From classics to contemporary, San Francisco offers holiday variety

For many families throughout Northern California, a trip to San Francisco remains one of the clan’s favorite holiday traditions.

Often several generations dress up in their finest festive garb, pile into the family car and head to the city to troop past extravagantly decorated store windows on the way to revisit old friends like Scrooge or the Sugarplum Fairy.

Whether folks prefer to witness holiday delights onstage or enjoy the unique atmosphere of the city’s outdoor skating rinks, there are plenty of choices. Ballet fans can choose from the classic “Nutcracker” or the more contemporary “Christmas Ballet.” Theater buffs can pick between Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” or the 21st-century musical “Elf,” based on the hit movie.

Here are half a dozen top choices:

“The Christmas Ballet.” The Smuin Ballet company offers a modern alternative to “The Nutcracker,” set to the music of Elvis, Duke Ellingon, Harry Connick Jr. and others. Dec.18-27, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater, 700 Howard St., San Francisco. Closed Christmas Day. $24-$68. 415-912-1899. smuinballet.org.

“A Christmas Carol.” The ghosts of Christmas past, present and future come to vivid life in the American Conservatory’s perennially popular annual staging of the Charles Dickens classic. The redemption of the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge remains one of the most popular holiday stories of all time. It runs through Dec. 28 at ACT, 405 Geary St., San Francisco. Closed Christmas Day. $25-$180. 415-749-2228, act-sf.org.

“Elf the Musical.” One of the newer entries on the holiday scene is the stage version of the 2003 Will Ferrell movie about a giant elf, running Friday, Dec. 12, through Dec. 27 at the Curran Theater, 445 Geary St., San Francisco. The story: A human orphan named Buddy crawled into Santa’s bag and grew up at the North Pole, content until he noticed that he was taller than everyone else and couldn’t make toys. The Broadway musical version opened in 2010, before going on tour in 2012 and again this year. Closed Christmas Day. $45-$160. 888-746-1799, shnsf.com.

“The Nutcracker.” San Francisco Ballet’s lavish and legendary production of the classic runs Friday, Dec. 12, through Dec. 29 at the War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco. This is the 10th annual presentation of Artistic Director Helgi Tomasson’s version of the Marius Petipa-Lev Ivanov classic, set in San Francisco in 1915. Closed Christmas Day. $20-$300. 415-865-2000 sfballet.org.

Safeway Holiday Ice Rink. If you’d rather get some exercise outdoors with your holiday cheer than sit through a show, the rink at Justin Herman Plaza, near the bay on the Embarcadero in San Francisco, is open through Jan. 4. $6-$10; skate rental, $4. 415-837-1931; embarcaderocenter.com.

Union Square Ice Rink. Union Square in the heart of the city’s high-voltage shopping area offers another beautiful venue for outdoor skating through Jan. 19. $7-$-$11; skate rental, $6. 415-781-2688; unionsquareicerink.com.

You can reach staff writer Dan Taylor at 521-5243 or dan.taylor@pressdemocrat.com. Read his Arts blog at arts.blogs.pressdemocrat.com.