10 Winter Events To Beat Cabin Fever In Northern CA

Now that the holidays are no longer competing for Northern Californians time, cabin fever may have started to set in.

It’s a perfect time to take in a concert or show, layer up and embrace the outdoors, or explore a new hobby. Solve a murder mystery at a dinner party, bear your deepest secrets at a comedy confessional or check out a celebrity football game.

Are you planning an event this winter? Feature it, so nearby readers see it all across Patch — including in roundups like this!

We’ve rounded up 10 winter events from around the Bay Area, including:

The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show
When: Sat, Jan 24, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Where: The Marker Union Square San Francisco, 501 Geary St, SF, CA, 94102
Details: Experience San Francisco's award-winning, interactive murder mystery dinner with The Dinner Detective, where the actors are hidden among the audience, creating an unexpected, thrilling mystery with twists, comedy, and surprises unfolding all around you as you enjoy a full-plated dinner; there's no stage or costumes, and audience participation makes solving the case an unforgettable night.

Musical Instruments Petting Zoo
When: Sun, Jan 25, 2026 at 1:00 PM
Where: 276 E Napa St, Sonoma, CA, 95476
Details: These engaging and casual events, hosted by Cheryl Teach Music and presented by Keep Music Alive, are designed to ignite children's interest in music by providing a hands-on experience where they are encouraged to explore, touch, and play a wide variety of musical instruments.

Concerts on the Corner Presents: The Parker Grant Trio
When: Sun, Jan 25, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Where: 620 Del Ganado Rd, San Rafael, CA, 94903
Details: Don't miss this free concert! Enjoy an afternoon of incredible Jazz, featuring both Original Compositions and timeless Jazz Classics. Come listen, relax, and connect with your neighbors.

Tuesdays on the Terrace at McGrail
When: Tue, Jan 27, 2026 at 4:00 PM
Where: 5600 Greenville Rd, Livermore, CA, 94550
Details: Enjoy extended hours at McGrail Vineyards' tasting room with award-winning wines by the glass or bottle and sunset views. Free entry. Must be 21+. Seating is first-come, first-served. Charcuterie and sandwiches from Color of Fresh are available for purchase (while supplies last); outside food is also welcome.

Comedy Confessional - The Comedy Shop Greenwich Village
When: Wed, Jan 28, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Where: The Comedy Shop, 167 Bleecker Street, New York, NY 10012
Details: Comedy Confessionals is a hilarious show where your anonymous secrets are instantly turned into laughs by some of NYC's best comedians, seen on platforms like Netflix, Comedy Central, Amazon, and HBO, with potential for surprise drop-ins! The show takes place at The Comedy Shop Greenwich Village at 167 Bleeker St, offering pure, unfiltered comedy gold — just arrive early to submit your secret and secure a seat.

Snow Full Moon: A Ceremonial Sound Bath Journey
When: Sat, Jan 31, 2026 at 6:30 PM
Where: 650 E Blithedale Ave, Mill Valley, CA, 94941
Details: Journey Beyond Sound offers a Snow Full Moon Sound Bath at The Studio in Mill Valley. This immersive evening of live acoustic sound, featuring gongs, crystal and Tibetan singing bowls, and other resonant instruments, promotes relaxation, stress reduction, and nervous system regulation. Participants rest comfortably as the sounds quiet mental chatter, fostering calm and clarity. No experience is needed.

Celebrity Sweat Flag Football Game
When: Thu, Feb 5, 2026 at 9:00 AM
Where: California Memorial Stadium, 2227 Piedmont Ave, Berkeley, CA, 94720
Details: Join Visit Berkeley for the Celebrity Sweat Flag Football Challenge at California Memorial Stadium on February 5, 2026. The event kicks off with a tailgate on the plaza from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, followed by the main game featuring stars and athletes from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. VIP access will also be available at The University Club during the tailgate hours.

Valentine's Cupcake Decorating with Babaloo Bakes
When: Sun, Feb 8, 2026 at 9:00 AM
Where: 30 Sir Francis Drake, Ross, CA 94957
Details: Get creative with friends and family at our fun-filled cupcake decorating workshop, presented by the Marin Art and Garden Center! This perfect Sunday activity, open to all ages, includes a hands-on demonstration of three frosting techniques. Each participant's kit contains three freshly baked cupcakes, two bags of buttercream frosting, heart-shaped sprinkles, and customizable fondant toppers, all for $35.

Music Makes the Movie: Little Shop of Horrors with SF Grand Feature Film Orchestra
When: Mon, Feb 9, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Where: Cameo Cinema, 1340 Main St, St Helena, CA, 94574
Details: Roger Corman's 1960 cult classic Little Shop of Horrors will feature a live performance of its score by the SF Grand Feature Film Orchestra, a Bay Area nonprofit specializing in synchronizing live film scores. This is part of the "Music Makes the Movie" program by Cameo Cinema and Festival Napa Valley.

Community Puzzle Night
When: Tue, Feb 17, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Where: Book Society, 2945 College Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705, USA
Details: Join us for a cozy, open evening of community puzzling featuring truly one-of-a-kind handcrafted wooden puzzles by Elms Puzzles—as seen in The New York Times Styles section. Stop by any time between 6:00-8:00pm, grab a glass, join a table with multiple puzzle stations set up throughout the space, and enjoy relaxing, puzzling, and meeting new friends. Elms Puzzles has been producing these exceptional, individually scroll-cut wooden jigsaw puzzles, guided by skill and resulting in beautiful, satisfying-to-solve works of art, since 1987.