Bay Area Theme Park Holiday Guide
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom: Holiday in the Park - Vallejo, CA
Six Flags
See the park transform into a magical winter wonderland with over two million twinkling lights, festive eats and sweets, holiday music, and so much more! We would suggest bringing extra clothes and a towel for activities such as the frosty bubble party, water rides and if you plan to watch the dolphin show or do any of the dolphin experiences! Check times of the shows and dance party ahead of time and plan around them. I would also suggest doing the Christmas activities like face painting and cookie decorating early, they sometimes run out of cookie kits (those activities are also an additional small fee). We also loved their holiday cups to refill with hot cocoa for $1.99 the rest of the holiday season! Our favorite foods were Johnny Rockets and favorite dessert were the mini donuts 🍩. We love how this park has rides for both the younger kids, teens and adults! It definitely has something for kids of all ages.
Six Flags
Daily Admission Ticket- $45
Parking - $45, speedy parking to park closer
Season Pass- $79 (with current deal to save $20) for a Platinum Pass
Holiday Activities- Frosty Foam Party, Cookie Decorating and S’mores are additional charge $5-12$
Food/Drinks Ranged and sold separately, but they also sell dining passes!
CA Great America: Winterfest, Santa Clara CA
Fill your night with holiday fun like ice skating on Snow Flake Lake, write a letter to Santa, decorate cookies with Mrs. Claus, find that perfect gift for someone special and get a family photo with the big man in red himself!
Use the app to watch ride times and show schedules. Also, families with children who have special needs are eligible to get fast passes to accommodate their needs. They have to go to guest services with paperwork and the child needs to be with them.
CA Great America
Save $15 off front gate pricing when buying tickets online!
Regular Ticket at Gate: $70
Online Price: 37.99
Kids and Seniors: 19.99
Oakland Zoo Glowfari
This wildly popular, family-friendly experience is back with hundreds of ALL new, larger-than-life animal lanterns throughout the Zoo. Each lantern tells the story of the ongoing journey of wildlife, the importance of every species on our planet, and Oakland Zoo's commitment to conservation. I would suggest booking an early time and hitting the gondola when you first get in or towards the end of the night to avoid the long lines. Check the last departure times because the Gondola shuts down 45 minutes before closing. Santa and the train ride is when you exit the park and the train is additional $3 per person to ride or there are wristbands available for purchase that includes all the fair-type rides.
Glowfari
All Ages
Hours: 5:00pm – 9:00pm
Adults: $26
Children (2-14)/Seniors (65-75): $22
Members: 10% discount
Under 2 and 76 and over: Free
Parking: Free
**Tickets go on sale 28 days in advance on a rolling basis at 9:00am each day.. If you are directed to a Queue It website, that is our digital “line” for purchasing Glowfari tickets. Tickets sell out quickly so purchasing as soon as tickets are open for sale is suggested!
Glowfari
Gilroy Gardens: North Pole Lights
Gilroy Gardens is transforming into the North Pole, with festive lights and all-new activities around every corner. Bring the whole family out to experience all the wonder of the holiday season—and make memories to last a lifetime! Gilroy Gardens is great for younger kids! We would say 10 and under would be the best age.
Gilroy Gardens
Admission: $55 - Single Day Ticket
Value member: $30
Ice skating- Adult $18 // Kids/Seniors $16
Cookie Decorating: $20
Parking: $20
Kids under 3 years old are FREE. Only valid for North Pole Nights in December!
Cal Expo: Imaginarium 360 - Sacramento, CA
Discover a world where fantasy meets reality at Imaginarium – Sacramento’s largest Holiday Light Festival of the Year!
Imaginarium
Dive into a mesmerizing experience tailored for all ages. Wander through our radiant rose garden, or lose yourself in the infinite mirror rooms. Venture deeper into the enchanted forest and marvel at over 25 majestic, larger-than-life storybook creatures, each bathed in a cascade of lights. Take the kids to meet Santa followed by an evening on the ice with our very own Ice Skating Rink! The fairgrounds are huge and it's a little hard to maneuver if crowded, a push wagon would be ideal if you have multiple kids. They have tons of great photo opportunities, but it does get cold so bringing a blanket, gloves and beanies!
ADULT: Weekday $21// WEEKEND $23
CHILD: Weekday $17 // WEEKENDS $19
$3 Service Charge
Child: Ages 3 to 12. Children under the age of 3 are free. Senior: Age 62 and older.
Free Circus Entertainment is included in the General Admission!
Imaginarium