Christmas Lights & Holiday Events for Kids in the Bay Area

A holiday train decorated with lights that runs through Niles Canyon between Niles in Fremont and Sunol in late November and December. The 13-mile round trip takes a little over an hour; one departure leaves Niles at dusk and another leaves Sunol after dark.

San Francisco Botanical Garden's Children's Garden is a hands-on outdoor 'yes space' inside Golden Gate Park where kids can dig, water plants, pick, and build. The 55-acre garden holds over 8,000 plants from around the world. SF residents with ID visit free; general daily free admission before 9am.

Historic narrow-gauge steam trains through ancient redwood forests, plus a beach train to Santa Cruz. The 1880s logging camp atmosphere includes a general store and picnic grove. Special holiday trains are seasonal favorites.

A charming garden-themed family park with gentle rides, a water play area, and beautifully landscaped gardens featuring circus trees. Perfect for younger kids who aren't ready for big theme parks yet.

A beautiful hillside zoo with over 850 native and exotic animals. The California Trail features grizzly bears, wolves, and condors. The Wayne & Gladys Valley Children's Zoo has a barn, rides, and a nature play area.

A Santa Clara County holiday tradition since 1999 at Vasona Lake County Park, with more than 50 themed animated light displays and a 90-foot twinkling tree. Most nights are drive-thru; a few walk-thru nights let families stroll the displays on foot.

America's first storybook theme park, located on the shores of Lake Merritt. Enchanting fairy-tale sets, puppet shows, gentle rides, and a petting zoo. The inspiration for Disneyland, it's perfectly sized for young children.

A free downtown San Jose holiday tradition at Plaza de César Chávez with an enchanted forest of decorated trees, more than 40 animated displays, a 50-foot Christmas tree, photos with Santa, and live entertainment. Open nightly from late November through New Year's Day.