Weekend Planner: Christmas Weekend
Friday’s here again, and it’s Christmas weekend!! Welcome to Weekend Planner, your weekend update on fun.
Every Friday we put together a list of the weekend events we think look most interesting and provide them here. Keep in mind there is always a lot more going on, and all it takes is a little digging to find something that will be the perfect activity for you.
Click on any of the event titles for a link to the event.
Friday, December 23
Telegraph Avenue Holiday Party
Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley
11 AM, All Ages
Free
Holiday shoppers to the Telegraph business district will be treated to an abundance of good cheer, great music, fine food, and unique and unusual handcrafts by some of Northern California’s finest artists.
This fair offers the rare opportunity to buy fine art originals and inexpensive gift items in the same place. Shoppers can choose from a tremendous diversity of arts and crafts, including jewelry, beadwork, wirework, hats, candles, leather work, silk-screened and tie-dyed clothing, pottery, wood crafts, metal crafts, paintings, henna-art, gift boxes, photography and sculptures.
San Francisco Zoo Lights
San Francisco Zoo, San Francisco
5 PM, All Ages
$8
Brighten up this holiday season with the San Francisco ZooLights, a night of fun, fantasy, and more LED bulbs than you’d think could fit in a zoo. On this night of lit-up merriment you’ll enjoy Santa Claus (the real one obviously), reindeer (may or may not be real on this date), carolers (definitely real), a holiday marketplace, and, obviously, a zoo light show to rival all zoo light shows.
Saturday, December 24
Church of 8 Wheels, San Francisco
7 PM, All Ages
$15
Well, for the little children of San Francisco, Christmas Eve is all about anticipation. Hopefully they will all find shiny new roller skates under the tree!!! For you big kids out there, Christmas Eve means you have done all that preparation for everyone else. It’s time for you to get out and get your skate groove on!!!
Come join D. Miles, the GodFather of Skate and San Francisco’s Holy Rollers for the Christmas Eve Roller Disco at the Church of 8 Wheels Roller Disco, 554 Fillmore St. in San Francisco. Doors open at 7PM and close at 11PM, just in time for everyone to be home for that magic hour!!!.
$10 to enter – $5 for skate rental. As always, we’re going to have a funky good time!!!
BTW – Get ready for New Year’s Eve at the Church of 8 Wheels on Saturday, Dec. 31!!!!!!!
2016 Hanukkah Festival & 25-Foot Tall Menorah Lighting
Union Square, San Francisco
7 PM, All Ages
Free
Celebrate Hanukkah 2016 with the 42nd annual lighting of the 25 foot tall mahogany Bill Graham Menorah in Union Square. This San Francisco tradition, the brainchild of rock and roll concert promoter Bill Graham, begun in 1975.
Lighting ceremonies take place from December 24-31, at approximately 5 pm on most days (Friday is at 3 pm and Saturday is at 7 pm).
2016 Schedule
Sat, Dec 24: 1st Candle Lighting Ceremony at 7 pm
Sun, Dec 25: Bill Graham Menorah Day Event Begins at 2 pm; Candle Lighting Ceremony at 5 pm
Bill Graham presents alums to light the Menorah
Musical performances by Klezmer Trio and the Dancing Frog
Music, Dreidel House & kids crafts activities start at 2 pm
Mon, Dec 26: 3rd Candle Lighting Ceremony at 5 pm
Tue, Dec 27: 4th Candle Lighting Ceremony at 5 pm
Wed, Dec 28: 5th Candle Lighting Ceremony at 5 pm
Thu, Dec 29: 6th Candle Lighting Ceremony at 5 pm
Special Guest Appearance: Lazer Lloyd
Fri, Dec 30: 7th Candle Lighting Ceremony at 3 pm
Sat, Dec 31: 8th Candle Grand Finale: Lighting Ceremony at 7 pm
HellaFunny Christmas Eve Comedy Jam
Milk Bar, San Francisco
7 PM, Ages: 21+
Free
Come to Milk Bar the night that Santa comes. Stroy Moyd and the HellaFunny crew will be taking the stage and putting crowds in good spirits on Christmas Eve.
Not to mention the speciality drink specials that include Eggnog, warm Apple Cider, and Hottie Totties all night. Free with RSVP.
Be sure to bring your dancing shoes because GrooveWell will be in the mix all night.
Comedy Line up includes:
Zorba (Laugh Factory)
Shelbi Evans (Punchline)
Donald Lacy (BET)
Sunday, December 25
Contemporary Jewish Museum Free Admission Day
Contemporary Jewish Museum, San Francisco
All Day, All Ages
Free
Think everything’s closed on Christmas Day?
The Contemporary Jewish Museum is open and free, and it’s a great chance to check out the current exhibits and a few special events during this annual CJM Community Day — an admission-free, fun-for-all extravaganza.
Schedule of events include:
Art Studios Enjoy yourself and get creative in their Art Studios
Music Performances Alison Faith Levy and her Big Time Tot Rock Band perform at 1 and 2:30 pm. (tickets available on a first-come, first-served basis)
Eating Hungry guests can enjoy a delicious menu from the Wise Sons Jewish Delicatessen from 11 am–3 pm
The Riptide, San Francisco
7 PM, Ages: 21+
Free
The Riptide opens at 7 pm on Christmas day. They will be dishing out free Chinese food(until it’s gone), plus they have a cute mini Christmas tree to hang your beer cans on when you’re done drinking. To keep up the holiday spirit, they’ll be showing holiday-themed movies and serving up special holiday drinks. Plus, it’ll be cozy because the fireplace will be up and running.
It’s also a potluck, so bring a dish to share and join The Riptide community.
Food is only for patrons buying drinks, so don’t just be a jerk and hoard the food.
Want more options? Eventbrite is a great place to start. Know about
a great event we missed? Leave it in the comments.