A trip from San Francisco to Tahoe is a long haul (roughly eight hours round-trip), but those who crave a little snowfall in their lives can find it in San Francisco—so long as you’re willing to suspend disbelief.
Programmed snow can be almost as good as the real thing, with flakes drifting down in a magical flurry, and you don’t have to scrape your car or carry chains. (You just have to accept a little gentle deception.) You can see “snow” fall in several places in the city—even as often as twice an hour!—and across the bay, too. Here’s where.
California Academy of Sciences
At this Golden Gate Park museum, you can experience snow at the ‘Tis the Season for Science event, now through January 5. This is the place we alluded to where a snowfall happens twice hourly, so even on a short visit you’re guaranteed to feel some wintry spirit. Snow falls inside the Piazza, an enclosed glass atrium, and is nontoxic, nonstaining and biodegradable—yet indelibly memorable. ‘Tis the Season for Science (which includes live performances, baby animal viewings and crafts like making an origami penguin) is free with your general admission ticket.
Union Square
At Winter Walk, a 10-day festival happening now through December 22, two blocks of Stockton Street transform into a winter landscape with contemporary arctic décor, live performances, shopping, old-fashioned photo booths, food trucks and specialty cocktails and desserts for sale… plus that snow we love to see. The website’s a little mysterious about exactly when the snow will fall, so that just means you need to have a little patience during its opening hours: Mon–Wed noon–7pm, Thu–Sun 10am–9pm.
War Memorial Opera House
Traditionally, snow falls on stage during Nutcracker performances when Clara and the Nutcracker Prince arrive at the Land of Sweets, and San Francisco Ballet’s performance is no different. You’ll see 150 pounds of “snow” drift to the stage at each showing (the ballet’s Instagram post says the dancers put rosin on their shoes to avoid slipping on it and try to “aim” for parts of the stage where the snow is least built up). The Nutcracker happens now through December 29, twice daily.
Chabot Space & Science Center
Across the bay in Oakland’s hills, the Chabot Space & Science Center hosts WinterFest the weekends of December 14 and 15 and 21 and 22. Besides the fabulous sock skating, gingerbread rovers and intergalactic holiday celebrating, you’ll be able to experience snowmaking and timed snowfall. Your journey to icy planets is included with your general admission ticket.
Wherever you find snow (it hasn’t literally snowed in San Francisco since 1998), remember to throw your head back and watch it falling from the skies. No better feeling!