Winter Solstice 2025: Bay Area Celebrations

Winter Solstice Events in the Bay Area

The winter solstice, which occurs this year on Sunday, December 21, marks the longest night of the year. Across the Bay Area, artists and community groups are planning a variety of events to celebrate the turning point of the season. These gatherings include live music, ecstatic dance, sound baths, lantern walks, meditation, and other activities focused on rejuvenation and light as we approach the new year.

After Dark: Solstice

As the longest night of the year approaches, the other side of the globe prepares for its longest day. Join an evening at the science museum exploring the complementary relationship between light and shadow, and discover the many ways light finds its way into dark places. With a dance performance inspired by the rhythms of the solar system, and its illuminated winter exhibition, "Glow."

• Time: 6-10 p.m. Thursday, December 18
• Cost: $22.95; 18 and older
• Location: Exploratorium, Pier 15, S.F.
• Contact: 415-528-4444
• Website: www.exploratorium.edu

Embracing Winter's Glow

Celebrate the spirit of the season at an annual solstice event that was historically held at the Alan Watts-famed Druid Heights property and Muir Woods in Mill Valley. Welcome the increase in daylight hours with family-friendly craft activities, a Yule log ceremony, story time, live music, and a ranger-led walk amongst towering redwoods. Light refreshments provided.

• Time: 6-8 p.m. Thursday, December 18
• Cost: Free; registration required
• Location: Mill Valley Library, 375 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley
• Contact: 415-389-4292
• Website: www.millvalleylibrary.gov

‘Nightlight: The Turning'

Enjoy free range theater with the Imaginist artists featuring an all-new, immersive, guided, theatrical, walk-through performance celebrating winter and the dark time of year. There will be five showings each night and run time is approximately 30 minutes.

• Time: 6:30-9:30 p.m. Thursday-Sunday, December 18-21
• Cost: $20
• Location: The Imaginists, 461 Sebastopol Ave., Santa Rosa
• Website: www.theimaginists.org/winter-december

Winter Solstice Sound Bath Experience in Mill Valley

Celebrate winter solstice soaking up soothing sounds from crystal bowls, gongs, and chimes. In for a rejuvenating evening of relaxation and healing. It's a great way to welcome the winter season and set positive intentions. Bring a mat or cushion.

• Time: 6-7 p.m. Friday, December 19
• Cost: $30-$39.19
• Location: Church of Our Saviour, 10 Old Mill St., S.F.
• Contact: 707-228-6691
• Website: www.bluemusesoundhealing.org

‘Midori's Dining Room: ' Closing Reception and Solstice Celebration

Join artists Midori and Queerly Complex for a solstice weekend party and closing reception for the current Artist-in-Residence's collaborative installation, titled "Dining Room." Bring a dish or drink to share for a potluck and enjoy live performances in the gallery space.

• Time: 6:30 p.m. Friday, December 19
• Cost: Free
• Location: 465 Collective, 465 S. Van Ness Ave., S.F.
• Website: www.queerlycomplex.com

Winter Solstice Celebration: ‘Hot Toddy Nights'

Escape the winter chill during a special three-night event celebrating the longest nights of the year. Enjoy twinkling lights, winter-themed drinks, and back-to-back comedy shows featuring top Bay Area comedians.

• Time: 7, 9, and 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, December 19-20; 7 and 8:30 p.m. Sunday-Tuesday, December 21-23
• Cost: Free-$25
• Location: The Function, 1414 Market St., S.F.
• Contact: 415-792-6971
• Website: www.thefunctionsf.com

California Midwinter Revels: ‘The Feast of Fools'

Join a musical medieval celebration where kings become fools and fools become kings. Revel in the ‘contrary magic‘ reflected in a tale told with dragons, live music, and dance, a holiday sing-along, and more.

• Time: 7:30 p.m. Friday, December 19; 1 and 6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, December 20-21
• Cost: $24-$48
• Location: Douglas Morrisson Theatre, 22311 N. Third St., Hayward
• Website: www.californiarevels.org

Solstice Square Dance with Round Top Stringband

Caller Evie Ladin teaches and leads a community square dance celebrating the winter solstice accompanied by the Round Top Stringband performing live old-time music. No partner or experience necessary. Gender-free calling. Wear gold or yellow to celebrate the return of the sun. BYOB is fine, but no hard alcohol is allowed.

• Time: 8-10 p.m. December 19
• Cost: $6-$23.18
• Location: The Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St., Berkeley
• Website: www.bacds.org/series/square/east-bay

Circus Something: ‘Survival-The Longest Night'

The group's annual production celebrates winter solstice with a dark and mysterious variety show, woven together with the illusionary magic of an avant garde circus theater production.

• Time: 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, December 19-20; 5 p.m. Saturday, December 20
• Cost: $55-$89
• Location: Dance Mission Theater, 3316 24th St., S.F.
• Website: www.circussomething.com

Winterfest at Chabot Space and Science Center

Kick off wintertime with a two-day celebration featuring live music, face painting, and activities blending holiday cheer with cosmic exploration. Meet science and astronomy experts, enjoy DC Dance Center's Holiday Showcase, singers from the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, Sipreme hot chocolate tasting, Astro Everywhere's educational astronomy, gingerbread rover-making workshops, and more.

• Time: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, December 20-21
• Cost: $19-$24
• Location: Chabot Space and Science Center, 10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland
• Website: www.chabotspace.org

Circus Bella: ‘Starlight'

Imagine yourself in a magical realm as the circus returns with an all-new winter program featuring fresh acts, vibrant costumes, and performers from across the country. It's accompanied by the original music of Rob Reich, performed live by the Circus Bella All-Star Band.

• Time: 1 p.m. Saturday-Monday, December 20-22, 27-29 and Friday-Sunday, January 2-4; 4 p.m. December 21-23, 26-28, 30-31 and January 2-4; 7 p.m. December 31
• Cost: $55-$75
• Location: The Crossing at East Cut, 211 Beale St., S.F.
• Contact: 415-480-4239
• Website: www.circusbella.org

Winter Solstice Celebration

Walk a spiral evergreen path, share stories, seasonal songs, and participate in a drum circle during an open house-style holiday event. Consider bringing a bowl, spoon, and cup, a side dish or dessert, and musical instruments to share in the rhythms of the season. Warm beverages provided.

• Time: 4-9 p.m. Saturday, December 20
• Cost: Free
• Location: Napa Valley Unitarian Universalists, 1625 Salvador Ave., Napa
• Website: www.nvuu.org

Winter Solstice Inner Sunset Art Walk

Stroll through Inner Sunset district streets and discover local art, music, and holiday activities. Participating galleries and businesses will offer drinks, live entertainment, promotions, and more.

• Time: 5-8 p.m. Saturday, December 20
• Cost: Free; registration required
• Location: Ninth Ave., between Lincoln Way and Judah St. and Irving St., between Sixth and Tenth Streets, S.F.
• Website: www.huntandgathersf.com

North Beach Winter Solstice Gathering

Join Decriminalize Nature, Oakland Hyphae, and Church of Mother Gong for a fun and festive get-together in North Beach including light refreshments and a white elephant style ‘Albino Mushroom' gift giveaway. To participate, bring a wrapped gift to give away to a random person.

• Time: 6 p.m. Saturday, December 20
• Cost: Free; donations welcome
• Location: Live Worms Gallery, 1345 Grant Ave., S.F.
• Contact: 415-263-8959
• Website: www.sfsmartshop.com/events

‘Sound of Love' Winter Solstice Sound Bath

Bliss out and connect to high vibrations and healing energies as Ruby Hernandez and David Gibson perform on a wide range of sound healing instruments including voice, crystal and Tibetan singing bowls, gongs, crystal harp, handpan drum, and more.

• Time: 6-8 p.m. Saturday, December 20
• Cost: $33
• Location: Sound Healing Center, 110 Caledonia St., Sausalito
• Contact: 415-777-2486
• Website: www.soundhealingcenter.com

Winter Solstice Ritual with Jai Uttal

Join Uttal along with Erin Selover and Prajna Brianna Vieira for an evening program celebrating the sacred light of the winter season. The program will include chanting, meditation, and a candlelight ritual to honor the winter solstice.

• Time: 6:30 p.m. Saturday, December 20
• Cost: $60
• Location: Spirit Rock Meditation Center, 5000 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Woodacre
• Contact: 415-488-0164
• Website: www.spiritrock.org

Studio Fourth Street Solstice Celebration

Enjoy a performance program that's set to include live singers, actors, and musicians and offers multi-genre works from Beethoven to Bob Dylan and stories from around the world. There will be traditional seasonal foods, a holiday sing-along, dancing, and more. Audience participation encouraged.

• Time: 7 p.m. Saturday, December 20
• Cost: $20 suggested donation
• Location: Studio Fourth Street, 1569 Fourth St., San Rafael
• Website: www.studiofourthstreet.com

Movement: Ecstatic Dance SF - Winter Solstice with Odysseus

Connect, dance, celebrate, and transform during a solstice celebration featuring SoulFlow contact dance with Brigitte Wittmer, meditation, ecstatic dance with Odysseus, and a sound bath.

• Time: 10 a.m. Sunday, December 21
• Cost: $25-$55.20
• Location: Sacred Heart Church, 554 Fillmore St., S.F.
• Website: https://move.love

Second Annual Solstice Art Market for Palestine

No need to buy corporate junk when you can get art from local artists and support families in Gaza. With art, food, and drinks, craft activities, and live entertainment.

• Time: Noon-6 p.m. Sunday, December 21
• Cost: $5-$50
• Location: SF Mime Troupe Studio, 855 Treat Ave., S.F.

Winter Solstice: ‘Of Senses & Spirit'

Enjoy an afternoon of seasonal ritual and renewal in honor of the winter solstice with Ashley Lauren. Share tea, music, movement, writing, ritual, and resonance with live DJ accompaniment from Natalya Taylor.

• Time: 1-2:30 p.m. Sunday, December 21
• Cost: $35-$45
• Location: The Castro Room, 97 Collingwood St., S.F.
• Contact: 415-529-1261
• Website: www.castroroom.com/events

‘Make Music: Winter Solstice Edition'

Celebrate solstice by making music and sharing libations. Parade between two MacArthur Blvd. locations and enjoy craft beverages, entertainment, and live music. All skill levels are encouraged to join the parade. Bring an instrument (anything that makes noise works). The event seeks to raise awareness for International Make Music Day, which happens annually on the summer solstice.

• Time: 2-4:30 p.m. Sunday, December 21
• Cost: Free admission
• Location: Degrees Plato, 4251 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland and Ghost Town Brewing, 3506 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland
• Website: www.laureldistrictassociation.org/mmd

Solstice Party at Wessling Contemporary

Check out a group exhibition of nearly twenty West Coast artists working in varied mediums and raise a glass to the sunset at 4:50 p.m. Look forward to longer days and warmer weather, and toast the painter Don Hershman as we close his solo exhibition, "Still | Still." A portion of the proceeds will go to benefit Muttville, a senior dog rescue operation.

• Time: 3-6 p.m. Sunday, December 21
• Cost: Free
• Location: Wessling Contemporary, 39 Grant Ave., S.F.
• Contact: 415-652-8132
• Website: www.wessling.com

Winter Solstice Celebration at Cesar Chavez State Park

Celebrate the astronomical and cultural significance of the Winter solstice and festivals of earth's resting season with Lawrence Hall of Science astronomers Alan Gould and Bryan Mendez of the Space Sciences Lab at UC Berkeley.

• Time: 4-5:15 p.m. Sunday, December 21
• Cost: Free
• Location: Cesar Chavez State Park, 11 Spinnaker Way, Berkeley
• Website: www.solarcalendar.org

Third Annual Winter Solstice & Holiday Sing-Along

Sing along with favorite holiday tunes, listen to soloists, eat treats, and drink some holiday nog. Song leaders help make the event accessible to all ages and experience levels. Additionally, there will be an ugly sweater contest and more.

• Time: 4-7 p.m. Sunday, December 21
• Cost: $15-$30
• Location: St. Alban's Episcopal Church, 1501 Washington Ave., Albany
• Website: www.calliope-ebma.org

Cathedral Concerts: Musical Meditations

Organist Nataly Pak will perform a program of classical works on the lofty sanctuary's Ruffatti organ, as sunset approaches on the shortest day of the year.

• Time: 4 p.m. Sunday, December 21
• Cost: Free
• Location: St. Mary's Cathedral, 1111 Gough St. Geary Blvd., S.F.
• Contact: 415-567-2020
• Website: www.smcsf.org

Twilight Hike: Secrets of the Solstice

Seek out a last bit of sunshine on the shortest day of the year. Walk around peaceful Miwok Meadows and spy wildlife, the dried ends of last-summer's flora, and more.

• Time: 4-5 p.m. Sunday, December 21
• Cost: Free-$5; registration required
• Location: Miwok Meadows trailhead
• Website: www.friendsofchinacamp.org

Winter Solstice Lantern Walk

Carry light in the darkness and share songs of the season with a children's nature circle. Materials will be provided to make a child-safe lantern. At 5 p.m., enjoy a walk around the bottom of the hill with the lanterns. Meet on the south side lawn of Blue Heron Lake.

• Time: 4:30-6 p.m. Sunday, December 21
• Cost: $18-$24
• Location: Stow Lake Bridge, 50 Blue Heron Lake Dr., S.F.
• Website: www.sfnaturecircle.com

Winter Solstice Writing Workshop: ‘Finding Light and Magic in the Dark'

Join Sarah Kobrinsky for a solstice-focused generative writing workshop. Step away from the commercial frenzy of the holiday season and arrive into the stillness of your own voice.

• Time: 6-8 p.m. Sunday, December 22
• Cost: $50
• Location: Jered's Pottery, 5743 A Horton St., Emeryville
• Website: www.jeredspottery.com

Celebration of Winter Solstice with Shabe Yalda

Celebrate the longest night of the year with live traditional music and poetry by Sina and Samandar Dehghani and dance with Tara Catherine. Light refreshments provided.

• Time: 6-8 p.m. Sunday, December 21
• Cost: $45-$49.87
• Location: Sausalito Center for the Arts, 750 Bridgeway, Sausalito
• Contact: 415-810-6089
• Website: www.sausalitocenterforthearts.org

Thee Stork Club Solstice Soiree

Songwriters Zoe FitzGerald Carter and Deborah Crooks come together and celebrate the new season with an evening of literary-minded original music.

• Time: 6:30 p.m. Sunday, December 21
• Cost: $18-$20; 21 and older
• Location: Thee Stork Club, 2330 Telegraph Ave., Oakland
• Contact: 510-859-8709
• Website: www.theestorkclub.com

Legends of the Freight Series: Annual Winter Solstice Concert

Celebrate the season as longtime Windham Hill recording artist and multi-instrumentalist Barbara Higbie leads an all-star band in a program featuring works from Windham Hill's "Winter Solstice" series as well as new compositions. With guitarist Vicki Randle, percussionist Michaelle Goerlitz, cellist Mia Pixley, bassist Kofy Brown, and mandolinist Jasper Manning.

• Time: 7 p.m. Sunday, December 21
• Cost: $25-$44
• Location: Freight and Salvage, 2020 Addison St., Berkeley
• Contact: 510-644-2020
• Website: www.thefreight.org

Kapwa Wellness Winter Solstice Ceremony

Embrace the changing of season and connect to fresh energy with a solstice ceremony and meditation to set a positive tone.

• Time: 8-9 p.m. Sunday, December 21
• Cost: $28-$31.72
• Location: Kapwa Wellness Center, 4 Crow Canyon Court, San Ramon
• Contact: 925-895-8127
• Website: www.kapwawellness.com

Winter Solstice Sound Bath at Mancini's Sleepworld S.F.

Mancini's will partner with Glow Yoga SF to honor the longest night of the year and the return of light during an evening event focused on deep relaxation and wellness with a calming sound bath. Attendees will receive a goodie bag. Bring a blanket or cozy layer for extra comfort. Proceeds directly support the Ticket to Dream Foundation.

• Time: 6-8 p.m. Monday, December 22
• Cost: $10-$23.18
• Location: Mancini's Sleepworld, 2950 Geary Blvd., S.F.
• Contact: 415-750-0500
• Website: www.sleepworld.com