Best 2014 Holiday Events In The Bay Area

Grab your skates and hit Union Square for the city's ground zero of holiday cheer. Some bring their own skates to dazzle spectators with a perfect toe loop, and others rent skates to gingerly step onto the ice, hanging onto the rail with somebody's hand to steady their skating legs. All dressed up for the holidays, the 25-foot-tall menorah, 80-foot-high Christmas tree covered with baubles, ice skating rink and red-ribboned Macy's windows make up San Francisco's answer to Rockefeller Center. A second, bigger ice skating rink is at Justin Herman Plaza located at Four Embarcadero, through January 4, 2015.

It may be no surprise to see the San Francisco Ballet's annual production of Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" at the top of this list. It has been a tradition since the American premier on Christmas Eve 1944, they must be doing something right. Five special family performances are planned for opportunities to meet and pose with members of the cast in costume. Children ages five and up will appreciate the production best and those aged 6 to 10 might want to try the new San Francisco Ballet interactive app to learn more about the story and the ballet.

In December, the famous Napa Valley Train takes a holiday departure from its normal schedule. Billed as a "magical way to meet Santa," the ever-popular journey attracts families for a photo opportunity with the guest of honor before everyone clambers aboard a historic train for the ride from Napa to Yountville and back again with a costumed and jolly Saint Nick. Choose the 90-minute adventure in either the morning or the afternoon, with or without food and drink from the onboard menu.

It's a month-long celebration with hundreds of thousands of LED lights strung up in shapes mixing animals with Christmas, from dinosaurs to giant toy soldiers. It's a treat for the younger set to run around in the semi-darkness, down illuminated candy cane land and to hop onboard the Outback Express Train ride, too. While the display does not have enough pizzazz to thoroughly impress teens, the atmosphere is perfect for toddlers.

On the day before New Year's Eve, cheer for your team in the spirit of holiday cheer! The huge sports event, previously known as Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, moves to the new 68,500-seat Levi's Stadium, site of the 2016 Super Bowl. The 12th annual bowl, a much-loved seasonal tradition, means a match-up of the fourth selection from the Pac-12 against a top tier team from the Big Ten.