Berkeley Parents Network: Christmas Outings

Berkeley Parents Network

Christmas Outings

Berkeley Parents Network > Reviews > Places to Go > Christmas Outings

Best Bay Area holiday family events?

December 2006

This is the first year I've lived in the bay area with kids for xmas, and also my mother will be visiting from england over the holidays. I'd love ideas for the most ''xmasy'' things to do for families; so far we have tickets for the Nutcracker at Julia Morgan, but are there other shows you'd recommend? (particularly for after xmas) Best places for seeing tree/lights? Fun shopping areas? Holiday markets? The less tacky, the better : )
searching for xmas

This is a bit biased on my part, but my family grew up ''window shopping'' in the Union Square area. Some of the stores and displays have changed over the years, but it's still kind of fun to look at the window displays (kittens & puppies--adoptable--in the Macys windows, big xmas trees, hustle and bustle of people, etc). plus you can go on the cable cars. we used to sing xmas carols w/ friends on the cable cars. For littler kids, I love Fairyland at night. Christmas lights on, Santa usually visits, hot chocolate, treats, story time (but COLD sometimes!). Various neighborhoods have Christmas-y things like Montclair's parade (already happened). Plus there's the Nutcracker. Try Berkeley Ballet Theater, Cal Performances, or Ronn Guidi's ''Secret Nutcracker'' at Holy Names College. Paramount also has Ron Guidi's Nutcracker (slightly different version). If your kids are older or you can afford the extra $$, SF Ballet's nutcracker is great! If churchy things are ok w/ you, find one in your neighborhood-many have caroling, Xmas eve services, etc. and MANY schools have xmas programs that are open-check your local or favorite school. Oakland Library (oaklandlibrary.org) has a calendar with pinata making for 6 yr +), story times, marionettes, and other holiday crafts. Other libraries may do the same. Plus all the regular venues do something (the zoo has Santa on the weekends, Bay Area Discovery museum has a performance, habitot, Oakland Museum (their Family day already passed, but keep it in mind for next year, or throughout the year!). have fun! janet

My family went to see David Hirata and Friends Magic Holiday at The Marsh in SF last weekend. It was a great show -- our 9-year-old and 5-year-old loved it and we parents did too. David is a great magician and is terrific with kids. His Friends include other magicians and a juggler. My son thought that magician Kim Silverman looked like a cross between Dumbledore and Hagrid. There is lots of audience participation (my 9-year-old got to go help with a trick), and they taught the kids a trick they could do at home. The Marsh is a small venue and you can see from everywhere -- it's very intimate and you feel like you're part of the show!

There's detailed info about the show on the Marsh website at http://themarsh.org/ magic_holiday.html . The theater is three blocks from 24th & Mission BART, and has convenient parking on the next block. (We parked in a garage around the corner for $3 for just under 2 hours.) The show runs December 16-17, 19-24, 26 -30, all shows at 2 pm. It's 60 minutes, with no intermission. Tickets are $10, or $7.50 for parties of 4 or more. Tamara

Christmas Day Outings

December 2004

What fun activities are open on Christmas Day? We will have relatives visiting and would like to do something fun with them, but everything I can think of will be closed. They are not into hiking. I know some movie theatres are open, but that's not very interactive. Our group will have four kids, ages 0, 3, 5, and 8, and four adults.
I'm dreaming of a fun Christmas

One year, my family had a fabulous Christmas day in the City. This was years ago when Union Square had an ice rink. It was open that day, so we did that, then toured around going from one fancy hotel to another to look at the fabulous trees and decorations. We had lunch, took lots of pictures, rode the cable car. It was great! I think the ice rink is down at the Embarcadero now-- you could call to see if they are open for Christmas day. Elizabeth

Holiday Events for Toddlers

November 2001

Having just moved to Berkeley, I would love to know if there are any great holiday events for toddlers in the Bay area. My daughter is 3 years old and would greatly enjoy any plays, productions, fairs, ice skating shows, etc. Are there any not-to-be-missed shows out there? Thank you in advance Sorent

Zoolights at the Oakland Zoo Nov. 23 ZooLights Opening Night, 5:30 PM - 9 PM Join us for our annual holiday light display nightly through December 30, weather permitting. Fee. For more info check out: http://www.oaklandzoo.org/news/
(link updated Nov 2003) Susan

Don't miss ZooLights at the Oakland Zoo! HalfDink

My daughter and I still have fond memories of ODC Dance's performance of The Velveteen Rabbit. I highly recommend it, and it was the perfect length for my then-three year old. A very nice combination of both storytelling, dance and theater. Tickets by phone can be purchased at (415) 978-2787 or online: www.yerbabuenaarts.org. Daphne

For two years now the merry-go-round at Tilden Park has been open in the evenings between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I expect they will do so again this year. It is a bit chilly and they do like to sell a lot of Christmas stuff, but it is also a lot of fun. Lights everywhere. The Santa who roams around the place is a very sweet guy.

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