There’s still time to enjoy holiday lights and New Year’s fun in the Bay Area! Several family destinations offer New Year’s celebrations on the afternoon or early evening of December 31 for little ones who won’t be awake at midnight.
Featured Celebrations
CuriOdyssey’s IlluminOdyssey – A Dazzling Winter Light Experience for Kids ~ San Mateo, through January 26
Inspired by the science of light, IlluminOdyssey is an immersive, interactive installation that will mesmerize kids and adults of all ages. CuriOdyssey’s four-level Redwood Hall will transform into a glowing forest of science—light your way through a maze of luminous botanical geometry, play with rainbow refraction and swirling projections, paint with light on phosphorescent surfaces, and dance with your shadow. Explore the physical properties of light, such as photoluminescence, color, additive light mixing, waves, fluorescence, fluid dynamics, subtractive color mixing, and refraction.
New Years Celebrations
Noon Year’s Eve at Bay Area Discovery Museum – Sausalito, December 31
Happy New Year, Charlie Brown! – Santa Rosa, December 31
Thrive City Kwanza and New Year’s Eve Celebration – San Francisco, December 31
Balloon Drop at Chabot Space and Science Center – Oakland, December 31
Noon Year’s Eve Celebration at Hiller Aviation Museum – San Carlos, December 31
New Year’s Eve at Gilroy Gardens – Gilroy, December 31
Amusement Parks & Zoos
Boardwalk Winter Wonderland – Santa Cruz, November 28 – December 5
Winterfest at Great America – Santa Clara, November 29 – January 5
Holidays at Gilroy Gardens – Gilroy, November 29 – December 31
Six Flags Holidays in the Park – Vallejo, November 29 – January 5
Holiday Light Displays
Fantasy of Lights Drive-Thru – Los Gatos, December 10 – January 5
Holidays at Filoli – Woodside, November 16 – January 12
Holiday Tree Walk – Felton, November 29 – December 22
Santa Cruz Holiday Lights Train – Santa Cruz, November 29 – December 23
Christmas at Temple Hill – Oakland, November 29 – December 31
Christmas in the Park – San Jose, November 21 – January 1
Enchant – San Jose, November 22 – December 29
Blinky’s Illuminated Holiday Drive-Thru – San Jose, November 21 – January 1
Garden of d’Lights – Walnut Creek, November 22 – January 11
Holiday Ice Rinks
Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square – San Francisco, November 6 – January 20
Ice at the Veranda – Concord, November 8 – February 14
Kristi Yamaguchi Holiday Rink – San Ramon, November 8 – January 5
San Mateo on Ice – San Mateo, November 15 – January 12
Downtown Ice – San Jose, November 15 – January 20
Skating that The Meritage – Napa, November 18 – January 11
Brentwood on Ice – Brentwood, November 22 – January 5
Walnut Creek on Ice – Walnut Creek, November 22 – January 12
Luma Ice – Petaluma, December 13 – January 7
