10 Things to Do with Bay Area Kids in November 2026

November is when the Bay flips the switch. Zoos glow, ice rinks freeze over in the middle of downtown, and the coast pulls its lowest tides of the year. Here's what's worth your time this month, with dates, prices, and the tips that make the outing easier.

This roundup includes one paid partnership, San Jose Holiday Lights. The other nine are independent picks.

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1. ✨ San Jose Holiday Lights (Featured)

Six themed worlds of light take over downtown San Jose, from a Golden Christmas with a 60-foot Santa Tree to a Mermaid Current with a giant pink octopus and a White Christmas Wonderland with ice tunnels. Our favorite part last year was the Doca Dream Lab, where local kids' drawings are turned into glowing lanterns.

When: Nov 13, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027, daily 4:30–10:30pm (last entry 10pm)
Where: 330 W San Carlos St, San Jose
Cost: * DISCOUNT CODE: KIDSGO10* $25 - $29 Adults. Kids are $10 on select school nights, $23 on weekends
Tip: Plan 1–2 hours. VTA light rail stops at Children's Discovery Museum station, steps from the entrance.
Get tickets

2. ⛸️ Holiday Ice Rinks

Outdoor rinks are back. Union Square opens first on Nov 4 and runs through Jan 18. San Ramon's Kristi Yamaguchi Holiday Ice Rink at City Center Bishop Ranch holds its opening ceremony Nov 6. San Jose's Downtown Ice under the Circle of Palms hasn't posted 2026 dates yet; last season it opened Nov 26 at $21 with skates.

Cost: Union Square was $22 adults, $17 kids 8 and under last season, skates included
Tip: Buy Union Square tickets online; sessions start every 90 minutes.
SEE FULL LIST OF HOLIDAY ICE RINKS + DETAILS HERE.

3. 🦁 Glowfari at Oakland Zoo

Hundreds of giant animal lanterns light up the zoo after dark. It's a yearly tradition for our family.

When: Nov 6, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027. Entry 4:30–6:30pm; everyone out by 9pm. Closed Nov 9, 10, 16, 17 and 26.
Cost: Plan-ahead pricing; tickets release 28 days before each date and are cheaper the earlier you book. The train is a separate ticket.
Tip: Dress for cold and damp. It's outdoors and runs rain or shine.
Get tickets

4. 🎪 Zoppé Italian Family Circus

A one-ring, old-world Italian circus under a tent in downtown Redwood City, back for its 19th year. Every seat is within 20 feet of the ring, so even the littlest guests see everything. We've been, and it's as family-friendly as a circus gets.

When: Nov 6–29, 2026, with evening shows, weekend matinees and special holiday showtimes
Where: Circus tent at 1044 Middlefield Rd, Redwood City (by the downtown library)
Cost: Youth (2–11) $12–25, adults $17–30, front row $24–37. Prices go up as the run goes on, so book early.
Tip: Kids under 2 sit on laps, and car seats aren't allowed in the tent.
Get tickets

5. 🪔 Diwali Celebrations

The Festival of Lights runs Nov 6–10, with the main day, Lakshmi Puja, on Sunday Nov 8. It's a joyful way for kids to see rangoli, diyas and dancing, whether it's their own tradition or brand new to them.

Diwali on the Square: Sunday Nov 8, 6:30–9:30pm, St. Mark's Square, 1031 Franklin St, SF. Free.
Bhangra & Beats: the free, all-ages night market returns Friday Nov 13, 5–9pm, at Yerba Buena Gardens in SF.
Tip: Many Bay Area temples and cultural groups hold their biggest celebrations the weekend of Nov 7–8; check your nearest one.
See Diwali events here.

6. 💡 IlluminOdyssey at CuriOdyssey

CuriOdyssey's indoor light exhibit turns 10 this year with 10 new glowing exhibits. Kids paint with light, play with rainbow refraction and dance with their shadows. Unlike most light shows, it's a daytime visit, which makes it great for little ones with early bedtimes.

When: Nov 14, 2026 – Jan 24, 2027. Winter hours are 9:30am–4:30pm.
Where: 1651 Coyote Point Dr, San Mateo
Cost: Free with museum admission or membership
Tip: The hall is dark with some flashing lights, so give light-sensitive kids a heads-up.
Get tickets here

7. Holidays at Filoli

The Woodside estate goes all-in for the holidays: model trains winding through Thistlewyck Village in the redwoods, a Historic House dressed for a Celtic Christmas, and new this year, a family farm with mini cows.

When: Daytime Nov 14 – Jan 10, 10am–3:30pm (Thistlewyck through Jan 3). Holiday Lights evenings 4–10pm.
Cost: Daytime from $40 adults, $35 kids; Holiday Lights from $45. Members get free daytime admission.
Tip: Add the $25 Thistlewyck Passport for an elf hat, a train toy and hot chocolate. Closed Nov 26.
Get tickets here

8. 🌈 Lightscape at the SF Botanical Garden

A one-mile trail of a million lights winds through Golden Gate Park's Botanical Garden, with all-new art, color and sound this year.

When: Select nights, Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027
Where: San Francisco Botanical Garden, 1199 9th Ave, Golden Gate Park
Cost: Adults from $32. Last year kids 5–17 were $20 and ages 4 and under were free.
Tip: The trail took most visitors about 45 minutes last year, and strollers are welcome. Flex tickets let you arrive any time on your date.
Get tickets

9. 🦀Tide Pooling

The year's first king tides (Nov 24–26) pull the ocean back far enough to expose tide pools that are usually underwater. It's the best chance all season to find sea stars, anemones and crabs.

Where: Fitzgerald Marine Reserve in Moss Beach, Natural Bridges in Santa Cruz, Bean Hollow near Pescadero, or Duxbury Reef in Bolinas
Best timing: Arrive an hour before low tide. In Santa Cruz, Nov 24 is the pick, with low tide at 4:17pm (−1.3 ft); the Nov 25 and 26 lows land at or after sunset. Times differ by beach, so check the tide chart for yours.
Cost: Free; some spots charge for parking (Natural Bridges is $10)
Tip: Look, don't take. These are protected areas, so step on bare rock, keep hands gentle, and leave every creature where you found it.

10. 🎅 Christmas in the Park, San Jose

A San Jose tradition for more than 45 years: an enchanted forest of decorated trees, animated displays and a giant tree you can walk inside, all free.

When: Nov 27, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027, daily noon–10pm
Where: Plaza de Cesar Chavez, downtown San Jose
Cost: Free (donations welcome)
Tip: Pair it with Downtown Ice and San Jose Holiday Lights for a full downtown night.

Bonus picks

ZooLights at the SF Zoo: back for the first time in eight years, Nov 6 – Jan 3, 5:30–9pm. $30 adults, $21 kids.
Free national parks day, Nov 11: fee-free entry for US residents at parks that charge, including Muir Woods (parking or shuttle reservation still required).
Monarchs at Natural Bridges: California's only state monarch preserve; the butterflies peak around mid-November. Pair it with tide pooling on Nov 24.
Glow at the Exploratorium: light-art installations open Nov 19, free with admission.
Great Dickens Christmas Fair: Victorian London takes over the Cow Palace on weekends Nov 21 – Dec 20, plus Friday Nov 27.
Holiday Lights Train at Roaring Camp: starts Nov 27 in Felton.

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