• SFAC Art Vendor Holiday Market | War Memorial Veterans Building | 11AM - 5PM. Tuesday, December 2

• Off the Grid Holiday Food Market | 111 Powell St. | Friday, December 5

• Dogpatch Holiday Market | 22nd Street between Illinois St. & Indiana Streets | 11AM - 5PM. Saturday, December 6

• City Hall Small Business Holiday Pop-up | Tuesday, December 9

• From the E: Christmas Excelsior Night Market | Norton St. | 5PM - 10PM. Friday, December 13

• Black Holiday Market | Ferry Plaza | Saturday, December 13

• Fillmore Holiday Night Market | Fillmore St. at O'Farrel | Friday, December 19

• SF Made Holiday Pop-up Store | 2 Embarcadero Center | Mon-Sat 11AM - 4PM December 2 through December 21

Let's Glow SF, the largest holiday projection event in the U.S., returns to Downtown San Francisco from December 5-14, 2025!

Let's Glow SF, the nation's largest FREE holiday projection arts festival, is making a triumphant return to downtown San Francisco for its fifth and grandest year yet.

This all-ages and family-friendly event runs for 10 nights from December 5–14, 2025. Breathtaking animated projections will illuminate eight iconic buildings across the city's core nightly from 5:30pm to 10:00pm, transforming them into colossal, colorful canvases featuring work by 19 artists from around the globe.

For more information on participating artists, artwork, building locations, discounts, and special business promotions during Let's Glow SF, please visit: https://downtownsf.org/things-to-do/lets-glow-sf

Join Market Street Arts for a crafting series in Mid-Market. This is not your average paint & sip! Get your craft on as you enjoy hand-crafted drinks and food while creating your own art.

DIY Holiday Cards at The Beer Hall | Wednesday, December 3

Embroidery at SAMS American Eatery | Wednesday, December 10

Leather Ornaments at haru by SAMS| Tuesday, December 16

Join Calle 24 for the EsquinaLatina‑SF Artisan Holiday Bazaar on Dec. 6th from 12-6pm at the new home of CANA. Local makers, food, performances, silent auction and lots of holiday cheer! Shop for your loved ones and support Calle 24 Latino Cultural District.

Enjoy an afternoon of community, connection and commerce at the Clement Street Small Business Stroll. This guided walk will spotlight 6 locally owned businesses, each offering a unique look into their story, products and services.

Meet at the Richmond Branch (351 9th Avenue) at 2 pm. The event will take place rain or shine.  

2:00 — Meet at Richmond Branch (351 9th Ave)

2:15 — Fleetwood (714 Clement St)

2:45 — Green Apple Books (506 Clement St)

3:15 — Tantrum (248 Clement St)

3:45 — Aroma Tea Shop (302 6th Ave)

4:15 — Schubert's Bakery (521 Clement St)

4:45 — The Bitter End (441 Clement St)

Presented by the San Francisco Public Library's Small Business Center and Richmond Branch!   

Get the full scoop on all things Holidays in Union Square. Additional information regarding the attractions below can be found at visitunionsquaresf.com/holidays-in-union-square.

• Winter Walk Presented by JP Morgan Chase, December 13 – 24
• Ornament Trail Presented by Lending Club, December 6 - 24
• Launch of the Powell Street Sled, December 6, from 12 p.m. — 2 p.m.
• The Bill Graham Menorah, December 14 – 22:
• Holidays at Union Square Plaza Winter Crafts, November 5 – January 18
• Holiday shopping at Vacant to Vibrant Pop-ups
• Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square Presented by Kaiser Permanente, November 5 – January 20
• Macy’s Great Tree Presented by Ripple, lit from November 15 – January 19
• Macy’s  & San Francisco SPCA Holiday Windows, from November 21 — December 31
• Gump’s Holiday Shop, Now Open Monday – Saturday from 11am – 5pm
• Post Room Tea Service, Saturdays in November and December
• Breakfast with Santa at The Westin St. Francis, December 6, from 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
• Dollie + Me Holiday Tea at The Westin St. Francis, December 13 & 14, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• American Conservatory Theater Presents Rudolph and Scrooge: A YC Holiday Double Feature from December 18 — 20
• Holiday Wreath Making Workshop at The Marker Hotel

This year’s Winter Walk will bring back its beloved holiday marketplace, local food trucks, live entertainment, festive décor, and seasonal treats. Guests can also enjoy interactive experiences, including the GAP Holiday Marketplace and the Nintendo activation featuring photo ops with Mario. The event takes place on Stockton Street between Post and O’Farrell, open 11 a.m.–7 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.

Create festive crafts all season long in Union Square Park. On select Thursdays through Sundays, families and visitors can take part in free hands-on holiday craft workshops led by local creative partners, including SCRAP SF, Studio Maker Kidz, SF Etsy, The Walt Disney Family Museum, and others. Learn more at https://visitunionsquaresf.com/holidays-in-union-square

The PIER comes alive during the holiday season! Find plenty of photo-worthy moments, including the breathtaking 60-foot live Christmas tree at the Entrance Plaza. From December 5 through January 11, the tree will dazzle visitors every half hour between 5 and 10 p.m., lighting up the waterfront with a vibrant, music-synced display of color and motion. Check back at https://pier39.com/events/ for more fun holiday updates coming soon!

Celebrate the culture of Kwanzaa and ring in 2026 at Thrive City's Winter Wonderland Kwanzaa and Noon Year’s Eve Celebration! Put on your dancing shoes and enjoy Soji Sai Afrobeats from The Rock and Roll Playhouse. Enjoy cultural performances from the Diamano Coura West African Dance Company, a countdown drop at 11:59AM, arts & craft stations, treats, and more!

Lightscape returns with a mile-long illuminated trail featuring vibrant light displays, soundscapes, and immersive artworks throughout the Botanical Garden. A family-friendly, ticketed nighttime experience that brings the garden to life with more than a million lights. Tickets available for timed entry all season.

Annual Noe Valley Tree Lighting

5:00 pm - 7:00pm

Come bring in the holiday season at Noe Valley's annual tree lighting! Featuring the lighting of our 15-foot tree, caroling, Noe Valley Bakery cookies, Martha & Bros. hot chocolate, face painting, balloon animals, and an LED acrobatic show!

Castro Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony 2025

6:00 PM - 6:30 PM | Bank of America Plaza at 501 Castro Street

This event officially marks the beginning of the holiday season in the Castro. Join us as we gather to strengthen our community bonds, and uplift our merchants by supporting their local businesses by shopping from them during the holidays.

The annual Civic Center Plaza Tree Lighting is taking place across the street from an illuminated City Hall on Wednesday, December 3rd, 4-7pm! The night will include:

• Tap Dancing Christmas Trees
• San Francisco Boys Chorus
• Magician Joshua Andrews
• The Broadway All-Star Band
• Boswick the Clown
• The Grinch
• Toy giveaway
• Holiday crafting
• Visit from the VIP-of-the-hour: Santa!

The event starts at 4 pm, with the tree lighting at approximately 5:30pm by Mayor Daniel Lurie.

RSVP here for an event day reminder, but no ticket is needed to attend.

Help kick off the holiday season with the annual Holiday Tree Lighting on December 4, 2025, from 4 to 8 p.m., at McLaren Lodge in Golden Gate Park. Enjoy live entertainment, rock wall, archery, hockey shootout, carnival rides, cookie decorating and food for sale.

Friday, December 5th:

• Live Performance by Magic Nostalgia: 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
• Free Craft at the Recess Cart: 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. (while supplies last)
• Holiday Photo Booth with CA Photo and Video Experiences: 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
• Speaking Program and Park Illumination: 5:30 – 5:50 p.m.

Saturday, December 6th:

• Holiday Toddler Time with Blue Bear School of Music: 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
• Gift Wrapping Station
• Snow Globe Ornament Making, with GoGo Craft: 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
• Frozen Sing Along at the Amphitheater 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
• Ugly Sweater Silent Disco with HUSHconcerts: 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Sunday, December 7th:

• Holiday Wreath Craft Session 1: 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
• Holiday Wreath Craft Session 2: 12:00 – 2:00 p.m.
• Holiday Wreath Craft Session 3: 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Learn more at https://www.tjpa.org/Winterfest

Celebrate the return of Let's Glow SF on December 5th, 2025, with the Countdown to Glow Kickoff Ceremony in Downtown SF!

• Where: Harry Bridges Plaza, in front of the Ferry Building (San Francisco)
• Kick-Off Time: Join us starting at 6:00 PM to grab your prime viewing spot!
• The Moment: City officials will ceremonially "flip the switch" at 7:00 PM to launch Let's Glow SF!

For details on the full 10-night festival, including participating artists, artwork, and building locations, please visit: https://downtownsf.org/things-to-do/lets-glow-sf

Come out to Yerba Buena Gardens for a festive evening filled with holiday cheer. Watch as the magnificent holiday tree, a living coastal redwood on our Great Lawn, lights up the night sky, bringing joy and warmth to all who attend. This in-person event is perfect for families, friends, and anyone looking to get into the holiday spirit. Don’t miss out on this magical experience!

750 Howard Street | December 6 | 6PM - 9PM

Join the 8th Annual Tenderloin People’s Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration on Friday, December 12, from 4–7 p.m. in Boeddeker Park. They will be welcoming donations to support the celebration, including items for children’s gift bags, handmade ornaments for the tree, and raffle prizes.

Join SOMA Pilipinas and the Filipino American Development Foundation for the 23rd Annual Parol Lantern Festival on Saturday, December 13, from 3PM - 8PM at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. The festival’s theme this year is “MAKIBAKA: Ignite the Fight, Light Up Our Legacy”, a rallying call to fight, rise, and shine amidst hardship and harm, and is honored in MAKIBAKA: A Living Legacy exhibition at YBCA, open through January 4, 2026.

Community members have an opportunity to make their own parol lanterns leading up to the festival at one of many Parol Making Workshops from 12-4PM on the following dates:

• Sunday, November 23 (YBCA Grand Lobby)
• Thursday, December 5 (YBCA Grand Lobby)
• Saturday, December 6 (Bayanihan Community Center)
• Sunday, December 7 (Bayanihan Community Center)

Castro Menorah Lighting

6:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Join Castro Merchants Association in spreading the warmth of Hanukkah lights in the Castro as we hold a Menorah Lighting Ceremony at Jane Warner Plaza on Monday, December 15, at 6 PM.