Celebrate the 2024 holiday season by enjoying these performances for the whole family.
“A Celtic Christmas”
DEC. 13. Irish storyteller Tomáseen Foley returns to Santa Cruz with Irish musicians and dancers in this re-creation of a night before Christmas in the West of Ireland in the 1940s. 7:30pm. $45.
UCSC Music Center Recital Hall, McHenry Road, Santa Cruz
eventbrite.com/e/tomaseen-foleys-a-celtic-christmas-tickets-1027198186427
“A Christmas Carol”
DEC. 12-22. Center Rep presents the Bay Area’s longest running “Christmas Carol,” a tale of a curmudgeon forced to face his past, present and potential future who discovers the meaning of family and magic of the holiday season. $37 and up.
Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek
“A Whynot Christmas Carol”
NOV. 26-DEC. 24. American Conservatory Theatre debuts a new version of the beloved holiday tale, a family-friendly adaptation that follows a small-town theater troupe in their quest to stage Dickens’ classic. A sensory-friendly show will be held Dec. 18 at 1pm, and Playtime, an interactive pre-show workshop, is scheduled for Dec. 21 at 1pm. Ages 5 and up. $25-138.
Toni Rembe Theatre, 415 Geary St., San Francisco
Ballet America’s “Nutcracker”
DEC. 7 AND 8. This delightful holiday performance is filled with authentic Victorian costumes, enchanting dolls, brave soldiers and dancing snowflakes in a family-friendly atmosphere. $20-49.
Main Theater, Cañada College, Redwood City
Ballet Petit’s “Nutcracker”
DEC. 7. This Hayward classical ballet school presents this holiday favorite. 2 and 7pm. Ticket prices TBA.
Chabot College Performing Arts Complex, 25555 Hesperian Blvd., Hayward
Bay Youth Ballet’s “Nutcracker”
DEC. 14-15. This version of the “Nutcracker” is slightly condensed and enjoyable for all audiences. Featuring professional guest artists Robert Burns Lowman as the Nutcracker Prince, Naomi Sailors as Sugar Plum Fairy and César Lino as Herr Drosselmeyer. 4pm Sat., 1pm and 4:30pm Sun. $18-30.
Skyline College Theatre, 3300 College Drive, San Bruno
bayareayouthballet.org/the-nutcracker
Black Diamond Ballet’s “Nutcracker”
DEC. 6-8 AND DEC. 14-15. This 11th annual performance features exciting new choreography, costumes and dazzling cultural dances. There will be a sensory-friendly performance on Dec. 7 at 1pm. $20-36.
El Campanil Theatre, 601 E. Second St., Antioch
blackdiamondballet.org/nutcracker
“Broadway Holiday”
DEC. 12-15. Transcendence Theatre Company’s presents an elegant and intimate celebration that blends showstopping Broadway hits with seasonal favorites. Also Dec. 18-19 at the Sebastiani Theatre on Sonoma. $30 and up.
Marin Theatre, 397 Miller Ave., Mill Valley
Chanticleer
DEC. 12. San Francisco’s famed men’s vocal ensemble performs a new Christmas program each year in this beautiful setting. 7:30pm. $95, $48 18 and under.
Memorial Church, 450 Jane Stanford Way, Stanford University
“Christmas at the California”
DEC. 4-7. Four nights of performances highlight the talented conservatory students from Valley Christian Schools. See website for details. $7-14.
California Theatre, 345 S. First St., San Jose
“Cirque Dreams Holidaze”
DEC. 13-15. This touring Broadway-style production infused with contemporary circus arts is imaginative and fun for all ages. $41 and up.
Golden Gate Theatre, 1 Taylor St., San Francisco
“Dance-Along Nutcracker’s Mission: Nutcracker”
DEC. 7 AND 8. Part comedy musical, part dance-it-yourself ballet and part symphonic concert, this year’s offering from the San Francisco Pride Band follows junior detective Clara and spy-in-training Fritz as they try to discover who has stolen the grand prize for the Stahlbaum Family’s Holiday Talent Show. From $48 adults, $28 children and seniors.
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission St., San Francisco
dance-along-nutcracker.sfprideband.org
Graham Lustig’s “The Nutcracker”
DEC. 21 AND 22. See the Oakland Ballet perform this holiday classic, with Tchaikovsky’s magnificent score brought to life by the Oakland Symphony with and Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir. Sweet Dreams parties follow at 3:30pm with an additional ticket. 1pm. $34.30 and up.
Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway, Oakland
“Healing Though Song”
DEC. 7. The Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir presents its 39th annual holiday concert. 7pm. $15-80.
Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway, Oakland
“Holiday Spectacular”
DEC. 6, 7, 15, 21 and 24. The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus performs its annual holiday show with choreography, comedy and charm at four Bay Area venues from San Francisco to Sonoma County. Ages 4 and up. See website for details. $30-209. It will also kick off the season with an all-ages “Holiday Music Sing-Along” on Nov. 21 at 7pm at the Chan National Queer Arts Center, 170 Valencia St., San Francisco. Tickets start at $10.
sfgmc.org/holiday-spectacular-2024
“Holiday Spectacular: Christmas at the California”
DEC. 7-8. Rejoice in holiday classics including carols, audience sing-alongs and the ever-popular “12 Days of Silicon Valley” at this performance by Symphony San Jose, Symphony San Jose Chorale, Cantabíle Youth Singers, New Ballet and special guests. Pre-show festivities one hour before the show include cookie decorating and Santa. $35-115.
The California Theatre, 345 South First St., San Jose
Marin Ballet’s “Nutcracker”
DEC. 7 AND 8. This production features 125 dancers and elaborate Victorian costumes and sets. Ticket prices TBA.
Marin School of the Arts Theater, 625 Arthur St., Novato
“Mark Foehringer’s Nutcracker Sweets”
DEC. 7-22. Now in its 16th season, this unique 50-minute version of “The Nutcracker” is designed for families with young children. $23.50-59.50.
Cowell Theater, Fort Mason Center for the Arts and Culture, Marina Boulevard and Buchanan Street, San Francisco
New Ballet’s “The San Jose Nutcracker”
DEC. 14-23. Presented with Symphony San Jose for the first time since 2013, this joyful holiday production transports the well-loved story to turn-of-the-century San Jose, with historical references that highlight the area’s valley setting as a birthplace of innovation. It features New Ballet’s professional dancers and students, and dancers from Los Lupenos Juvenil. “My Very First Nutcracker,” for the youngest audiences, is scheduled at 11am on Dec. 15 and 22. $31.50 and up.
California Theatre, 345 First St., San Jose
San Francisco Ballet “Nutcracker”
DEC. 6-29. Experience the wonder of Helgi Tomasson’s “Nutcracker,” set in 1915 San Francisco, now in its 20th year. A special sensory-friendly performance is scheduled for Dec. 29 at 11am. Children under age 3, including babies, will not be admitted. $35-368.
War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco
sfballet.org/productions/nutcracker
San Francisco Symphony
DEC. 1-21. The symphony celebrates the holidays all month long with a variety of family-friendly performances, including “The Muppet Christmas Carol in Concert” on Dec. 12 and 14 and the move “Elf” with a live orchestra Dec. 19-21. $37.50 and up.
Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco
Smuin’s “The Christmas Ballet”
NOV. 23-DEC. 24. This annual performance, with a classical first act and “Cool Yule” second, will be performed Nov. 23-24 in Walnut Creek, Dec. 5-8 in Mountain View and Dec. 13-24 in San Francisco. Prices vary by venue, starting at $25.
“The Original San Jose Nutcracker”
DEC. 6-8 AND 13-15. San Jose Dance Theatre and The Cambrian Symphony perform the holiday classic. VIP tickets include a backstage tour and a Candy Kingdom Party. “Once Upon a Nutcracker,” an excerpted version for young audiences, will take place at 10:30am on Dec. 6 ($15). $39.50-115.
Center for the Performing Arts, 255 S. Almaden Blvd, San Jose
Western Ballet’s “The Nutcracker”
DEC. 13-15. Experience this delightful performance, and then enjoy a post-show Sweet Tea to meet the dancers and take photos. This performance is 1.5 hours long with one intermission and is appropriate for all ages (lap passes available for babies 12 months and younger). $42-47.
Mountain View Center for Performing Arts, 500 Castro St., Mountain View