Holiday listings are compiled by Cheryl Eddy. Listings for Wed/17-Tues/23 below; check back each week for updated events. For additional events, including Attractions and East Bay events, see www.sfbg.com. For information on how to submit a listing, see 8 Days a Week.

attractions

Exploratorium 3601 Lyon; EXP-LORE. $8-9.50. Fri/26-Tues/30, 1pm and 3pm: "Holiday Animation Festival," short films for kids.

'Holiday Gingerbread House Contest and Display' Pan Pacific San Francisco, 500 Post; 771-8600. Wed/24-Tues/30. The 18-story hotel lobby hosts a competitive display of holiday gingerbread houses built by local pastry chefs, culinary school students, home cooks, and youths.

Kristi Yamaguchi Holiday Ice Rink Embarcadero Center, Justin Herman Plaza (foot of Market St); 772-0500, www.embarcaderocenter.com. Daily, 10am-10pm (Fri-Sat, open until 11:30pm). Through Jan 4. $3.50-7.50 (skate rental $3.50). Aspiring gold medalists and klutzes alike are welcomed at the seasonal outdoor rink.

Metreon 101 Fourth St; www.metreon.com. Wed/24-Sun/28. The mall hosts indoor snowfalls (daily, noon, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm, and 8pm), plus "Studio 105," featuring Live 105 radio broadcasts daily and appearances by rock stars and celebrities.

Bay Area

Children's Fairyland 699 Bellevue, Oakl; (510) 452-2259, www.fairyland.org. Fri-Sun, 10am-4pm. $6. Sat/27-Sun/28: Jacqueline Lynaugh performs as the Snow Queen (12:30pm, 1:30pm); "The Magic Flute," puppet show (11am, 2pm, 4pm); and arts and crafts (noon-3pm).

benefits

Glide Memorial United Methodist Church 330 Ellis; www.glide.org. Ongoing: the church collects canned goods and turkeys. Wed/24, 11am-2pm: prime rib luncheon. Thurs/25: Christmas celebration (9am and 11am); Christmas meals (7-8:30am; 9am-2pm).

'Keeping Our Eyes Open' Precita Eyes Mural Arts and Visitors Center, 2981 24th St; 285-2287. Mon-Fri, 10am-5pm (closed Wed/24-Thurs/25 and Dec 30-Jan 1); Sat, 10am-4pm; Sun, noon-4pm. $5. Stop by the center to purchase mural prints, calendars, and other items; proceeds support the Precita Eyes Muralists.

'Macy's Union Square Holiday Tree' Purchase tickets to sponsor lights and strings of lights at UCSF Medical Center, 505 Parnassus; UCSF Mount Zion Medical Center, 1600 Divisadero; 1-888-689-UCSF; or www.ucsfhealth.org/tree. Through Wed/24. $10 a light. Help illuminate the giant tree at Macy's Union Square by sponsoring a light; proceeds go to UCSF Children's Hospital to help children with life-threatening illnesses and their families.

'One Warm Coat' Community service booth (across from Ann Taylor), Stonestown, 19th Ave at Winston; 564-8848, www.shopstonestown.com. Sat, noon-6pm. Through Jan 3. The Girl Scouts of the San Francisco Bay Area collect clean, reusable coats (hats, gloves, scarves, and other outerwear are also accepted) to be passed on to children and adults in need.

'Teddy Bear Tea' Ritz-Carlton, 600 Stockton; 773-6198, www.ritzcarlton.com. Wed/24, 10-11:30am and 1-2:30pm. $58. The Greater Bay Area Make-a-Wish Foundation benefits from this daily activity (with storytelling, hot chocolate and cookies, balloons, and more) for kids and their stuffed animals.

'Tenderloin Tessie's Holiday Dinners' volunteers First Unitarian Church, 1187 Franklin; 255-7503 or 922-0422. Thurs/25, 12:15pm-4pm and 4pm-6pm. Volunteers are needed to help prepare and serve holiday meals; call to sign up.

Bay Area

'Victorian Christmas Tea' Cohen Bray House, 1440 29th St, Oakl; (510) 843-2906, www.cohen-brayhouse.info (reservations required). Sun/28, 2pm, 3pm, and 4pm. $20-25. The Victorian Preservation Center of Oakland benefits from this Christmas tea, featuring a tour of the Christmas-decorated, 119-year-old Oakland historic landmark.

tree lightings and celebrations

'Holiday Swing Dance' San Francisco LGBT Community Center, 1800 Market; 305-8242, www.queerjitterbugs.com. Sat/27, 7:30pm. $10. The evening starts off with East Coast swing and Charleston lessons, then continues with a dance party till midnight.

'Men's Christmas Shopping Day' Macy's Union Square (Geary St. entrance), Geary at Powell; 776-7455, www.urbandiversion.com. Wed/24, 12:30-5pm. Free. Urban Diversion hosts this "Critical Mass for procrastinators," which will guide male shoppers to various stores while providing tips and moral support.

'West Portal's Festival of Lights' West Portal neighborhood; 566-3500, info@westportalavenue.org. Through Jan 1. Neighborhood merchants decorate their windows; stop by to vote on awards in various holiday categories, including Best Winter Wonderland, Best Old Saint Nick, and Best Toyland.

Bay Area

'Christmas Dinner at Badarikashrama' 15602 Maubert, San Leandro; (510) 278-2444, www.badarikashrama.com (reservations recommended). Thurs/25, 3pm. Free. Enjoy a Carnatic vocal concert by Shakuntala Murthy, followed by a vegetarian dinner featuring traditional Indian dishes.

'Telegraph Avenue Holiday Street Fair' Telegraph between Bancroft and Dwight, Berk; (510) 528-6983. Wed/24, 11am-6pm. Free. Berkeley's main shopping drag is filled with craft booths, food vendors, live music, and more.

music

'Christmas in a Celtic Land' Old First Church, 1751 Sacramento; (415) 474-1608, www.oldfirstconcerts.org. Wed/24, 8pm. $6-12. Golden Bough performs a musical celebration of the season, with jigs, reels, ballads, sing-alongs, and more.

'The Complete Christmas Music of Liszt' Victorian Englander House, 807 Franklin; 362-6080. Wed/24, 3pm and 8pm. $7-12. Pianist Seth Montfort performs.

'Holiday Concert of Traditional Christmas Carols' Holy Trinity Cathedral, 1520 Green; 447-4232, parent@sbcglobal.net. Sun/28, 2pm. Free. The choir of Holy Trinity Cathedral performs its annual holiday concert.

'Holiday Music at the Ferry Building Marketplace' Embarcadero at Market; 693-0996, www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com. Sun/28, 1-3pm. Free. This week, Morley or Less perform early European and Renaissance songs a cappella.

'Home for the Holidays' Castro Theatre, 429 Castro; 865-3650, www.sfgmc.org. Wed/24, 5pm, 7pm, and 9pm. $15-20. See 8 Days a Week.

Bay Area

'Carols in the Caves' Buena Vista Winery, 18000 Old Winery Rd, Sonoma; (925) 866-9559, www.carolsinthecaves.com. Sat/27, 7:30pm; Sun/28, 7pm. $38. Multi-instrumental "improvisator" David Auerbach performs seasonal carols and folktales.

'This Christmas' Yoshi's, 510 Embarcadero West, Jack London Square, Oakl; (510) 238-9200, www.yoshis.com. Wed/24, 8pm and 10pm. $15. Jazz singer Clairdee performs new and old holiday favorites.

hanukkah and kwanzaa

Bill Graham Menorah Union Square, Geary at Powell; 753-0910. Candle lightings: Wed/24-Thurs/25, 4:30pm; Fri/26, 3pm. Free. Celebrate Hanukkah with the giant "Mama Menorah."

'An Evening of Kung Pao Kosher Comedy' New Asia Restaurant, 772 Pacific; 522-3737, www.koshercomedy.com. Wed/24 and Fri/26-Sat/27, 6pm and 9:30pm; Thurs/25, 5pm and 8:30pm. $35-50. See 8 Days a Week.

Bay Area

'Kwanzaa Celebration' Bay Area Discovery Museum, 557 McReynolds, Fort Baker, Sausalito; (415) 339-3900, www.baykidsmuseum.org. Fri/26, noon-4pm. Free. See 8 Days a Week.

nutcrackers and cracked nuts

'Nutcracker' War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness; 865-2000, www.sfballet.org. Wed/24 and Sun/28, noon and 5pm; Fri/26-Sat/27, 2pm and 7pm. $12-96. San Francisco Ballet performs its long-standing version of the classic tale.

Bay Area

'Nutcracker' San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, 255 Almaden, San Jose; (408) 288-2800, www.balletsanjose.org. Wed/24-Sun/28, call or go to Web site for show times. $22-68. Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley performs Dennis Nahat's version of the classic.

theater, comedy, and performance

'Beach Blanket Babylon' Club Fugazi, 678 Beach Blanket Babylon Blvd (Green St); 421-4222. This week: Wed/24 and Tues/30, 8pm (also Wed/24, 5pm); Fri/26-Sat/27, 7pm and 10pm; Sun/28, 1pm and 4pm. $25-70. Evening shows, 21 and up only. Ongoing. Steve Silver's 30-years-running musical revue unfurls its annual holiday version, complete with tap-dancing Christmas trees.

'The Christmas Ballet 2003' Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater, 700 Howard; 978-ARTS, www.smuinballet.org. Wed/24 and Sun/28, 2pm; Fri/26-Sat/27, 8pm (also Sat/27, 2pm). $21.50-60. Smuin Ballet performs Michael Smuin's latest version of his holiday show, featuring one act set to classical music and one set to eclectic pop, jazz, country, and other unexpected tunes.

'A Christmas Carol' Geary Theater, 415 Geary; 749-2228, www.act-sf.org. Wed/24, noon and 4:30pm; Fri/26, 2pm and 7:30pm. $11-68. Steven Anthony Jones stars as Scrooge in ACT's version of the Dickens classic.

'Foiled Again: A Wrapping Paper Caper IV' New Conservatory Theatre Center, 25 Van Ness; 861-8972, www.nctcsf.org. Mon-Thurs, 10am and 11:30am; Sun and Sat/27, Mon/29-Tues/30, and Jan 3, 2pm. Through Jan 4. $10-12. Lunatique Fantastique presents an all-new episode in its annual kid-friendly "holiday who-dunnit" puppet performance.

'Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You' Actors Theater, 533 Sutter; 345-7575. Fri/26-Sat/27, 8pm; Sun/28, 5pm. $12-15. Plan "B" Productions presents Christopher Durang's racy comedy, followed by Holidaze: An Improv Comedy.

Bay Area

'Navidades: A Christmas Celebration' Marin Veterans' Memorial Auditorium, Avenue of the Flags at Civic Center, San Rafael; (415) 499-6800, www.ticketmaster.com. Sun/28, 3pm. $18-45. See 8 Days a Week.

arts and crafts

'Craft Showcase Four' Museum of Craft and Folk Art, Fort Mason Center, Bldg A, Marina at Laguna; 775-0991. Wed/24-Fri/26, 11am-6pm; Sat/27, 10am-6pm; Sun/28, 11am-5pm. Free. More than 300 new and unique artworks by California craftmakers – including those who work in glass, clay, enamel, metal, wood, and fiber – are on display and can be taken home at time of purchase.

'Peace on Earth Ornament and Shrine Show' Chatterbox Gift Gallery, 1185 Church; 647-0900. Tues-Thurs, 11:30am-6:30pm; Sat, 11am-6pm; Sun, noon-5pm. Through Jan 6. Free. More than 40 emerging artists display their works at this seasonally themed show.

Bay Area

'Peace on Earth' ACCI Gallery, 1652 Shattuck, Berk; (510) 843-2527, www.accigallery.com. Wed/24, 11am-6pm. Free. Jewelry, glass, ornaments, and other works of art make up this exhibit and sale of handcrafted gifts.