Home » City Guide » ,

10 Fun Things to Do Thanksgiving Weekend (November 23-26) in San Francisco + Bay Area

Enjoy your Thanksgiving Day weekend with holiday lighting ceremonies, festive light parades & much more
By - posted 11/22/2023 No Comment

10 Fun Things to Do in the SF Bay Area

This Weekend: November 23-26, 2023 (Thanksgiving Day Weekend)

Your Weekend Plans: Start your weekend by watching Ghirardelli Square’s Holiday Lighting, join Niles’ Festival of Lights & Parade, shop from 200+ local artists at Craneway Craft Fair, enjoy the Parade of Lights & Winter Wonderland at San Rafael, see Oakland Fairyland’s beloved puppeteers for “Nutcracker Sweet,” warm up to Chanukah music and enjoy Latkes at Petaluma’s “Run-A-Latke,” witness Santa’s Riverboat Arrival at Petaluma, visit SF’s Golden Gate Park for the Scottish Highland Winter Festival and much more!

See our full weekend events calendar (updated daily!) with 50+ things to do this weekend!


Thursday, November 28

Alcatraz’s Thanksgiving Indigenous Peoples’ Sunrise Ceremony (2024)
Thursday, November 28 – 4:15 am - Ends at 8:00 am | Cost: $15.50*
*Event is free, but boat tickets are $15.50 for adults. Free for children under 5.
| Alcatraz Island
Alcatraz's Thanksgiving Indigenous Peoples' Sunrise Ceremony (2024)

The Indigenous Peoples’ Day Sunrise Gathering on October 14, 2024 and November 28, 2024 are organized by the International Indian Treaty Council commemorating the 1969-71 occupation of Alcatraz by the Indians of All Tribes. These are one-day events and not the standard Alcatraz Island tour; ...

Friday, November 29

Ghirardelli Square’s 2024 Holiday Lighting Ceremony
Friday, November 29 – 4:30 pm - Ends at 8:00 pm | Cost: FREE | Ghirardelli Square
Ghirardelli Square's 2024 Holiday Lighting Ceremony
The 2024 holiday photo season has officially arrived! Visit Ghirardelli Square on a festive Christmas night with your loved ones to capture cherished memories with Santa. Enjoy the annual holiday performance by the SF Boys Chorus, singing classic holiday tunes around the fountain in the ...

2024 Festival of Lights Parade (Niles)
Friday, November 29 – 6:00 pm - Ends at 8:00 pm | Cost: FREE | Niles
2024 Festival of Lights Parade (Niles)
The Christmas season kicks off in Niles with the annual Festival of Lights Parade, always on the Friday after Thanksgiving. The Niles Festival of Lights and Parade for many Fremont residents signals the start of the holiday season. This wonderful holiday tradition typically features over 60 ...
San Jose’s 2024 “Christmas in the Park” Opening Day (Nov. 29 – Jan. 1)
Friday, November 29 – 6:00 pm | Cost: FREE*
*Free, but donations are accepted
| Plaza de Cesar Chavez
San Jose’s 2024 “Christmas in the Park” Opening Day (Nov. 29 – Jan. 1)

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 ...