Thanksgiving in San Francisco 2019 - Things to Do in November & More

UPDATED NOVEMBER 2024
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Looking for some things to do on Thanksgiving in San Francisco? We’ve got you covered. Here are a few suggestions for local attractions that will keep you and keep the family busy all weekend. Check out these suggestions for local activities and more seasonal things to do in November. There’s something to appeal to everyone on this list, from musical performances to shopping, and beyond. Here are our suggestions for Thanksgiving in San Francisco activities, including...

  • Hop-on Hop-off San Francisco Bus Tour
  • SFMOMA
  • California Academy of Sciences
  • Napa and Sonoma Wine Country Tour
  • Indigenous People Sunrise Ceremony
  • and more!

Save on Attraction Admission

Regular admission to a number of these San Francisco attractions is included on the Go San Francisco® pass. Choose as you go from dozens of top attractions and save up to 55% on combined admission vs paying at the gate. See all available passes, attractions & prices. Please note, some of these special November events may be separately ticketed and not included on the Go San Francisco® pass.

Hop-on Hop-off San Francisco Bus Tour

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If you're entertaining out-of-town visitors, then you're likely looking for a way to entertain them and show off your city. A hop-on hop-off bus tour is a great option for visiting relatives and family groups. It provides the flexibility to learn about the city from your expert tour guides on your own terms. Stay on and soak up the info until you find a destination you want to explore further, from Golden Gate Park to Fisherman's Wharf and beyond. Your tickets are good for an entire day, too, so feel free to use the bus to cater to everyone's different interests. Getting In: Big Bus San Francisco tickets are included with the Go San Francisco pass.

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)

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A must-visit attraction this November in San Francisco is the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. The SFMOMA is filled with the region's best collection of modern and contemporary art, with art rivaling that of the best modern art museums in the world! The newly expanded and redesigned space will maximize your viewing experience, and allow you to see so much more of their amazing collection on display. You'll be able to spend hours here, and will leave feeling totally inspired. Be sure to check out special fall exhibits when you're visiting! Getting In: SFMOMA tickets are included with the Go San Francisco® pass.

California Academy of Sciences

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Another one of the most popular attractions in San Francisco (and a perfect way to entertain visiting family) is the California Academy of Sciences. This amazing institution is a wonderland of science, complete with an aquarium, a natural history museum, and an all-digital planetarium. They also host a variety of educational programming and special events, so you're likely to find something new and exciting to see even on repeat visits! Getting In: California Academy of Sciences tickets are included with the Go San Francisco® pass.

Napa + Sonoma Wine Country Tour

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What better way to celebrate the oncoming holiday season than with a few sips of the country's best wine? If you're looking to venture out from San Francisco this fall, then a full day wine country trip is a delightful option that's sure to please. Go on a guided excursion down to Napa and Sonoma, and sample as you go at some of the region's best wineries. You can of course purchase some to bring home with you when you find your favorite! Getting In: Weekday Napa + Sonoma Wine Country Tour tickets are available on the Build Your Own Pass.

Go for a Family Bike Ride

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Fall is the perfect time to ride a bike in San Francisco. While much of the fall foliage is likely to be gone by November, that just means you have more beautiful views of the bare mountains! It's also the perfect opportunity to explore the city and its many top attractions without the rush of summer tourists. You'll especially get to enjoy the parks and seafront trails with fewer crowds. Insider tip: Don't forget to dress in layers! It will be cooler when you begin your ride, but you'll likely warm up pretty quickly once you get going. Getting In: San Francisco bike rental by Blazing Saddles are included with the Go San Francisco® pass.

Indigenous People Sunrise Ceremony

Alcatraz Island Date TBA

Image credit: Native News Online.

Previously known as the Unthanksgiving Day Cruise, the Indigenous People’s Sunrise Gathering, at Alcatraz is a significant event to attend this holiday season. It’s an event designed to commemorate the 1969-71 occupation of Alcatraz by the “Indians of All Tribes” and to honor the tradition of indigenous peoples in the area. It’s a good opportunity for the kids to learn about the nuanced history of this famous holiday and a chance for everyone to give thanks for the things that really matter. If you're thinking about budget, it's also nice that kids under 5 ride for free! This is the only cruise running to Alcatraz on Thanksgiving Day. Getting In: Cruise tickets to the Indigenous People's Sunrise Gathering are not included with the Go San Francisco® pass. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the attraction website.

San Francisco Tree Lighting

Union Square November 29, 2019

After Thanksgiving, it’s officially time to start getting excited about the holiday season. Why not all enjoy a few festive attractions that are sure to get the whole family into the holiday spirit? Check out the annual tree lighting in Union Square, scheduled this year for 6:00 pm on the Friday after Thanksgiving. While you’re in the neighborhood, consider a spin on the Union Square ice-skating rink, or at the one in the Embarcadero Center. Getting In: Admission to the Union Square tree-lighting is free.

Black Friday Shopping

Union Square & Westfield Shopping Center November 29, 2019

Many of us probably eschew holiday shopping on Thanksgiving itself. But it’s hard to resist the bargains of Black Friday events. The best places in San Francisco to get shopping done before the winter holidays are Union Square and the nearby Westfield Shopping Center. Union Square has a number of department stores (featuring Macy’s) and smaller independent shops as well. Westfield is a conventional mall, featuring dozens of stores with great deals. Getting In: Admission to Black Friday shopping is free.

Remember to Save on Attraction Admission

We listed just a few fun suggestions for things to do in November and Thanksgiving in San Francisco 2019. Of course, there are plenty of other activities to help fill your plans. Remember, many of these great options are included on the Go San Francisco® pass, where you can save up to 55% on combined admission vs paying at the gate. Please note, the November and Thanksgiving events taking place at some of these attractions may be separately ticketed and not included with the Go San Francisco® pass. Consider adding a few of these fun options to your November weekend itineraries.

Katie Sagal
Go City Travel Expert

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A San Francisco cable car overlooking Alcatraz Island
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Things to do in Downtown San Francisco

Set in the northeast corner of San Francisco overlooking the bay, Downtown takes in the Financial District as well as parts of Chinatown, North Beach and the Tenderloin. Its top-notch central location makes it a fine base for sightseeing, with world-class museums, a grand opera house and some of the city’s best shopping and dining, as well as easy transport links to other neighborhoods. Join us as we explore all the best things to do in Downtown San Francisco. Sightseeing in Style The rattle of the wheels, the distinctive clang of the bell, the squeal of the cables... if you can steel yourselves for long queues of increasingly tetchy tourists, the city’s iconic cable cars provide a great introduction to the city. Hop aboard these colorful wooden carriages at Powell and Market and enjoy the rollercoaster ride through this famously hilly city just as San Franciscans did way back when the cars first appeared in the 1870s. Brave souls can even ride the narrow platforms on the exterior of these rolling historic landmarks. Just remember to keep your phone in your pocket no matter how tempting that snap of Chinatown might be, and don’t lean outwards if you value your head! There are two lines running out of Downtown, with both terminating near Fisherman’s Wharf for fine views (and boats) out to Alcatraz Island. Of these, the Powell-Hyde line is the most popular because it passes crooked Lombard Street and affords spectacular views of Alcatraz as it crests the hills. This, naturally, makes it the most popular line for tourists, so plan accordingly if this is the route of your dreams, and travel at less busy times if you can. Embarcadero Highlights In a city with many instantly recognizable landmarks, the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero holds its own. Its soaring clock tower has been keeping time at the San Francisco Waterfront for over a century and its vast, arched interior is now home to a bustling marketplace full of artisan foodie stores, cute boutiques and tempting cafés and restaurants. Pair a classic SF sourdough with local cheeses and a classic California Cab Sauv, or grab unique souvenirs like honey and handcrafts from local producers. From here, it’s just a short harborside walk to the astonishing Exploratorium science museum, an interactive feast for kids young and old, and surely one of the most fun things to do in Downtown San Francisco. Ever fancied dancing with your own shadow or stepping inside a tornado? Then this is most definitely the place for you. Chinatown Downtown San Francisco is also where you’ll find the oldest Chinatown in North America. It’s where 19th-century San Franciscans had their Western minds blown by their first taste of shrimp dumplings and fluffy pork buns, so be sure to pay homage by doing the same – there are, of course, dozens of excellent dim sum restaurants to choose from. Jazz up your Insta feed with a selfie or six beneath the Dragon Gate and find further photo opportunities by the ornate red-and-green streetlights on Grant Avenue, as Chinese lanterns sway overhead in the breeze. Enjoy the peace and tranquility of a traditional temple, sample China’s national beverage in a traditional tearoom, unleash your inner Mariah in a karaoke bar, and discover your future at the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory. At the very least, you’ll find out how thousands of these tiny treats are made by hand every day and get a chance to taste different flavors and toppings. We see a green tea fortune cookie in your future, for sure. Get Your Culture Fix Make time to hang out in the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA). One of the largest modern and contemporary art museums on the planet, its collection of over 30,000 masterpieces includes paintings, sculptures, photography and more. View works by some of the greats, including Georgia O’Keeffe, Andy Warhol, Edward Hopper, Gerhard Richter and Frida Kahlo and head to the glass pavilion in the rooftop garden for ace views of SFMOMA’s sculpture collection and the San Francisco skyline. Expect grandiose performances in sumptuous surroundings behind the stately colonnaded facade of the War Memorial Opera House. This is the place to get your glad rags on, raise a monocle to your eye and see the world-class SF Ballet, Opera and Symphony in action. Or, for something with a few more chuckles than Madame Butterfly or La bohème, try the Punch Line comedy club over on Battery Street. Shopping and Nightlife Downtown San Francisco is a shoppers’ paradise, with Union Square at the heart of the action. Get your bearings on the plaza where a statue of – we kid you not – the Greek goddess Nike – is by far the most interesting feature, before foraying into the many streets that branch from it. It’s here that you’ll find a consumer cornucopia of upscale boutiques, souvenir shops and department stores galore running for several blocks in every direction. Give your bank manager a heart attack as you flit merrily from Saks Fifth Avenue to Apple and Louis Vuitton to, yup you guessed it, the flagship Nike store. As well as having a massive Target store, Metreon is a great place for family evenings out with entire floors dedicated to dining and movies. Grab your popcorn and brace yourself to experience the latest blockbuster on a towering IMAX screen – at 75 feet it’s one of the tallest in North America. As you’d expect from one of America’s most popular cities, San Francisco's nightlife scene is a joy, with much of it centered in and around Union Square. Craft beer fans can bar hop between perennial faves including the Golden Gate Tap Room and Bartlett Hall’s in-house brewery, while down on 11th Street at the edge of SoMa is where you’ll find some of the best clubs in town – from the bass-thudding fun of Audio SF to risqué drag performances at LGBTQ+ favorite Oasis. Save on things to do in Downtown San Francisco Save on admission to San Francisco attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
San Francisco City Hall illuminated in festive colors
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Christmas in San Francisco

If you’re looking for a festive city break brimming with holiday spirit, it’s hard to beat Christmas in San Francisco. From delightful winter displays to enchanting traditional performances and a host of unique seasonal events, it’s hard to beat the festive wonder of the Bay Area at the holidays. Festive Displays Union Square No area is quite so quintessential to Christmas in San Francisco as Union Square. This teeming commercial hub transforms throughout the holiday season into the beating heart of all things Christmas in the Bay Area. The San Francisco holiday season kicks off with the lighting of the Macy’s Christmas Tree in late November, traditionally taking place on the first Friday after Thanksgiving. Hundreds of locals and visitors alike come out to watch the event and embrace the festive spirit, as Union Square becomes a veritable winter wonderland brimming with seasonal spirit. Running in parallel to the early Christmas festivities, Union Square is also host each year to the Bill Graham Menorah in celebration of Hanukkah. Each night of the Jewish festival of lights is marked by the lighting of a candle atop the giant candelabra, accompanied by a hearty gathering filled with live music and a great deal of merriment. You’ll find all manner of ways to get into the holiday spirit around Union Square, whether it’s taking the kids to Macy’s to visit Santa Claus and awe at the frolicking, adoptable animals in the SPCA’s Holiday Window or showing off your moves on the Union Square Ice Skating Rink before grabbing some holiday deals at Westfield Shopping Center. Fisherman’s Wharf One of the Bay Area’s top attractions becomes ever more exciting throughout the holidays, hosting a number of festive events throughout the season. Rivaling the main display on Union Square, Pier 39 goes a step further by lighting its Christmas tree multiple times an evening from late November to early January, synchronized to a fanfare of holiday music. In much the same way, the Pier also celebrates Hanukkah with its own giant menorah at the Entrance Plaza, lit up each night of the Jewish festival. At the opposite end of Fisherman’s Wharf, Ghirardelli Square hosts its own diverse program of holiday celebrations, complete with the obligatory Christmas Tree display and Hanukkah festivities. In years past, the square has also been known to put on an outdoor cinema showcasing a number of popular holiday movies throughout the season. Always a popular sight on the waterfront is the Fisherman’s Wharf Decorated Boat Parade, held each year in partnership with the St. Francis Yacht Club. Usually falling in mid-December, the parade sees local boats of all shapes and sizes adorned in festive lights and decor as they sail along the bay. Those who are particularly keen can pay to watch from the official starting line while enjoying a special holiday buffet. Fairmont Hotel If magical holiday displays and an exuberant seasonal atmosphere are what you’re looking for, be sure to visit the Fairmont Hotel at the top of Nob Hill. Each year, this luxury hotel goes all out on its holiday display, erecting a life-sized gingerbread house right in its main lobby. Large enough for adults to walk through, the charming display is made all the more enchanting by the miniature railway encircling the house. Seasonal Events SantaCon You’d better watch out, as Santa Claus is coming to town in his masses! For a day each December, Union Square and its surrounding streets, bars and venues get overtaken by a colossal procession of Christmas characters, most of which end up in quite the drunken state as the day rolls on. This Santa-themed celebration comes complete with caroling, costume contests and stockingfuls of merriment. Though entirely free to enter, SantaCon asks that visitors bring unwrapped toy donations of any size and value to help local charity drives aimed at disadvantaged families across the city. And, of course, festive fancy dress is highly encouraged! The Great Dickens Fair For a series of weekends throughout the holiday season, the city hosts The Great Dickens Christmas Fair, complete with festive market stalls among an impressive replica of Victorian London. Visitors can enjoy various Victorian-themed events and pick up some treasures while exploring the world which so inspired the famous nineteenth-century writer. New Year’s Eve Seeing out the holiday season, the Bay Area is considered to be among the top five destinations in the United States to spend New Year’s Eve, and that certainly isn’t without merit. Like many cities, San Fran veritably lights up with activity for the twilight hours of the year, with many of its top restaurants, bars and venues filled to the brim with jovial revelers. Throughout the night, the city hosts a number of popular live events and concerts to beckon in the turn of the new year. As the night reaches its peak, many flock to the waterside to watch as barges 1,000 feet out in the bay set off a magnificent firework display, illuminating their surroundings in a blaze of vibrant color. The most popular site to catch the show is typically just south of the Ferry Building near Pier 14. Holiday Performances Known for its incredible entertainment scene, it should come as no surprise that San Francisco also hosts a variety of limited-time performances throughout the holiday season, many of which have become a staple of local holiday tradition. Tickets to any of these performances typically sell out fast, so you’ll want to keep a keen eye out when they become available. Nutcracker Ballet Step into the magical wonderland of toy soldiers in this classic ballet performance of the Nutcracker, performed by a kaleidoscope of over 150 dancers as they battle the King of Mice and dance through the land of the Sugar Plum Fairy. Accompanied by a fantastic live orchestra performing Tchaikovsky’s beloved score, this is a truly enchanting performance to catch during the holiday season. A Christmas Carol Perhaps one of the most popular Bay Area holiday traditions is to bag a ticket to a theater performance of Charles Dickens’ festive classic, A Christmas Carol. Each year, the American Conservatory Theater puts on their own delightful adaptation of the classic tale, with a bubbly cast, vibrant costumes and a host of spooky ghosts.
Robert Heaney
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Best Time to Visit San Francisco

It’s tough to crack down on an objective best time to visit San Francisco, owing to its vast wealth of evergreen attractions and its plethora of fantastic cultural events taking place throughout the year. Preferences vary vastly between tourists, so we’ve outlined each season to help you figure out the best time to plan your ideal Bay Area city break. Spring (March – May) Average Temperature: 48 - 63°F • Average Rainfall: 4 - 10 days/mth • Average Sunshine: 9 – 11 hours/day Entering into its first shoulder season of the year, San Francisco maintains a modest but steady flow of traffic throughout spring. Busier than winter but quieter than summer, this is an ideal time to experience everything that the city has to offer without the larger crowds. What’s more, you can often still cash in on some fairly decent off-peak hotel prices, too. Though the weather in the Bay Area certainly begins to chipper up throughout spring, this is still by and large a season you’ll want to wrap up for. Temperatures typically flirt between cool and pleasantly mild throughout, with some fairly regular sunshine offering some decent city exploring conditions. Just make sure to be mindful of the windchill by the Bay, and packing an umbrella certainly isn’t a bad call either. Things to do in Spring You’d be hard pressed to find a better time than spring for exploring some of San Francisco’s quirkiest neighborhoods. Both Chinatown and Japantown offer some of the city’s most enchanting cultural insights, characterized in large part by some charming traditional East Asian architecture and a variety of authentic eateries and stores. Also particularly popular to explore is Fisherman’s Wharf, a vast waterfront complex offering all manner of entertainment. Among its best attractions are the Pier 39 shopping district, the classic Musée Mécanique penny arcade and the Madame Tussauds wax museum. Keep an eye out for the local colony of playful, barking sea lions, too! What’s On in Spring Springtime sees the Bay Area veritably blooming with cultural events, never more literally than during the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival held in Japantown throughout April. This is also a season brimming with appreciation for the arts, best represented among the fantastic film screenings of the San Francisco International Film Festival. Also popular in spring are St. Patrick’s Day, host to a day of drinking and merriment as locals and visitors embark on epic bar crawls and revel at the annual St. Patty’s Day parade. If that wasn’t enough partying for you, then the massive Carnaval celebration most certainly will be, comprising two days straight of live music, dancing and drinking as locals in vibrant fancy dress take over the city streets. Summer (June – August) Average Temperature: 52 - 72°F • Average Rainfall: 0 - 2 days/mth • Average Sunshine: 12 hours/day As with most northern-hemisphere destinations, summertime sees San Francisco at its busiest. Though it’s rarely ever truly quiet throughout the year, the city takes on even more of a bustling and electric atmosphere in the summer months. Naturally, you’d be best advised booking your flights, hotels and venues sufficiently in advance so as not to miss out. San Francisco’s bayside location keeps the city’s climate in somewhat of a goldilocks zone, never too cold but rarely warmer than a certain degree. That being said, the Bay Area’s weather is at its most idyllic in summer, with temperatures averaging between mild and warm, complemented by very regular sunshine and rare rainfall. Things to do in Summer The idyllic climate throughout summer lends itself perfectly to exploring some of the Bay Area’s fantastic green spaces. Enjoy the vast open space of Golden Gate Park along with its gorgeous Botanical Garden and serene Japanese Tea Garden, or admire the spectacular floral displays of the Conservatory of Flowers after a relaxing picnic in Mission Dolores Park. San Francisco’s picture-perfect landscape is truly a sight to behold from the right vantage point. Head up Coit Tower atop Telegraph Hill for some unobstructed panoramic views right down into the Bay, or if you’re looking for a romantic way to spend a summer’s evening, catch the sunset over the city skyline from the Twin Peaks summit. What’s On in Summer Much like the rest of the nation, summertime means festival season for San Francisco. June sees the city come together for the likes of the annual Pride Parade and the North Beach Festival, while the San Francisco Jazz Festival and Fillmore Jazz Festival see the Bay Area embrace somewhat of a classier vibe. Lighting up the skies in the name of independence, San Francisco’s Fourth of July celebrations are truly a force to be reckoned with. All across the Bay Area, neighborhoods erupt in festivity as live music, partying and firework displays abound, most notably along the waterfront at Fisherman’s Wharf. Fall (September – November) Average Temperature: 50 - 70°F • Average Rainfall: 2 - 7 days/mth • Average Sunshine: 8 - 11 hours/day Unlike many comparable destinations, San Francisco maintains much of its peak-season popularity throughout fall, owing largely to its continued pleasant weather and the wealth of fantastic cultural events taking place throughout the season. While you’re sure to find the city somewhat quieter than in summer, you’ll still want to book your chosen hotels and attractions in advance to avoid any potential disappointment. In much the same way, the Bay Area typically maintains its relatively idyllic summertime weather throughout fall. Though you can expect a touch more rainfall depending on when exactly you choose to visit, most of the season offers temperatures somewhere between mild and pleasantly warm. Things to do in Fall With the Bay Area’s weather still so pleasant throughout fall, there are few better times to explore some of the city’s top sights. Take some stellar shots of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, often cloaked in its trademark scarf of fog, then take a load off in Alamo Square Park while admiring the famous row of Victorian-style Painted Ladies. History buffs and the morbidly curious alike should be no stranger to Alcatraz Island, once the site of one of the nation’s highest-security prisons. If you have the heart for it, you can take a boat tour out into the Bay to explore the hostile grounds and chilling cells that once held some of the most notorious criminals in American history. What’s On in Fall Fall is perhaps the most culturally-rich season of the year for San Francisco, dominated in large part by a huge variety of film festivals. The United Nations Association Film Festival, SF International Festival of Short Films and Japan Film Festival are just a few of the events screening award-winning films throughout the city, with an event for just about every topic and area of interest. Outside of the arts, the Bay Area is also host to the exceptionally popular Fleet Week event, dominated by a number of thrilling air shows, special boat tours and parades on the Bay. The San Francisco International Auto Show is a huge draw for motorheads from up and down the country, while thousands flock to the nearby city of Oakland to revel in celebration of the Día de los Muertos. Winter (December – February) Average Temperature: 46 - 61°F • Average Rainfall: 10 days/mth • Average Sunshine: 6 - 9 hours/day Though never truly quiet, winter offers a moment of respite for San Francisco. With the exception of the holiday season, when the Bay Area takes on a whole new lease of festive life, the low-season months are the perfect opportunity to experience many of the city’s top attractions at their quietest. Visit after the holidays, and you’ll even get to benefit from low-season hotel rates, often at quite a hefty discount on peak time prices. As you might expect, winter is typically the coldest period for San Francisco. Though its bayside location protects it from any drastic temperatures, you’ll certainly want to pack for the weather, particularly to combat the windchill and semi-regular rainfall. That isn’t to say you can’t also get some great weather throughout the season, as you’re sure to find yourself with at least a few particularly pleasant days ideal for exploring the city. Things to do in Winter Should you find yourself in San Francisco in December, the holiday season festivities are truly a sight to behold. Explore the traditional displays at Union Square, the heart of all holiday activity in the Bay Area, and admire the adorable animals up for adoption in the annual SPCA Holiday Window. Once you’re finished showing your moves at the Square’s Ice Skating Rink, grab yourself some holiday deals at the likes of Macy’s and Westfield Shopping Center. For an escape from some of the season’s chillier weather, head to the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park. This vast 400,000-square-foot complex houses both an enchanting aquarium and a four-story indoor rainforest populated by all manner of exotic flora and fauna, not to mention the impressive natural history museum and digital planetarium to boot. What’s On in Winter Winter in San Francisco kicks off with a whole host of festive events. Alongside a whole host of magical holiday displays, the city is also host to The Great Dickens Christmas Fair, complete with festive market stalls among an impressive replica of Victorian London. Also popular in San Francisco holiday tradition are the enchanting performances of A Christmas Carol and the Nutcracker Ballet. Not quite satisfied with the holiday season festivities alone, the Bay Area also quite literally lights up for New Year’s Eve, as thousands of revelers flock to see out the year with an impressive firework display out on the Bay. Following swiftly afterwards, San Francisco’s Chinese New Year celebration is among the largest and most vibrant in the world, drawing in millions to awe at the annual parade and its trademark 28-foot-long golden dragon.
Robert Heaney

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