About San Francisco
San Francisco is one of the largest cities in California and synonymous with creativity and technology. Being located in the Bay Area, San Francisco benefits from a variety of outdoor pursuits as well as being the closest major city to Silicon Valley. As such, it’s home to some of the biggest businesses and tech giants in the world.
As for the festive season, San Francisco is a delicious melting pot of different cultures, languages and cuisines, so whatever holiday you’re looking to celebrate, you can do it here. With wine country and dozens of artisanal breweries in the area, you can be safe in the knowledge that your Christmas party in San Francisco will be a success.
Christmas Party Options in San Francisco
Organizing a Christmas Party can be a pretty daunting undertaking, so it’s important to consider multiple aspects.
- Decor
With it being Christmas, your decorations have to reflect that theme. Now, your venue might have some of the decorations covered as part of the rental hire fee, but it’s always worth bringing some decor that’s personal to your group or personalizing it to make it feel more special and exclusive.
- Lighting
We all know that Christmas lights are a big part of creating a festive atmosphere so consider how far you want to go with your lighting. Maybe you want to pare things back a bit to give it a more intimate, elegant feel or maybe you want to go all out with the twinkle lights. It’s up to you.
- Catering
There isn’t a Christmas party without a lot of food! Whether you want a full turkey dinner with all the trimmings or something more dancefloor friendly like a buffet, food truck or canapes, don’t forget to bring plenty of extra portions and plenty of refreshments.
Christmas Party Companies in San Francisco
Need help pulling together your dream Christmas party? Luckily for you, many San Franciscan vendors are on hand to help.
- Fillmore Florist
If you’re looking to mix up your Christmas decorations with some seasonally appropriate floral arrangements, then look no further than Fillmore Florist. With same day delivery across the San Francisco area, you can guarantee freshness. Family-owned and operated, this florist will deliver according to your specifications.
- Above and Beyond Catering
Known for their consistency, timeliness and fresh menus, Above and Beyond Catering have a variety of menu styles and flavors to choose from depending on your venue and the atmosphere you’re looking to create. The common factor: they’re all delicious.
- Abbey Party Rentals
If you’re looking for extra tables, chairs, linens, tents or tableware, then head to Abbey Party Rentals. Whatever extra furniture or decor you might need, these guys can handle it. They even have vintage selections and heaters for when your Christmas party starts to get a bit chilly.
Pros and Cons of Christmas Parties in San Francisco
There’s no doubt that San Francisco is pretty great, but there are some downsides to consider before settling on the exact location of your San Francisco Christmas party venue.
Advantages
- Culture
With San Francisco’s illustrious history there really is a melting pot feel to the city. If you take the time to wander the streets you’ll hear tons of different languages, smell different foods and meet people from all over.
- Travel connections
San Francisco has a major airport that serves not only all the major US cities but internationally, connects the city to much of the world. This makes it ideal for a Christmas party if you have people flying in.
- Weather
With San Francisco’s location in Northern California, you know that while the weather may not be tropical, it’ll certainly be warmer than the vast majority of places this festive season.
- Wine Country
What’s a good Christmas party without plenty of booze to go around? Well, never fear, San Francisco is located close to the famous wine country so you can get locally sourced, high-quality vino.
- Entertainment
Being a city of San Francisco’s size and background means that there is always something to do and somewhere else to go after your Christmas party starts to wind down.
Disadvantages
- Can be pricey
Due to its amenities and proximity to Silicon Valley, San Francisco is notoriously expensive to live in and as such hotel prices and general cost of living is high. It’s definitely something to consider when you’re looking at your Christmas party budget.
- Traffic
Like a lot of major cities, San Francisco gets snarled up by traffic very easily. Despite having a public transport system, most people still prefer to drive, given that the high cost of living means living further outside of the city.
- Parking
Similar to the traffic aspect, with so many cars coming into the city, parking is at a premium. You could spend hours trying to find a space so maybe jump on the BART or get a cab and save yourself the hassle.
- Homelessness
As with any place that has a high cost of living, homelessness is pretty high in San Francisco. If you’re coming from a similar-sized city, this might not be as jarring for you, but it’s always worth considering.
- Earthquakes
The San Andreas fault line runs directly through San Francisco, so even though there’s no way to predict an earthquake, make sure you’re aware of earthquake safety protocols before you go.
Famous Locations in San Francisco
- Lombard Street
Want to see quite possibly the windiest street in the world? Head to Lombard Street and watch cars crawl around the heavily manicured hairpin bends and use all their control on the steep hill.
- Pier 49
Looking for something more typically touristy to sink your teeth into? Then Pier 49 is for you. With amusements, restaurants, shops and bars it’s a one-stop shop for souvenirs and good times.
- Alcatraz
If you’re looking for something a little more historic with a gruesome past, hop on a boat and head out to Alcatraz. The slamming of the prison gates is truly something that’s going to stick with you for a long time.
