Festive Christmas and holiday parades are coming back to town in 2023! Take the family to enjoy sparkling lights, stunning floats and sleighloads of ho-ho-holiday cheer!
San Diego Central
FREE Port of San Diego Holiday Bowl Parade. Dec. 27, 10 am. America’s largest balloon parade with marching bands, floats and more. Along Harbor Dr. www.holidaybowl.com
FREE Pacific Beach Holiday Parade. “Ugly Sweater” theme with floats, Santa and more. Dec. 9, 12–2 pm. Garnet from Haines St. to Cass St. www.pacificbeach.org
FREE Mission Bay Boat Parade of Lights. More than 100 decorated vessels take to the water. Dec. 9, 5:30 pm. Starts at SeaWorld with fireworks and ends at The Mission Bay Beach Club. www.discovermissionbay.org
FREE Coronado Holiday Parade & Tree Lighting. Dec. 1, 6 pm. Details: www.coronadochamber.com
FREE La Jolla Christmas Parade & Holiday Festival. “Christmas on the Sand” theme. Dec. 3. Festival, 11:30 am–4 pm; parade, 1:30 pm. Girard Ave. www.ljparade.com
FREE San Diego Bay Parade of Lights. Brightly illuminated boats decorated to the theme “Christmas Traditions Around the World.” Dec. 10 & Dec. 17, 5:30 pm. Starts off Shelter Island, goes through the harbor and ends at the Coronado Ferry Landing. www.sdparadeoflights.org
Gaslamp Quarter Holiday Pet Parade and Pups in the Pub Party. Pet expo, photo ops, games and more. Dec. 16, 10 am–4 pm; parade, 1 pm. MLK Promenade Park to Gaslamp Quarter Arch. www.gaslamp.org
FREE Ocean Beach Holiday Parade. Dec. 2. Starts at sunset. Newport Ave. Details: www.obtowncouncil.org
FREE Starlight Parade & Festival. Dec. 3. Festivities start at 3 pm; tree lighting, 5:45 pm. Downtown Chula Vista. www.starlightparade.com
North County
FREE Encinitas Holiday Parade. Theme “Traditions of Encinitas.” Dec. 2. Festivities & tree lighting, 5 pm; parade, 5:30 pm. Coast Hwy. 101 from D St. to J St. www.encinitasca.gov
FREE 65th Annual Vista Christmas Parade. Dec. 2, 1-3 pm. Historic downtown Vista Village. www.vistachamber.org
FREE San Marcos Holiday Parade. Celebrating 120 years of the Teddy Bear. Dec. 3, 1–3 pm. From Palomar College to the San Marcos Civic Center. www.san-marcos.net
FREE Fallbrook Christmas Parade. “Small Town Christmas” theme with lighted floats, Santa and more. Dec. 2, 5–7 pm. Downtown Fallbrook. www.fallbrookchamberofcommerce.org
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Updated: November 2023
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