Did you know there are several enchanting and magical Christmas towns near San Francisco? There are plenty of opportunities to meet Santa and check out extravagant light displays around San Francisco. And some of these towns even feature a Christmas parade and ice rink. Let’s take a look at towns around San Francisco that show the most Christmas cheer year after year.

1. San Rafael
San Rafael, CA, USA
San Rafael Parade of Lights & Winter Wonderland Facebook Page
One of the largest Christmas celebrations in the Bay Area is in San Rafael. The annual Holiday Parade & Winter Wonderland event features a Holiday Marketplace with arts and crafts, live entertainment, children’s activities, and snow sledding.
2. Los Altos
LosAltosParade.com
The Los Altos Festival of Lights Parade is set in a joyous atmosphere with holiday spirit. The parade features a few characters taken from fairy tales, Santa Claus, and plenty of Christmas floats. This is one of those Christmas festivals near San Francisco that everyone should do once.
3. Piedmont
Monntain View Cemetery Site: http://www.mountainviewcemetery.org/
Venture to the East Bay and check out hundreds of bright lights adorning various buildings for the ideal Christmas celebration in Northern California. This takes place in a cemetery!? Look out for seasonal delights like a reindeer sled, snowmen; skaters; candy canes; a carriage scene, a holiday arch of lights, and more!
4. Alameda
Alameda, CA, USA
SF FunCheap Christmas: http://sf.funcheap.com/
Alameda’s South Shore Center features Santa Claus and his house at the Little Ice Rink. Families can meet Santa and have pictures taken at The Santa House as well. Ho! Ho! Ho! Christmas in Alameda is a delight.
5. Sacramento
Sacramento, CA, USA
Fairytale Town - http://www.fairytaletown.org/
Celebrate the holiday season at Fairytale Town! You'll be greeted with festive holiday décor and a dazzling display of lights, starting at dusk each night. Plus, there are holiday-themed crafts too! Sacramento is one of those Northern California Christmas towns you won't be able to get enough of.
6. Benicia
Peter Mitsopoulos Photography Follow/Flickr
The Benicia parade starts at 10 a.m. and features local marching bands, dancers, and of course Santa Claus. The Holiday Market features handcrafted arts and crafts, gourmet items, and delicious foods. Christmas in Northern California is magical; let Benicia prove it.
7. Windsor
Windsor, CA, USA
Windsor Page: https://www.townofwindsor.com
Celebrate the opening of the holiday season under the glow of old lamp lights of yesteryear with graceful horse-drawn carriages carrying guests in Windsor, a wonderful Christmas village near San Francisco. The event will also feature the Charlie Brown Christmas Tree Grove too.
8. San Jose
San Jose, CA, USA
Winchester Mystery House Facebook Parge
Take in the "Spirit of Christmas" at the Winchester Mansion in San Jose. This is a beautifully decorated mansion featuring 100,000 twinkling lights and the sounds of Christmas music and carolers. Also, check out Plaza de Cesar Chavez in San Jose for Christmas in the Park.
9. Squaw Valley
Olympic Valley, CA 96146, USA
Squaw Valley Information: http://squawalpine.com/
Squaw Valley transforms into Merry Wonderland with live music, ice sculpture demonstrations, and more! Squaw’s Olympic Ice Pavilion is another perfect place to spend the holidays in Northern California with lots of activities.
10. Los Gatos
Los Gatos, CA, USA
Demetri Mouratis/Flickr
Fantasy of Lights is a 1.5-mile drive-through holiday lights and display spectacle. Be warned, cars line up and long lines of one hour or more can be expected during prime time on the weekends - this is easily one of the most popular drive-thru Christmas displays in Northern California.

Let us know if you know of any other Christmas towns or spots in the area. We’d love to hear from you. Check out the Magical Polar Express Train Ride In San Francisco.

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More to Explore

Christmas in San Francisco

Tori Jane | November 03, 2022

What is Christmas in San Fransisco like?  

Christmas in San Francisco is a time of brotherhood and love. It seems like everywhere you go, you’re greeted with smiling faces and stunning, glowing lights. Sure, we may not see a white Christmas very often at all, but it’s still nice and chilly, and there are plenty of fun things to do in San Francisco at Christmas despite the lack of snow. There are entire neighborhood Christmas light displays in San Francisco that everyone should check out at least once, and you can’t go wrong with a winter hike near San Francisco to enjoy it outright. There are plenty of wonderful holiday events near San Francisco you’re sure to love as well – check them out!  

What are some of the best holiday events near San Francisco worth attending?  

Each and every year there are plenty of fun things to do in San Francisco at Christmas; the city hosts all sorts of amazing events and has numerous traditions that you’re sure to adopt as your own. Be sure to check out some of the best Christmas lights displays in San Francisco, and while you’re at it, visit any of the gorgeous, adorable little Christmas towns near San Francisco, especially if you want to feel like you stepped into a Hallmark holiday movie. After all, everyone knows it isn’t Christmas in Northern California until you’ve been to at least a few. Oh, and don’t forget to check out some of the delightful Main Streets near San Fransisco that go all-out for the holidays.  

What is winter in San Francisco like?  

Winter in San Francisco is a lovely time; like we mentioned, sure, it may not snow much – but that just makes it even easier to enjoy, if you ask us. You can still do traditional winter activities, though, like go snow tubing near San Francisco. Everywhere you go, people are bundled up, but friendly. You don’t need to worry about things like, say, black ice around here, so it’s a great time of year to indulge in something fun like a Christmas lights road trip or maybe a Christmas town road trip near San Francisco, too. The possibilities are only as limited as your imagination (and how far you’re willing to travel), so go outside and enjoy winter in San Francisco.  

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