About Us San Francisco Bay Area U.S. Travel International Contact Us Search

 

|

What's New

San Francisco
Bay Area

U.S. Travel

International
Travel

Tips & Ideas

Search



Shop at our
Travel Gift Store
for the Holidays

Travel Deals

November Calendar of Fun Events page

December Calendar of Fun Events

Love to Eat and Travel
Tips & Ideas
Fun Tree Lighting Ceremonies,
Holiday Parades... and more!
— San Francisco Bay Area
— Napa Valley Wine Country
— New York City... and London, UK

San Francisco Tree Lightings
Pier 39, San Francisco
Ghirardelli Square, San Francisco
555 California Street
Union Square, San Francisco

South Bay / Monterey
Tree Lightings

Santana Row, San Jose
Los Altos, South Bay
Cannery Row, Monterey



North Bay / Napa Valley
Tree Lightings

San Rafael, North Bay
Napa & Yountville, Napa Valley

East Bay Tree Lightings
Jack London Square, Oakland
Jelly Belly Co, Fairfield

New York City Tree Lighting
Rockefeller Center, New York City

London Tree Lighting
Trafalgar Square, London



Ghirardelli Square Tree Lighting Ceremony, Ghirardelli Square, San Francisco, California

Happy Holidays!

San Francisco

Pier 39

Pier 39 Tree Lighting Ceremony
Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012
12 noon-6pm

Pier 39's Tree Lighting Ceremony and Santa always draws a crowd. The festive multi-cultural celebration showcases Christmas, Chanukah and Kawanzaa — Bay Area groups will perform seasonal favorites from around the world.

12-5pm
Enjoy live entertainment

5:30pm
Tree Lighting Celebration at Pier 39's Entrance Plaza — its 400 ornaments, 500 multi-colored bows and 2,000 twinkling lights will be illuminated at 5:30pm.

415-705-5500

Top

Pier 39 Fishermans Wharf, San Francisco - Christmas Tree Lighting

Ghirardelli Square - Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony in San Francisco, CA

Ghirardelli Square, SF

Ghirardelli Square
Tree Lighting Ceremony
Friday, Nov. 23, 2012
5:30pm

Holiday festivities include free live musical entertainment for the entire family throughout the day. Bring your kids to see Santa Claus at the Tree Lighting Ceremony.

Live entertainment at Ghirardelli Square during the festive holiday season and Tree Lighting Ceremony - Ghirardelli Square, San Francisco, CA

Arrive early for a good spot because it gets VERY crowded. Last year, the square was packed with spectators.

Spectators at Ghirardelli Square during the Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony, San Francisco, CA

Ghirardelli Square Tree Lighting Ceremony takes place at 5:30pm in the West Plaza of Ghirardelli Square. The Square's spectacular 35-ft Holiday tree will be trimmed with ribbons, ornaments and over 2,500 sparkling lights.

415-775-5500

Top

Union Square Christmas Tree in San Francisco, CA

Union Square, SF

Macy's Union Square
Tree Lighting Ceremony
Friday, Nov. 23, 2012
6-6:30pm

Get a jump-start on your Holiday shopping — visit Union Square in downtown San Francisco for its annual "day-after Thanksgiving" Macy's Tree Lighting Ceremony. 6pm-6:30pm.
Free admission.

Fun all-day festivities begin at noon. Arrive early because it gets VERY crowded. Last year, Union Square and the surrounding areas were filled with thousands of spectators — it was one of the largest crowds we've ever seen in San Francisco for the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony.

Union Square Christmas Tree in San Francisco, CA

See more FUN pictures of Macy's Union Square Tree Lighting Ceremony

Fun Tree Lighting Ceremonies in the San Francisco Bay Area

Union Square Holiday Tree Lighting, San Francisco, CA

View of Union Square traffic during the Tree Lighting Ceremony from atop Macy's, San Francisco, CA

Top


555 California Street, SF

555 California Street
Annual Holiday Tree Lighting
November 27, 2012
5pm

555 California Street Holiday Tree, San Francisco, California

Annual Holiday Tree Lighting takes place on the plaza in front of 555 California Street in downtown San Francisco. The event is held annually on the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving — this year, November 27th. Festivities are free and open to the public.

Live Holiday Entertainment
and Celebrity Guests

  • Joe Montana and Dwight Clarke (SF 49er Hall of Famers) and entertainer Robin Thicke will light the tree and toss autographed footballs into the holiday crowd
  • Dick Bright Orchestra

Festivities begin at 5pm;
Tree Lighting at approximately 6pm

Due to anticipated crowds, you may want to arrive early (between 3:30-4:30pm) to get a good spot.

555 California Street Holiday Tree, San Francisco, California

Top

 

Santana Row Christms Tree in San Jose, CA

South Bay

Santana Row
San Jose

Santana Row
Tree Lighting Ceremony
Date TBD
7pm-7:30pm

Santana Row Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place at the Giant Chessboard on Santana Row (formerly at Park Valencia).

Enjoy fun Holiday festivities throughout Santana Row:

3pm-9pm
Photos with Santa Claus at Park Valencia (on Olin Avenue), near Maggiano's Little Italy restaurant.

7pm-7:30pm
Tree Lighting Ceremony — the lighting of the 40-ft Christmas tree takes place at the Giant Chessboard at Santana Row.

6-9pm
Llive holiday music and performances, carolers, choirs, hot chocolate, special guest appearances... and kids activities throughout Santana Row. the lighting of the 40-ft Christmas tree in Valencia Park.

408-551-4611


Los Altos

Los Altos
Festival of Lights Parade
TBD
6pm

Los Altos Festival of Lights Parade always takes place on the first Sunday after Thanksgiving in downtown Los Altos at 6pm. Enjoy lighted floats, High School marching bands, costumed characters — and Santa and his reindeer!

Holiday Carriage Rides
Dec 9-11: 5-8pm
Dec 16-18: 5-8:30pm

Enjoy a festive 25-minute horse-drawn carriage ride in downtown Los Altos. Carriage hold up to four adults and two children.

Call for reservations:
650-949-5282


Steinbeck Plaza
Cannery Row
Monterey

Cannery Row
Holiday Tree Lighting
Date TBD
6pm

Cannery Row Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony always takes place the day after Thanksgiving at Steinbeck Plaza, in the heart of downtown Monterey.

4:30pm
Christmas carols begin

6pm
Tree Lighting countdown

6pm-9pm
Join Santa in his workshop. Santa will be in his workshop every Saturday and Sunday from 12 noon-4pm until Christmas (time/date subject to change).

831-649-6690

Top


North Bay

San Rafael

San Rafael Parade of Lights & Winter Wonderland
Date TBD
12 noon-8:30pm

San Rafael Parade of Lights & Winter Wonderland

12pm
Fun event with free Snow-Sledding and kids activities

2:30pm
Holiday Marketplace

5:30pm
Parade begins. After the parade, Santa Claus, Ms Claus, the Mayor of San Rafael and other costumed characters arrive at City Plaza for official Tree Lighting Ceremony.

Saturday, Nov 26
Snow & Kids' Activities
9am-12 noon

800-310-6563



Wine Country

Napa Valley

Napa

Napa Tree Lighting
Date TBD
6pm

Tree Lighting Party takes place on TBD in Veteran's Park (corner of Third and Main) at 6pm. Enjoy free hot chocolate, cookies and live entertainment as Napa's Mayor lights up the Christmas Tree.

Christmas Parade
Sat, Nov. 26, 2011
5pm

Napa's Annual Christmas Parade

The parade begins at First and Franklin Streets in Napa. Visit with Santa after the parade and enjoy free cookies and hot chocolate at Oxbow Public Market.

Rain or shine. Both events are free and open to the public. Parking available in Downtown Napa

707-257-0322


Yountville

Yountville
Festival of Lights
Date TBD
2-6pm

Yountville Festival of LightsFun all-day festival with gourmet food, fine wine and FUN entertainment. Festivities include a visit with Santa Claus, carolers and horse-drawn carriage rides. 2-6pm.

5:30pm
Yountville Lighting
(lighting of the town)

Shops will stay open for late Holiday shopping.

707-944-0904

Top


East Bay

Jack London Square
Oakland

Jack London Square
Lights Up the Holidays
Date TBD
5:30-7:30pm

Celebrate the Holiday Season along Oakland's waterfront — Jack London Square Lights Up the Holidays. Enjoy festive holiday music and the lighting of their 15-ft 8,000-lb Christmas Tree. Lighting takes place at approximately 6pm at the foot of Broadway and Embarcadero.

Oakland Children's Holiday Parade
Date TBD
2pm

Oakland Children's Holiday Parade is one of the nation's premier parades, drawing over 100,000 spectators every year. The parade takes place on Saturday, December 4th at 2pm — at Broadway and 11th Street to 20th Street, to Harrison Street. Festive Holiday Parade floats and costumed characters — fun for kids and big kids too!

Lighted Yacht Parade
Date TBD
5:30-9pm

Come and see the magical Lighted Yacht Parade as it sails through the Oakland/Alameda estuary.

Each year, on the first Saturday in December, the Lighted Yacht Parade kicks off the Holiday Season.

Top


Jelly Belly Co.
Fairfield

Jelly Belly
Tree Lighting Ceremony
Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012*
4:30-8pm

Jelly Belly Tree Lighting Ceremony usually takes place on the first Saturday after Thanksgiving at the Jelly Belly Visitor Center (Jelly Belly Candy Company in Fairfield) at approximately 6pm.

Festivities begin at 4:30pm with stage-side entertainment and a Holiday sing-a-long. Santa arrives to help with the countdown of the 40-ft Christmas Tree and over two million lights around the Jelly Belly Factory.

Character Parade, FUN Live Entertainment, Free Cookies and Cider! Santa Photos are available after Tree Lighting Ceremony until 7:30pm.

Free admission.
4:30-8pm.

*Date, time and activities are subject to change. Be sure to call ahead to confirm.

1-800-JB-BEANS
1-800-522-3267
707-428-2800

Top


New York City
Rockefeller Center

NYC Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting

Rockefeller Center
Christmas Tree Lighting

Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012
8:55pm

The annual Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony signals the beginning of the Holiday Season in New York City. It's been a NYC tradition since 1933 — back then, the tree had only 700 lights; today it has over 25,000.

The Tree Lighting Ceremony is an annual star-studded event, featuring celebrity appearances and live entertainment. The world-famous event is broadcast live on NBC 7-9pm.

Tree Lighting
Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting takes place at approximately 8:55pm on November 30, 2011. Note: Tree Lighting usually takes place the Wednesday after Thanksgiving.

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Illumination Hours
Daily 5:30am-11:30pm

Christmas Day:
All day (24 hours)

New Year's Eve
5:30am-9pm

The world's most famous tree will be on display until January 7, 2011.

212-632-3975


Union Jack, London - UK Flag

London, U.K.
Trafalgar Square

Trafalgar Square
Tree Lighting Ceremony

Thursday, Dec. 6th
6:30pm

Celebrate the Holidays! London's famous Tree Lighting Ceremony takes place in Trafalgar Square on TBD. What began in 1947, today draws huge crowds, so get there early for a good viewing spot. The tree will be on display in Trafalgar Square until just before the 12th Night of Christmas.

Enjoy traditional Christmas Carols during the Holiday Season — thru' Xmas Day.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!


Back to November Calendar
of Fun Events page

Back to What's New page


 

 

Love to Eat and Travel Home Page Privacy Sign In