Celebrate the holidays in Oaktown

The day after Thanksgiving traditionally marks the official start of the holiday season! Here’s the 2009 run-down of things to do in town to celebrate. (Is something missing? Let me know and I’ll add it to the list!)

Citywide:

• Citywide Holiday Open House (Fri., December 18, 6-8 pm)

Jack London Square/Downtown:

• Oakland City Holiday Tree Lighting (Thurs., December 3, 5-6:30 pm)
• Full Vision Arts Foundation’s “Another Kind of Christmas” (Fri. & Sat., December 4-5, 7 pm)
• Jack London Square Lights Up for the Holidays (Fri., December 4, 5:30-7:30 pm)
• 10th Annual Oakland Children’s Holiday Parade (Sat., December 5, 2 pm)
• Jack London Square Lighted Yacht Parade (Sat., December 5, 5:30-9 pm)
• Holiday BUY Night at Jack London Square (Thurs. & Fri., December 10-11, 5-10 pm)
• 24th Annual Holiday Kwanzaa & Christmas Gift Show (Sat. & Sun., December 12-13, 11 am-7 pm)
• City Center Holiday Music Performances (Ongoing through December on the Plaza and in the lobby of 1111 Broadway)

Uptown/Lake Merritt/Piedmont Avenue:

• Feria Urbana December Art Fair at the New Parish (Thur., December 3, 6-10 pm)
• 1st Annual Piedmont Avenue Tree Lighting Ceremony & Holiday Stroll (Sat., December 5, 5 pm)
• Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir’s 24th Annual Holiday Concert at the Paramount (Sat., December 5, 7:30 pm)
• Mercury 20 Winter Arts Fair (Sat. & Sun., December 12-13, 11 am-5 pm)
• Scottish Rite Center’s California Revels: A Celebration of the Winter Solstice (Weekends from December 11-20, various times)
• Fairy Winterland at Children’s Fairyland (December 11-20, 12-7 pm)
• 1st Annual Menorah Lighting at Splash Pad Park (December 13, 4 pm)
• Oakland East Bay Symphony’s Holiday Concert at the Paramount (Sun., December 13, 4 pm)
• 4th Annual Piedmont Chanukah Menorah Lighting and Gala Party (Wed., December 16, 6:30 pm)
• Oakland Ballet’s Nutcracker at the Paramount (December 24, 26 & 27, various times)

Rockridge/Temescal:

• Rockridge in the Snow (Sat., November 28, 3-6 pm)
• Studio One Annual Pottery and Craft Sale (Sun., December 6, 12-4 pm)
• Temescal Holiday Skate & Stroll (Canceled due to the rain!)
• Local Love Holiday Celebrations on the 40th Street Corridor (Sat., December 12, 6-9 pm)

West Oakland/Golden Gate:

• Holidayland Gift Sale (November 27-December 20, varying hours; open late for Plaid Friday and First Friday)
• The Crucible Holiday Gifty Art Sale & Open House (Sat. & Sun., December 12-13, 10 am-4 pm)

Montclair/Oakland Hills

• Montclair Village Holiday Stroll (Thur., December 3, 6-9 pm)
• ZooLights at the Oakland Zoo (December 4-January 3, 5:30-9 pm; open till 9:30 on weekends)
• Fungus Fair—being held this year at Lawrence Hall of Science in Berkeley while the Oakland Museum is renovated! (Sat. & Sun., December 5-6, 10 am-5 pm)
• Holiday Celebrations at the Dunsmuir Hellman Historic Estate (Weekends from December 5-20, 11 am-5 pm)
• Paws & Claus at the Oakland Zoo (Sat. & Sun., December 19-20,  10 am-3 pm)
• Chabot Space & Science Center 10th Annual New Year’s Eve Balloon Drop (Thur., December 31, various times)

Fruitvale/Jingletown:

• Jingletown Holiday Art Walk (Sat. & Sun., December 5-6, 11 am-6 pm)
• Cohen-Bray House Holiday Tea & Tour (January 3, 1-3 pm; reservations required)