holiday

Holiday listings are compiled by Sarah Han. Listings for Wed/23-Tues/29 below; check back each week for updated events. For information on how to submit a listing, see 8 Days a Week.

 

attractions


'Great Dickens Christmas Fair and Victorian Holiday Party' Cow Palace, 2600 Geneva; 897-4555, www.dickensfair.com. Sat-Sun, 11am-7pm. Through Dec 18. $8-20. Step into a day in the life of Victorian London at this annual fair, featuring costumed characters from literature and history, street vendors, games, and adults-only "after dark" festivities.

'Reindeer Romp' San Francisco Zoo, 1 Zoo Rd, Sloat Blvd at 47th Ave; 753-7080, www.sfzoo.org. Daily, 10am-5pm. Through Jan 1. Free with paid zoo admission ($4.50-11). Bring the little ones to see what Santa's hooved helpers really look like at this special exhibit featuring four antlered reindeer.

'San Francisco SPCA Holiday Windows Express' Macy's, Stockton at O'Farrell; 522-3500, www.sfspca.org. During store hours, through Dec 26. Free. The SPCA presents an adorable display of cats and dogs; all featured pets are available for adoption.

 

Bay Area


'Gingerbread Architecture Extravaganza' Bay Area Discovery Museum, Fort Baker, 557 McReynolds, Sausalito; (415) 339-3900, www.baykidsmuseum.org (pre-registration required). Sat/26-Sun/27, Dec 10-11, 17-19, and 23, 11am, noon, 1pm; Dec 20-22, 11am, noon, 1 and 2pm. $15 plus museum admission ($7.50-8.50). Make yourself a house built from gingerbread, candy canes, marshmallows, and other treats at this sweet event.

Knit Ridder's Downtown Ice Circle of Palms, South Market St across from Plaza de Cesar Chavez, San Jose; (408) 279-1775, ext 45, www.sjdowntown.com. Nov 25-Dec 15, Jan 3-15: Mon-Thurs, 6-10pm; Fri, 5pm-midnight; Sat, noon-midnight; Sun, noon-10pm. Dec 16-Jan 1: noon-midnight. $12-14. A glide around this outdoor skating rink is a perfect way to ring in the holidays; price includes skate rentals.

 

benefits


'Teddy Bear Tea' Ritz-Carlton, 600 Stockton; 773-6198. Nov 25-Dec 24, 10-11:30am and 1-2:30pm. $58. Binky the Elf and the Ritz-Carlton Teddy Bear make appearances for this teatime event; proceeds benefit the Greater Bay Area Make-A-Wish Foundation.

 

Thanksgiving


Glide's Thanksgiving Day celebration and meals Glide Memorial United Methodist Church, 330 Ellis; 674-6000, www.glide.org. Celebration: Thurs/24, 10am; meals: 9am-2pm. More than 500 families converge for this annual Thanksgiving celebration; Glide prepares 900 turkeys with the fixings to feed their guests.

Interfaith Thanksgiving Day Service Main Sanctuary, Congregation Emanu-El, 2 Lake; 751-2541, ext 170; www.emanuelsf.org. Thurs/24, 10:30am. Free. Congregation Emanu-El welcomes congregants and clergy from San Francisco's interfaith community to this service.

Tenderloin Tessie holiday dinner First Unitarian Church, 1187 Franklin; 255-7504. Thurs/24, 1-4pm. Free. For 30 years, Tenderloin Tessie has provided free holiday meals with all the trimmings.

'Turkey Beach Trot' Ocean Beach, 700 Great Highway; 595-6934, www.turkeybeachtrot.com. Thurs/24, 8am. $26. Get some exercise before the big meal. The event features a Turkey Beach Trot (a six mile walk or run), the Pilgrim Promenade (three mile walk), and the Kids Gobbler Chase (100 meter sprint).

 

Bay Area


'Give Thanks Vegetarian Potluck Feast' Ashkenaz, 1317 San Pablo, Berk; (510) 658-9178. Thurs/24, 6-9pm, donations. Bring your favorite veggie-friendly dish to this East Bay Food Not Bombs Thanksgiving dinner; Riot Folk perform. Proceeds benefit the Doe Family Legal Fund.

'Native Americans and Thanksgiving' Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists Hall, 1924 Cedar, Berk; (510) 528-5403. Fri/25, 7pm. $10. Zachary Running Wolf, Thunder, and representative from the Shellmound/Sacred Site Peace Walk speak.

Thanksgiving Eve Service and Potluck Corte Madera Recreation Center, 498 Tamalpais Dr, Corte Madera; (415) 924-1494. Wed/23, 7pm. Free. Reverend Karyl Huntley leads a non-denominational service at this bring-your-own dish pot luck dinner.

Thanksgiving service and feast First United Methodist Church, 201 Martina, Point Richmond; (510) 236-0527. Thurs/24, service: 11:30am; feast: 12:15pm. Free. The Methodist church presents an interfaith worship service and a dinner prepared by church and community members.

 

theater, comedy, and performance


'Beach Blanket Babylon Seasonal Extravaganza' Club Fugazi, 678 Beach Blanket Babylon Blvd (Green St); 421-4222. This week: Wed, Fri-Sat, 7 and 10pm; Sun, 1 and 4pm; Tues, 8pm. $25-75. Steve Silver's musical comedy features pop-culture figures, tap dancing Christmas trees, and one huge Christmas-themed hat.

'Black Nativity' Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, 620 Sutter; 474-8800, www.lhtsf.org. Previews Fri/25, 8pm. Opens Sat/26, 8pm. Runs Thurs-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 4pm. Through Dec 24. $25-32. The Lorraine Hansberry Theatre presents the 25th anniversary of their annual holiday production; this year features a newly adapted version of the Langston Hughes' play.

'A Christmas Carol' Geary Theater, 415 Geary; 749-2228, www.act-sf.org. Previews Sat/26, Tues/29, and Dec 1, 7pm (also Sat/26, 2pm); Sun/27, 5pm. Opens Dec 2, 7pm. Runs Dec 3-4, 7, 10-11, 14, 17-18, 20-23, 2pm (also Dec 3, 10-11, 14, 17-18, 20-23, 7pm); Dec 1-3, 8-11, 14-18, 20-23, 7pm; Dec 24, noon. Through Dec 24. $18-80. The American Conservatory Theater presents Carey Perloff and Paul Walsh's adaptation of the Dickens holiday tale featuring set designs by Tony Award-winning designer John Arnone, original songs by Karl Lundeberg, costumes by Beaver Bauer, and choreography by Val Caniparoli.

Handel's 'Messiah' Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness; 864-6000, www.sfsymphony.org. Sat/26, 8pm; Sun/27, 2pm. $30-107. Harry Christophers leads the San Francisco Symphony, the San Francisco Symphony Chorus, Carolyn Sampson, Daniel Taylor, James Gilchrist, and Eric Owens in this performance of Handel's most popular work.

'Let It Snow! An Improvised Musical' Phoenix Theater, 414 Mason; 869-5384, www.un-scripted.com. Fri-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 3pm. Through Dec 18. $10-15. The Un-Scripted Theater Company presents a full-length improvised musical.

'The Velveteen Rabbit' Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater, 700 Howard; 978-2787, www.ybca.org. Fri/25, Sun/27, Dec 4, 2pm; Sat/26, Dec 3, 1pm and 4pm; Nov 29-Dec 2, 11am. $10-38. ODC/San Francisco presents their annual choreographed performance of Margery Williams' children's tale.

 

Bay Area


'The Christmas Ballet' Dean Lesher Regional Center for the Arts, Civic at Locust, Walnut Creek; (925) 943-7469, www.smuinballet.org. Fri-Sat, 8pm (also Sat, 2pm). $20.50-50. Also: Nov 30-Dec 4, 8pm (also Dec 3, 2pm); Dec 4, 2pm, Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, Castro at Mercy, Mtn View; (650) 903-6000. $20-50. Also: Dec 9-23 (Wed-Fri, 8pm; Sat, 2 and 8pm; Sun, 2pm [Dec 11, 2 and 7pm]), Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater, 700 Howard, SF; (415) 978-2787. $20-60. Smuin Ballet presents their annual holiday show featuring tap dancing, swing, ballet and more to classical, klezmer, jazz, and pop music.

'The Snow Queen' Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College, Berk; (925) 798-1300. Fri/25, 7pm; Sat/26-Sun/27, Dec 3-4, 2pm. Through Dec 4. $10-15. Splash Circus Theatre presents their acrobatic adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen's story.

'Winnie the Pooh Christmas Tail' Sonoma County Repertory Theater, 104 N. Main St, Sebastopol; (707) 823-0177. Sat, 11am-1pm. Through Dec 17. $5-7. Theater for Young Audiences presents Sonoma County Repertory Theater's production featuring Winnie the Pooh and friends.

 

tree lightings and family events


'Festival of Lights' Union Street, between Gough and Steiner; 1-800-310-6563, www.sresproductions.com, www.unionstreetsf.com. Sat/26, 6-8pm. Through Dec 17. Free. The annual Union Street festival kicks off with a parade and opening celebration featuring carolers, a chance to take a photo with Santa Claus, and merchant open houses.

Macy's Christmas tree lighting ceremony Union Square; www.macys.com. Fri/25, 6pm. Free. Macy's presents this community tree lighting event featuring a slew of holiday programs and festivities; proceeds benefit UCSF Children's Hospital.

 

Bay Area


Jack London Square tree lighting ceremony Jack London Square, Oakl; (510) 645-5968, www.jacklondonsquare.com. Fri/25, 1-7pm. Free. For the 14th year, Jack London Square kicks off the holidays with the ceremonial lighting of its 65 foot white fir tree. The "Bay Area High School Choir Competition" also takes place at the square starting at 2pm.

 

arts and crafts


'Celebration of Craftswomen' Festival Pavilion, Fort Mason Center, Marina at Laguna; (51) 843-4233, www.womensvuilding.org. Sat/26-Sun/27, 10am-5pm. $6-8 (both days, $14). The 27th annual craft fair features ceramics, jewelry, clothing, furniture from 300 artists; other highlights include live music, a food pavilion, a raffle, and children's activities.

'Christmas in San Francisco Crystal Fair' Fort Mason Center, Bldg A, Marina at Laguna; 383-7837, www.crystalfair.com. Sat/26, 10am-6pm; Sun/27, 10am-4pm. $5. Check out crystals, minerals, beads, jewelry, healing tools, and other items from 40 vendors.

Mexican Museum holiday art sale Fort Mason Center, Bldg D, Marina at Laguna; 202-9700, www.mexicanmuseum.org. Tues-Sat, 11am-5pm. Through Dec 23 (closed Thurs/24). Free. This holiday art sale features works by local and international artists.

 

Bay Area


ASUC Art Studio holiday art sale UC Berkeley, MLK Jr Student Union Bldg, ASUC Art Studio, lower level, near Telegraph and Bancroft Way, Berk; (510) 642-3065. Preview: Tues/29, noon-10pm. Tues-Fri, noon-10pm. Through Dec 2. Free. This annual holiday sale features pottery, photography, prints, jewelry, and textiles by more than 60 Bay Area artists.

Berkeley Artistans holiday open studios Various locations, Berk; (510) 845-2612, www.berkeleyartisans.com. Sat-Sun, 11am-6pm. Through Dec 18. Free. Take a self-guided tour of the studios of more than 100 Berkeley artists and craftspeople (a map can be dowloaded on the event's Web site).

Berkeley Potter's Guild holiday sale and show Berkeley Potter's Guild, 731 Jones, Berk; (510) 524-7031, www.berkeleypotters.com. Sat-Sun and Dec 19-24, 10am-6pm. Through Dec 24. Free. Buy ceramic art at this event featuring works by 20 artists and a gallery show, "Playing With Fire."

Holiday art show Nexus Gallery, 2701 Eighth St, Berk; (707) 433-7581. Fri-Tues, 11am-7pm. Reception Sat/26, 3-8pm. Through Tues/29. Free. Artists from Graton and Arches galleries present their work.

Holiday art show and sale 1216 Gilman, Berk; (510) 339-2126. Sat/26-Sun/27, 11am-6pm. The Luminance Group presents this fine art sale featuring works for $25-150.

Holiday studio sale Bruce Pizzichillo and Dari Gordon Studio, 2680 Union, Oakl; (610) 832-8380. Fri/25, Sat-Sun, 10am-4pm. Through Dec 11. Oakland glass artists Bruce Pizzichillo and Dari Gordon open their studio for a holiday art exhibit and sale featuring vases, bowls, sculptures, and more.

'Original Holiday Gift Show' San Jose Convention Center, 408 S. Almaden Blvd, San Jose; www.originalholidaygiftshow.com. Fri/25, 9am-8pm; Sat/26, 9am-7pm; Sun/27, 10am-5pm. Formerly the Harvest Festival, this holiday art and craft show features art, clothing, specialty foods, and home decor.

Point Reyes open studios Various locations, Point Reyes Station; (415) 663-1457, www.pointreyesart.com. Fri/25-Sun/27, 11am-5pm. Free. More than 20 west Marin artists open their studios to the public at this Thanksgiving weekend event.

'Spirit of the Holidays Gift Fair' Sonoma County Fairgrounds, Grace Pavilion, 1350 Bennett Valley, Santa Rosa; (707) 861-2035, www.spiritoftheholidays.com. Fri-Sun, 10am-6pm. Through Dec 11. $2-5. Shop for gifts for everyone on your list at this fair featuring 250 booths.

'Women of Color Arts and Craft Show' La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck, Berk; (510) 849-2568. Sat/26-Sun/27, 10:30am-4:30pm. Free. Local women exhibit and sell their paintings, sculptures, textiles, jewelry, quilts, furniture, and clothing at this event.