Spend the BEST CHRISTMAS in SAN FRANCISCO and be captivated!
Watch a fascinating play featuring a lively cast of dozens, delightful music, gorgeous costumes, and those deliciously spooky ghosts, the Bay Area's favorite holiday tradition returns home. This version of A Christmas Carol—adapted by Paul Walsh and Carey Perloff—stays true to the heart of Dickens's timeless story of redemption and brings a playful sensibility to his rich language.
This acclaimed holiday event is finally back and we can’t wait to see you there at American Conservatory Theater!
A.C.T. is excited to offer the first ever sensory friendly performance of A Christmas Carol, on December 18 at 6 p.m.! Sensory friendly performances, also called relaxed performances, are designed to create an experience in the theater for neurodiverse audiences or anyone who has sensory sensitivities that might impact their ability to feel comfortable in a typical theater-going experience. A.C.T. designed this performance in collaboration with Inclusive Arts and their team of accessibility consultants, which includes individuals on the autism spectrum.
Please be reminded of COVID-19 Safety Policy.
American Conservatory Theater is happy to welcome you. The COVID-19 policy is in accordance with guidelines provided by the State of California and City of San Francisco. This means that masking is encouraged but not required. It also means that vaccination checks are no longer required to see a performance. These policies will be updated if city guidelines change.
After watching the play, you can head to one of the most anticipated events every Christmas in San Francisco, the San Francisco Ballet's performance of the Nutcracker. This popular show was first performed by the SF Ballet, the oldest ballet company in the US, on Christmas Eve in 1944. Since that time, it's been a holiday tradition here in San Francisco. It premiered at the War Memorial Opera House on Christmas Eve, 1944. It's turned into a tradition for this dance company and one of their most popular performances each year. This year's performances will run from December 8 - 27 for 2022. This includes a show on Christmas Eve. Each performance runs for 2 hours with a 20-minute intermission.
Experience one of the best in the world. The San Francisco Symphony. It has more than a hundred events every year. The San Francisco Symphony also invites a number of guest performers and conductors. In the past, artists such as Judy Collins and Natalie Cole performed alongside the symphony. If you love the symphony or are looking for something a little different to do during your stay, then we recommend attending one of their premier events.
In addition to all of our Christmas shows and holiday lights displays, you will find several additional fun things to do this Christmas in San Francisco.
The Great Dickens Christmas Fair. The Dickens Christmas Fair is a treasured Bay Area tradition since 1970 and a splendid way to celebrate the holidays. This is a one-of-a-kind holiday adventure into Victorian London - an elaborate party with hundreds of costumed players performing and interacting with patrons in over 120,000 square feet of theatrically-lit music halls, pubs, dance floors, and Christmas shops. It's a twilight evening in Charles Dickens' London Town - a city of winding lanes filled with colorful characters from both literature and history. Enticing aromas of roasted chestnuts and hearty foods fill the air. Cries of street vendors hawking their wares ring out above the bustling crowd. Dozens of lamplit shops are filled to overflowing with Christmas gifts.
These colorful events in San Francisco include tree lighting ceremonies as well as holiday winter wonderland festivals. You can also participate in one of several Menorah Lighting celebrations. It includes events both in San Francisco and other popular festivals throughout the Bay Area. First is the Pier 39's annual tree will be lit for the first time of the season on Tuesday, November 22. They will not host a large ceremony, but instead light the tree for all to see for the first time on this night. They will light the tree for the first time at 5 pm. It will then offer a light show every half hour from 5 pm to 10 pm nightly. For the rest of the season the tree lights up for all to enjoy with the last night of the season on January 8, 2023.
Then head over to the Civic Center for this year's tree lighting event on December 7. The activities will run from 4 pm to 7 pm and include performances. The official tree lighting is at 5:15 pm. Stay warm with some Irish Coffee, mulled wine, or hot chocolate which will be for sale. Other festive bites will also be for sale throughout the event.
The Rainbow World Tree of Hope will once again be at Grace Cathedral. The lighting of this tree will take place on Monday, December 5. Events will kick off at 6:30 pm with performances by the San Francisco Boys Chorus, the Lesbian/Gay Chorus of San Francisco, and others. The tree lighting is around 7:15 pm. All activities will wrap up at 8 pm. Admission is free. The tree will continue to be on display throughout the holiday season.
