Celebrate the festive spirit of Richmond with our detailed guide. From Richmond regulars to first-time tourists, our guide ensures everyone enjoys the holiday spirit.
Popular events light up the season, such as the enchanting Enchant San Jose, where dazzling light displays and festive activities create a captivating atmosphere. Unique features like Victorian-themed performances can be experienced at the Dickens Christmas Fair. And the Great Dickens Christmas Fair is something you definitely don't want to miss, as it transports visitors to a recreated 19th-century London. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Richmond
- Enchant San Jose (San Jose)
- The Great Dickens Christmas Fair (Daly City)
- Dickens Christmas Fair (Daly City)
- Holidays at Filoli (Woodside)
- Union Square Tree Lighting Ceremony (San Francisco)
- Civic Center Plaza Holiday Tree Lighting (San Francisco)
- Embarcadero Center Building Lighting Ceremony (San Francisco)
- Hometown Holidays 2024 (Redwood City)
- Mill Valley Lumber Yard Holiday Faire (Mill Valley)
- Entwined in Golden Gate Park (San Francisco)
See these and even more events listed below!
Richmond Holiday Light Displays
Enchant San Jose
What to Expect:
World's largest Christmas light maze with interactive holiday light sculptures.
Description:
Enchant San Jose features an 80,000-square-foot Christmas light maze, ice skating trail, seasonal food and drink, Santa and Mrs. Claus visits, and a Ferris Wheel offering a bird’s-eye view of dazzling lights. The event also includes nightly caroling, mainstage entertainment, a shopping village, and a children’s play place.
Where: San Jose | More Info: Enchant San Jose
Embarcadero Center Building Lighting Ceremony
What to Expect:
Spectacular light show with 17,000 lights.
Description:
Celebrate the official start of the holiday season at Embarcadero Center with a family fun carnival featuring carnival games, face painting, a special appearance by Santa and his elves, Frozen Musical themed photo opportunities, and a light show spectacular. The event culminates with the illumination of the San Francisco skyline by 17,000 lights outlining Embarcadero Center.
Where: San Francisco | More Info: Embarcadero Center Building Lighting Ceremony
Union Square Tree Lighting Ceremony
What to Expect:
Iconic 83-foot tree with thousands of lights and ornaments.
Description:
The Union Square Tree Lighting Ceremony features a beautifully decorated 83-foot tree with 43,000 twinkling lights and 700 ornaments, located in the heart of San Francisco's busiest shopping area. The event includes live performances and a visit from Santa.
Where: San Francisco | More Info: Union Square Tree Lighting Ceremony
Fairy Winterland
What to Expect:
Twinkling lights and culturally diverse holiday displays.
Description:
Fairy Winterland at Children's Fairyland in Oakland, California, features twinkling lights, festive music, and holiday crafts. Santa Claus leads a parade and hands out treats, while kids enjoy hot cocoa and apple cider.
Where: Oakland | More Info: Fairy Winterland
Entwined in Golden Gate Park
What to Expect:
Interactive light installation with wind-responsive tree.
Description:
Entwined in Golden Gate Park features a 30-ft metal sculpted tree, Elder Mother, which moves with the wind and offers a 25-ft canopy with ever-changing illumination and color. The installation includes six unique QR codes allowing attendees to control the lighting patterns.
Where: San Francisco | More Info: Entwined in Golden Gate Park
Richmond Holiday Markets and Shopping
Holiday Open House & Wine Tasting
What to Expect:
Napa wine tasting and live jazz music in a festive marketplace setting.
Description:
The Ferry Building Holiday Open House & Wine Tasting features Napa wines, live music by the Awesome Orchestra Jazz Band, a holiday portrait studio, warm drinks, and holiday crafts.
Where: San Francisco | More Info: Holiday Open House & Wine Tasting
Mill Valley Lumber Yard Holiday Faire
What to Expect:
Live music and local artisan shopping.
Description:
The Mill Valley Lumber Yard Holiday Faire is a festive event featuring live music, unique holiday shopping, and local artisans selling handcrafted goods. Visitors can explore the yard's retail stores and enjoy food and drinks from various vendors.
Where: Mill Valley | More Info: Mill Valley Lumber Yard Holiday Faire
Pacifica Winter Elf Market
What to Expect:
Handmade crafts and local vendors.
Description:
The Pacifica Winter Elf Market is a holiday craft fair featuring handmade items from local artists and community organizations. Visitors can shop for unique gifts and decorations while enjoying a variety of holiday activities.
Where: Pacifica | More Info: Pacifica Winter Elf Market
Holiday Arts Festival
What to Expect:
Unique, handmade gifts from local arts and crafts vendors.
Description:
The Holiday Arts Festival at the Richmond Art Center features unique, handmade gifts from local arts and crafts vendors, including a ceramics studio sale and free art activities.
Where: Richmond | More Info: Holiday Arts Festival
Family Fall & Holiday Marketplace
What to Expect:
Live music and local vendors selling seasonal items.
Description:
The Family Fall & Holiday Marketplace at Todos Santos Plaza in Concord, CA, features a vibrant farmers' market, live music, and a variety of local vendors selling seasonal items and gifts. The event is a great opportunity to explore the community's offerings and enjoy a festive atmosphere.
Where: Concord | More Info: Family Fall & Holiday Marketplace
Richmond Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Civic Center Plaza Holiday Tree Lighting
What to Expect:
Toy giveaway and holiday-themed activities for children.
Description:
The Civic Center Plaza Holiday Tree Lighting features festive performances, tap dancing Christmas trees, magician Josh Farenbaugh, singer Doris Bumpus, and appearances by Christmas VIPs and Santa. Enjoy "snow" flurries, holiday-themed activities, a toy giveaway for 400 children under 12, and festive bites and drinks available for purchase.
Where: San Francisco | More Info: Civic Center Plaza Holiday Tree Lighting
Dickens Christmas Fair
What to Expect:
Immersive Victorian London experience with diverse activities and entertainment.
Description:
Immerse yourself in Victorian London with hundreds of colorful characters, music halls, theatres, pubs, and charming shops. Enjoy Port, Chocolate, and Champagne Tastings, a mysterious Pub Crawl, and the Dark Garden Corset Experience. Explore dramatic streets filled with delicacies and libations, and discover unique jewelry, collectibles, and art.
Where: Daly City | More Info: Dickens Christmas Fair
The Great Dickens Christmas Fair
What to Expect:
Immersive Victorian London experience with diverse activities.
Description:
Immerse yourself in Victorian London with hundreds of colorful characters, music halls, theatres, pubs, and charming shops. Enjoy Port Chocolate and Champagne Tastings, a mysterious Pub Crawl, and the Dark Garden Corset Experience. Explore dramatic streets filled with delicacies and libations, and indulge in family fun, theatre, and nightlife.
Where: Daly City | More Info: The Great Dickens Christmas Fair
Richmond Other Holiday Activities
Hometown Holidays 2024
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration with Santa, snow, pony rides, and fireworks.
Description:
Hometown Holidays 2024 is a festive celebration in Redwood City featuring Santa, snow, pony rides, entertainment, a carnival, parade, and fireworks. Admission is free, and the event takes place at Courthouse Square.
Where: Redwood City | More Info: Hometown Holidays 2024
Holidays at Filoli
What to Expect:
Elegant holiday celebrations in a historic estate setting.
Description:
Celebrate the holiday season at Filoli with festive decorations, live music, and special activities like holiday wreath-making and private fire pit experiences.
Where: Woodside | More Info: Holidays at Filoli
Tilden Park Merry-Go-Round
What to Expect:
Antique carousel with hand-carved wooden animals.
Description:
Tilden Park Merry-Go-Round features an antique carousel with hand-carved wooden animals, calliope-style music, and a snack bar offering hot chocolate, ice cream, and other carnival treats. The carousel is wheelchair-accessible and pet-friendly, with weather-dependent operating hours.
Where: Berkeley | More Info: Tilden Park Merry-Go-Round
Tilden Park Steam Trains at Christmas
What to Expect:
Decorated steam train rides with holiday decorations.
Description:
Tilden Park Steam Trains transform into a toddler-friendly Holiday Train, decorated with twinkling lights, tiny snowflakes, and Christmas ornaments. The trains offer scenic rides along a decorated route, perfect for families with young children. Father Solstice rides on a special train, waving to the gathering children with a friendly smile.
Where: Berkeley | More Info: Tilden Park Steam Trains at Christmas
Kristi Yamaguchi Holiday Ice Rink
What to Expect:
Unique skating experience with local performances and fire pits.
Description:
The Kristi Yamaguchi Holiday Ice Rink at City Center Bishop Ranch offers daily skating sessions and special weekend hours. Join local skaters and enjoy the festive atmosphere with new outdoor fire pits and a bar.
Where: San Ramon | More Info: Kristi Yamaguchi Holiday Ice Rink
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- San Pablo (2 miles)
- El Cerrito (2 miles)
- Berkeley (6 miles)
- Hercules (6 miles)
- Oakland (10 miles)
- Chinatown (10 miles)
- San Rafael (10 miles)
- San Francisco (12 miles)
- Alameda (12 miles)
- Vallejo (13 miles)
- Mission District (13 miles)
- Benicia (13 miles)
- Martinez (13 miles)
- Lafayette (13 miles)
- Noe Valley (14 miles)
- Visitacion Valley (15 miles)
- Walnut Creek (16 miles)
- Pleasant Hill (16 miles)
- Daly City (17 miles)
- American Canyon (17 miles)
- Concord (17 miles)
- San Leandro (18 miles)
- South San Francisco (20 miles)
- Danville (21 miles)
- Ashland (21 miles)
- San Bruno (21 miles)
- San Lorenzo (21 miles)
- Castro Valley (22 miles)
- Bay Point (22 miles)
- San Ramon (23 miles)
- Millbrae (23 miles)
- Pacifica (24 miles)
- Hayward (24 miles)
- Burlingame (24 miles)
- San Mateo (26 miles)
- Petaluma (26 miles)
- Pittsburg (26 miles)
- Foster City (26 miles)
- Suisun (27 miles)
- Fairfield (27 miles)
- Dublin (28 miles)
- Belmont (29 miles)
- Union City (30 miles)
- Antioch (30 miles)
- San Carlos (30 miles)
- Redwood City (32 miles)
- Newark (33 miles)
- Fremont (33 miles)
- Rohnert Park (34 miles)
- East Palo Alto (34 miles)
- Menlo Park (35 miles)
- Oakley (35 miles)
- Vacaville (35 miles)
- Brentwood (36 miles)
- Palo Alto (36 miles)
- Livermore (36 miles)
- Los Altos (40 miles)
- Santa Rosa (40 miles)
- Mountain View (41 miles)
- Sunnyvale (43 miles)