# Christmas break with kids in San Francisco Bay Area, 2026

> 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.

- Last checked: 2026-10-29
- 3 places’ holiday hours; 13 dated outings
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/bay-area/christmas-break/
- This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/bay-area/index.md
- City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/bay-area/llms.txt

## Open or closed: Dec 24, Dec 25 and Jan 1

- **San Francisco Zoo & Gardens**: Christmas Eve not posted; Christmas Day Open 365 days a year; New Year’s Day Open 365 days a year. Their page says: “Daily 10am–5pm” Source: https://www.sfzoo.org/ (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Glowfari at the Oakland Zoo**: Christmas Eve not posted; Christmas Day Dec 24 and Dec 25: closed; New Year’s Day Open Jan 1 (tickets on sale Dec 4). Their page says: “Nov 6 – Jan 31, timed entry 4:30–6:30pm” Source: https://www.oaklandzoo.org/programs-and-events/glowfari-2026-27/ (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square**: Christmas Eve not posted; Christmas Day Not listed separately; open daily 10am–11pm through the season; New Year’s Day Dec 31: closes at 9:30pm. Their page says: “Nov 4, 2026 – Jan 18, 2027; daily 10am–11pm” Source: https://unionsquareicerink.com/union-square-ice-skating/ (checked 2026-10-29)

## Christmas Eve

- **Black Santa at Fairy Winterland, Children’s Fairyland** at Children’s Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Avenue, Oakland, CA 94610. When: Dec 12–13, 19–20 and 26–27, 2026. Time: Noon–7pm. Price: Adults $23, children $21, seniors $20, members half price. 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. Official page: https://fairyland.org/event-calendar/fairy-winterland/2026-12-12/ (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Train of Lights at Niles Canyon Railway** at Niles Canyon Railway, Niles and Sunol stations, Niles Station, 37029 Mission Blvd., Fremont, CA 94536. When: Nov 20–23 and 28–29; Dec 2, 4–6, 9, 11–13, 16, 18–21, 23 and 27–30, 2026. Time: Departs Niles 4:30pm and Sunol 7:30pm; about 1.5 hours round trip. Price: $40–$70 (general seating to first class), ages 3 and up; sold out for 2026. 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. Official page: https://www.ncry.org/ride/train-of-lights/ (checked 2026-10-29). SOLD OUT (still listed; check the official page for a waitlist or added dates)
- **Free photos with Santa at Christmas in the Park** at Christmas in the Park, Plaza de César Chávez, Plaza de César Chávez, downtown San Jose, CA. When: Every night Nov 28 – Dec 24, 2026. Time: Evenings; the park is open noon–10pm. Price: Free. Santa sits for free photos every night from opening night through Christmas Eve, inside a park full of decorated trees and animated displays. Official page: https://christmasinthepark.com/events/ (checked 2026-10-29)

## Between Christmas and New Year’s (Dec 26–30)

- **Glowfari at the Oakland Zoo** at Oakland Zoo, 9777 Golf Links Road, Oakland, CA 94605. When: Nov 6, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027 (closed some Mon–Tue, Nov 26 and Dec 24–25). Time: Timed entry 4:30–6:30pm; exit by 9pm. Price: Adults $26, kids 2–14 $22, under 2 free; parking included. 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. Official page: https://www.oaklandzoo.org/programs-and-events/glowfari-2026-27/ (checked 2026-10-29)
- **ZooLights at the San Francisco Zoo** at San Francisco Zoo & Gardens, Sloat Blvd. at the Great Highway, San Francisco, CA 94132. When: Nov 6, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027 (Wed–Sun). Time: Wed, Thu and Sun 5:30–9pm; Fri–Sat 5:30–10pm. Price: Adults $30, kids 2–11 $21; members $3 off. 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. Official page: https://www.sfzoo.org/zoolights/ (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Christmas in the Park, San Jose** at Plaza de César Chávez, Plaza de César Chávez, downtown San Jose, CA. When: Nov 27, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027. Time: Daily noon–10pm, including Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Price: Free. 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. Official page: https://christmasinthepark.com/ (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square** at Union Square, 333 Post Street, San Francisco, CA 94102. When: Nov 4 – Jan 18. Price: $22; kids 8 and under $17 (skate rental included). Official page: https://unionsquareicerink.com/union-square-ice-skating/ (checked 2026-10-29)

## New Year’s Eve and Day

- **Countdown in Wonderland at Children’s Fairyland** at Children’s Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Avenue, Oakland, CA 94610. When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: 10am–4pm. Price: Included with Fairyland admission; members free. An Alice in Wonderland noon year’s eve with crafts, puppet shows, a Mad Tea Party photo spot and a “Shrinking Drink” toast. Official page: https://fairyland.org/event-calendar/countdown-in-wonderland-2/ (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Noon Year's Eve at the Children's Discovery Museum** at Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose, 180 Woz Way, San Jose, CA 95110. When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: Doors 9:30am; ball drops at noon, 1pm and 2pm. Price: Museum ticket required. Three confetti ball drops, each one a shout-out to a different part of the world as midnight passes there. Official page: https://www.cdm.org/event/noon-years-eve/ (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Noon Year's Eve at the Bay Area Discovery Museum** at Bay Area Discovery Museum, 557 McReynolds Rd., Sausalito, CA 94965. When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: 9am–2pm; ball drop at noon. Price: $28; seniors $26; members $10; under 1 free. 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. Official page: https://bayareadiscoverymuseum.org/events/noon-years-eve/ (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Glowfari at the Oakland Zoo** at Oakland Zoo, 9777 Golf Links Road, Oakland, CA 94605. When: Nov 6, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027 (closed some Mon–Tue, Nov 26 and Dec 24–25). Time: Timed entry 4:30–6:30pm; exit by 9pm. Price: Adults $26, kids 2–14 $22, under 2 free; parking included. 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. Official page: https://www.oaklandzoo.org/programs-and-events/glowfari-2026-27/ (checked 2026-10-29)
- **ZooLights at the San Francisco Zoo** at San Francisco Zoo & Gardens, Sloat Blvd. at the Great Highway, San Francisco, CA 94132. When: Nov 6, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027 (Wed–Sun). Time: Wed, Thu and Sun 5:30–9pm; Fri–Sat 5:30–10pm. Price: Adults $30, kids 2–11 $21; members $3 off. 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. Official page: https://www.sfzoo.org/zoolights/ (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Christmas in the Park, San Jose** at Plaza de César Chávez, Plaza de César Chávez, downtown San Jose, CA. When: Nov 27, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027. Time: Daily noon–10pm, including Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Price: Free. 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. Official page: https://christmasinthepark.com/ (checked 2026-10-29)

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city.
- How we choose and check listings, and how to send a correction: https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/ (corrections: hello@littlesweekly.com).
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## FAQ

### What’s open on Christmas Day in San Francisco Bay Area with kids?
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.

### What can we do with kids on Christmas Eve in San Francisco Bay Area?
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.

### What’s open on New Year’s Day in San Francisco Bay Area?
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).

### What can we do with kids on New Year’s Day in San Francisco Bay Area?
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.

### What is there to do with kids between Christmas and New Year’s in San Francisco Bay Area?
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.

### How do you check these holiday hours?
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](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).