The 12 Best Holiday Activities San Diego Has to Offer in 2015
San Diego may not have much (or any) yuletide snow to offer, but that doesn’t mean the city doesn’t know how to celebrate the holiday season. In fact, if you are migrating for the holiday season to San Diego’s warm shores, you’ll find plenty of fun, exciting, and family-friendly holiday activities to do, many of them absolutely free. Here are just our top 12 choices from all around San Diego:
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas at the Old Globe Theatre
Date: 11/07 – 12/26
Location: Old Globe Theatre, San Diego
Dr. Seuss’s funny and heart-warming tale comes to life with this colorful and kid-friendly stage adaptation. Learn more and purchase tickets.
- Surfin’ Santa Arrival
Date: 11/18
Location: Seaport Village, San Diego
Santa’s ditched the red velvet pants and reindeer for board shorts and a surf board so that he can visit San Diego in style. Bring your little tykes to Seaport Village where you can watch Santa catch some waves on his surfboard and enjoy a fun parade on the boardwalk. Learn more.
- 69th Mother Goose Parade
Date: 11/21
Location: El Cajon
San Diego’s classic holiday kickoff event, the Mother Goose Parade includes floats, marching bands, drill units, performance artists, giant helium balloons, and, of course, Santa Claus. Learn more.
- SeaWorld Christmas Celebration
Date: 11/21 – 01/03
Location: SeaWorld, Mission Bay
Celebrate Christmas with your favorite underwater friends! Throughout November and December, SeaWorld puts on a range of fabulous holiday shows, including Shamu Christmas Miracles, Dolphin Island Christmas, and Clyde & Seamore’s Christmas Special. A great treat for the kids. Learn more.
- LEGOLAND California’s Holiday Snow Days
Date: 12/01 – 12/31
Location: Carlsbad
The 30-foot-tall LEGO Christmas tree proves that LEGOLAND does Christmas big. You and your children can enjoy the LEGO Holiday Village, life-sized LEGO holiday sculptures, lots of holiday entertainment, and even real snow! Learn more.
- 38th Annual Balboa Park December Nights
Date: 12/04 – 12/05
Location: House of Hospitality, San Diego
This large, free community festival brings in hundreds of thousands of visitors who enjoy multi-cultural food, music, and entertainment. All of the museums in Balboa Park also open their doors for free, making this a great chance to improve your mind and have a lot of fun. Learn more.
- Holiday Wonderland at Petco Park
Date: 12/04 – 12/23
Location: Petco Park, Downtown San Diego
The Padres Stadium is transformed into a holiday wonderland, replete with dazzling lighting displays, iconic holiday scenes, the polar express, and, of course, the jolly man himself, Santa Clause. Learn more.
- La Jolla Christmas Parade and Holiday Festival
Date: 12/06
Location: La Jolla
The theme of this year’s annual La Jolla Christmas Parade & Holiday Festival is “100 Years of Holiday Cheer.” You and your family will get to see plenty of floats, bands, and vintage cars, as well as enjoy many fun activities at the holiday festival. Learn more.
- Jungle Bells at the San Diego Zoo
Date: 12/12 – 01/03
Location: San Diego Zoo, San Diego
At the beginning of December, the San Diego Zoo transforms into a holiday wonderland. Visitors can see beautiful lighted animal sculptures throughout the zoo, as well as watch special presentations, and even visit Santa. Learn more.
- Gaslamp Pet Parade
Date: 12/13
Location: Gaslamp Quarter
Definitely the most adorable holiday activity in San Diego. If you brought your pet with you on vacation, dress your furry or feathered friend up in a holiday costume and come participate. The best costumes win prizes. Learn more.
- Poinsettia Bowl Gaslamp March
Date: 12/21
Location: Gaslamp Quarter
Celebrate the holidays with marching bands and spirit squads from the surrounding universities who will perform holiday classics in an exciting battle of the bands. Learn more.
- Port of San Diego Holiday Bowl Parade
Date: 12/30
Location: San Diego Embarcadero
Line up along San Diego’s scenic embarcadero and watch exceptional marching bands, magnificent floats, and the iconic balloon floats. Learn more.
While you plan all your holiday adventures in San Diego, make sure you don’t forget to plan your accommodations as well. San Diego Coast Rentals offers a wide variety of luxury vacation rentals at incredibly reasonable prices, all centrally located so you can easily make it to any of these fun holiday events. View our listings and book your private, spacious vacation rental now.
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