Home » *Top Pick*, Christmas, Holiday Shopping, In Person, Kids & Families, Sponsored, Tree + Holiday Lightings

PIER 39’s Dazzling 60′ Tree Lighting Show (New Year’s Day)

Thursday, January 1, 2026 - 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | Cost: FREE
Pier 39 | Pier 39, The Embarcadero, San Francisco CA

Free / Learn More

PIER 39’s Dazzling 60′ Tree Lighting Show (Dec. 5 – Jan 11, 2026)

The Holidays are HapPIER at PIER 39! Get into the spirit of the Season at PIER 39 while shopping, dining and strolling The PIER.

An awe-inspiring Christmas tree has welcomed millions of visitors at the Entrance Plaza of PIER 39 every holiday season since 1983 (except 2020), becoming a not-to-be-missed San Francisco holiday tradition.

Come enjoy Pier 39’s  60′ live Christmas Tree that “comes to life” and performs nightly every half hour from 5-10pm, December 5, 2025 through January 11, 2026.

Kick off the holiday season with us on Thursday, December 4th, from 5 – 9pm and witness PIER 39’s 60-foot live Christmas Tree “come to life” with its first performance of the year at 6pm!

Enjoy roaming entertainment, Christmas carolers, games throughout The PIER, a special visit from Santa Claus, and live music from The Death & Taxes Swing Band doing a rockin’ set with all your favorite holiday songs.

And the best way to watch the tree perform? With a to-go beer, wine, or cocktails! Snag your drink of choice from any of our participating restaurants and take your drink onto The PIER.

The Holiday season comes alive at PIER 39 beginning mid-November with twinkling lights, decorations throughout The PIER, holiday photo opportunities and a majestic 60’ Live Christmas Tree in Entrance Plaza.
From December 5th – January 11th, the tree will “come to life” and perform every half hour from 5-10pm. Synchronized to holiday music, the tree becomes a kaleidoscope of swirling color, adorned with thousands of specialty lights and ornaments.

 

 

One-Hour Free Parking Validation (Dining Discount)

Visitors who dine at participating full-service restaurants at PIER 39 can receive one hour of free validated parking in the PIER 39 Garage.

Participating restaurants include:

– Amici’s East Coast Pizzeria
– Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
– Crab House
– Eagle Cafe
– Fire & Ice
– Fog Harbor Fish House
– Hard Rock Cafe

– Luau Lounge Tiki Bar
– Pier Market Seafood Restaurant
– Players Sports Grill & Arcade
– Swiss Louis Italian & Seafood Restaurant
– Taco Cantina
– Wipeout Bar & Grill

Please make sure your server is aware before receiving your bill.

Public Transportation

If you’re already in San Francisco, hop on MUNI’s historic F-Line trolley cars or the 8-Bayshore, 30-Stockton, 39-Coit, 47-Van Ness  (temporarily suspended) or 49-Van Ness/Mission buses.  San Francisco’s famous cable cars drop off just a few short blocks from The PIER. Visit 511.org or call 888.500.INFO or 511 on your mobile phone.

For Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) information, visit bart.gov or call 888.500.INFO or 511 on your mobile phone.

Travel by train and use the Capitol Corridor’s dedicated bus service from Emeryville into San Francisco. Visit www.capitolcorridor.org to plan your trip.

Travel with Blue & Gold Fleet on San Francisco Bay Ferry to/from:  Alameda/Oakland, Vallejo, Sausalito, Harbor Bay, Richmond, South San Francisco, Oracle Park and Chase Center. Visit blueandgoldfleet.com.

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.


Cost: FREE
Categories: *Top Pick*, Christmas, Holiday Shopping, In Person, Kids & Families, Sponsored, Tree + Holiday Lightings
Venue: Pier 39
Address: Pier 39, The Embarcadero, San Francisco CA

Thursday, January 1, 2026

7:30 am   Free Admission Day at SF Botanical Garden for New Year’s Day 2026  FREE*
*Free on the 2nd Tuesday of the month, on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, New Year's Day, and daily from 7:30-9 am
All Day   SF’s 12 ft. Tall “Sugar Castle” at the Westin St. Francis (Nov. 26-Jan. 2)  FREE
All Day   SF’s Holiday Ice Skating Session at Union Square (New Year’s Day)  $22
10:00 am   Free First Thursdays at SF’s Museum of Craft and Design  FREE*
*Free Admission every First Thursday
10:00 am   13th Annual “First Day” Hike at Jack London Stat Park (North Bay)  $15*
*$15 plus $10 per vehicle park entry fee
11:00 am   Cancelled: Free First Thursdays at Berkeley Art Museum  FREE*
*Free admission to galleries. Film programs are excluded. No advanced tickets required, but subject to capacity limits
11:00 am   San Jose’s New Year’s Day “Skate Under the Palms” Ice Skating  $21*
*$21 includes skate rentals
12:00 pm   SFMOMA’s “Free First Thursdays” Free Museum Day for Locals  FREE*
*Residents of the nine Bay Area counties are invited to spend a day at the museum on us
12:00 pm   New Year’s (& Final) Day at San Jose’s “Christmas in the Park”  FREE*
*Free, but donations are accepted
1:00 pm   Free New Year’s Day 2026 Huge Sand Art-Making at Ocean Beach (SF)  FREE*
*Open to all
3:00 pm   Free SF Chamber Orchestra Concert on New Year’s Day (Palo Alto)  FREE*
*Tickets/RSVPs NOT required but it helps us to know you're planning to come. Supporting Members may enter up to an hour before downbeat for first choice seating. General Admission begins at 2:45pm.
4:30 pm   New Year’s Day at Oakland Zoo’s “Glowfari” 2025 Lights Festival  $30.75*
*Adult admission tickets start at $30.75; The Zoo is using dynamic pricing, so ticket prices will vary based on date and time and purchase date. Buy early. Tickets do sell out in advance.
5:00 pm   New Year’s Day at “Lightscape”: Immersive Holiday Light Trail  $32*
*Adult tix start at $32
5:00 pm   SF’s Epic “Photosynthesis” Light Show | Conservatory of Flowers  FREE*
*Free to watch from outside the building.
5:00 pm   SF’s Free DFT Monthly Block Party: “Downtown First Thursdays” (2026)  FREE*
*Free with RSVP
5:00 pm   SF’s DFT New Year’s Day: “Downtown First Thursdays” (2026)  FREE*
*FREE with RSVP
6:00 pm   SF’s 2025 Macy’s Union Square Great Christmas Tree (Final Night)  FREE
6:00 pm   Lower Polk / TL Art Walk | Trendyloin  FREE
7:00 pm   Hecklers Welcome: SF’s First Stand-Up Comedy Show That Invites Heckling  FREE*
*Free with RSVP
9:00 pm   16th & Mission Open Mic (w/out a mic)  FREE*
*Absolutely free for all!
9:00 pm   Every Thursday: “Inner Circle” Dance Party at White Rabbit (SF)  FREE*
*Inner Circle is always Free with RSVP
9:30 pm   Sadderday: An Emo/Pop-Punk/Screamo Dance Party | SF  FREE
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