Palo Alto in November

November is the month Palo Alto turns the page. The first storms of the rainy season usually arrive, the clocks fall back and dusk comes before 5 p.m. by month's end. Within a few weeks of a good rain, the gold hills above town show a faint green fuzz. Street trees in older neighborhoods finally turn red and yellow. Stanford's football season ends and the holiday season starts with lights at Filoli and a slower pace around Thanksgiving.

This guide covers the weather, what is in season and the November events to plan around, with published dates for the rest of 2026 and for 2027 where they exist. It also covers school breaks, packing, hotel demand, outdoor plans, day trips and a weekend itinerary. Where an organizer has not posted a date, we give the usual timing and link to the source.

November weather in Palo Alto

These are NOAA's 1991 to 2020 climate normals for the Palo Alto station (USC00046646), the same figures on our weather page. Our November weather guide breaks the month down in more detail. Sun times are approximate and in Pacific Standard Time. Daylight saving time ended on Sunday, November 1, 2026. In 2027 it ends on Sunday, November 7.

November is a month of contrasts. Highs fall about ten degrees from October, into the low to mid 60s. Clear nights get chilly. A frost or two on car windshields is normal late in the month. Rain tends to come in spells. A Pacific storm may bring a day or two of steady rain and wind, followed by crisp, sunny days with sharp views of the hills. Some years the rain holds off until December, so the totals vary a lot.

The National Weather Service Bay Area office posts storm and flood watches. From November through February the regional air district can also call Winter Spare the Air alerts, which ban burning wood in fireplaces on days with poor air quality.

What is in season

The first rains and green hills

The first soaking rain ends the long dry season and lowers fire danger. The hills usually stay tan for a few weeks after it, then start to green from the bottom up. Trails in the city's preserves can close for a day or two after heavy storms so they do not get damaged. Mud is common on dirt paths.

Fall color

Palo Alto's fall color peaks late, often in mid to late November. Look for red and orange Chinese pistache and sweetgum along residential streets, plus the bright yellow ginkgos that tend to turn last, around Thanksgiving. Older neighborhoods with mature street trees, such as Crescent Park, Old Palo Alto and Professorville, are the best places for a fall walk.

Winter birds and king tides

By November the Baylands fills with wintering ducks, shorebirds, egrets and raptors hunting over the marsh. The California King Tides Project lists November 24 to 26, 2026 as king tide dates. The highest tides of the year flood the pickleweed and can push secretive marsh birds, including the endangered Ridgway's rail, toward the edges where they are easier to see. Details and photo tips are on the King Tides Project site.

Market produce

The Saturday downtown market and Sunday California Avenue market both run all year. In November look for persimmons, pomegranates, apples, winter squash, mandarins and the first citrus, plus Brussels sprouts, kale and other cool-season greens. Our farmers markets guide has hours and locations. The commercial Dungeness crab season traditionally opens in November in the Bay Area, but it has been delayed in several recent years, so check before you plan a crab dinner.

November events

Big Game and the end of football season

The Big Game against Cal is the highlight of every Stanford season. The 2026 game, the 129th, is in Berkeley on Saturday, November 21. The winner takes the Stanford Axe. The game alternates sites and Cal is on Stanford's 2027 home schedule, so next year's game is at Stanford Stadium. The 2027 date had not been announced in October 2026. Recent Big Games have fallen on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Stanford's last home game of 2026 is against SMU on Saturday, November 28, at Stanford Stadium. Tickets are sold through Stanford Athletics. See our athletics guide for game day tips.

Holiday season begins

Filoli's Holiday Lights evenings in Woodside run from November 14, 2026 to January 10, 2027, according to the estate's website. Check which nights are open and buy tickets ahead. In Palo Alto, the Children's Theatre opens its holiday playhouse shows on November 21. Stanford Shopping Center decorates for the season and posts its Santa photo dates in November. The downtown tree lighting is on December 4, 2026. Our holiday season guide lists everything through New Year's.

Diwali

Diwali falls in early November in 2026. The city has celebrated it since 2017 and recent Festival of Lights events at the Mitchell Park Community Center have included dance, rangoli, henna and lantern making. Watch the library's events calendar for this year's date.

Holidays and school calendars

Three dates shape November traffic and travel:

• Veterans Day, November 11. PAUSD schools are closed that day, a Wednesday in 2026 and a Thursday in 2027.
• Thanksgiving week. PAUSD's Thanksgiving break runs November 23 to 27 in 2026 and November 22 to 26 in 2027, per the district's published calendars. Thanksgiving Day is November 26 in 2026 and November 25 in 2027.
• Stanford's break. Stanford students get a Thanksgiving break and student housing stays open over it. Autumn quarter ends on December 11, 2026, so the first two weeks of December are busy with classes and finals.

The Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after are usually among the heaviest travel days of the year at SFO and SJC and on Highway 101. On Thanksgiving Day itself many shops close and Caltrain usually runs a reduced holiday schedule. Check our Caltrain guide and the railroad's site before you travel.

What to pack

• A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that can handle wet sidewalks.
• A warm layer for evenings in the 40s, especially at football games and outdoor holiday events.
• Trail shoes with grip if you plan to hike after a storm.
• A hat and gloves for a cold night game or a clear evening at Filoli.

Hotel demand and booking tips

Early November is still busy with business travel and fall conferences. Demand drops off noticeably in Thanksgiving week, when many business travelers stay home, so that week can bring some of the better rates of the fall at Palo Alto's business hotels. The SMU game weekend after Thanksgiving draws fans to hotels near campus. In 2027, with the Big Game at Stanford, expect that weekend to be one of the busiest of the year.

Families gathering for Thanksgiving often need more space than a hotel room. A vacation rental in Palo Alto or a neighboring town can work well for a week. For shorter stays, see where to stay and compare Palo Alto hotels for your dates.

Outdoor activities for November

1. Birdwatch at the Baylands, ideally on a rising tide or during the king tides.
2. Walk for fall color under the street trees of Professorville and Old Palo Alto in the second half of the month.
3. Visit the animals early. The Junior Museum and Zoo closes at 4:30 p.m. from November 1, 2026, so plan a morning visit.
4. Skate at the Winter Lodge, which is closed only on Thanksgiving Day this month.
5. Hike between storms. The day after a rain is clear and fresh. Give dirt trails a day to drain.

Day trips that suit November

• Filoli and Woodside. Holiday Lights begin mid-month. Our Filoli guide covers the drive and the gardens.
• Santa Cruz monarchs. Late October through November is often the best time to see large clusters of butterflies at Natural Bridges. See our Santa Cruz guide.
• San Francisco. A rainy day is a good museum day in the city. Caltrain gets you there without parking. You can also book a San Francisco tour. Note that Alcatraz closed on October 26, 2026 for dock repairs and was expected back by mid-November, so check before you book.

If you only have a weekend

1. Saturday morning: the downtown farmers market, then a fall color walk through Professorville.
2. Saturday afternoon: Stanford football if it is a home weekend, or the free Cantor Arts Center and the Rodin Sculpture Garden.
3. Saturday evening: drive to Woodside for Filoli's Holiday Lights after mid-month, or skate at the Winter Lodge.
4. Sunday morning: the California Avenue market, then the Baylands for winter birds.
5. Sunday afternoon: a cozy late lunch downtown before dark falls around 5 p.m.

Next: Palo Alto in December. For the warmer end of fall, see Palo Alto in October.

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