San Francisco Holiday Events

Strap on your skates and hit the ice at Union Square's annual holiday rink. With the big tree overhead, festively decorated stores on every side and holiday music piped in, it's easy to forget that you're still in California.

Another great ice-skating option can be found on the Embarcadero's temporary rink. After your skate, grab a Recchiuti hot cocoa or a Blue Bottle coffee at the Ferry Building.

Each weekend in December, the Symphony offers a different musical holiday tradition: "Peter and the Wolf" for kids (Dec.10-11), contemporary Christmas music (Dec. 22-24) and, of course, Handel's "Messiah" (Dec. 16-18).

While most of us in San Francisco are glad to avoid the powdery white stuff, non-natives miss the snow this time of year. Get in on some fake snowfall action at the Hyatt, which offers a shower at 1pm, 5pm and 7pm daily. Sip a hot cocoa--or a happy hour cocktail--and enjoy the twinkling lights in the lobby.

If your mom's been nagging you to find that nice Jewish boy or girl, consider heading out for some dancing and mingling at the annual Latke Ball, held on Dec. 22. Advance tickets are just $20, and donors to the Young Adult Division of the Jewish Community Foundation can get access to free drink tickets and a private VIP bar.

Let someone else handle the Hanukkah cooking: The city's best New York-style deli offers fantastic latkes, which you can top with corned beef and pastrami for an extra caloric kick. And don't forget the matzo ball soup.

OK, so you can't eat it, but the gigantic and lavish gingerbread house at the Fairmont should provide plenty of inspiration for a smaller, homemade knockoff. Just try not to drool on the dwelling.