Skip to main contentLast updated: November 13, 2026. Dates checked against official sources on November 13, 2026.
The SF holiday season runs from the first ice rink in early November to New Year’s Day. This page puts the biggest family outings in date order, with what each costs and a link to our full guide. Free picks are marked.
Open Now: Ice Rinks
Union Square Holiday Ice Rink
Status: On now
- When: Nov 4, 2026 to Jan 18, 2027, 10am to 11pm daily (closes 9:30pm on Dec 31)
- Where: 333 Post Street, Union Square
- Cost: $22 general, $17 for children 8 and under, skate rental included
The outdoor rink in Union Square is open daily through mid-January. Skates are included in the ticket, so you only need warm layers.
Official source: Union Square Ice Rink: plan your visit · Our rink event page
San Francisco On Ice at Fisherman's Wharf
Status: On now
- When: Nov 4, 2026 to Jan 18, 2027, daily (check the rink site for session times)
- Where: 80 Jefferson St., Fisherman’s Wharf
- Cost: Price on the rink’s own site; skate rental is included with every admission
A second outdoor rink by the Wharf, open the same weeks as Union Square. Pair it with the sea lions at PIER 39.
Coming up in November
Embarcadero Center Holiday Market and 40th Annual Building Lighting
Status: Coming up
- When: Wed, Nov 18, 2026, 4 to 6pm
- Where: Three Embarcadero Center, street level
- Cost: No price listed; free RSVP on Eventbrite through the center’s page
The four towers of Embarcadero Center light up with their outline lights. Come for the market and stay for the switch-on.
Lightscape at the SF Botanical Garden
Status: Coming up
- When: Nov 20, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027, timed entry
- Where: SF Botanical Garden, 1199 9th Ave, Golden Gate Park
- Cost: Adults from $32, ages 5 to 17 from $20, 4 and under free
A mile-long light trail in Golden Gate Park. Full details, plus ZooLights and the free light shows, are in our holiday lights guide.
Official source: Golden Gate Botanical Garden · Our holiday lights guide
Fairmont San Francisco Gingerbread House
Status: Coming up
- When: Lighting ceremony Sat, Nov 21, 2026, 11am to noon; the house stays in the lobby through Dec 31
- Where: Fairmont San Francisco lobby, 950 Mason Street, Nob Hill
- Cost: Free to see. Holiday teas cost extra; prices are on the hotel’s page.
A walk-in-sized gingerbread house fills the Fairmont lobby on Nob Hill. The free lighting has the SF Boys Chorus and is open to all ages.
Great Dickens Christmas Fair (Daly City)
Status: Coming up
- When: Five weekends, Nov 21 to Dec 20, 2026, plus Fri, Nov 27; 10am to 6pm
- Where: Cow Palace, Daly City (just outside SF)
- Cost: Adult (13+) $50, youth (5 to 12) $30, under 5 free; twilight entry after 3pm $35 adult, $20 child. Fees are added online. Parking $20 per car. Online sales only, non-refundable.
A Victorian London Christmas fair with costumed actors, music and food. Twilight tickets after 3pm save money with kids.
Official source: Dickens Fair tickets · Our holiday lights guide
Ghirardelli Square: Santa Lights the Square
Status: Not confirmed
- When: We have heard Fri, Nov 27, 2026, 4:45pm, but the organizer prints no date or time on its page
- Where: Ghirardelli Square
- Cost: Not listed
Santa lights the square’s tree with the SF Boys Chorus. 2026 date not confirmed by the organizer yet.
Coming up in December
PIER 39 Tree Lighting and Nightly Snowfall
Status: Coming up
- When: Tree lighting Thu, Dec 3, 2026, 5 to 9pm. Snowfall every half hour, 5 to 10pm, Dec 4, 2026 to Jan 10, 2027. Santa on Fridays Dec 4, 11 and 18.
- Where: PIER 39 Entrance Plaza, Fisherman’s Wharf
- Cost: Not listed (free public area)
The 60-foot tree lights up on Dec 3. After that, fake snow falls in the plaza every half hour each evening into January.
Official source: San Francisco Travel: PIER 39 holiday magic · Our event page
SF Ballet Nutcracker
Status: Coming up
- When: Fri, Dec 4 to Sun, Dec 27, 2026
- Where: War Memorial Opera House
- Cost: See our Nutcracker guide for tickets and kid tips
The country’s first full-length Nutcracker. Show dates, kid tips and transit are in our Nutcracker guide.
Official source: SF Ballet 2026-27 season calendar (PDF) · Our Nutcracker guide
Let’s Glow SF (Free Pick)
Status: Coming up
- When: Dec 4 to 13, 2026. Opening night Dec 4, 7 to 10pm (Countdown to Glow 6 to 7pm at the Ferry Building); other nights 5:30 to 10pm
- Where: Downtown: Ferry Building, 101 California, Pacific Exchange, Hobart Building, Yerba Buena Lane, Salesforce Tower
- Cost: Free (free RSVP on Eventbrite)
Ten nights of free light projections on downtown buildings. Walk the route from the Ferry Building with kids after dark.
Official source: Downtown SF Partnership: Let’s Glow SF · Our event page
Dance-Along Nutcracker: A Dance-Along Toy Story
Status: Coming up
- When: Sat, Dec 19, 2026, 3pm and 7pm; Sun, Dec 20, 2026, 11am and 3pm. About 2 hours with intermission.
- Where: YBCA Forum, 701 Mission Street
- Cost: From $30
The SF Pride Band’s all-ages Nutcracker where the audience can dance along or just watch. This year’s theme is Toy Story.
New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day
New Year’s Eve Fireworks
Status: Not confirmed
- When: 2026 show not announced yet. The 2025 show was at midnight on the Embarcadero by the Ferry Building, free.
- Where: Embarcadero
- Cost: Free in 2025
Watch spots, Muni and BART, and tips for kids are in our New Year’s Eve guide. 2026 dates not announced yet.
Official source: Downtown SF Partnership · Our New Year’s Eve guide
New Year’s Day at Fort Point
Status: Not confirmed
- When: Jan 1, 2027: ranger talks were listed for 11:30am and 1:30pm, but we could not re-confirm them today. 2026 dates not announced yet on the page we checked.
- Where: Fort Point National Historic Site, under the Golden Gate Bridge
- Cost: Fort Point has no entry fee (check nps.gov)
Start the year under the Golden Gate Bridge at the Civil War-era fort. Check the Conservancy’s events page for talk times before you go.
Official source: Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy events · Our Golden Gate Bridge guide
Still to Be Announced
Union Square Christmas Tree
Status: Not confirmed
- When: No lighting date announced. News reports say the tree is expected to be lit by Black Friday, Nov 27, 2026.
- Where: Union Square
- Cost: Free to see
This year Union Square gets a real tree. See our Union Square tree page for the latest.
Official source: NBC Bay Area, Nov 7, 2026 · Our Union Square tree page
More for the Season
- Union Square plaza winter crafts kids zone
- Bill Graham Menorah in Union Square
- San Francisco holiday markets
- Thanksgiving weekend in San Francisco
- Rainy day things to do with kids
- Next up: Lunar New Year 2027
How We Checked
Every date marked confirmed was read on the organizer’s own page on November 13, 2026. Items marked Not confirmed either have no 2026 date posted or could not be re-read today, so we say so instead of guessing. Times can change, so check the official link before you go.
More Guides
Union Square Christmas Tree 2026: Real Tree, Lighting Date, Rink and Muni
Is the Union Square tree lit yet? It's a real tree this year, due lit by Black Friday. Status checked 12 November…
Read the guide →San Francisco Holiday Lights 2026: Lightscape, the Bay Lights, Union Square and What Is Free
Holiday lights in San Francisco for 2026: what is confirmed (Lightscape, the Union Square rink, the free Conservatory light show, the Bay…
Read the guide →Thanksgiving 2026 in San Francisco: What’s Open, What’s On
Thanksgiving is Thursday 26 November 2026: what is open and free, which museums close, the Golden Gate Park Turkey Trot, weekend shows…
Read the guide →More to Explore
Places to Check Out
- Alta Plaza Park Parks & Playgrounds
- Angelo J. Rossi Playground Parks & Playgrounds
- Aquarium of the Bay Attractions
- Balmy Alley Murals Attractions
Cite this page: Project SF, “San Francisco Holidays With Kids 2026: Your Season Plan, Nov to New Year’s Day”, projectsf.com/guides/san-francisco-holidays-with-kids/ (updated ).