It’s time for holiday traditions old and new.
Start your week with matcha and mani, shop local for last-minute foodstuffs, then get in a pre-Thanksgiving feast run at the Napa Valley Turkey Chase. Indulge in post-Turkey Day brunch on Friday or jump straight to Christmas movies, markets, tree-lightings, and the flair of the annual Dickens Fair.
Jump ahead to this week’s top events:
Live out your Home Alone nostalgia with a screening of the film and appearance from its star.
Meet your idols at a weekend of fun at the Fan Expo.
Step back in time for the Great Dickens Christmas Fair.
Get in the spirit with A John Waters Christmas at Great American Music Hall.
Have a good one.
Treat yourself to some chic new nails. On the Other Hand offers clean and manis from technicians paid living wages to look good and feel good; Mondays and Wednesdays though Sundays. // On the Other Hand, 3562 Sacramento St. (Presidio Heights); booking at otohnails.com
Live out your Home Alone nostalgia with a screening of the film followed by an interview with leading man Macaulay Culkin; Monday at 7:30pm. // Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway (Oakland); tickets at paramountoakland.org
Sip, savor, and shop at Hestan Napa. Indulge in Michelin-star chef Mark Dommen’s creative menu and award-winning Hestan Vineyard wines, then experience the pinnacle of cookware and appliances in the brand’s new downtown Napa destination; Mondays through Sundays, 11am to 5:30pm. // Hestan Napa, 1300 First St., Ste. 291 (Napa); details at hestanculinary.com
Thank you to our partners at Hestan Napa.
Immerse yourself in Japanese coffee culture at The Wild Fox, a new café led by executive chef Tsubasa Onozaki that’s serving up single-origin pour-overs and matcha, along with onigiri, salads, sandos, and pastries; Mondays through Fridays, 7am to 5pm. // The Wild Fox, 123 Battery St. (Fidi); details at thewildfoxsf.com
Raise a glass to holiday spirits with spritzes, frosty frozen cocktails, warm drinks, and unique creations by Elmer Mejicanos on Causwells extensive holiday cocktail menu; Monday through January 1st. // Causwells, 2346 Chestnut St. (Marina); causwells.com
Stock up on fresh, local goods for your Thanksgiving spread. The Ferry Plaza Farmers Market will welcome special seasonal guests for a holiday edition of its Tuesday market; Tuesday, 10am to pm. // Ferry Plaza, 1 Ferry Plaza (Embarcadero); details at foodwise.org
Take on a holiday tradition when the city of St. Helena lights up its 36-foot “tree” made from repurposed Beringer wine barrels. Stay for wine and hot toddies, plus a market and live music; Wednesday at 5pm. // Hunt Ave. and Main St. (St. Helena); details at sthelena.com
Drink your way through San Francisco history. Discover SF’s original shoreline, the Barbary Coast, and the birthplace of the city’s most iconic cocktails in this walking tour with connoisseur Camper English; Wednesday, 5pm to 6:45pm and Friday and Saturday, 2:30pm to 4:15pm. // Details and reservations at airbnb.com
Decorate like a pro with a stop at the San Francisco Flower Market. Shop mums, grasses, branches, and greens for tablescapes and wreaths during the market’s public hours; Wednesdays through Saturdays, 8am to 1pm. // San Francisco Flower Market, 901 16th St. (Potrero Hill); details at sfflowermarket.org
Work up an appetite at the Napa Valley Turkey Chase. Choose between a paved 5K or 10K course along the river pre-feast; Thursday at 8am. // Napa Valley College, 2277 Napa Vallejo Hwy. (Napa); register at runsignup.com
Leave turkey behind this year. On Thanksgiving evening, Copra (1700 Fillmore St.) is open for delicious Indian fare, Z&Y Peking Duck (606 Jackson St.) will offer its eponymous bird as a centerpiece, and Crustacean (195 Pine St.) is dishing out Vietnamese delights—including turkey-stuffed dumplings if you don’t want to leave it all behind.
Keep the good eats going with a post-Thanksgiving brunch. Enjoy pecan pie pancakes and turkey hash with none of the dishes at Stephanie Izard’s Silicon Valley outpost; Friday, 11am to 2pm. // Valley Goat, Treehouse Hotel, 1100 N Mathilda Ave. (Sunnyvale); reservations at sevenrooms.com
Celebrate French Toast Day. Chapeau! is serving up thick slices of homemade brioche pan-fried in French butter and topped with salted caramel ice cream to fuel your Black Friday shopping; Friday, 5pm to 9pm. // Chapeu! 126 Clement St. (Inner Richmond); details on Instagram
Dance off the carbs and sweets when Sara Landry lands in town for her Eternalism tour; Friday and Saturday at 9pm. // Palace Of The Fine Arts, 3601 Lyon St. (Presidio); tickets at eventim.us
Spend your Sunday drinking tea and eating macarons when legendary Parisian maison de pâtisserie Ladurée lands in San Francisco for a special holiday-edition of The St. Regis San Francisco’s afternoon tea service; Friday at 2pm through December 31. // The St. Regis San Francisco, 125 3rd St. (SoMa); reservations at opentable.com
Support local neurodiverse artists and shop original goods at The Helpers Artisan Boutique; Fridays and Saturdays, 10am to 4pm. // Ferry Building, 1 Ferry Building (Embarcadero); details at ferrybuildingmarketplace.com
Meet your idols at a weekend of fan fun. The Fan Expo returns to unite celebs and fans of comics, sci-fi, horror, anime, gaming, and cosplay; Friday, 4pm to 9pm, Saturday 10am to 7pm, and Sunday 10am to 5pm. // Moscone Center West, 800 Howard St. (SoMa); tickets at fanexpohq.com
Choose naughty or nice brunch and cocktails. The Deck the Halls holiday pop-up bar returns with jolly decor, holiday spirits, and weekend brunch; brunch is on Friday through Sunday, 11am to 2pm, bar is open Mondays through Sundays, 4pm to 12am. // Deck the Halls, 2298 Market St. (Upper Market); deckthehallsbar.com
Step back in time for the Great Dickens Christmas Fair. Hop aboard a live steam train, take in the scent of roasted chestnuts, and live out the ultimate storybook Christmas in music halls, pubs, dance floors, and festive shops; Friday through Sunday, 10am to 6pm. // Cow Palace, 2600 Geneva Ave. (Daly City); tickets at dickensfair.com
Get ahead on holiday gifting. Shop jewelry, ceramics, woodwork, apparel, art, plants, and more from more than 50 local makers as you enjoy live music and hearty libations; Saturday, 11am to 5pm. // Broadway Plaza, 1275 Broadway Plaza (Walnut Creek); details at makersmarket.us
Catch ODC/Dance’s The Velveteen Rabbit. The beloved Bay Area tradition returns with choreography by KT Nelson featuring students from ODC’s Youth & Teen Program; Saturday at 11am and Sunday at 2pm. // Blue Shield of California Theater at YBCA, 700 Howard St. (SoMa); tickets at odc.dance
Shop vintage but make it kawaii with clothing, Sanrio goods, and arcade fun at a pop-up from OK Marketplace; Saturday and Sunday, 12pm to 7pm. // Japan Center, East Mall (Japantown); details on Instagram
Bring the family out for a Sunday soirée. Santa will make an appearance at the woman-owned Songbird Parlour, which is dishing out treats for adults and kids alike to fuel up for shopping in a surrounding artisan marketplace; Sunday, 12pm to 2pm. // Songbird Parlour, 14301 Arnold Dr., Ste. 3 (Glen Ellen); details at songbirdparlour.com
Dust off your favorite ugly Christmas sweater for complimentary holiday aperitifs alongside dinner at Spoonbar; Sundays, 4pm to 9pm. // Spoonbar, 219 Healdsburg Ave. (Healdsburg); reservations at spoonbar.com
See the lighting of the Bay Area’s largest tree at Thrive City. Catch shows from Louis Cato and August Lee, plus appearances by special guests from the Warriors and the Valkyries; Sunday at 4pm. // Thrive City, 1725 3rd St. (Mission Bay); details at chasecenter.com
Get in the spirit with A John Waters Christmas, the annual stand-up show that takes on the holidays with hilarity; Sunday, 8pm to 11pm. // Great American Music Hall, 859 O’Farrell St. (Tenderloin); tickets at eventbrite.com