It's the holiday season here in Oakland, California! Plan a visit to The Town and you will find plenty of ways to get in the holiday spirit! Here’s a list for holiday shopping, and more to get you started! Get your calendar out, select the holiday events that look the most fun for you and your family, and create ever-lasting memories!

  1. Graham Lustig's The Nutcracker | December 21
  2. Candlelight: Best of Hip-Hop | December 20
  3. WinterFest at Chabot Space & Science Center | December 20-21
  4. Fairy Winterland | Multiple Weekends in December
  5. Glowfari at the Oakland Zoo | Through January 2025
  6. More Holiday Events


Graham Lustig's The Nutcracker | December 20
 

Oakland Symphony presenting the Nutcracker in Oakland Ca

Experience the magic of The Nutcracker with Oakland Ballet! Join Marie and the Nutcracker Prince on a fantastical journey, accompanied by the Oakland Symphony and Piedmont East Bay Children's Choir. Get Tickets!


Candlelight: Best of Hip-Hop | December 20
 

Candlelight best of hip hop

Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before in Oakland. Get your tickets now to discover the music of Hip-Hop at First Presbyterian Church of Oakland under the gentle glow of candlelight. GET TICKETS NOW!


WinterFest at Chabot Space & Science Center | December 20-21
 

WinterFest at Chabot 2025

Join us for a two-day celebration that marks the launch of Winter at Chabot! The Center comes alive with festive energy. Enjoy live music, face painting, and special activities that blend holiday cheer with cosmic exploration. Meet Chabot’s science and astronomy experts as they share real research about icy worlds, planetary missions, and the search for life beyond Earth. From sparkling décor to hands-on discovery, WinterFest is the perfect start to a season filled with imagination, science, and family fun. GET TICKETS NOW!


Fairy Winterland | Multiple Weekends in December
 

Fairy Winterland

Fairy Winterland returns in Dazzling Splendor! An Oakland tradition for 20 years, this multicultural event brings families together to share in the season’s many festivities and enjoy a twinkling landscape under the evening skies. This Year’s Theme: United by Light! GET TICKETS NOW!


Glowfari at the Oakland Zoo | Through January 2025
 

Frog at Glowfari at the Oakland Zoo

Glowfari is a wildly popular, family-friendly experience that features hundreds of ALL new, larger-than-life animal lanterns throughout the zoo. This year's experience includes new themes -- explore the future of Oakland, learn about coexisting with wildlife, swim through the reef to see colorful underwater creatures, go on a safari through the savanna to spot iconic African animals, meet some interesting bugs that are all around us, and end the night by taking the train through the reptile world. GET TICKETS NOW!
 


Other Fun Holiday Events in Oakland:
 

  • Holiday Markets in Oakland | November-December
  • USS Potomac: Santa Cruises on Potomac for Kids of All Ages | December 14
  • Holiday Tea at the Claremont Club & Spa | November 1-28

Looking for more options? Explore our full calendar of events!

Have an Oakland holiday event you want to add to our Oakland event calendar? Submit your event today.

 

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