Hole in the Head Film Festival 
Indulge your cheesy dark side at this unusual festival of quirky and classic horror, sci-fi, fantasy and exploitation films. Poltergeist and Aliens are two of the classics, and new entries include Jennifer Help Us, filmed entirely on an iPhone4. Special events include Nosferatu with live vinyl record score (Saturday) and Scary Christmas Stories with a live theater group on Friday. Friday-Monday, 12/12-15, various times, New People Theater, Japantown, SF.

San Francisco Zoo Lights
It’s fitting that the coldest spot in San Francisco (at least in summer) is the site of a winter wonderland of lights. The SF Zoo will be loaded with the spectacle of lit Christmas decorations, live reindeer, costumed characters and real fake snow. Friday-Sunday, 12/12-14 (and each weekend through December), 5-8pm.

SFMade Holiday Gift Fair
If buying local is on your list of priorities, then you’ll definitely want to visit this Fort Mason show for your holiday shopping. Vendors will be selling chocolate, bags, jewelry, homewares, apparel, toys, beauty products, etc, and all of it made right here in the city. Check out the DIY workshops while you’re here. Saturday-Sunday, 12/13-14, 10am-5pm, Fort Mason Center.

SantaCon
Don your fuzzy red suit and step outside your door, and you’re sure to be met with fellow SantaConners wherever you are in the Bay Area. The annual party and pub crawl starts off at Union Square in San Francisco, and the Fairmont Hotel for San Jose where Santas ride Caltrain for their crawl. There’s also a party in Soma raging late. Saturday, 12/13, all day.

German Holiday Market
Mountain View’s City Hall Plaza is the scene of Weihnachtsmarkt, a German holiday market put on by the German International School of Silicon Valley, with lots of food, drink and handcrafted gifts from Germany. There’s also musical performances and an ice rink.