Explore the best 2025 holiday events in San Francisco—light shows, festivals, parades, ice skating, and more in this essential holiday guide.
San Francisco is no stranger to spectacle, but when the holidays arrive, the city shifts into an entirely new gear—one that blends historic charm, progressive creativity, and a flair for the theatrical.
In 2025, holiday events in San Francisco are leveling up with immersive art, dazzling light installations, multicultural winter celebrations, and waterfront traditions that showcase why the Bay Area remains one of the most extraordinary places to spend December.
Whether you’re craving nostalgic holiday classics, family-friendly attractions, or stylish seasonal outings, the 2025 holiday events in San Francisco deliver that unmistakable blend of magic and innovation the city is known for.
Union Square Winter Wonderland & Ice Rink
Union Square’s iconic holiday transformation returns with a gleaming ice rink at its center. The 2025 season introduces themed skating nights—think Disco on Ice, Taylor Swift Night, and Holiday Jazz Evenings—along with a new illuminated archway that frames the rink for picture-perfect moments. Surrounded by luxury shops and towering decorations, the rink remains one of the most beloved 2025 holiday events in San Francisco for locals and visitors alike.
“San Francisco doesn’t just celebrate the holidays—it stages them,” says rink director Marla Quinn. “We want every skate to feel cinematic.”
Location: Union Square, 333 Post St., San Francisco, CA
Website: https://unionsquareicerink.com/
Contact: info@unionsquareicerink.com
Pro tip: Morning sessions are calmer, and holiday nights are pure energy.
Pier 39 Tree Lighting & Holiday Spectacular
Pier 39 takes its holiday programming seriously, with nightly tree lighting shows that blend projection mapping, music, and special effects. The 2025 production is rumored to include drone-enhanced visuals that extend the light show beyond the tree itself, making it one of the most visually ambitious 2025 holiday events in San Francisco.
Guests can shop, dine, and wander along the waterfront while Oakland and San Francisco musicians perform live sets.
Location: Pier 39, San Francisco, CA
Website: https://www.pier39.com/
Contact: (415) 705-5500
Stay for the sea lions—they’re part of the tradition.
Illuminate SF Festival of Light
Arguably the city’s most innovative holiday program, the Illuminate SF Festival of Light features more than 40 public art installations scattered across neighborhoods including the Castro, Embarcadero, Hayes Valley, North Beach, SoMa, and the Presidio. The 2025 lineup introduces new large-scale works by local artists, kinetic sculptures, and interactive pieces that respond to movement or sound.
“San Francisco’s holiday identity is light—and the idea that art belongs to everyone,” says festival curator Daniel Leong.
Location: Various across San Francisco
Website: https://illuminatesf.com/
Contact: info@illuminatesf.com
Perfect for self-guided walking adventures.
The Great Dickens Christmas Fair
Held at the Cow Palace, the Great Dickens Christmas Fair remains one of the most immersive holiday experiences in the Bay Area. Guests step into a meticulously recreated Victorian London complete with shops, taverns, characters, carolers, and theatrical performances. The 2025 fair expands its culinary offerings to include artisanal ciders, new dessert stalls, and plant-based versions of Victorian classics.
“We want guests to forget what century they’re in,” jokes producer Barry McDaniel.
Location: Cow Palace, 2600 Geneva Ave., Daly City, CA
Website: https://dickensfair.com/
Contact: info@dickensfair.com
Wear comfortable shoes—you’ll be walking through 19th-century streets for hours.
Ghirardelli Square Winter Lights Festival
Ghirardelli Square lights up in 2025 with its annual Winter Lights Festival, featuring live choirs, artisan pop-up shops, cocoa tastings, and the debut of a glowing interactive sculpture designed by a local artist collective. Families can enjoy holiday films projected on the square’s walls, and adults can pop into the Wine Terrace for seasonal pairings.
Location: Ghirardelli Square, 900 North Point St., San Francisco, CA
Website: https://www.ghirardellisq.com/
Contact: (415) 775-5500
Don’t leave without trying the peppermint hot fudge sundae.
ZooLights at the San Francisco Zoo
The San Francisco Zoo becomes a glittering playground during ZooLights, with oversized lantern displays, glowing animal sculptures, and a new holiday train route winding through the park. The 2025 edition adds immersive soundscapes inspired by winter wildlife habitats.
“ZooLights teaches kids to appreciate nature, even when it’s wrapped in holiday sparkle,” says Zoo educator Lila Turner.
Location: 1 Zoo Rd., San Francisco, CA
Website: https://www.sfzoo.org/
Contact: (415) 753-7080
A family favorite—bundle up and stay late.
Grace Cathedral: A Cathedral Christmas
Grace Cathedral hosts some of the city’s most breathtaking holiday performances, from classical concerts to its annual “A Cathedral Christmas” choir program. The 2025 season introduces a new candlelit meditation evening designed to offer calm during the holiday rush. The cathedral’s soaring architecture adds undeniable power to every performance.
Location: 1100 California St., San Francisco, CA
Website: https://gracecathedral.org/
Contact: (415) 749-6300
Expect goosebumps.
Holiday Lights at Golden Gate Park
Golden Gate Park’s holiday season expands in 2025 with LED forest pathways, illuminated lakeside routes, and interactive installations at the Music Concourse. Visitors can pair this with a stop at the nearby de Young Museum, which often extends hours for special December programming.
Location: Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA
Website: https://sfrecpark.org/
Contact: (415) 831-2700
Great for photography lovers and couples.
Why 2025 Holiday Events in San Francisco Feel Bigger Than Ever
Every December, San Francisco redefines what a coastal holiday season can be—but 2025 feels particularly ambitious. The city’s creative community continues pushing boundaries with interactive festivals, high-tech displays, and immersive storytelling that blends local history with modern artistry. What sets the 2025 holiday events in San Francisco apart is their emphasis on community: neighborhood celebrations, public art installations, historic reenactments, and waterfront gatherings that bring people together after a year of constant change.
San Francisco’s holiday season doesn’t rely on snow or tradition alone. Instead, it thrives on reinvention—renewing itself every year through artistic daring, cultural richness, and the city’s signature blend of grit and beauty.
Perfect blend of nostalgia and innovation
Whether you’re planning a winter getaway or curating your December calendar, the 2025 holiday events in San Francisco offer an unforgettable mix of light festivals, waterfront celebrations, historic fairs, ice skating, and world-class cultural performances. This season delivers the perfect blend of nostalgia and innovation—exactly what makes San Francisco magical. Mark your dates, bundle up, and let the city’s luminous winter experiences take over your holiday mood.
Explore the best 2025 holiday events in San Francisco—light shows, festivals, parades, ice skating, and more in this essential holiday guide.
