If you’re bored and looking for something to do or someplace to go on December 25, 2010 (Christmas), here’s a list of things that are open in San Francisco, plus a few things to do outside the city. We’ve found links to affordable restaurants serving dinner on Christmas Day, an attraction open on Dec. 25 with free admission, and other fun cheap activities.
Christmas Day 2010 in San Francisco
Go see the local holiday lights. Drive around the neighborhoods or walk through your local downtown area. You’ll find specific suggestions by location on the Lights of the Valley website. In San Francisco, try Castro and the Embarcadero Center. Visit the Christmas trees at Macy’s in San Francisco’s Union Square, the Presidio, Ghirardelli Square, and Pier 39.
See the holiday lights by cable car. If you don’t want to walk or drive, consider taking a Holiday Lights Motorized Cable Car Tour, $28/adults $16 child, or save $2 each here. They’re running a limited tour schedule on December 24th and 25. The cable car tour will take your through many of the holiday displays mentioned above. They’ll play holiday music, give you a complimentary Santa hat, tempt you with candy canes, and provide blankets to keep you warm on the tour. Catch the Cable Car at Fisherman’s Wharf or Union Square. For more information or reservations call 415-596-9929. [map & location]
Visit hotel lobby Christmas displays. If you’d rather stay indoors, visit the festive miniature Christmas displays in the lobby of San Francisco hotels, like the San Francisco Hyatt Regency (at 5 Embarcadero Center). Or see the Westin St. Francis (335 Powell Street) decked out in more than $40,000 worth of spectacular holiday decorations, including San Francisco’s largest Sugar Castle created by Joe Vincent Designs. Both are free to view.
Escape from the Rock (Alcatraz). San Francisco’s Blue & Gold Fleet offers their “Escape From the Rock” Cruise around Alcatraz on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2010. This 90-minute journey launches off PIER 39 at 11:30am and is fully loaded with sound effects and intriguing stories about Capone, Billy Cook the Killer, and Clyde Johnson’s escape attempts. Get tickets online for $13 – $14 plus fees (regular price is $26 – $28).
See a Circus in San Francisco. Dance Mission Theater in San Francisco will present Mittens and Mistletoe, a winter circus cabaret on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, at 2pm and 4pm. (Get the discount tickets from Goldstar.) Circus artists of Sweet Can Productions will perform a lighthearted and funny variety show suitable for all ages, featuring the award-winning clown duet Coventry & Kaluza along with local circus acts.
Watch the SF Zoo animals get holiday toys and treats. From Zoocicles and holiday wrapped boxes with bows, to snowmen, ice towers and more, the San Francisco Zookeepers will dole out winter-themed enrichment toys and treats on schedule each weekend, December 21 through January 2, 2011, along with other Winter Goes Wild activities. The Christmas day (Saturday December 25, 2010) schedule is 11am Grizzly Bears; 1pm Sumatran Tigers; 2pm Lemurs; 3pm River Otters. Get SF Zoo discount tickets in advance.
Go ice skating in San Francisco. You can skate under the stars near the waterfront throughout the holiday season at The Holiday Ice Rink at Embarcadero Center, now through January 2, 2011, including all day Christmas Day. (Located at Justin Herman Plaza, adjacent to Four Embarcadero Center and across from the Ferry Building.) Or, try the Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square. And the indoor Yerba Buena Ice Skating Center is open for public skating on December 25, 2010 during afternoon and evening hours.
Go Jewish/Asian with Kung Pao Kosher Comedy. The Annual Kung Pao Kosher Comedy offers “Jewish comedy on Xmas” in a Chinese restaurant setting. UPDATE: Goldstar now has tickets for half off. This show with dinner (regular price $62) and or cocktails w/veggie eggrolls (regular price $42) will take place at The New Asia Restaurant in San Francisco’s Chinatown, Dec 23-26, 2010, 2 shows a day. Seating is Chinese banquet style at tables of 10. (772 Pacific Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133; 415-391-6666.)
See a show. You’re done shopping, now laugh about it at Shopping! The Musical, the long-running hit musical comedy revue at The Shelton Theater in San Francisco (533 Sutter Street). The show, a winner of the Bay Area Theater Critics Circle Award, features hilarious songs and sketches about the frustrations, annoyances and occasional joys of shopping. Get discount tickets online for $14.50 plus $4 fees ($29 at the door). Also showing in San Francisco:
- Coraline, the World Premiere at SF Playhouse (Half Off)
- Teatro ZinZanni’s License to Kiss II, Sweet Conspiracy: Gourmet Dinner & a Show (50% Off)
Go to the movies. Check the movie schedules to see what’s playing on December 25, 2010. Skip the box office lines and buy movie tickets in advance on Fandango. Or check out the celebrate Chrismakwanzakuhtivus with a free movie marathon at The Variety Preview Room (The Hobart Bldg. 582 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94104). At 11am- noon they’ll serve bagels, lox & cream cheese, cookies, potluck, hot rum toddies, coffee, and tea. Than around noon the movies begin, starting with Toy Story 3.
Get Curious at Contemporary Jewish Museum. On December 25, admission to CJM is FREE for everyone, from 11am to 5pm. Current exhibits include Curious George Saves the Day: The Art of Margret and H. A. Rey, and CJM has plenty of family-friendly activities planned. Families can meet some of their favorite Curious George characters, make their own story boats, and listen to their favorite Curious George stories. Food, beverages, and other holiday treats will be available all day. Located at 736 Mission Street (between Third and Fourth streets) in San Francisco.
Go ice skating in San Jose. Downtown Ice, The South Bay’s largest seasonal outdoor skating rink, is open Christmas Day 2pm to midnight; New Year’s Eve noon to 10pm; New Year’s Day 2 pm to midnight. (Located directly across Market Street from Plaza de Cesar Chavez, San Jose.) Downtown ice offers several ways to save up to half off on admission.
Watch the Warriors play the Trail Blazers. On December 25, the Golden State Warriors game against the Portland Trail Blazers comes with a free Santa hat at the door at Oracle Arena in Oakland. You can get discount tickets from several deal sources, but the best deal so far is from the Warriors themselves: Lower Level seats for $60 (reg $70), or Club 200 Sideline seats for $26 (reg. $36) when you use promo code WARRIORS on this Warriors ticket page.
Bay Area Restaurants Open December 25 2010. Open Table lists 62 restaurants serving special holiday dinners on Christmas Day 2010, and you can make reservations online. The website even lets you sort for SF Bay Area restaurants open Christmas Day and serving dinners under $30 ($$). And you can narrow your search to San Francisco only, or the East Bay, Peninsula, San Jose / Silicon Valley, Wine Country, and Marin. While you’re at it, you might want to see which restaurants are open in the San Francisco Bay Area on New Year’s Eve.
CHEAP TIP: AAA Free Tipsy Tow Home on Christmas Eve (incl. nonmembers), N. California
[Photo: My son's cranky Christmas cat Ella. Copyright Allison Allen]
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This is great! I’ll be alone and visiting and this is a great list! thanks so much!
Thanks for the great tips. This is exactly what I was looking for!