December 2026San Francisco Bay Area · The Bay

December in San Francisco Bay Area with little kids.

12 things to do with kids up to age 6 in and around San Francisco Bay Area in December 2026, sorted by week. Each listing links to its own page and to the organizer’s page, and we add more as new dates are posted.

12 listings · 4 free

Last checked · Every listing links to its official page. How we choose

2 listings

Dec 1 to Dec 6

1 listing

Dec 7 to Dec 13

Know one we missed?Send us the organizer’s page and we’ll check it.Suggest an event

3 listings

Dec 28 to Dec 31

Know one we missed?Send us the organizer’s page and we’ll check it.Suggest an event

7 listings

Open for weeks at a time

Light displays, exhibits and other runs that last longer than a week. Check each page for the nights or days they’re closed.

Dec1to 31

Glowfari at the Oakland Zoo

Oakland Zoo · 9777 Golf Links Road, Oakland, CA 94605

Holiday lights
When
Nov 6 to Jan 31
Time
Timed entry 4:30–6:30pm; exit by 9pm
Price
Adults $26, kids 2–14 $22, under 2 free; parking included
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked
Dec1to 31

ZooLights at the San Francisco Zoo

San Francisco Zoo & Gardens · Sloat Blvd. at the Great Highway, San Francisco, CA 94132

Holiday lights
When
Nov 6 to Jan 3
Time
Wed, Thu and Sun 5:30–9pm; Fri–Sat 5:30–10pm
Price
Adults $30, kids 2–11 $21; members $3 off
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked
Dec1to 30

Train of Lights at Niles Canyon Railway

Niles Canyon Railway, Niles and Sunol stations · Niles Station, 37029 Mission Blvd., Fremont, CA 94536

SantaSold out
When
Nov 20 to Dec 30
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
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked
Dec1to 31

Christmas in the Park, San Jose

Plaza de César Chávez · Plaza de César Chávez, downtown San Jose, CA

Holiday lightsFree
When
Nov 27 to Jan 1
Time
Daily noon–10pm, including Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day
Price
Free
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked
Know one we missed?Send us the organizer’s page and we’ll check it.Suggest an event

Guides

More December guides for Bay Area

Santa visits in Bay AreaBreakfasts, photos and Santa trainsChristmas lights in Bay AreaDrive-thru and walk-through displays

Keep planning

More for little kids in Bay Area

November: things to do in Bay AreaEvery dated listing for the month, by weekFree 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 pricesLibrary storytimes in Bay AreaBaby, toddler and preschool storytimes by day and branchIce skating in Bay AreaHoliday and indoor rinks, skate aids and pricesThanksgiving weekend in Bay AreaParades, turkey trots and what’s open on ThursdayNoon Year’s Eve in Bay AreaKid-friendly countdowns, home by napChristmas parades in Bay AreaParades and tree lightings with dates and start timesChristmas trains in Bay AreaPolar Express, Santa and lights trains with datesThe Nutcracker in Bay AreaBallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flaggedChristmas markets in Bay AreaChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hoursChristmas break in Bay AreaWhat’s open on Dec 24, Dec 25 and Jan 1This week in Bay AreaDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday

Good questions

December in Bay Area: the FAQ

12 dated listings so far, including Breakfast with Santa at The Westin St. Francis (Dec 5), Oakland-Alameda Lighted Yacht Parade (Dec 5), Sausalito Lighted Boat Parade and Fireworks (Dec 12) and Countdown in Wonderland at Children’s Fairyland (Dec 31). The rest are below, by week. We add more as organizers post their dates.

7 start this December: Breakfast with Santa at The Westin St. Francis (Dec 5), Glowfari at the Oakland Zoo (Nov 6 to Jan 31), Santa at Glowfari, Oakland Zoo (Nov 6 to Dec 23), ZooLights at the San Francisco Zoo (Nov 6 to Jan 3) and Christmas in the Park, San Jose (Nov 27 to Jan 1), plus 2 more below.

Yes, at the same address. After Dec 31, 2026 it switches to December 2027, starting with the events that come back every year.

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 30, 2026, and we recheck them every Monday and Thursday. How we choose and check.

The checked list, every Thursday.

One short email every Thursday evening with the best things to do with little ones in Bay Area that weekend.

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