upper waypoint
The Do List

Fairs, Films and a Touch of Goth: Alternative Ideas for Bay Area Holiday Events

Nisa Khan
Save ArticleSave Article
Failed to save article

Please try again

San Francisco's Union Square, lit up during holiday season (Ei Katsumata/Getty)

The last weeks of December 2023 are almost upon us. And for many who don’t observe the Christmas holiday, or aren’t traveling to see family, it can feel like things get a little … slow in the Bay Area during this time.

But don’t worry – in truth, the region has plenty happening in these last couple of weeks before the new calendar year hits. And it’s not just productions of The Nutcracker and A Christmas Carol.

So keep reading for our roundup of events, screenings, markets and more – a mix of both classically holiday-themed events and unique pop-ups that go beyond the festive cliches – to explore in the last days of 2023.

Stroll a holiday market

The Great Dickens Christmas Fair, recreating Victorian London. (Rich Yee)

Take advantage of a free museum day

Read more about other free museum days around the Bay Area.

Catch a special screening

In addition to offering the chance to catch the newest release (I personally am excited for Poor Things and The Boy and the Heron), Alamo Drafthouse Theater in San Francisco’s Mission District is hosting several brunch and movie parties. (Be sure to get your tickets in advance, as screenings may sell out.)

Also in the Mission District, the Roxie Theater is playing Oscar-winning film There Will Be Blood on 35mm on December 25.

Sponsored

The New Parkway Theater in Oakland also has a bunch of showings during the holidays:

  • A Dec. 15 showing of a “so bad it’s good” (the theater’s words) animated movie called Rapsittie Street Kids: Believe in Santa that somehow has performances from the legendary voice actor Nancy Cartwright (Bart Simpson) and Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker, the Batman Animated Series’ Joker). Grab a drink for this one.
  • You can catch the Warriors vs. Nuggets game on Dec. 25 or enjoy Fiddler on the Roof later that same day.
  • Speaking of Batman, there’s also a showing of Mask of the Phantasm on Dec. 28. Some people’s favorite Batman movie, period (not mine, though.)

The Rialto cinema chain (locations in Berkeley, El Cerrito and Sebastopol) has free family matinee showings for movies like Prancer, Elf, and An American Tail.

Head out to a Saturday party

Taylor Swift, a white woman with blond hair, stands on a stage in a pink flowing long-sleeved dress looking backward at the camera.
Taylor Swift performs onstage for the opening night of ‘Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour’ at State Farm Stadium on March 17, 2023, in Swift City, ERAzona (Glendale, Arizona)

Looking for more music? KQED Arts has also rounded up the best spots to catch a non-traditional live musical performance this holiday season.

And if you’re looking for something a little more interactive …

A person in a wheelchair is on a boardwalk underneath redwood trees, looking up at the sky.
Ashley Olson from wheelchairtraveling.com stares up at the mighty coastal redwoods on the boardwalk section of the accessible loop trail at Muir Woods National Monument. (Courtesy Ashley Olson)

Finally … take a hike

Rather be stretching your legs? KQED has a 2019 guide to the best holiday hikes in the Bay Area, and a 2023 guide to the best accessible hiking trails locally, as recommended by disability advocates.

lower waypoint
next waypoint