The Most Wonderful Things To Do For The Holidays in San Francisco
Enjoy a Thanksgiving Feast On the Town in San Francisco
Wonderful as it can be to host a Thanksgiving dinner with family or friends, sometimes you want a holiday meal you don’t have to spend hours preparing—and then hours cleaning up after. Spending Thanksgiving weekend at Tilden Hotel, you’ve got some of the top restaurants in San Francisco right at your fingertips, which means a Turkey Day feast without the stress and the hassle.
Discover the extensive multi-course Thanksgiving menus on offer at the following restaurants:
- Presidio Social Club (563 Ruger St)
- VILLON (1100 Market St)
- Zinger Ristorante & Jazz Bar (501 Post St)
- Top of the Mark (999 California St), where you can pair your lavish meal with panoramic views of the city
Volunteer and Give Back
For the season of giving, this is a great time to volunteer and give back. A few ways to give back to the community this year:
- Thanksgiving Day Block Party: San Francisco City Impact will deliver 5,000 hot meals, serve 300 sit-down dinners, and hand out 500 grocery bags.Thursday, November 28 | 8:30 am – 2 pm | 230 Jones Street
- SF-Marin Food Bank: Volunteer in the warehouse or community to help feed 41,000 locals weekly. Join their special “Feed the Need” event on Saturday, November 23.
- SPCA Holiday Windows at Macy’s: Sign up online to help at the annual holiday SPCA pop-up adoption center. Open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas.
- GLIDE Thanksgiving Meals: Help prep and serve thousands of meals during their annual Thanksgiving celebration.Thursday, November 28 | Various shifts | 330 Ellis Street
Go Ice Skating at Union Square
Beginning November 6 and running through late January, Union Square—just steps away from Tilden—hosts a popular ice skating rink. Open daily from 10 AM to 11:30 PM, sessions last 90 minutes. General admission is $18 with skate rental included ($13 for kids under 8).
Take a Winter Stroll in Union Square for All Your Holiday Shopping and Dining
The streets around Union Square transform into a San Francisco-style winter wonderland with five weeks of performances, family-friendly activities, food trucks, holiday cocktails, and festive lights.
Check out kittens and puppies in Macy’s windows, part of SF SPCA & Macy’s 32nd Annual Holiday Windows. Don’t miss:
- Union Square’s reusable tree with 43,000 LED lights and 700 ornaments
- Annual Menorah public celebration of Chanukah (Dec 22 – Dec 29)
- Drag Queens on Ice: Dec 5 at the Union Square Ice Rink
Black Friday – The Place to Shop
Union Square is one of the city’s premier shopping hubs, featuring Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom, GAP, Apple Store, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and more. After a day of shopping, stay for:
Macy’s 30th Annual Great Tree Lighting Ceremony
Friday, November 29 | 5:30 PM – 6:50 PM
Union Square Park, across from Macy’s front entrance
Santa Paws is Coming to Town
Thursday, November 29 | 5:00 PM | Macy’s Union Square Level 7
Bring your furry friend to meet Santa! This special SPCA holiday event includes treats for dogs and humans. Tickets: $45 (includes admission for two people, two dogs, and a photo with Santa). Proceeds support shelter animals this holiday season.
Nothing Says the Holidays Like a City-Wide Santa Pub Crawl
SantaCon – Saturday, December 7 | Starts at Union Square at 12 PM
Join thousands of Santas as they take over the streets and bars of San Francisco! Wear a full Santa or Elf suit and bring a new, unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots.
Discover a One-of-a-Kind Adventure at The Great Dickens Christmas Fair
Step into Victorian London with the Dickens Christmas Fair at the Cow Palace. Enjoy music halls, dance parties, taverns, and shops overflowing with handmade gifts.
November 17 – December 23 | Cow Palace Exhibition Halls
Visit dickensfair.com for details
Decorate the World Tree of Hope at Grace Cathedral
Join the Rainbow World Fund in decorating the world’s largest origami holiday tree with over 17,000 cranes and stars inscribed with global wishes.
Grace Cathedral | 1100 California Street | Free with RSVP
Decorate the Holiday Tree at San Francisco City Hall
Daily from Nov 30 – Dec 7 | 9 AM | Special event: Dec 8 | 12:30 PM – 5 PM
Celebrate the season by helping decorate one of San Francisco’s public holiday trees.
Ring in the New Year San Francisco Style
New Year’s Eve is a nonstop celebration in San Francisco, and Tilden Hotel places you near it all. Consider these local favorites:
- ALIST New Year’s Eve Party at the Westin Union Square: 10 DJs, dancing, and multiple music rooms
- Fireworks at the Waterfront: Watch from the Ferry Building or SF Bay Bridge at 11:59 PM
- City Kayak Fireworks Paddle: Join 30 paddlers for champagne and fireworks from the bay
- Speakeasy NYE Cruise: Party aboard the Fume Blanc with blackjack and live music
- Brahma Kumaris Meditation Center: Ring in the new year peacefully with music, games, and a contemplative fire ceremony