Shop ‘til you drop.
The holiday markets are multiplying. Fuel up with the Hanukkah Super Mensch menu, bier and caviar from Radhaus, or a tasting with LGBTQIA+ winemakers. When you’re not crossing off your gift list, catch spectacles around town like building-size art projections, Hamel’s “lighting of the vines,” and a cinematic sensory feast at 500 Capp Street. Don’t forget to pick up a little something for yourself!
Jump ahead to this week’s top events:
Kick off the holidays with the annual tree lighting in Civic Center.
Immerse yourself in the holiday spirit at Let’s Glow at the Ferry Building.
Be part of the festivities at Winterfest at Salesforce Park.
Feed your senses at Cine-Gastronomy at 500 Capp Street.
Have a good one.
Have a culinary Hanukkah adventure. Super Mensch’s “Travels of Mensch on the Bench” menu takes you from New York to Chicago and back to SF with special regional treats like latkes and vodka to celebrate the holiday of lights; through December 22nd. // Super Mensch, 2336 Chestnut St. (Marina); reservations at supermenschsf.com
Head to Wine Country for a movie and a show, with a live performance from Berkeley’s Classical Revolution Trio followed by a screening of French comedy-drama Les Musiciens; Monday at 6pm. Cameo Cinema, 1340 Main St. (St. Helena); tickets at festivalnapavalley.org
Indulge in a caviar and bier pairing. Head to Radhaus this month for a curated selection of German beers with Sasanian Kaluga caviar; through December 31st. // Radhaus, 2 Marina Blvd., Building A (Marina); radhaussf.com
Shop local at a holiday pop-up downtown, where a storefront will be transformed into a one-stop destination for SF-made gifts and goodies; Tuesday, 11am to 4pm, through December 20th. // Two Embarcadero Center, (FiDi); details at sfmade.org
Watch writers Daniel Handler and Lucy Corin sound off on Sentences vs. Paragraphs in a literary conversation hosted by Arion Press; Tuesday at 6:30pm. // The Firehouse, 2 Marina Blvd. (Marina); tickets at eventbrite.com
Get a taste of Chicago’s famed Bar Kumiko at a pop-up in San Jose where chef and James Beard award-winning author Julia Momosé will be working a guest shift; Tuesday, 7pm to 10pm. // Alter Ego Cocktail Club & Still OG, 66 S 1st St. (San Jose); RSVP at partiful.com
Go behind the scenes of Wicked with director Jon M. Chu, who will join KQED’s Mina Kim in conversation; Wednesday at 6pm. // Sydney Goldstein Theater, 275 Hayes St. (Civic Center); tickets at cityboxoffice.com
Kick off the holidays with the annual tree lighting in Civic Center. Stay for performances from the San Francisco Boys Chorus, the Broadway All-Star Band, and other entertaining acts; Wednesday, 4pm to 7pm. // Civic Center Plaza, 335 McAllister St. (Civic Center); details at sfciviccenter.org
Dish with Alison Roman when the culinary icon comes to San Francisco to talk about her newest cookbook, Something From Nothing; Wednesday at 7:30pm. // Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, 3301 Lyon St. (Presidio); tickets at ticketmaster.com
Find something for everyone at Tetra’s Holiday Oasis Makers Fair. Jam to live music while you shop home decor, beauty, jewelry, accessories, and edible delights from local purveyors; Wednesday, 5pm to 8pm. // Tetra, 400 W Java Dr. (Sunnyvale); RSVP at eventbrite.com
Stroll Noe Valley, glass in hand, at the Winter Wine Walk. Pop into shops, enjoy live performances, and nosh along the way; Thursday, 4pm to 7 pm. // 24th Street Corridor, 3861 24th St. (Noe Valley); tickets at eventbrite.com
Elevate your gifting at the St. Regis Holiday Salon, a pop-up boutique offering goods from international and local brands like Petite Plume, Ladurée, McEvoy Ranch, and more; Thursdays and Fridays through December 12th, 3pm to 5pm. // The St. Regis San Francisco, 125 3rd St. (SoMa); details on Instagram
Celebrate Peppermint Bark Day. The unofficial holiday brings holiday fun to Ghirardelli, including Santa photo ops, custom crafts, and sweet peppermint treats; Thursday, 3pm to 7pm. // Ghirardelli Square, 900 North Point St. (Fisherman’s Wharf); details at ghirardelli.com
Toast to LGBTQIA+ winemakers at a tasting event featuring California wines and plenty of queer joy with The Vinguard and Co-Fermented; Friday at 5pm. // Tickets and location details at ticketstripe.com
Witness the lighting of the vines at Hamel. Enjoy a festive dinner paired with organic wines as you enjoy an illuminating display; Friday and Saturday, 5:30pm to 8:30pm. // Hamel, 15401 Sonoma Hwy. (Sonoma); tickets at hamelfamilywines.com
Do good for families at a diaper bundling event with Mindful Littles where you can pitch in to create helpful care packages; Friday, 5pm to 6pm. // Orinda Community Center, 28 Orinda Way (Orinda); RSVP at eventbrite.com
Join the annual Sunset Holiday Mercantile for two days of festivities that bring together local makers, merchants, artists, food artisans, and lots of family-friendly holiday fun. Follow it up with the Inner Sunset Holiday Lights Stroll on Saturday night; Saturday and Sunday, 11am to 5pm (mercantile) and Saturday, 5pm to 8pm (stroll). // San Francisco County Fair Building, (Golden Gate Park); details at sunsetmercantilesf.com
Thank you to our partners at the Sunset Mercantile.
Immerse yourself in the holiday spirit. Catch large-scale arts projection at the Ferry Building for the return of Let’s Glow, then wander in for a winter wonderland featuring silent disco, seasonal sips, and cookie and ornament decorating; Friday, 5pm to 8pm. // Ferry Building Marketplace, 1 Ferry Building (Embarcadero); details at ferrybuildingmarketplace.com
Browse vintage designer handbags, blend your new signature lip color, and build your own fresh floral bouquet at a get-glam “winter edit” event with Bay Area luxury fashion brand, The Nouvou; Friday, 6:30pm to 9:30pm. // Axiom Hotel, 28 Cyril Magnin St. (Tenderloin); tickets at eventbrite.com
Sip, savor, and shop at Hestan Napa, newly opened in the heart of downtown Napa. Experience Michelin-star chef Mark Dommen’s creative menu, indulge in award-winning Hestan Vineyard wines, and see the pinnacle of cookware and appliances brought brilliantly to life. // Details at hestanculinary.com
Thank you to our partners at Hestan Napa.
Check out the goods at the Nest and Gap Holiday Makers Market, which brings together more than 50 talented makers, artists, and craftspeople from the Bay Area; Friday, 5pm to 9pm and Saturday, 10am to 5pm. // Gap Inc., 2 Folsom St. (Embarcadero); details at buildanest.org
Be part of the festivities at Winterfest. The weekend-long celebration features a tree lighting, gift wrapping, wreath making, a Frozen sing-a-long, and ugly sweater silent disco; Friday, 5pm to 7pm, Saturday, 10am to 7pm, and Sunday, 9am to 5pm. // Salesforce Park, 425 Mission St. (SoMa); details at theeastcut.org
Settle in for a night of winter festivities. Sit fireside beneath glowing sycamores to hear a string quartet at Auteur’s stunning new Russian River Estate. Enjoy rare library and limited-production pours, chef-curated seasonal bites, and signature current-release wines; Friday, 4pm to 7pm. // Auteur Russian River, 10520 Wohler Rd. (Healdsburg); reservations at exploretock.com
Thank you to our partners at Auteur Wines.
Feel a sense of wonder with the San Francisco Ballet’s Nutcracker. Bring family and friends to experience the music, movement, and magic of this unforgettable holiday tradition; performances start this Friday at 7pm through December 28th. // War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave. (Civic Center); tickets at sfballet.org
Thank you to our partners at the San Francisco Ballet.
Embrace Mariah Carey vibes at holiday drag brunch. Enjoy performances by Dee Dee Marie Holliday and Comfort Sweet Mo’Telle, music by DJ No Silence, and lots of sparkly fun inspired by the queen of Christmas music; Saturday, 11am and 1pm. // Valley Goat, 1100 N Mathilda Ave. (Sunnyvale); tickets at sevenrooms.com
Support local artists at 1890 Bryant Street Studio’s holiday market featuring fine arts and handmade gifts including stationery, sculpture, ceramics, wearable art, and more; Saturday and Sunday, 12pm to 5pm. // 1890 Bryant Street Studios, 1890 Bryant St. (Mission); details at 1890bryant.com
Dip into some fantasy with Marisa Churchill. The Top Chef alum will be celebrating the upcoming release of her debut novel Secrets, Spells, and Chocolate with a cozy reading at Humphry Slocombe complete with scoops of their new hot chocolate flavor; Saturday, 1pm to 2pm. // Humphry Slocombe, 699 22nd St. (Dogpatch); details on Instagram
Get inspired at East Bay Open Studios, where you can shop unique handmade gifts from more than 180 artists across Oakland and Berkeley; Saturday and Sunday, 11am to 5pm. // Details at eastbayopenstudios.com
Thank you to our partners at East Bay Open Studios.
Catch an epic dance battle and house party at a downtown rooftop shindig with Turfinc and Perreo Eléctrico; Saturday at 3pm. // 945 Market St. (SoMa); tickets at eventbrite.com
Feed your senses at Cine-Gastronomy, an evening that pairs moving images from Canyon Cinema with a live live performance by Roco Córdova and artist-designed small bites; Saturday, 5pm to 8pm. // 500 Capp St. (Mission); tickets at humanitix.com
Spend the day wandering Head West. The iconic West Coast market returns to the Ferry Building for stylish, one-of-a-kind finds; Sunday, 11am to 4pm. // Ferry Building, 1 Ferry Building (Embarcadero); details at headwestmarketplace.com
Discover winter in San Ramon, where you can play, shop, and skate all season long. Enjoy twinkling lights, open-air shopping, cozy dining, and holiday fun—plus 15 percent off select San Ramon hotels and two complimentary ice skating tickets to the Kristi Yamaguchi Holiday Ice Rink at City Center Bishop Ranch; through January 4th, 2026. // Details at discoversanramonca.com
Thank you to our partners at Discover San Ramon.