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New Year’s Day

Wednesday, December 31

New Year’s Eve at Oakland Zoo’s “Glowfari” 2025 Lights Festival
New Year's Eve at Oakland Zoo's "Glowfari" 2025 Lights Festival

Glowfari returns in November 2025! This wildly popular, family-friendly experience features hundreds of ALL new, larger-than-life animal lanterns throughout the Zoo. Each lantern tells the story of the ongoing journey of wildlife, the importance of every species on our planet, and Oakland Zoo’s commitment to ...

Thursday, January 1

Free Admission Day at SF Botanical Garden for New Year’s Day 2026
Thursday, January 1 – 7:30 am - Ends at 4:00 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Free on the 2nd Tuesday of the month, on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, New Year's Day, and daily from 7:30-9 am
| San Francisco Botanical Garden
Free Admission Day at SF Botanical Garden for New Year's Day 2026

The San Francisco Botanical Garden is one of the most diverse gardens in the world. A unique urban oasis, the garden is a living museum within Golden Gate Park, offering 55 acres of both landscaped gardens and open spaces, and showcasing over 9,000 different kinds ...Monthly

13th Annual “First Day” Hike at Jack London Stat Park (North Bay)
Thursday, January 1 – 10:00 am - Ends at 3:00 pm | Cost: $15*
*$15 plus $10 per vehicle park entry fee
| Jack London State Historic Park
13th Annual "First Day" Hike at Jack London Stat Park (North Bay)
Jack London State Historic Park will kick off the new year with their 13th Annual First Day Hike and a “Gentler Version” of the First Day Hike, both on January 1, 2026. The traditional trek can be either a personal challenge to make it to the ...
SF’s 12 ft. Tall “Sugar Castle” at the Westin St. Francis (Nov. 26-Jan. 2)
Thursday, January 1 – All Day | Cost: FREE | The Westin St. Francis
SF's 12 ft. Tall “Sugar Castle" at the Westin St. Francis (Nov. 26-Jan. 2)

The Westin St. Francis’ iconic Sugar Castle celebrates 20 years of holiday magic in San Francisco. This nearly 12-foot-tall, 1,000-pound masterpiece features more than 20 towers, 15 illuminated rooms, and a running train, bringing a whimsical French château to life in the heart of the ...

San Jose’s New Year’s Day “Skate Under the Palms” Ice Skating
Thursday, January 1 – 11:00 am - Ends at 10:30 pm | Cost: $21*
*$21 includes skate rentals
| Downtown Ice (San Jose)
San Jose's New Year's Day "Skate Under the Palms" Ice Skating

Located at 120 S. Market St., the downtown San Jose rink opens on Wednesday, November 26, and operates daily through January 19, 2026. Skate in true California style. A local tradition since 1994, Skate Under the Palms, formerly known as Downtown Ice in San Jose, ...

New Year’s (& Final) Day at San Jose’s “Christmas in the Park”
Thursday, January 1 – 12:00 pm - Ends at 10:00 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Free, but donations are accepted
| Plaza de Cesar Chavez
New Year's (& Final) Day at San Jose's "Christmas in the Park"

Christmas in the Park is an annual holiday tradition that takes place in the heart of downtown San José at the Plaza de Cesar Chavez. For over 45 years, this whimsical walk-thru event has brought people from all over the Bay Area together during the ...

Free New Year’s Day 2026 Huge Sand Art-Making at Ocean Beach (SF)
Thursday, January 1 – 1:00 pm - Ends at 3:00 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Open to all
| Ocean Beach (Below Cliff House)
Free New Year's Day 2026 Huge Sand Art-Making at Ocean Beach (SF)
Welcome the New Year by creating a monumental, collaborative artwork at the beach. All ages and abilities welcome. Free Huge Sand Art Creation on Ocean Beach w/ Artist Andres Amador (SF) Andres Amador is an earthscape artist from San Francisco who is well known for creating massive ...
Free SF Chamber Orchestra Concert on New Year’s Day (Palo Alto)
Free SF Chamber Orchestra Concert on New Year's Day (Palo Alto)
Always Admission Free…because world class music belongs to EVERYONE! These concerts are in Memory of SFCO Founder, Edgar Braun and Ida Braun Program Louise Farrenc – Symphony No. 3, mvt. 4 Niccolò Paganini– Violin Concerto, mvt. 1 Lisa Saito – Debut Artist Beethoven – Symphony No. 7 Ring in the New Year with the SFCO and the ...
New Year’s Day at Oakland Zoo’s “Glowfari” 2025 Lights Festival
New Year's Day at Oakland Zoo's "Glowfari" 2025 Lights Festival

Glowfari returns in November 2025! This wildly popular, family-friendly experience features hundreds of ALL new, larger-than-life animal lanterns throughout the Zoo. Each lantern tells the story of the ongoing journey of wildlife, the importance of every species on our planet, and Oakland Zoo’s commitment to ...

New Year’s Day at “Lightscape”: Immersive Holiday Light Trail
Thursday, January 1 – 5:00 pm - Ends at 8:15 pm | Cost: $32*
*Adult tix start at $32
| San Francisco Botanical Garden
New Year's Day at "Lightscape": Immersive Holiday Light Trail

San Francisco Botanical Garden will transform into a glowing after-dark wonderland this winter with Lightscape, an immersive holiday light and music trail that has wowed crowds in London, Chicago, Melbourne, and New York. From November 21, 2025 through January 4, 2026, visitors can wander a ...

SF’s 2025 Macy’s Union Square Great Christmas Tree (Final Night)
Thursday, January 1 – 6:00 pm - Ends at 10:00 pm | Cost: FREE | Union Square Park
SF's 2025 Macy's Union Square Great Christmas Tree (Final Night)

This iconic landmark, Macy’s Great Tree in Union Square, returns decorated in an abundance of festive ornaments and glimmering lights to light up Union Square throughout the holidays. 2025 update – The official lighting quietly took place on Tuesday, November 11, 2025. San Francisco’s most ...

Sunday, January 25

“Glowfari” 2025 Lights Festival at Oakland Zoo (Final Day)
"Glowfari" 2025 Lights Festival at Oakland Zoo (Final Day)

Glowfari returns in November 2025! This wildly popular, family-friendly experience features hundreds of ALL new, larger-than-life animal lanterns throughout the Zoo. Each lantern tells the story of the ongoing journey of wildlife, the importance of every species on our planet, and Oakland Zoo’s commitment to ...