Even though it may feel warm outside, San Diego has some of the most festive and unique holiday activities for the entire family. Visit Santa, get tickets to a holiday play, go ice skating…you will enjoy quality family time this season while you take in some holiday themed events in San Diego.
Santa by the Sea
Date/Time: Sunday, Dec. 15th and Sunday, Dec. 21st 2-5pm
Location: L’Auberge Amphitheater, Del Mar
Website: www.delmarmainstreet.com/holiday-wonderland
Bring your kids for a visit with Santa! Feel free to take your own pictures and enjoy holiday music sung by Original Dickens Carolers!
Santa Train North Pole Limited
Date/Time: Fridays (7pm), Saturdays (5pm & 7pm) through December 21st
Location: Campo Depot, 750 Depot St, Campo, CA 91906
Website: sdrm.org/npl
Hop aboard the Santa Train North Pole Limited at the Campo Depot. Once the train leaves the Depot, Santa’s Elves will serve cookies and hot chocolate to you and your family and you will hear a reading of a popular Christmas story. When you arrive at Santa’s Workshop, he will board the train for the return trip to Campo. Santa will visit with all the children on the train, so have your cameras ready!
Garden of Lights
Date/Time: December 7th-23rd from 5-9pm each night
Location: San Diego Botanic Garden, 230 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas CA 92024
Website: www.sdbgarden.org
Over 100,000 sparkling lights will transform the San Diego Botanic Garden during its annual Garden of Lights, which features live music, snow, wagon rides, holiday crafts, Nutcracker displays, and Santa.
Fantasy on Ice
Date/Time: November 1st-January 5th (closed on Christmas Day)
Location: 225 Broadway Cir., San Diego, CA 92101
Website: www.sdice.com/horton
Horton Plaza is transformed each winter into a winter wonderland. From November through January, you can go ice skating outdoors all while benefiting a great cause…the Parkham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Rady Children’s Hospital. The rink recommends that you make sure to dress warm and bring a pair of mittens/gloves. During the daytime the ice can be a little wet, so bring an extra pair of socks.
Skating by the Sea
Date/Time: Weekdays from 1:30pm – 3:30pm, 4-6pm and 7-9 pm through January 5th
Location: Hotel Del Coronado, 1500 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118
Website: coronadovisitorcenter.com/skating-by-the-sea-at-the-hotel-del-coronado/
Ice skate by the sea at the #1 beach in the USA. The Hotel Del Coronado hosts ice skating to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of San Diego.
The Nutcracker
Date/Time: December 11th-22nd
Location: Casa del Prado Theatre, 1549 El Prado, San Diego, California, 92101
Website: www.balboapark.org/in-the-park/san-diego-civic-youth-ballet
Take an extraordinary journey to the magical Land of Sweets with Clara and her Nutcracker Prince. Witness the epic battle between toy soldiers and mice before going away to an enchanted land of falling snow, waltzing flowers, and the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy. Set to the timeless music of Tchaikovsky, this classic holiday production will become a cherished family tradition.
Jungle Bells
Date/Time: December 13th – January 5th
Location: San Diego Zoo, 2920 Zoo Drive, San Diego, CA 92101
Website: zoo.sandiegozoo.org/junglebells
Ring in the holiday season at the San Diego Zoo. Each evening, the Zoo is open until 8 and transformed into a wild, wintery wonderland of music, lights, treats, and, of course, animal encounters. You will find a reindeer bus ride, snow flurries at the entrance, nightly Christmas tree lighting Santa Claus, critter presentations and more.
Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
Date/Time: November 26th-December 28th
Location: The Old Globe, 1363 Old Globe Way, San Diego, CA 92101
Website: www.theoldglobe.org
Come to the Old Globe Theater to enjoy this annual holiday classic. This wonderful, whimsical musical is based upon the classic Dr. Seuss book. Back for its 16th incredible year, the family favorite features the songs “This Time of Year,” “Santa for a Day” and “Fah Who Doraze.”
Snow World at Sea World
Date/Time: November 16th-January 4th
Location: Sea World, 500 Sea World Drive, San Diego, CA 92109
Website: seaworldparks.com/en/seaworld-sandiego/Christmas/Attractions
A winter wonderland of snowmen, snowballs and family fun at SeaWorld’s Arctic Plaza! This area will feature more than 6,500 square feet of fresh snow each day, adding to the wintery atmosphere. Meet Santa in his cottage, enjoy the 320 foot Tree of Lights, have breakfast with Shamu and Santa, and meet 2 reindeer!
Drive-Thru Christmas Lights
Date/Time: Thanksgiving through early January
Location: Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar, CA
Website: www.delmarfairgrounds.com/index.php?fuseaction=about.sponsor_festival
The Holiday of Lights at the Del Mar Fairgrounds is a spectacular 1.5 mile drive-through light show and exhibit, themed for the holiday season, with more than 400 crowd-pleasing, family-oriented displays.
Holiday Bowl Big Balloon Parade
Date/Time: December 30th, 10am
Location: Downtown San Diego
Website: www.holidaybowl.com/events/port-of-san-diego-big-bay-balloon-parade.html
The scenic, bayside streets of downtown San Diego will come alive with the 2013 Port of San Diego Big Bay Balloon Parade. As “America’s Largest Balloon Parade,” this exciting family event brings together world-class marching bands, magnificent floats, entertaining drill teams, and a procession of enormous balloons-more than any other parade! Over 100,000 street-side spectators will enjoy the parade along with a nationwide television audience.
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