🗓️ December 5 - 11 Edition

🎄✨ NEW: Klabbit Holiday Events Finder!

I'm excited to share v1 of a fun tool that personalizes recommendations and makes planning your holiday season easier. Let me know if you try it and I welcome any feedback! You can email [email protected].

You can ask questions like:

"Holiday events happening Dec 13–14 weekend between 9 am–12 pm or 3–6 pm"
"Train rides without advance reservations"
"Holiday lights within 30 minutes of San Mateo"
"Photos with Santa within 15 minutes of Burlingame"
"Performances and Nutcracker shows for 3–5 year olds"

Get it HERE. *Utilizes Google NotebookLM so Google sign-in required. More advanced queries may need additional time for a response.

🎄 HOLIDAY NEWS 🎅

Looking for a new Christmas book? From the author of Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site, this one is really fun for both kids and adults and has been on repeat in our house. We also love this beautiful one and have others from this high-quality series!
Unique and hyper-local gift…honey from Redwood City Downtown Library’s rooftop bees! All proceeds go to library programs.
Last week to put in a letter to santa!
Highly recommend a fun holiday excursion at Rancho Siempre Verde! Feels like you're transported to an East Coast holiday wonderland—marshmallow roasting, wreath making, tractor rides, the most epic rope swings, and festive holiday vibes. Plus, it's dog-friendly! Sneak preview and tips here.
If you happen to be in wine-country, check out this amazing (kid-friendly) holiday beer garden!
If you want a Hallmark-movie Santa experience and the pictures to go along with it (at a mini-photo shoot price), check out this incredible Santa experience in Emeryville.
🚂 Holiday Train | Dec 11-28 (Thu-Sun) | 6:00-9:00 PM (gate closes 8:45 PM) | Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad, Los Gatos | 👶 All Ages | $10 train, $5 carousel, $14 combo | Info Ride a decorated train through the first third of Vasona Park's Fantasy of Lights show. Tickets sold on-site only, no reservations (historically it does not sell out). Free for ages 2 & under.
And if you’re looking for a Nutcracker performance:
🩰 SF Ballet Nutcracker | Dec 5-11 & 28 | Various Times | War Memorial Opera House | 👶 All Ages | 20% off first 4 performances with code FIRSTFOUR | Info Magical production featuring Clara's Victorian San Francisco journey through a dazzling blizzard to the Crystal Palace. Live orchestra, Sugar Plum Fairy, and international cast of characters in this 80-year Bay Area tradition.
🩰 Mark Foehringer's Nutcracker Sweets | Dec 6-21 | Multiple Showtimes | Fort Mason Center | 👶 All Ages | $23.50-$65.50 | Info 50-minute family-friendly production blending contemporary dance and ballet with live chamber orchestra, beautiful costumes, and colorful sets. Perfect for small children and ballet newcomers!
🩰 SF Ballet Family Dance-Along | Dec 21 | 455 Franklin St, San Francisco | 👧 Ages 3-7 (Sensory-Friendly Experience Ages 5-12)| $25 per person | Info Interactive Nutcracker experience! Learn choreography, discover music, explore costumes and pointe shoes, plus hands-on arts and crafts.

🎉 NOTABLES 🎉

Interested in San Mateo-Foster City public schools? Check out the Festival of Options this Saturday and chat with staff from each school, plus food and children’s activities are included.
A new Japanese market, Osaka Marketplace, opens in Foster City this Friday. 🎌 Taiko drums and sake barrel ceremony at 9:00 AM and store opens at 10:00 AM.
👗 Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella | Dec 4-28 | Hillbarn Theatre, Foster City | 👧 Ages 5+ | 💵 | Info Tony Award-winning adaptation with modern twist! Lush score, dazzling transformations, and a Cinderella who's not just waiting for a prince. Run time approx. 2 hours 15 minutes with a 15 minute intermission.
🗓️ And in case you missed it, the full list of ongoing holiday events (including pro tips for the Dickens Fair), and free NYT subscription through the public library system!

Weekday Events

Friday, December 5

Learn sustainable Korean bojagi cloth wrapping techniques! Walk away with your own creation, fun fabrics, and the knowledge to bring the art of bojagi into your home.

Enjoy family fun, arts & crafts, holiday goodies, festive lights, snow, and musical performances downtown!

Festive stroll with sparkle, music, family fun, and holiday shopping from local artisans and businesses!

Annual tree lighting followed by hot chocolate vendors, snacks, and kiddie train rides through downtown!

Sing along to favorite Handel's Messiah selections led by CSM music students in this beautiful holiday concert!

Thursday, December 11

Photos with Santa and holiday characters, snow, hands-on crafts, and refreshments! Please bring one new, unwrapped toy to donate.

🗓️ Want more week day options? Find the full list of 70+ recurring events happening every day of the week here. Chess club, 3D printing, lego robotics, Spanish conversation club, teen video game nights, makers events, story times, and much more!

Weekend-Long Events

Two full days of shopping and supporting small businesses selling handmade goods!

🩰 Ballet America Nutcracker | Dec 6 (2:00 PM & 6:30 PM), Dec 7 (1:30 PM & 4:00 PM) | Cañada College, Redwood City | 👶 All Ages | $21.50+ | Info Classic holiday ballet production featuring the beloved Nutcracker story with talented local dancers for a 1.5 hour performance.

Symphonic celebration with holiday classics, carols, dance, sing-alongs, and 12 Days of Silicon Valley. Pre-concert Santa and gingerbread decorating!

Like Klabbit? Forward it to a friend!

Saturday, December 6

Build a holiday cocoa mug with free supplies and guided instruction!

Klabbit Note: It’s a popular event so arrive early and be prepared for some chaos. It can get messy with painting and gluing!

Craft ornaments, frost cookies, write letters to Santa, and sip hot cocoa. Childcare provided!

Dress as your favorite character and explore (free museum admission; discount to special exhibit) Art of Manga with photo ops, manga merch, and more!

Santa visits, live music, 20+ vendors, silent auction, and beautiful gardens.

Get help troubleshooting and diagnosing broken items from volunteer Fixit Coaches!

Klabbit Note: Great opportunity for kids to learn some hands-on skills and to keep those small appliances out of the landfill! The volunteers are friendly and helpful.

Watch Santa arrive by helicopter at 10:30 AM! Christmas carols, photos with Santa.

Interactive music and movement class for babies, toddlers, preschoolers and caregivers!

Learn drawing techniques from a Pixar animator and author of "North For the Winter"!

Songs, games, and gentle poses exploring movement and mindfulness. No experience needed!

Purchase beautiful handmade ceramics crafted by talented members, instructors, and staff. Perfect for collectors and art enthusiasts!

Learn about guinea pigs, rabbits, and hamsters! Hosted by Girl Scouts outdoors at library entrance.

Paint wooden ornaments and enjoy sweet treats at this fun in-store event!

Holiday music, crafts, photo ops, cookie decorating, and hot chocolate at this indoor winter event!

Photos with Santa, cookie decorating, inflatables, hot cocoa, and Kids' Merry Marketplace!

National champion a cappella vocal band performs smart, genre-swapped holiday covers. Coincides with an event where 200 Santas run around downtown!

🗓️ Want more options? Find the full list of recurring events here, like open sewing time, free art projects, various story times, and much more.

Sunday, December 7

Pancake breakfast, meet a real reindeer, and skate under colorful lights to festive music!

Guided nature hike for families fostering curiosity and observation skills. 1.5 miles at kid-friendly pace!

Klabbit Note: If tickets are sold out and you have older kids, consider their free 3-hr Fun with Fungi Hike that morning (tickets required)!

Inclusive, multicultural choir performance celebrating diverse traditions! Seasonal songs performed by renowned Ragazzi Boys Chorus. Playground visitors welcome to join in!

Shop 30+ vendors featuring ceramics, chocolate, and more! Neighbors Fellow Products and Heath Ceramics also hosting markets.

Dance floor experience for families with music under 85 decibels! DJ set open to public at 3:00 PM.

Klabbit Note: Check out some of our favorite spots—all less than a .2 mi walk away! SPRO Coffee, Arsicault Bakery croissants, lunch at Outta Sight Pizza, and burn off some energy at the great playground across the street. There’s also free metered parking on Sundays and a farmers market in the morning. And if you want to make a day trip out of it for some holiday vibes, head to the Union Square Christmas Tree, see the Westin St. Francis Sugar Castle, or the Fairmont Gingerbread House display at the top of Nob Hill (take the trolley for tourist points)!

Storytime and crafts with the author and illustrator of everyone's favorite character, Cupig!

Create vintage-style ornaments from upcycled book pages inspired by Victorian-era traditions!

Stories, nature art with leaves and twigs, and early STEM learning with local author Ruchi Shah!

Free demo dance classes, Santa photos, face painting, crafts, treats, and raffles!

Create a wintery gnome jar for your holiday decor. Purchase the mason jar and Michaels provides the rest!

🗓️ Want more options? Find the full list of recurring events here, like LEGO robotics, coding club, Michael’s store crafts, storytimes, and more!

✅ Stay Connected

✨ Klabbit is your playbook to making Peninsula parenting easier. 👊

Follow Klabbit on Instagram for things like Glowfari ticket sale announcements, costume swaps, and other upcoming holiday events!
At an event? Share a tip and tag @helloklabbit to help fellow parents!
Share with a friend – Spread the word about Klabbit!

A note from the founder, Stacey:

Hi! 👋 I'm a local mom with young children and built Klabbit to lighten the mental load for busy families—it's the community resource I always wished existed.

Now you can see the Peninsula's best kid-friendly activities at a quick glance, every week. Meeting up with a friend? Send them this newsletter and pick something together. Kid up early from their nap? Check what's happening nearby!

Because parenting in the Bay Area is hard enough. Figuring out what to do this weekend shouldn't be.

See me at an event? Come say "hi"! Have feedback on the newsletter? I'd love to hear it! To share your experiences and pro tips with our community: find me on instagram, reply to this newsletter, or email me at [email protected]. Cheers! 📬