San Francisco's Happy Holidays
California’s City by the Golden Gate Dazzles at Yuletide
The Nutcracker ballet, Dickens' Christmas Carol, Christmas tree lightings and many other events make The City by the Golden Gate sparkle brightly as anyplace in the USA.
Looking for holiday spirit? You’ll find it in San Francisco.
The City by the Bay caught that spirit back in 1848 gold rush days, and each year its glitter shines more brightly. In fact, with so many events on the calendar, choices are a necessity. The following is only a sampling, but will give you an idea of your options.
Tree Lightings
Festivities begin in mid-November with the first in a series of Christmas tree lightings at places like Pier 39, Fisherman’s Wharf and the Embarcadero Center. Most of these include entertainment such as Bay Area groups singing holiday favorites and the arrival of Santa Claus (at Ghiradelli Square, there’s even free hot chocolate).
Most spectacular of the tree lighting ceremonies is that of the 85-foot California White Fir in Union Square. This year the Macy’s Holiday Tree will be decorated with 20,000 light emitting diode lights that generate almost no heat, use 90 percent less electricity than conventional lighting and can be used for up to 20 holiday seasons.
The Nutcracker Suite
In 1944, when Director of the San Francisco Ballet, William Christen, decided that the company should present the Nutcracker in its entirety – first time in the United States – little did he realize that the Christmas classic would become a yearly tradition. With 30 performances at the War Memorial Opera House between December 13 and 30, the productions are as impressive as you’ll see anywhere.
At the zany Dance-Along Nutcracker, grandmas wearing everything from tutus to Sheena-Queen-of-the-Jungle costumes dance with miniature Shreks, princesses and Miss Muffets. Young and old, gay or straight – everyone who leaps, pirouettes or cavorts around the floor at the Yuerba Buena Center for the Arts to the Tchaikovsky melodies becomes the star of the show. They’re accompanied by the members of the Lesbian and Gay Freedom Band, who add to the festive atmosphere both with their music and costumes.
A Christmas Carol
Another San Francisco tradition, the American Conservatory Theatre’s “A Christmas Carol” – now in its 26th year – has featured seven Scrooges and employed a total of 962 actors. Playing at the Geary Theatre through December 24, ACT’s presentations of the Dickens masterpiece are known for their imaginative stage sets as well as superb acting.
Special Family Events
Top hotels offer a host of activities especially designed for families. For example, at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco, the menu of holiday treats includes a “Breakfast with Santa” and huge “Snow Village” display in the lobby. The lobby also features a 45-foot tree and more than 30,000 lights.
Two outdoor rinks provide ice skating with atmosphere. The rink at Embarcadero Center is surrounded by skyscrapers, while the first-time-ever rink at the San Francisco Zoo provides views of the reindeer, Holly, Velvet, Peppermint and Belle grazing nearby.
And There’s More
There’s the Brian Boitano Skating Spectacular with Barry Manilow at AT&T Park The S. F. Symphony performs Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf” on December 10 at Davies Symphony Hall, the same venue in which Feliz Navidad featuring Mariachis Los Camperos de Nati Cano will be presented six nights later.
Bay cruises offer holiday dinner buffets and brunches. Steve Silver’s Beach Blanket Babylon, the longest running musical revue in theater history, toasts the season with a chorus line of dancing Christmas Trees. Kwanzaa storytellers, live Chanukah music, a Sing-Along Messiah with the San Francisco City Chorus, Cirque du Soleil’s production of Kooza, historic walking tours with a holiday theme are only a sampling of what’s going on.
For the most complete listing of special events while you’re in the area, consult the “Datebook”section of theSunday San Francisco Chronicle or go to www.sfgate.com and click on “events.”
