Overview
- Let’s Glow SF returns Dec. 5–14 as a free downtown projection arts festival, with a Dec. 5 kickoff at the Ferry Building and artworks spanning eight buildings by 19 international artists.
- Blinky’s Drive-Thru light show relocates to the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds with timed entry at $40 per car on Nov. 21–23 and Nov. 28–Dec. 31, plus a new free, registration-required Walk n Stroll Nov. 24–26.
- Oakland Zoo’s Glowfari is underway Nov. 7–Jan. 25 with hundreds of new, larger-than-life animal lanterns and dynamic pricing that requires advance tickets for evening entry.
- Arts staples anchor the season: San Francisco Ballet’s Nutcracker runs Dec. 5–28 with sensory-friendly performances, while the Exploratorium’s Glow lights up Pier 15 Nov. 20–Jan. 25 and is included with museum admission.
- Free highlights span the region, including San Francisco’s Civic Center Plaza Tree Lighting on Dec. 3, Thrive City events starting Nov. 30 with a pop-up rink later in December, and Marin’s Holiday Light Spectacular Nov. 28–Jan. 4, plus SFMOMA’s Dec. 7 makers market and Randall Museum crafts on Dec. 13.