Another year, another Nutcracker, another December of Magic!! The quintessential holiday classic, Nutcracker is THE traditional holiday show in the USA . Did you know that its first performance in the United States was right here in San Francisco in 1944? Since then it’s been the most performed ballet in the country.
The ballet about Clara, the Sugar Plum Fairy, and the valiant Nutcracker Prince is a beloved American holiday tradition. Sometimes, a gift isn’t just a gift.
It’s a key to a new world. A young heroine. A Nutcracker-turned-prince. The small but mighty army of mice. The beautiful conclusion of a sugar plum celebration. It’s a story so good, it bears retelling again and again.
Luca Ferrò in Tomasson’s Nutcracker // © San Francisco Ballet, photo by Lindsey Rallo
All the characters you know, and love are back for another thrilling performance of San Francisco Ballet’s Nutcracker. Enjoy exquisite dancing, stunning sets and Tchaikovsky’s popular score played live by the Grammy award-winning San Francisco Orchestra.
Created in 2004 by San Francisco Ballet’s former Artistic Director Helgi Tomasson, it is set in the early 20th-century San Francisco. Not only would that make the production unique, but it would also be a tribute to the city. “The first American production of Nutcracker was staged by San Francisco Ballet in 1944 so it seemed fitting to place it here,” the choreographer says. It features 150 dancers, with quite a few from the renowned San Francisco Ballet School.
Be sure to not miss out on the must-see show of the holiday season, grab your tickets today or gift them for the Holidays! Additional Nutcracker programming includes the fourth-annual Sensory Friendly Performance, Family Dance-Along and Sensory Friendly Dance-Along Workshops, the Land of Dreams Nutcracker Benefit Luncheon, and a Student Matinee performance for K-12 schoolchildren from across the Bay Area.
Dates: From December 5 to December 28, 2025
Hours: various hours available 2 pm / 6pm/ 7 pm and some special sessions at 11am
Address: War Memorial Opera House 301 Van Ness Avenue San Francisco
Get tickets, click here (from 3 years old+)
or call Ticket Services at 415-865-2000, open Monday through Friday, 10am to 4pm
