What to do with kids in San Francisco Bay Area over Christmas break, from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day. We read the holiday hours posted by three museums, zoos and play places: three say they’re open on Christmas Day and three on New Year’s Day. Plus seven dated outings on Christmas Eve and the days in between.
Dec 24 · Dec 25 · Jan 1
Holiday hours from each place’s own page, side by side. Many are standing rules (“closed Christmas Day”) that hold year to year, but a quick check that morning is worth it.
“Not posted” means the place’s own page doesn’t say. Call or check the morning of.
Day by day
Pick a day to see what’s on. Many places close early on Dec 24 and Dec 31, so check each card’s times.
Children’s Fairyland · 699 Bellevue Avenue, Oakland, CA 94610
Good to know: Black Santa returns to Fairyland’s winter festival, and this year he stays through the weekend after Christmas. Free hot cocoa, a snowball fight on Play Island and puppet shows at 2, 4 and 6.
Niles Canyon Railway, Niles and Sunol stations · Niles Station, 37029 Mission Blvd., Fremont, CA 94536
Good to know: Antique coaches and open cars covered in lights roll through Niles Canyon at dusk, with music and refreshments on board. Every 2026 ticket is gone, so this one is for next year's calendar. No trains on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
Christmas in the Park, Plaza de César Chávez · Plaza de César Chávez, downtown San Jose, CA
Good to know: Santa sits for free photos every night from opening night through Christmas Eve, inside a park full of decorated trees and animated displays.
Oakland Zoo · 9777 Golf Links Road, Oakland, CA 94605
Good to know: Hundreds of giant animal lanterns along a mile-long walk, and the gondola runs at night. Tickets go on sale 28 days ahead and are nonrefundable.
San Francisco Zoo & Gardens · Sloat Blvd. at the Great Highway, San Francisco, CA 94132
Good to know: More than a million lights across 14 zones, back for the first time since 2018, with a “frozen” zone for family photos and light-up playgrounds.
Plaza de César Chávez · Plaza de César Chávez, downtown San Jose, CA
Good to know: Rows of decorated trees, more than 40 animated displays and a 50-foot tree you can walk inside. Sensory-friendly mornings run 9am–2pm on Sundays Dec 13 and Dec 27.
Union Square · 333 Post Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
Children’s Fairyland · 699 Bellevue Avenue, Oakland, CA 94610
Good to know: An Alice in Wonderland noon year’s eve with crafts, puppet shows, a Mad Tea Party photo spot and a “Shrinking Drink” toast.
Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose · 180 Woz Way, San Jose, CA 95110
Good to know: Three confetti ball drops, each one a shout-out to a different part of the world as midnight passes there.
Bay Area Discovery Museum · 557 McReynolds Rd., Sausalito, CA 94965
Good to know: A DJ dance party, crown-making and a glow room for babies, then the noon ball drop. Members need tickets too, and parking is free. Rain or shine.
Oakland Zoo · 9777 Golf Links Road, Oakland, CA 94605
Good to know: Hundreds of giant animal lanterns along a mile-long walk, and the gondola runs at night. Tickets go on sale 28 days ahead and are nonrefundable.
San Francisco Zoo & Gardens · Sloat Blvd. at the Great Highway, San Francisco, CA 94132
Good to know: More than a million lights across 14 zones, back for the first time since 2018, with a “frozen” zone for family photos and light-up playgrounds.
Plaza de César Chávez · Plaza de César Chávez, downtown San Jose, CA
Good to know: Rows of decorated trees, more than 40 animated displays and a 50-foot tree you can walk inside. Sensory-friendly mornings run 9am–2pm on Sundays Dec 13 and Dec 27.
Open on New Year’s Day: San Francisco Zoo & Gardens, Glowfari at the Oakland Zoo, Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square.
Rainy-day backup
These don’t post holiday hours yet, so check before you go. More on our indoor play page.
Keep planning
November: things to do in Bay AreaEvery dated listing for the month, by weekDecember: things to do in Bay AreaEvery dated listing for the month, by week
Free things to do in Bay AreaFree days, free events and places that never chargeIndoor play in Bay AreaIndoor playgrounds, toddler times, museums and classes, with prices
Library storytimes in Bay AreaBaby, toddler and preschool storytimes by day and branch
Ice skating in Bay AreaHoliday and indoor rinks, skate aids and prices
Thanksgiving weekend in Bay AreaParades, turkey trots and what’s open on Thursday
Noon Year’s Eve in Bay AreaKid-friendly countdowns, home by nap
Christmas parades in Bay AreaParades and tree lightings with dates and start times
Christmas trains in Bay AreaPolar Express, Santa and lights trains with datesThe Nutcracker in Bay AreaBallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flagged
Christmas markets in Bay AreaChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hours
This week in Bay AreaDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday
Good questions
San Francisco Zoo & Gardens (Open 365 days a year), Glowfari at the Oakland Zoo (Dec 24 and Dec 25: closed), Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square (Not listed separately; open daily 10am–11pm through the season) post that they’re open on Christmas Day.
On the calendar: Black Santa at Fairy Winterland, Children’s Fairyland, Train of Lights at Niles Canyon Railway and Free photos with Santa at Christmas in the Park.
San Francisco Zoo & Gardens (Open 365 days a year), Glowfari at the Oakland Zoo (Open Jan 1 (tickets on sale Dec 4)), Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square (Dec 31: closes at 9:30pm).
On the calendar for Jan 1: Glowfari at the Oakland Zoo, ZooLights at the San Francisco Zoo and Christmas in the Park, San Jose. Check each one’s own page before you go, since holiday hours can change.
Glowfari at the Oakland Zoo, ZooLights at the San Francisco Zoo, Christmas in the Park, San Jose and Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square. Check each one’s calendar for the exact nights; some close on certain days.
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 29, 2026, and we recheck them in early December and again the week before Christmas. How we choose and check.
One short email every Thursday evening with the best things to do with little ones in Bay Area, through the holidays.
