All across Marin and the Bay Area, communities celebrate the beginning of the holiday season with a traditional Tree Lighting ceremony. Here's our list of Christmas tree and Hanukkah menorah lighting ceremonies and celebrations in Marin County, San Francisco, and Sonoma County. We'll be adding more events as the holidays near, so check back often!

Building Lighting Ceremony and Carnival

Embarcadero Center, San Francisco
Friday, November 16, 4–7 pm
Four iconic buildings lit with 17,000 holiday lights, fireworks bursting in the sky, and a magical show presented by Disney on Ice. The Building Lighting Ceremony at Embarcadero Center is a San Francisco tradition and the official start of the holiday season in the City.  The festivities begin at 4 pm with a family fun carnival followed by the building lighting ceremony at 6 pm. Free! Event details

Lighting of the Historic Sonoma Plaza

Downtown Sonoma
Saturday, November 17, 5–8 pm
The kick-off to the popular Holidays in Sonoma, join thousands of residents and visitors as we fill the historic Sonoma Plaza with the bright glow of a quarter-million lights. The evening will include music, performances, food trucks and the chance to visit the holiday displays around the 8-acre Sonoma Plaza. Event details

Premiere Night of Tree Lighting at Pier 39

Pier 39, San Francisco
Tuesday, November 20, 5–7 pm
Join Pier 39 for Premiere Night as they debut their new, nightly tree lighting show. Santa will officially light the tree and will be collecting new, unwrapped toys for the San Francisco Firefighters Toy Program. At 5:15pm, visit the Bay End of Pier 39 to see the grandeur of the San Francisco Fire Department’s new fireboat, Phoenix, which will kick off the tree lighting ceremony with its magnificent water sprays. At 6 pm, head back to the Christmas Tree to see the debut of Pier 39’s nightly tree lighting show. Check out some of the San Francisco Fire Department’s firetrucks, complete with friendly firefighters, too. Get a free Santa hat (while supplies last). This holiday season, you can enjoy a nightly tree lighting show (through January 1) at the top of the hour from 5–10 pm. Event details

San Rafael 38th Annual Parade of Lights and Winter Wonderland

Downtown San Rafael
Friday, November 23, noon–8 pm & Saturday, November 24, 9 am–noon
Downtown San Rafael will once again commence the holiday season with its Winter Wonderland, Parade of Lights, and Holiday Marketplace with arts and crafts that starts the Friday after Thanksgiving. On Friday: free snow sledding, kids activities (noon–4:30 pm & 6–8 pm), Holiday Marketplace (noon–8 pm) and the Parade of Lights (5:30 pm) with Santa and Mrs. Claus's arrival and a tree-lighting immediately after. On Saturday: kids activities and snow sledding continues (9 am–noon). Location: On Fourth Sreet from B Street to Lootens Place in downtown San Rafael. Event details

Ghirardelli Square 54th Annual Tree Lighting

Ghirardelli Square, San Francisco
Friday, November 23, 4–9 pm
Ghirardelli Square’s 54th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place on Friday, November 23 in the West Plaza. Celebrate the season with carolers, Santa Claus, snow, music by Kevin Toqe Music and Delphi Freeman, and more fun festivities in the Square. The event will be co-hosted by Betty Yu of CBS / KPIX and Franco Finn, the hype man of the Golden State Warriors. Event details

Winter Lights

Old Courthouse Square, Santa Rosa
Friday, November 23, 4–8 pm
Santa Rosa's annual tree lighting event brings together community to celebrate the holidays with activities for all ages. Watch as Santa arrives on a fire truck, take part in children's activities and games, enjoy delicious local food and drink, and more. This year's theme is "I Believe in Santa Rosa", and celebrates resiliency, volunteerism, and hope. Location: 25 Old Courthouse Square, Santa Rosa. Event details

Macy's 29th Annual Union Square Tree Lighting

Union Square Park, San Francisco
Friday, November 23, 5:30 pm
Macy's gift to the City of San Francisco—Macy's 29th Annual Tree Lighting will take place in Union Square Park between Sutter and Geary streets and Powell and Stockton Streets, right across from the front of Macy's. The beautiful and reusable tree will be decorated with more than 43,000 twinkling energy-efficient LED lights and 700 shining ornaments. Enjoy live performances by American Conservatory Theater's 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. Event details

19th Annual Jelly Belly Tree Lighting Celebration

Jelly Belly Visitor Center, Fairfield
Saturday, November 24, 5–8 pm
Celebrate the Holiday Season with Jelly Belly, and mark your calendar for this annual event. Santa, puppet shows, and live music are all part of the fun. Watch us light our 32-foot Christmas tree. Plus, catch our character parade! Santa photos available after Tree Lighting Ceremony until 7:45 pm. Location: 1 Jelly Belly Lane, Fairfield. Event details

Tiburon Holiday Festival

Downtown Tiburon
Saturday, December 1, 2–6 pm
Tiburon’s Mayor and Santa Claus make the holiday season official by lighting the town’s Christmas tree after Santa arrives by fire truck. Come ready to sing some favorite Christmas carols! Enjoy Santa photos, snow play, horse-drawn carriage rides, ornament making, gingerbread house decorating, and tree lighting ceremony at 6 pm. Event details

Lighting of the Snowmen Holiday Festival

CornerStone Sonoma
Saturday, December 1, 4–8 pm
Bring the family to watch the annual 13th annual Lighting of the Snowmen. Enjoy live holiday music, lights and decorations, wine and beer tasting, delicious food, kids' crafts, and much more. Free admission. Parking $10 (benefits local charities). Location: 23570 Arnold Drive, Sonoma. Event details

Annual San Anselmo Holiday Lighting Ceremony

Imagination Park, San Anselmo
Saturday, December 1, 5 pm
Holiday fun for everyone as the San Anselmo Chamber of Commerce brings the community together to countdown the lighting of the tree in Imagination Park. Hot Cocoa, snacks, art projects, family gathering, fire trucks and Selfies with Santa. Holiday music provide by Drake High School Jazz Band. Location: Imagination Park, 535 San Anselmo Avenue. Event details

Festival of Lights

Osher Marin JCC, San Rafael
Sunday, December 2, 11:30–2:30 pm
This all-ages fun family festival is free and all are welcome! Enjoy traditional Hanukkah treats like latkes and sufganiyot (donuts), live music, an artisanal marketplace, face painting, holiday songs and stories, arts and crafts, a bounce house, and more. You can also experience the JCC fitness center and pools! Location: 200 North San Pedro Road, San Rafael. Event details

Mill Valley Winterfest

Depot Plaza, Downtown Mill Valley
Sunday, December 2, noon–5 pm
Mill Valley's annual celebration of the holiday season features a snow sledding hill, the one and only Santa Claus in an antique fire truck, great food and drinks, an array of fun games, great music and entertainment, and a tree lighting. This is one of Mill Valley's hallmark events. Depot Plaza, downtown Mill Valley. Event details

Bill Graham Menorah Lighting

Union Square, San Francisco
Sunday, December 2, 2 pm
The Bill Graham Menorah lights up San Francisco's Union Square, with lighting ceremonies starting December 2 at 4:30 pm. The first ceremony features David and Alex Graham, Perry Farrell, local dignitaries, and long-time Bill Graham colleagues, as well as musical performances by Jerry’s Kosher Deli plus very special guests. Kids craft activities start at 2 pm. Location: 333 Post Street, San Francisco. Event details

Pier 39 Menorah Lighting

Pier 39, San Francisco
Sunday December 2–Monday, December 9
Celebrate Hanukkah with Pier 39! Each evening, from December 2nd through December 9, Pier 39 will light its menorah to celebrate the festival of lights. You’ll find Pier 39’s menorah on display in the Entrance Plaza, adjacent to the Only in San Francisco shop. Event details

Grand Chalk Menorah Lighting

Novato City Hall
Sunday, December 2, 5 pm
Come "Chalk Kindness" at the Grand Chalk Menorah Lighting at Novato City Hall. This free community event also features music and entertainment, a raffle, refreshments like hot latkes and donuts. Location: 901 Sherman Avenue, Novato. Event details

Civic Center Plaza Tree Lighting

San Francisco Civic Center
Wednesday, December 5, 5–7 pm
This festive lighting of the Civic Center tree features live entertainment, a toy giveaway, take and make crafts and goodies for the kids to enjoy. Event details

Petaluma Light Up a Life Tree Lighting

Walnut Park, Petaluma
Friday, December 7, 6–7 pm
This evening includes community tree lighting, music, inspiration and remembrance during the holiday season. Thousands of bright lights will shine to symbolize the lives, hopes and dreams of the community. With a $10 donation, a light can be dedicated in memory or honor of a loved one. Hospice will also send an acknowledgment card to your family and friends sharing your gift of light. Contact Hospice of Petaluma at (707) 778-6242 to name a light or for additional event details. Location: 21 Petaluma Boulevard, Petaluma. Event details

Holiday Lights: The Presidio Tree Lighting Ceremony

San Francisco Presidio Main Post
Friday, December 7, 5–6:30 pm
Light the tree and sing holiday classics along with the Golden Gate Carolers. Light refreshments and kids activities will follow in the Presidio Community Y gymnasium. After the tree lighting, don’t miss the lantern-lit evening forest walk at 6 pm. Partners include the Presidio Y, National Park Service, US Park Police, SF Fire Department, Presidio Residences, and Art Seed. Looking to do some early holiday shopping? Stop by the Presidio Visitor Center before Holiday Lights for 25% off retail items. Event details

Photo: Ghirardelli Square