San Diego vacation and Christmas occasions in 2022 function the return of well-liked annual actions and a few new festive enjoyable. They embrace alternatives to see Santa Claus, festive lights, Christmas tree lighting, and vacation performances like The Nutcracker and How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
I’ve listed almost 30 festive occasions to have a good time Christmas in San Diego, from San Diego accommodations, theme parks, neighborhoods, and different San Diego points of interest across the county to assist get your vacation spirit on.
Select from San Diego Christmas occasions like Balboa Park December nights, Jungle Bells on the San Diego Zoo, Christmas actions on the timeless Resort del Coronado, Surfin Santa at Seaport Village, or the restricted engagement Lightscape present on the San Diego Botanic Backyard.
It can save you on tickets, excursions, and accommodations by my affiliations. If you happen to make purchases by the hyperlinks on this submit, I could also be compensated.
Dr. Seuss’s How The Grinch Stole Christmas!
Come to The Previous Globe for the beloved annual efficiency of Dr. Seuss’s How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The whimsical musical is again for its twenty second season, that includes favourite songs like “You’re a Imply One, Mr. Grinch,” and extra. Purchase tickets upfront. November 9 –December 31.
Little Italy Tree Lighting & Christmas Village
The Little Italy Affiliation will shut down India Avenue from W. Cedar to Hawthorn for a Christmas celebration that includes horse-drawn carriage rides, vacation decorations, a pop-up vacation market, dwell music, youngsters’ arts and crafts, and visits with Santa Claus.
At 4 p.m., take the children to “Santa’s Dwelling Room” to take photographs and chat with Santa.
At 6:30 p.m., a Christmas tree lighting will happen on the Piazza Della Famiglia on W. Date and India Streets.
India Avenue might be decked out in glowing white lights all through the season, along with 10-foot nutcrackers on avenue corners. Saturday, December 3, from 4–8 p.m.
The Nutcracker Ballet at Spreckels Theater
Metropolis Ballet dancers take company on a rare journey to the magical Land of the Sweets with Clara and her Nutcracker Prince this Christmas season. Performances happen on the Spreckels Theatre.
- December 9/11, 2022, numerous present instances at 1 p.m., 6:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Browsing Santa at Seaport Village
It’s not Christmas in San Diego with out Surfin’ Santa, who returns to Seaport Village on Saturday, November 26, for a day of vacation cheer and merriment at Tuna Harbor Pier!
The meet-and-greet with Surfin’ Santa begins along with his arrival through watercraft, a festive parade alongside the boardwalk adopted by photographs, dwell music, and leisure. Saturday, November 26, from 1–5 p.m.
You may also cease by Santa’s Workshop within the Lighthouse District subsequent to Ben and Jerry’s east to take photographs with Santa. The price is $42 for a flash drive with captured photographs. Verify Santa’s schedule earlier than you go. No appointments are essential. November 25 – December 30.
San Diego Symphony Noel Noel Household Live performance
Be part of the San Diego Symphony in an ideal vacation occasion as they carry out their annual Noel Noel family-friendly live performance on the Rady’s Shell, decked out with boughs of holly and glowing lights.
- December 9, 2022, 7 p.m.
- December 10, 2022, 7 p.m.
- December 11, 2022, 5 p.m.
Holidays at Resort del Coronado
We love the vacation season on the Resort del Coronado because it bustles with vacation occasions and Christmas actions for everybody.
Happenings on the Resort del Coronado embrace a vigorous mixture of actions reminiscent of Skating by the Sea (beginning November 17 ), a chic Victorian Tea, Vacation Decoration and Paintings, Sunday Brunch with Santa, or collect your family and friends for the brand new beachside Jingle Roast of s’mores with Santa hats. November 17 –January 1.
See additionally: Issues to Do on the Resort del Coronado Throughout the Holidays
Holidays at The Grand
Come to Fairmont Grand Del Mar for Holidays at The Grande, a festive San Diego Christmas occasion with memorable eating experiences full with seasonal meals, a 30′Christmas tree, tea with Santa, s’mores, and far more for residents and resort company. November 25–January 1.
See additionally: The place to Have Christmas Dinner in San Diego
Vacation by the Bay
Hilton San Diego Bayfront hosts Holidays by the Bay with occasions that embrace an outsized Christmas tree with nightly mild exhibits on the Bayfront Pier, vacation film nights on Fridays and Saturdays, Sunday breakfasts with Santa, and extra from November 25–January 1.
Tree Lighting at La Valencia in La Jolla
A tree lighting ceremony might be held at La Valencia San Diego of their La Sala Lounge with heat vacation drinks, a Christmas carol or two, do-it-yourself cookies, and crafts for teenagers. Thursday, December 1 at 4:30 p.m.
Digital Santa Go to at Neiman Marcus
Even Santa Claus can’t resist an awesome breakfast, so meet him at Trend Valley Mall for a breakfast feast within the final vacation occasions! Take pleasure in mimosas, scorching chocolate, brioche french toast, scrambled eggs with creme fraiche, and extra at Neiman Marcus. We’ve been to the occasion prior to now.
Jungle Bells on the San Diego Zoo
Spend your December nights on the wild facet on the annual Jungle Bells at San Diego Zoo. This San Diego Christmas celebration consists of a possibility to go to Santa, colourful mild shows, 4-D vacation experiences, together with a Polar Specific prepare experience, and extra within the evenings. December 9–January 1.
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See additionally: Purchase Discounted Tickets to the San Diego Zoo
SeaWorld San Diego’s Christmas Celebration
Be part of SeaWorld San Diego’s Christmas Celebration to finish your San Diego vacation and meet Santa and Rudolph, catch Donner and Blitzen’s Lazer lights present, or benefit from the sounds of the Vacation Brass band. Admission is included with common park admission.
Along with the particular holiday-themed animal exhibits and a sea-themed Christmas tree, the park might be brimming with yuletide cheer, and you’ll even take photographs with Santa Claus.
All of the festivities may be loved amongst multiple million low-energy Christmas lights all through the park. Now–January 8 throughout park opening hours.
See additionally: Purchase Discounted Tickets to SeaWorld San Diego
Holidays at LEGOLAND California
Christmas in San Diego is tremendous particular at LEGOLAND California, the place you’ll discover the world’s largest LEGO Christmas tree. Standing at 30 toes tall, it’s constructed out of greater than 245,000 forest inexperienced DUPLO® bricks and has 400 LEGO ornaments.
All the resort might be decked out in vacation décor and extra throughout Holidays at LEGOLAND California.
Enjoyable City transforms right into a winter wonderland filled with vacation spirit with LEGO Christmas characters like life-size LEGO fashions of Santa and his reindeer. Occasions will embrace dwell leisure and “snowfall.”
Additionally, don’t neglect about Children’ New Yr’s Eve, the place the LEGO ball drops at 6 p.m. November 19-27, December 3-4, 10-11, 17-30, and January 1, 7-8.
Tip: You should purchase discounted, straight-to-the-gate LEGOLAND tickets.
Balboa Park’s Style of December Nights
The crown jewel of San Diego Christmas occasions is Balboa Park December Nights. The biggest San Diego vacation celebration is filled with meals, leisure, and enjoyable. The quite a few museums and cultural establishments in Balboa Park, the nation’s largest city cultural park, open their doorways freed from cost.
December Nights festivities within the park embrace carolers, dwell music, vacation mild shows, theater, and dance performances, and scrumptious meals from all over the world for a real Christmas in San Diego celebration.
December 2, 3–11 p.m. & December 3, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Admission is free.
Lightscape — San Diego Botanic Backyard
Of all of the San Diego Christmas occasions, we’re most enthusiastic about this one! This yr, the internationally acclaimed present, Lightscape, might be coming to the San Diego Botanic Backyard.
A one-mile strolling path will weave all through the backyard with attractive illuminated artwork sculptures, a vacation music-activated tunnel, hearth, and inventive installations.
This restricted engagement offered out fully in London, Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, so don’t miss out! November 18-20, 23, 25-27; December 1–4, 8-11, 14-23, 26–31; January 1.
Liberty Station’s Salute the Season
The annual Salute, the Season at Liberty Station, options a number of San Diego occasions all through the vacation season.
Salute the Season occasions embrace The Nutcracker Tea Celebration and Rady Kids’s Ice Rink at Liberty Station. Ice skating web proceeds profit the Thriving After Most cancers program within the Rady Kids’s Hospital’s Peckham Middle for Most cancers and Blood Problems.
Outside Ice Skating Rinks in San Diego
Resort Del Coronado’s Skating by the Sea
Go ice skating simply steps from the seashore within the quintessential Christmas in San Diego expertise on the Resort Del Coronado. Skating by the Sea partially advantages Make-A-Want San Diego.
- Date: November 17, 2022 –January 1, 2023
- Instances: Verify the web site, as they fluctuate by the day.
- Price: $40 per particular person with free skate leases on-line
Viejas Ice Rink
The biggest outside rink in Southern California is right here in San Diego on the Viejas Retailers’ outside rink — it’s even greater than the one at Rockefeller Middle in New York Metropolis.
- Date: By means of January 8, 2023
- Instances: Dates and instances fluctuate. Please examine calendars on the hyperlink above.
- Price: $18–$20
Rady Kids’s Ice Rink
The Rady Kids’s Ice Rink is positioned at Liberty Station. All proceeds from this occasion profit the Peckham Middle for Most cancers and Blood Problems at Rady Kids’s Hospital of San Diego.
- Dates: Saturday, November 17 –January 8, 2023 (closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day)
- Instances: 10 a.m.–10 p.m.
- Price: $15–$17
Coronado Vacation Parade and Open Home + Santa
Kick off Christmas in San Diego with the forty seventh annual Coronado Vacation Parade and Open Home. Begin at Ferry Touchdown, down Orange Ave to Resort del Coronado, then watch the Vacation Parade, take part vacation sing-a-longs and watch the normal lighting of a Christmas tree in Rotary Park. Admission is free. Friday, December 2.
North Pole by the Sea — Del Mar Village And Tree Lighting
This annual Del Mar Village Affiliation occasion, North Pole by the Sea, delights San Diego households with a blinding tree lighting ceremony, footage with Santa, carolers, and humanities and vacation crafts. Complimentary admission. Sunday, December 5, from 1 – 3 p.m.; tree lightingat 5 p.m.
San Diego Bay Parade of Lights
The 52nd annual San Diego Bay Parade of Lights options greater than 80 non-public boats adorned with vacation lights and crusing alongside the waters of San Diego Bay. This yr’s theme is FantaSea on the Bay.
The Coronado Island Marriott Resort and Coronado Ferry Touchdown (an enthralling assortment of reward outlets, artwork galleries, and eating places) supply glorious shore viewing. Regardless of the place you view, don’t miss the San Diego Bay Parade of lights Sundays, December 11 and 18, from 5:30–9 p.m.
The approximate parade route and time of arrival are as follows:
- Shelter Island (begin of parade): 5:30 p.m.
- Harbor Island: 6:00 p.m.
- The Embarcadero: 6:30 p.m.
- Seaport Village: 7:00 p.m.
- The Pier at Cesar Chavez Park: 7:15 p.m.
- Ferry Touchdown on Coronado: 7:30 p.m.
Oceanside San Diego Parade of Lights
Fishing boats, sailboats, yachts, kayaks, and dingys will costume up for the vacations for an genuine Christmas in San Diego whereas circling
the Oceanside Harbor on the Oceanside Parade of Lights. One of the best viewing level is alongside Oceanside Harbor, close to the fishing dock and police station. Saturday, December 10, from 7–9 p.m.
Ocean Seashore Vacation Parade
Attendees on the annual Ocean Seashore Holiday Parade will see marching San Diego bands, bikes, attractive floats, the VW Beetle membership, basic Woodies, and extra cruise down Newport Avenue. Saturday, December 3, from 5:05–9 p.m.
La Jolla Christmas Parade & Vacation Competition
The La Jolla Christmas Parade marches down Girard Avenue to Prospect Avenue and ends on the La Jolla Recreation Middle. This yr’s theme is “Grand Ole Christmas.”
The Vacation Competition with leisure and photographs with Santa happens earlier than the parade on the Christmas village in entrance of the Athenaeum from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. The parade begins at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, December 4.
La Mesa’s Vacation within the Village
The pleasant downtown of La Mesa is remodeled right into a Victorian wonderland throughout its old school Vacation within the Village.
The family-friendly occasion options horse-drawn carriages, strolling minstrels, carolers, and avenue entertainers alongside La Mesa Boulevard. Carnival rides and video games, craft distributors, hearth pits, dwell music levels, and an outside market usually spherical out the San Diego Christmas enjoyable. Saturday, December 3, from 12–9 p.m.
Port of San Diego Vacation Bowl Bash + Parade
If you happen to love bands, you’ll wish to try the Snapdragon Vacation Bowl Bash, the place two college bands face off within the streets of downtown San Diego within the final battle of bands. Along with incredible dwell music, there might be meals, giveaways, video games, and enjoyable for all the household. Insider tip: Bounce on one of many Previous City Trolley Excursions whilst you’re there! Tuesday, December 27, 5-8 p.m.
America’s largest balloon parade is again on the Vacation Bowl parade! Floats, balloons, and marching bands are simply a number of the choices on this colourful vacation parade alongside San Diego Bay in downtown San Diego. Grandstand tickets are $25. Wednesday, December 28 at 10 a.m.
Poway’s Christmas within the Park
Poway’s Christmas within the Park encompasses a tree lighting ceremony, a go to from Santa, prepare rides, dwell music, theater performances, meals, treats, crafts, and extra.
A free shuttle can be obtainable to and from the occasion from the Poway Metropolis Corridor parking zone and the Poway Grownup College parking zone. Saturday, December 9, from 5:30–8:30 p.m. Admission is free.
Take Footage with Santa
If headed to considered one of many procuring malls in San Diego, Santa might be there till Christmas Eve throughout mall hours.
Neighborhood Christmas Lights in San Diego County
Take a drive by these San Diego neighborhoods to see homes decked out in lights past perception. This can be a quick checklist of many.
Sweet Cane Lane (Poway)
It’s a cul-de-sac themed just like the North Pole, besides proper right here in San Diego. Every home right here is estimated to have over 50,000 lights. Location: Hickory Court docket, Hickory Avenue, off Twin Peaks Street and Silverset St. Additionally Contains Butterwood Ct. and Rockrose Ct.
Christmas card Lane (Rancho Penasquitos)
This San Diego neighborhood show is thought for larger-than-life illuminated Christmas playing cards and different lights adorning the houses. Location: Ellingham Avenue and Oviedo Avenue, simply off Black Mountain Street
Belardo Lights (Tierrasanta)
It’s only one home, but it surely’s properly value seeing. The concept began in 2006 as a method for the Schmika household to offer a light-weight present for his or her two autistic sons. Whether it is raining, examine the web site to see if the lights might be off. Location: 5306 North Belardo Drive
Garrison Avenue (Level Loma)
These high-end San Diego houses are dense with brightly-colored Christmas lights. Drive by or stroll round … it’s your selection. Location: Garrison Avenue close to Chatsworth
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What’s your favourite factor to do in San Diego through the holidays? Please depart a remark with something lacking from this checklist! And don’t neglect that we’ve Lunar New Yr San Diego occasions to stay up for shortly after the winter holidays.
