SAN FRANCISCO Tree Lightings, Snowflakes and Menorah Lightings prove that San Francisco, Calif. is the epi-center of holiday celebrations. If you pick one city to encapsulate all the best of the holidays, San Francisco would be the first choice of countless Californians and visitors who seek more than a sandy beach (though SF has that).

Civic Center Plaza Holiday Tree Lighting

December 4, 2024, 4-7 p.m. | Tree Lighting 5:30 p.m.

San Francisco Civic Center Plaza
335 McAllister Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
Free, sfciviccenter.org

The event takes place across from an illuminated City Hall in Civic Center Plaza. Event begins promptly at 4pm, with the lighting of Civic Center’s 50-foot noble fir at 5:30pm.

2024 Entertainment

• Santa Claus + Santa letter writing station
• Boxcar Theatre Artistic Director Nick A. Olivero
• Boswick the Clown finds joy in the holiday season
• San Francisco Boys Choir
• Doris Bumpus, singer
• Magician Josh Farenbaugh
• Shaneen Black, Katie Baritell and Gregg Geoffrey, actors
• Christmas VIPs
• Snow flurries
• Toy giveaway for the first 500 children 12 and under
• San Francisco Police Department, Civic Center Community Benefit District
• Makers Village Ornament making & more
• San Francisco Public Library book giveaway
• Festive bites from  Off the Grid food truck for purchase, along with kettle corn
• Full bar featuring seasonal favorites from Rye on the Road.

Castro Merchants Holiday Tree Lighting

December 2, 2024, 6-7 p.m. 

501 Castro St.
San Francisco, CA
castromerchants.com

Held the Monday after Thanksgiving, 28' Holiday Tree with Santa and his Elf as emcee. Please join us for the official lighting of the famous Castro Holiday Tree, featuring Mayor London Breed, the incomparable Donna Sachet, the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus, the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band, State Senator Scott Weiner, Supervisor Rafael Mandelman and many more surprises! (and yes, a lot of singing!)

PIER 39 Tree Lighting

November 26, 2024-January 5, 2025, every half hour , 5-10 p.m. 

Beach Street & The Embarcadero
San Francisco, CA 94133
pier39.com

Enjoy the holidays all season long with The PIER's nightly tree lighting musical moments on the Christmas tree which will come to life every half hour. This year's live tree is a 60 ft. tall white fir that was harvested by Carlton Christmas Trees in Siskiyou County in Northern California. Synchronized to holiday music, the tree transforms into a kaleidoscope of swirling colors, adorned with thousands of specialty lights and ornaments. These dazzling tree lighting musical moments take center stage all season long.

Presidio  Tree Lighting

December 6, 2024

Presidio
Funston Street and Lincoln Boulevard
San Francisco, CA
Free, presidio.gov

 This year is a little different as there is no celebration, they will just light their 55-foot-tall Norfolk Island Pine this night for the first time for the holidays. This is always the first Friday in December.  Each year on the first Friday of December, the lights strung on a beautiful tree in the Presidio stay lit throughout the month of December in a tradition dating back to 1957. Since 1991 the Norfolk Island pine at the corner of Funston Street and Lincoln Boulevard has been the Presidio’s official holiday tree.

The Ritz-Carlton Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony

December 4, 2024,  5:30-7:30 p.m.

The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco
600 Stockton Street
San Francisco, California 94108
ritzcarlton.com/ en/hotels/ sforz-the-ritz-carlton -san-francisco/ overview/festive/

The holiday season begins at twilight when The Ritz-Carlton's 40-foot holiday tree is illuminated by Santa Claus and his little helper from the Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area. This annual tree lighting ceremony begins with Dickens-era costumed carolers performing holiday favorites throughout the hotel while guests enjoy cider, hot chocolate and cookies.

Join us at our annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, hosted by Betty Yu and Liam Mayclem of KPIX-TV CBS and a Make-A-Wish  Greater Bay Area child. The complimentary-to-the-public event will feature live entertainment with Dickens-era carolers and trumpeters, the legendary tree lighting at the hotel's front drive, and photo opportunities with Santa Claus.

Ghirardelli Square Tree Lighting Ceremony

no info as of 11/21/24

November 29, 2024 is likely date (tba), 12-6 p.m.  Santa Lights the Square
Square-wide Holiday Lighting 5 p.m.

Ghirardelli Square
900 North Point Street
San Francisco, CA, 94109
ghirardellisq.com

• 4:30 pm - Boys Chorus Performance
• 5:30 pm - Santa Arrives nd Lights the Square
• 5:40 pm - Santa Photos in the Carillon

Holiday Market presented by Artists & Fleas and a self-guided Christmas Tree Stroll with trees decorated by the students at the Academy of Art. Linger in the square until sundown to catch holiday lights for the first time this season!  

Embarcadero Center Building Lighting & Holiday Market

November 21, 2024, 4-6 p.m. 

One, Two, Three and Four Embarcadero Center
San Francisco, CA 94111
embarcaderocenter.com

17,000 lights! Each year, the weekend before Thanksgiving, marks the annual Building Lighting Ceremony. Once the sun sets, the countdown to the official lighting leads up to the illumination of One, Two, Three and Four Embarcadero Center, followed by a grand fireworks display. On the same evening each year Winter Carnival festivities includes a Holiday Market in 2024.

Union Square Light the Night Tree Lighting

No info 

Westfield San Francisco Centre
865 Market Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
westfield.com/sanfrancisco/ 

In addition to the holiday lights, boat parades, and spectacular tree lighting ceremonies, there are several holiday ice skating rinks, lots of great themed entertainment and a real shopping area fashioned after the traditional downtown districts.

Macy's Great Tree Lighting

This year Macy's will not be holding an actual Tree Lighting Ceremony. As usual Macy's will be gifting to the City of San Francisco the Great Tree - however, there will be no Tree Lighting Event again this year.

Holiday Tree Lighting
170 O'Farrell Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
macys.com | visitunionsquaresf.com | unionsquareshop.com

Past info from official tree lighting night just in case they ever resurrect this event again:

Macy's Union Square Annual Great Tree Lighting ceremony with special performances by American Conservatory Theater's renowned Young Conservatory, the Grammy award-winning San Francisco Boys Chorus, Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, the cast of San Francisco Playhouse's Mary Poppins, and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer and music legend, Darlene Love. Join  Santa for the countdown to light the tree! Enjoy live music and dance shows, then visit the San Francisco Holiday Windows. The annual illumination of Macy's Great Tree includes more than 1,500 ornaments

Bill Graham Menorah Lighting in Union Square

December 25, 2024-January 2, 2025

Union Square
San Francisco, CA
billgrahammenorah.org

Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.