It may not have the pomp and circumstance of the Union Square tree lighting or the crowds of Pier 39, but GG Park’s Holiday Tree Lighting of Uncle John’s Tree at McLaren Lodge will still be special. Rockefeller Center may have a 75 ft. Norway Spruce crowned by a Swarovski crystal star, but San Francisco has the 100 ft. Monterey Cypress adorned with strings of multi-colored lights. The event includes live entertainment, caroling, activities for kids, and more.

This year’s tree lighting will occur on Thursday December 5th, 4pm – 8pm.

Like the traditional tree lighting in Golden Gate Park, there are many amazing, yet maybe not as well known or possibly off-beat holiday events. Here are a few to plug into your calendar, plus we include a huge list of other fun holiday events happening this year.

* November 26th – December 24th: A Whynot Christmas Carol at American Conservatory Theater
* November 28th – December 29th: SF SPCA Holiday Windows at Macy’s Union Square
* November 30th – December 8th: The Velveteen Rabbit at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
* December 3rd – 29th: Peter Pan at Presidio Theatre Performing Arts Center
* December 6th – 15th: Let’s Glow SF in Downtown San Francisco
* December 13th: Fort Mason Holiday Night Market
* December 13th: CHUNKMAS at f8
* December 13th: Alice in Winterland
* December 13th: Now That’s What I Call Music: A 2000s Dance Party at El Rio
* December 13th – January 5th: Kaleidoscope – A Winter Holiday Spectacular! at The Crossing at East Cut
* December 14th: Harlan Holiday Block Party
* December 14th: SantaCon San Francisco starts at Union Square
* December 14th: Winter Wonders 2024 at Herbst Theatre
* December 14th: Sausalito Lighted Boat Parade and Fireworks
* December 16th: 18th Annual Winterdance Celtic Christmas Celebration at The Lost Church – San Francisco
* December 16th: Holiday Baazar at Great American Music Hall
* December 17th & 18th: Holidays with Boyz II Men and the SF Symphony
* December 18th: Ray Of Light Theatre presents: Jolly & Jaded at Feinstein’s at the Nikko
* December 20th – 22nd: Holiday Swing & Jazz with Gunhild Carling at Biscuits & Blues
* December 21st: Midwinter Magic at First Unitarian Universalist Church in San Francisco
* December 21st & 22nd: Hip-Hop Nutcracker at Fox Theatre in Redwood City
* December 24th: Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir – 35th Annual Christmas Eve Concert at Great American Music Hall

December 5th – 24th: https://www.sfstation.com/smuin-presents-the-christmas-ballet-e2475390

December 5th – 22nd: https://www.sfstation.com/the-golden-girls-live-the-christmas-episodes-e2455820

December 5th – 21st: https://www.sfstation.com/svs-a-christmas-carol-e2475740

Through December 15th: https://www.sfstation.com/a-sherlock-carol-e2474998

December 6th – 15th: https://www.sfstation.com/winter-wonderland-at-marin-art-and-garden-center-e2475546

December 6th – 24th: https://www.sfstation.com/san-francisco-gay-mens-chorus-holiday-spectacular-e1439662

December 6th – 29th: https://www.sfstation.com/san-francisco-ballets-nutcracker-e2467849

December 7th – 22nd: https://www.sfstation.com/mark-foehringers-nutcracker-sweets-returns-for-16th-season-e2475951

December 7th – 28th: https://www.sfstation.com/silent-night-speakeasy-a-winter-wonderland-at-w-san-francisco-e2476397

December 10th & 17th: https://www.sfstation.com/spirit-of-the-row-e2457515

December 12th: https://www.sfstation.com/a-christmas-carol-e2475105

December 12th – 17th: https://www.sfstation.com/gloria-e2475212

December 12th: https://www.sfstation.com/planet-synth-holiday-party-e2475999

December 12th: 22nd Annual Montclair Village Holiday Stroll

December 12th – 14th: https://www.sfstation.com/the-muppet-christmas-carol-in-concert-e2475804

December 13th: https://www.sfstation.com/celebrate-the-holidays-with-svgmcs-largest-chorus-ever-e2476231

December 13th: https://www.sfstation.com/meow-meow-feline-festive-holiday-e2476013

December 13th: https://www.sfstation.com/chinatown-night-market-fair-e417561

December 13th – 15th: https://www.sfstation.com/cirque-dreams-holidaze-e2397612

December 13th – 22nd: https://www.sfstation.com/winter-walk-e2289196

December 13th: https://www.sfstation.com/holiday-gaiety-e2402213

December 14th: https://www.sfstation.com/boleros-de-navidad-featuring-tres-souls-e2476015

December 14th: https://www.sfstation.com/winter-wonders-2024-e2476380

December 14th: https://www.sfstation.com/the-guardsmen-tree-lot-party-e2407028

December 14th: https://www.sfstation.com/22nd-annual-parol-lantern-festival-e2475837

December 14th: https://www.sfstation.com/holiday-pompom-making-workshop-with-chiaki-hayashi-e2476233

December 14th: https://www.sfstation.com/gelli-printing-holiday-card-and-gift-tag-making-e2476232

December 14th: https://www.sfstation.com/downtown-pacifica-second-saturday-neighborhood-market-e2471642

December 14th: https://www.sfstation.com/makers-market-on-the-row-december-14th-2024-e2469536

December 14th: https://www.sfstation.com/makers-market-in-the-yard-december-14th-2024-e2469738

December 14th: https://www.sfstation.com/the-last-look-holiday-show-marketplace-e2476149

December 14th: https://www.sfstation.com/more-joy-e2476204

December 14th & 15th: https://www.sfstation.com/bay-philharmonic-presents-a-holiday-spectacular-e2467807

December 14th & 15th: https://www.sfstation.com/dollie-me-holiday-tea-at-the-westin-st-francis-e2476432

December 14th – 22nd: https://www.sfstation.com/holiday-bazaar-art-market-e2476458

December 14th – 22nd: https://www.sfstation.com/reindeer-games-e2475823

December 14th – 23rd: https://www.sfstation.com/the-san-jose-nutcracker-e2467806

December 14th – 29th: https://www.sfstation.com/a-red-carol-e2414714

December 15th: https://www.sfstation.com/moms-against-povertys-annual-holiday-helping-hand-e2475970

December 15th: https://www.sfstation.com/kim-nalley-s-gospel-christmas-e2369812

December 15th: https://www.sfstation.com/jingle-bell-5k-and-brunch-e2456700

December 15th: https://www.sfstation.com/a-holiday-tribute-to-vince-guaraldi-s-a-charlie-brown-christmas-featuring-jason-crosby-e2405986

December 15th: https://www.sfstation.com/peter-and-the-wolf-e2402206

December 15th: https://www.sfstation.com/sing-it-yourself-messiah-e2475604

December 18th & 19th: https://www.sfstation.com/the-jinkx-and-dela-holiday-show-e2464220

December 19th – 21st: https://www.sfstation.com/elf-film-with-live-orchestra-e1766351

December 19th: https://www.sfstation.com/kings-return-holiday-show-e2475895

December 19th: https://www.sfstation.com/the-christmas-jug-band-holiday-show-e2405983

December 20th – 22nd: https://www.sfstation.com/gunhild-carling-s-holiday-jazz-and-swing-spectacle-e2475616

December 20th – 27th: https://www.sfstation.com/winter-wonderland-ice-skating-e2476351

December 20th: https://www.sfstation.com/adam-blackstone-a-legacy-christmas-e2476265

December 20th: https://www.sfstation.com/maria-muldaur-her-jazzabelle-quintet-present-holiday-swing-e2009331

December 21st: https://www.sfstation.com/greg-adams-and-east-bay-soul-sweet-soul-christmas-e2403007

December 21st: https://www.sfstation.com/hometown-holiday-bash-with-the-85s-e2476186

December 21st & 22nd: https://www.sfstation.com/oakland-ballet-company-presents-graham-lustig-s-the-nutcracker-e2407354

December 22nd: https://www.sfstation.com/the-holidays-w-billie-holiday-project-with-stella-heath-e2476266

Through December 25th: https://www.sfstation.com/noel-valley-holiday-windows-parklets-contest-e2476145

December 29th: https://www.sfstation.com/hanukkah-menorah-lighting-e2427701

December 29th: https://www.sfstation.com/thrive-city-winter-wonderland-hanukkah-celebration-e2467248

Through December 31st: https://www.sfstation.com/santana-row-snow-showers-e2457424

Through January 1st: https://www.sfstation.com/macy-s-annual-great-tree-e2301890

Through January 4th: https://www.sfstation.com/bright-nights-at-cuvaison-e2475256

Through January 5th: https://www.sfstation.com/pier-39-tree-lighting-celebration-e2476434

Through January 7th: https://www.sfstation.com/tis-the-season-for-science-e2473525

Through January: https://www.sfstation.com/glowfari-e2427331

Image Credit: Photo by Daniel Topete

• Tag: Christmas, community, Events, Family, holiday, music, parks, plays, Tree Lighting