Los Altos Festival of Lights Parade - City of Los Altos, CA |
| Multiple dates starting on Dec. 1, 2024 | California Christmas Lights - Various Locations, CA |
| Multiple dates starting on Dec. 3, 2024 | Winter Wonderland - Tilden Park Merry Go Round |
| December 6, 2024 | Tree Lighting - City of Cupertino, CA |
| Multiple dates starting on Dec. 7, 2024 | Capistrano Lights - Hiller Aviation Museum |
| December 9, 2024 | Community Tree Lighting - City of Mountain View, CA |
| December 14, 2024 | 37th Annual Lighted Boat Parade & Fireworks - Winterfest Sausailito |
| December 14, 2024 | Winter on the Wharf - City of Santa Cruz |
Holiday Theatre
| November 23 & 24, 2024 | Smuin's The Christmas Ballet - Lesher Center for the Arts |
| Multiple dates starting on Nov. 29, 2024 | Contra Costa Ballet's The Nutcracker - Lesher Center for the Arts |
| December 6 & 7, 2024 | Once Upon a Christmas - Lesher Center for the Arts |
| December 7 & 8, 2024 | The Nutcracker - Downey Theatre |
| Multiple dates starting on Dec. 12, 2024 | A Christmas Carol - Lesher Center for the Arts |
| Multiple dates starting on Dec. 14, 2024 | The San Jose Nutcracker - Symphony San Jose |
| Multiple dates starting on Dec. 14, 2024 | Valley Dance Theatre: The Nutcracker - Livermore Arts - Bothwell Arts Center |
| December 15, 2024 | Christmas with Ballet Roots - Firehouse Arts Center |
| December 15 & 22, 2024 | My Very First Nutcracker: New Ballet - California Theatre |
| December 17, 2024 | Nutcracker Magical - Luther Burbank Center for the Arts |
| December 20 - 22, 2024 | The Biggest Gift - Lesher Center for the Arts |
| December 21 & 22, 2024 | A Christmas Carol, The Musical - Luther Burbank Center for the Arts |
| December 22, 2024 | Derek Hough: Dance for the Holidays - San Jose Center for Performing Arts |
Holiday Concerts
| November 26, 2024 | Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis - Broadway San Jose |
| December 1, 2024 | East Bay Musical Society Holiday Sing-A-Long - Firehouse Arts Center |
| Multple dates starting on December 3, 2024 | Sprit of the Row - Santana Row |
| December 7 & 8, 2024 | Holiday Spectacular - Symphony San Jose |
| December 14, 2024 | Aloha Everywhere Concert Series: Hawaiian Christmas Show - Downey Theatre |
| December 15, 2024 | Symphony Pops: Holiday Pops - Luther Butbank Center for the Arts |
| Janurat 25 & 26, 2024 | The Firebird - Symphony San Jose |
Christmas Tree Experience
| Opening Nov 23, 2024 | ABC Tree Farms |
| Opening Nov 23, 2024 | Mountain Charlie Ranch |
| Opening Nov 28, 2024 | Frosty's Christmas Tree Farm |
| Opening Nov 29, 2024 | Black Road Christmas Tree Farms |
| Territo’s Christmas Trees |
Ice Skating
| Nov 6 - Jan 20, 2025 | The Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square |
| Multiple dates starting Nov. 8, 2024 | Kristi Yamaguchi Holiday Ice Rink - City Center Bishop Ranch |
| Multiple dates starting Nov. 15, 2024 | Downtown Ice - Downtown San Jose |
| Shark's Ice San Jose |
Hanukkah
| November 15, 2024 | Create and Celebrate: Hanukkah Craft Party! - Oshman Family JCC |
| December 15, 2024 | Six13 Hanukkah Special - OFJCC |
| December 15, 2024 | Menorahs and Miracles - CDM of San Jose |
| Multiple dates starting Dec. 25, 2024 | Annual Hanukkah Community Celebration - Downtown Martinez & Co. |
| December 29, 2024 | Giant Menorah Lighting & Gelt Drop - Downtown San Rafael |
| December 29, 2024 | Hanukkah Celebration - Santana Row |
| January 2, 2024 | Chanukah Train - Roaring Camp |
Shopping & Craft Fairs
| Multiple dates starting on Nov. 1, 2024 | Downtown Holiday Shopping Spree - City of Benicia, CA |
| November 2 & 3, 2024 | The Alameda Holiday Boutique - City of Alameda, CA |
| November 22, 2024 | Pink Friday Sip n Shop & Outdoor Evening Market - Downtown Martinez & Co. |
| November 23, 2024 | Craft Fair - Lesher Center for the Arts |
| December 6, 2024 | Winter Festival Marketplace - Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden |
| December 6, 2024 | Holiday Open House - City of Benicia, CA |
| December 7, 2024 | Holiday Craft Hop - Downtown Martinez & Co. |
| December 7, 2024 | Holiday Craft Fair - Mill Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center |
| December 14, 2024 | Holiday Parade & Market - City of Benicia, CA |
New Year's Eve
| Multiple dates starting on Nov. 26, 2024 | New Year's Train - Roaring Camp |
| December 31, 2024 | Happy New Year, Charlie Brown! - Charles M. Schulz Museum |
| December 31, 2024 | New Year's Eve Balloon Drop - Chabot Science Center |
| December 31, 2024 | Noon Year's Eve - Happy Hollow |
| December 31, 2024 | New Year's Eve Celebration - Gilroy Gardens |
Miscellaneous
| November 17, 2024 | Nutcracker Holiday Tea - Allied Arts Guild |
| November 27, 2024 | Nutcracker Holiday Tea - Palo Alto Auxiliary |
| Multiple dates starting on Nov. 22, 2024 | The Village - San Jose, CA |
| Multiple dates starting on Nov. 23, 2024 | 'Tis the Season for Science - California Academy of Sciences |
| Multiple dates starting on Nov. 29, 2024 |
Winterfest - California's Great Adventure: Bay Area |
| Multiple dates starting on Nov. 29, 2024 | Days of Christmas - Oakland, CA |
| Multiple dates starting on Nov. 29, 2024 | Holidays in the Park - Six Flags Discovery |
| Multiple dates starting on Nov. 30, 2024 |
The 3rd Annual Great Downtown San Rafael ELF HUNT - Downtown San Rafael |
| Multple dates starting on Dec. 3, 2024 | Snow Showers - Santana Row |
| Multple dates starting on Dec. 3, 2024 | Flora Party: Holiday Wreaths - Filoli Historis House & Garden |
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Multple dates starting on Dec. 5, 2024 |
(SOLD OUT) Enchanted Elegance: Holiday Tea in the Garden House - Filoli Historic House & Garden |
| December 6, 2024 | Winter Festival Holiday Tea - Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden |
| December 6, 2024 | Annual Winter Celebration - Los Gatos, CA |
| December 7, 2024 | Hometown Holidays 18th Annual Celebration - Redwood City, CA |
| December 7, 2024 | The 2024 Bah Humbug! Run - City of San Ramon, CA |
| December 7, 2024 | Jingle Bell 5K and Brunch - City of Sausalito, CA |
| December 7, 2024 | Hometown Holidays - City of San Ramon, CA |
| December 12, 2024 | Festive Holiday Wreaths - Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden |
| Multple dates starting on Dec. 14, 2024 | Fairy Winterland - Children's Fairyland |
| December 15, 2024 | Santa Run - Silicon Valley |
| December 21, 2024 | Winter Snowflakes with Clay - Berkeley Public Librry |
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