The Presidio Theatre sits at 99 Moraga Avenue inside the Presidio, the park that borders Presidio Heights. Starting November 28, it hosts Panto in the Presidio, a family holiday show its producers describe as a "rollicking mashup of favorite fairytales, pop songs with cheeky new lyrics, eye-popping costumes and sets" and, "of course, flying candy." This year the show is "Alice in Wonderland," and it plays 23 times between November 28 and December 27.
By early November, the shows that had sold out were all in the first half of that run. The second half, including the days right after Christmas, still had open seats. Presidio Avenue's newest serious restaurant reopens on December 26, the same week, so the most open part of December this year falls between Christmas and New Year's.
Where the Sold-Out Shows Sit
Seven Panto performances were marked sold out on the Presidio Theatre's ticket page in the first week of November, and all of them fall before December 14. Opening weekend was gone, as were three of the four weekend matinees after it and two Friday and Saturday evenings. All 12 performances from December 17 on were still available.
| Week | Performances | Status in early November |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 28–29, Sat–Sun | 1 PM both days | Sold out |
| Dec 3–6, Thu–Sun | Thu 6 PM | Available |
| Fri 6 PM, Sat 6 PM, Sun 1 PM | Sold out | |
| Dec 10–13, Thu–Sun | Thu 6 PM, Fri 6 PM, Sat 6 PM | Available |
| Sat 1 PM, Sun 1 PM | Sold out | |
| Dec 17–20, Thu–Sun | Thu 6 PM, Fri 6 PM, Sat 1 PM and 6 PM, Sun 1 PM | Available |
| Dec 22–24, Tue–Thu | Tue 1 PM, Wed 1 PM and 6 PM, Thu 1 PM | Available |
| Dec 26–27, Sat–Sun | Sat 1 PM and 6 PM, Sun 1 PM | Available |
The theatre says "Alice in Wonderland" reunites the creative team and many returning cast members behind sold-out runs of "Sleeping Beauty" and last year's "Peter Pan." The theatre also asks buyers to purchase Panto tickets only through its own website and box office, and names StubHub and Vivid Seats as resellers to avoid. The box office is at 415-960-3949 and [email protected].
The Early Weekends Already Have Company
Both sold-out Sunday matinees in early December fall on days with other park events.
On Sunday, December 6, the Presidio Trust's 2026 special events schedule lists the Krampus Trail Fun Run on Presidio trails, with minor road impacts. The Trust labels that schedule subject to change.
A week later, on Sunday, December 13, the Sports Basement Holiday Fun Run meets at Sports Basement Presidio, 610 Old Mason Street, at 9 AM, and runners head out at 9:15. That afternoon's 1 PM Panto was already sold out.
For people already holding tickets to those weekends, the runs and the afternoon show make a full Presidio day. For everyone else, the Walt Disney Family Museum has an option that stays home. On Saturday, December 5, it runs two virtual Animate Snow Falling workshops: one for adults from 10:30 AM to noon, and one for ages 7 to 17 from 1 to 2:30 PM. Each costs $22 for members and $25 for non-members.
Weeknights in the Park
Weeknights still had openings in early November, and the park has a few evening events in the first half of the season.
The Walt Disney Family Museum's Perfect Pairing | Brews and Views screens "Coco" with the Fox Tale Fermentation Project at 6 PM on Friday, November 13, the day after this post publishes. The museum presents the film around family and the November holidays.
On Thursday, December 10, the museum hosts Sip and Sketch | Mid-Century Greeting Cards from 5 to 7 PM in the Diane Disney Miller Exhibition Hall. It is for ages 21 and over and costs $65 for members and $75 for non-members. The 6 PM Panto plays the same night, so pick one or the other.
The Thursday and Friday 6 PM Panto shows on December 10, 11, 17 and 18 were all open in early November. For most performances, the lobby opens an hour before showtime and the auditorium opens 30 minutes before. Concessions include snacks, soft drinks, beer and wine. Drinks are allowed in the auditorium, but food stays in the lobby.
Presidio Avenue Reopens on December 26
The Panto run gets roomier toward its end, and one restaurant's holiday schedule lines up with that.
Maria Isabel, Laura and Sayat Ozyilmaz's Mexican restaurant at 500 Presidio Avenue, took over the former Ella's American Kitchen space, as SFist reported. Eater SF previewed it in February with a planned March 3 opening. The San Francisco Standard's preview by Sara Deseran described the cooking as rooted in Laura's background in Guerrero. The reviews came over the spring and early summer:
- The Infatuation rated it 8.5 in an April review by Julia Chen, with particular praise for the seafood and small plates.
- The San Francisco Standard reviewed it in May. Lauren Saria highlighted the ceviche, chorizo and masa dishes.
- The San Francisco Chronicle followed in June. Critic Cesar Hernandez called it an ambitious Mexican restaurant built on regional Mexican cooking, seasonal California ingredients and a tasting menu.
The restaurant's FAQ lists dinner Tuesday through Saturday, 5 to 9 PM, with indoor seating only. For the holidays, it closes on Thanksgiving Day, December 24 and 25, and January 1, and is open December 26 through 31. The restaurant recommends checking its website or OpenTable for current availability, since holiday hours can change. It also notes that street parking nearby can be limited at peak dinner hours and suggests leaving extra time or taking a rideshare.
That puts Christmas Eve on its own. Panto has a 1 PM matinee on December 24, and Maria Isabel is closed that night.
How December 26 Lines Up
Saturday, December 26, is the date where the two calendars match best. In early November, both Panto shows that day still had seats, and it is the first night Maria Isabel reopens after Christmas.
- 1 PM, Presidio Theatre, 99 Moraga Avenue. The lobby opens around noon for most performances.
- 5 PM onward, Maria Isabel, 500 Presidio Avenue. Dinner service runs until 9 PM. Reservations go through the restaurant's site or OpenTable.
- Sunday, December 27, 1 PM. The final Panto performance of the season was also still available.
If the evening works better, the 6 PM Panto on December 26 can come after an early dinner, though that makes for a tight schedule. Ticket availability changes daily, and these were early-November counts. The pattern so far is that early December filled first, and the stretch around Christmas was still open.
For sellers deciding whether to list a home before or after the new year, timing matters in a similar way. If you'd like to talk through that timing for a home here, Heidi Rossi is glad to help. Schedule a private consultation.
