The holiday season is almost here — and so is the magic! In less than a month, The Nutcracker returns to enchant audiences of all ages. Set to Tchaikovsky’s iconic score, this production features brand-new, hand-painted sets, over 200 breathtaking scenery pieces, a dazzling International Cast featuring world-class ballet artists from around the globe, and Principal Dancers from Ukraine! One Night Only — Live on Stage!
Tickets are selling fast!
Our Partners’ Events
Wicked Director Jon M. Chu in Conversation with Mina Kim
12/3 | Sydney Goldstein Theater | 275 Hayes St, SF | 6 p.m. | $45.45-$67.15
Bay Area native and acclaimed director of Crazy Rich Asians and In the Heights, Jon M. Chu now brings one of Broadway’s most beloved musicals to the big screen with the conclusion of his highly anticipated two-part adaptation of Wicked. In this exclusive conversation with Mina Kim of KQED’s award-winning program Forum, he reflects on his Bay Area roots, his rise through Hollywood, and the beauty of reimagining stories that feel larger than life.
Denim Market: Buy, Sell and Customize!
12/6 | KQED Headquarters | 2601 Mariposa St, SF | 3 p.m. | $12.96-includes food/beverage voucher
Your favorite local boutiques, thrift stores and streetwear brands converge at KQED for a denim market and community clothing swap! Upgrade your closet or customize a pair of jeans as a holiday gift at the Levi’s customization booth. Bring your old wardrobe pieces to sell at the Buffalo Exchange pop-up activation or trade with other fashionistas!
Hubba Hubba Revue "DAMSELS & DRAGONS!"
11/22 | DNA Lounge | 375 11th St, SF | 7:30 p.m. | $15-$40, 18+
Join our party for a chaotic good time with burlesque elves, pole dancing wizards, high-level aerialists, & more! Get your seats now and see a show that's guaranteed to be a critical hit!
San Francisco Squares, a Game Show Fundraiser
11/29 | The Great Star Theater | 636 Jackson St, SF | 7 p.m. | $35+
Get ready for a night of laughter, wit, and local star power as the Great Star Theater presents San Francisco Squares — a Bay Area spin on the legendary TV game show The Hollywood Squares! With our very own Broke-Ass Stuart!
This Week’s Events 11/18-11/24
Tuesday 11/18
“Resilient Blooms: Life in Unexpected Places” Artist Reception
11/18 | Mission Bowling Club | 3176 17th St, SF | 6:30 p.m. | Free w/ RSVP, 21+
ArtSpan & Mission Bowling Club invite you to join us for an evening of art, conversation, and community at the Art-In-Neighborhoods artist reception for solo show featuring Gifts From The Street and group show Resilient Blooms: Life in Unexpected Places featuring 6 artist.
Molly Grace
11/18 | Rickshaw Stop | 155 Fell St, SF | 7 p.m. Doors | $30.83+
Molly is an artist who leans into the full spectrum of pop potential, creating music that’s all at once playful, polished, and packed with hooks.
Wednesday 11/19
King Princess
11/19 | The Regency Ballroom | 1300 Van Ness Ave, SF | 8 p.m. | $48.74+
King Princess is a Brooklyn-based artist, actor, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer known for her genre-blending music and advocacy within the LGBTQ+ community.
Holiday Market at Embarcadero Center
11/19 | Embarcadero Center | Urban Patio of Three Embarcadero Center, SF | 4 p.m. | Free
Explore a vibrant marketplace filled with local shops, groove to live music, sip festive drinks, play games, and indulge in delicious seasonal bites. Gather for the dazzling grand finale as Embarcadero Center lights up the sky with 17,000 sparkling lights.
Thursday 11/20
"Into the Woods"
11/20-1/17 | San Francisco Playhouse | 450 Post St, SF | 7 p.m. | $68+
Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s enchanting musical interweaves fairytale favorites in an exploration of what happens after “happily ever after.”
Friday 11/21
Cirque du Soleil ECHO
11/21-1/15 | Oracle Park | 24 Willie Mays Plaza, SF | 7:30 p.m. | $70+
Featuring bold visuals, vibrant characters, and groundbreaking acts, this 20th Big Top creation invites audiences to imagine a better world built together.
Winter Glow Experience: A Drive-Thru Holiday Light Show
11/21-1/4 | Alameda County Fairgrounds | 2005 Valley Avenue, Gate 12, Pleasanton | 5:30 p.m. | $28.48+
Experience the magic of the holiday season with the Winter Glow Experience, a dazzling drive-through spectacular featuring hundreds of larger-than-life festive displays.
Saturday 11/22
The Great Dickens Christmas Fair
11/22-12/21 | Cow Palace | 2600 Geneva Ave, Daly City | 10 a.m. | $49.99+
The Great Dickens Christmas Fair is a one-of-a-kind immersive adventure into Victorian London ~ an elaborate holiday party with hundreds of costumed players performing and interacting with patrons in over 140,000 square feet of theatrically-lit music halls, pubs, dance floors, and festive shops!
Manic Monthly Market
11/22 | Thee Stork Club | 2330 Telegraph Ave, Oakland | 12 p.m. | $6.19, 21+
Enjoy shopping for handmade crafts, vintage treasures, apparel, artwork, records, jewelry, home decor, and more. The market also features rotating DJs and food vendors to enhance the experience.
Bay Beats Goth Show: Yama Uba and Godgifu
11/22 | Koret Auditorium Main Library | 100 Larkin St, SF | 1 p.m. | Free
Whether you are already Goth and seek the guilty pleasure of a daytime show, or if you’ve always wondered what fun awaits you in the music of shadows, the Bay Beats Goth show will leave you transfixed.
Sunday 11/23
Cameron Crowe: The Uncool Book Tour
11/23 | Orpheum Theatre | 1192 Market St, SF | 7 p.m. | $61+
Cameron Crowe, the Oscar-winning writer and director and one of America’s most beloved storytellers, is taking his long-awaited memoir “The Uncool” on the road. He will be joined by Machine Gun Kelly in SF.
Pickwick Vintage Show
11/23 | Ferry Building | 1 Ferry Building, SF | 10 a.m. | $11.54
Pickwick Vintage Show is back in San Francisco! Visit us on the mezzanine at the iconic Ferry Building for an assortment of vintage clothing, jewelry, accessories, and inspiration from over 40 local vendors.
Monday 11/24
A Nostalgic Night w/ Macaulay Culkin: Home Alone 35th Anniversary
11/24 | Paramount Theatre | 2025 Broadway, Oakland | 7:30 p.m. | $61.40+
Join us for a special 35th anniversary screening of the timeless classic, Home Alone, followed by an exclusive moderated interview with the one and only Macaulay Culkin.
Next Week’s Events 11/25-12/1
Tuesday 11/25
The Regular Sketch Show
11/25 | Great American Music Hall | 859 O’Farrell St, SF | 8 p.m. | $25.77
Comedic internet duo Taylor Graysen Owen and James Mitchell Neal are putting down the phone and picking up the mic for their new live show The Regular Sketch Show.
Wednesday 11/26
STUFFED FAM - A Chosen Family Holiday Escape
11/26 | SF Eagle | 398 12th St, SF | 7:30 p.m. | $15-$30 Recommended
Come laugh, commiserate, and celebrate community the night before the holiday chaos. STUFFED FAM brings together a lineup of bold, hilarious queer comics ready to serve up sharp wit, heartfelt humor, and the reminder that you’re never alone — especially in a room full of chosen family.
Thursday 11/27
Indigenous Peoples' Sunrise Gathering
11/27 | Pier 33 - Alcatraz Landing | Pier 33 Embarcadero, SF | 4:15 a.m. | $15.50+
The Indigenous Peoples' Day Sunrise Gathering is organized by the International Indian Treaty Council commemorating the 1969-71 occupation of Alcatraz by the Indians of All Tribes. It is one-day events and is not the standard Alcatraz Island tour; all areas except for where the ceremony takes place will be closed and inaccessible to the public.
Friday 11/28
FAN EXPO San Francisco
11/28-11/30 | Moscone Center West | 747 Howard St, SF | 10 a.m. | $47+
If you're into comics, sci-fi, horror, anime, gaming, or cosplay, come share our playground. You'll feel out of this world – and right at home.
Misfit Cabaret Ghosted
11/28 | Great American Music Hall | 859 O’Farrell St, SF | 8 p.m. | $58+
Join us at The Great American Music Hall in San Francisco as we conjure spirits from the past, haunted by those who’ve done them wrong. Featuring original music by Kat Robichaud and an eclectic gathering of ghosts, this specter of a spectacle is sure to tickle your spine! Get your tickets now or be haunted by regrets.
Saturday 11/29
Holiday Noir: Silent Night Speakeasy
11/29-12/30 | W San Francisco | 181 3rd St, SF | 4:30 p.m. | $39.19
W San Francisco invites you to indulge in a velvet underground high above the city skyline—where the cocktails are moody, the music swings sultry, and the vibe is unmistakably W. Step behind the curtain and into our Holiday Noir, Silent Night Speakeasy – an alluring celebration where vintage glamour meets modern edge.
Baba's House 4 Year Anniversary Party
11/29 | 13 Orphans Lounge | 410 15th St, Oakland | 6 p.m. | $47.66
It’s been four wild, wonderful years of building community, mahjong, music, and memories — and we’re throwing a party worthy of it all. Join us for an evening of celebration, mahjong and delicious bites.
Sunday 11/30
A John Waters Christmas
11/30 | Great American Music Hall | 859 O’Farrell St, SF | 8 p.m. | $78.18+, 21+
John Waters rides into San Francisco for his annual one man show, A John Waters Christmas, at the Great American Music Hall.
Monday 12/1
Monday Night Jam at Tupelo
12/1 | Tupelo | 1337 Grant Ave, SF | 9 p.m. | Free, 21+
Every Monday night from 9pm to 1am our professional house band serves up hot sets covering an eclectic mix of genres including funk, soul, R&B, rock, and pop.
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