Holiday Round-Up of Family Fun: Crafts, recipes and things to do

happy holidays from sdfm2014

San Diego's family-friendly holiday events, festive recipes, Christmas crafts, ways to celebrate Hanukkah, holiday tips, our famous Map of Christmas Lights and more. It's all in our Holiday Round-Up of Family Fun!

Places to Go

Family festivities, seasonal parades, Santa sightings and theater performances — San Diego offers a sleigh-full of holiday happenings! Read all about it in our list of December Holiday Events & Winter Camps.

Tour the best holiday lights in San Diego County with our famous Map of Christmas Lights!

Prefer to play in the snow, but don't know where to go? Read Finding Snow in San Diego.

Holiday Sweets and Treats

You can't have a proper celebration without festive treats!

Sweet Treats

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Frosted Cranbrries for Christmas Cake

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Hot Cocoa Marshmallow Cookies by food blogger, Norene Cox

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Gluten-Free Lemon Star Cookies by The Seaside Baker

Edible Mini Menorah

Peppermint Snow Pie

Almond & Olive Oil Cake

Mexican Hot Chocolate

10 Awesome Spots to Get Hot Chocolate in San Diego

5 Tips for a Perfect Pie Crust

Healthy Holiday-Themed Snacks

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Snowman Caprese Salad

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Christmas Kiwi Wreath

Red-Nosed Reindeer Snack

Veggie Christmas Tree Snack

CHRISTMAS & HOLIDAY CRAFTS FOR KIDS

Encourage creativity by setting up a craft table for the kids! Have fun with these projects:

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Christmas Village Putz Houses by Art with Alyssa

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Twig Christmas Trees by Art with Alyssa

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Poinsettia Yarn Painting by Art with Alyssa

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Sock Snowmen by Super Moms 360

DIY Christmas Advent Calendar

Crayon Holder Craft for the Kids Table

Marshmallow Snowman Cards

Giant Candy Land Yard Decorations

Thankful Jars

Holiday Hangers (fun with pipe cleaners)

Free, printable letter to Santa (to color and fill out)

Fun Ways to Celebrate Hanukkah

Find festive crafts (like these Hanukkah Place Card Holders) and beautiful projects in our Hanukkah Round-Up!

Celebrate New Year's Eve

Ways to Celebrate New Year's Eve with Kids

New Year's Eve DIY Noisemakers

New Year's Eve Browne Ball Drop Pops

Holiday Hacks and More Seasonal Articles

Holiday Hacks from San Diego Moms

How to Party Healthy this Season

Kid-Friendly Getaways

Ways to Ring in the New Year with Your Kids

Finding Joy in a Challenging Holiday Season

Multigeneraltional Holiday Gatherings: A recipe for success

San Diego Family's Kid-Tested Toy Reviews

Minimize Crazy to Maximize Joy this Christmas

Make the World a Better Place

Teacher Gifts that Could Land You on the Naughty List

Silent Nights: Help Kids Sleep Well During the Holiday

Check out our Christmas/Holiday pinterest board for more crafts, decorations and party ideas!

Cinco de Mayo in San Diego

Cinco de Mayo in San Diego

You've heard of Cinco de Mayo but do you know why it's celebrated? Cinco de Mayo (5th of May) commemorates the anniversary of the Battle of Puebla that resulted in Mexico's military victory over Napol . . .

How to Celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month in San Diego

How to Celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month in San Diego

Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month is a celebration of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States. The term AAPI includes people with origins from dozens of countries from . . .

36 Unique Mother’s Day Gifts

36 Unique Mother’s Day Gifts

It’s almost Mother’s Day and I’m trying (again) to figure out what to get my mom. The woman needs nothing, rarely hints at what she might like, and doesn’t need any more “things” to clut . . .

Celebrate Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Celebrate Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Celebrate the unique culture and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) throughout the month of May and all year long! Our list of family-friendly AAPI Heritage Month events i . . .

Fun Ways to Celebrate Spring in San Diego

Fun Ways to Celebrate Spring in San Diego

By the time the first day of spring rolls around (March 19), San Diegans are usually ready for a “change in weather.” Let’s face it, a low of 48 degrees is downright freezing in these parts. (Le . . .

Celebrate AAPI Heritage Month with Dim Sum

Celebrate AAPI Heritage Month with Dim Sum

With May being Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, families across the nation will be celebrating the rich cultural tapestry of the AAPI community. One way to participat . . .

12 Easy Ways to Care for the Earth

12 Easy Ways to Care for the Earth

It’s easy to let busyness of daily life push thoughts of being eco-friendly to the back burner. But caring for our planet might be easier than you think. Start small by trying one activity a month . . .

Where to Celebrate Mother’s Day in San Diego 2025

Where to Celebrate Mother’s Day in San Diego 2025

Mother's Day is the perfect time to show your love and appreciation for Mom in creative and fun ways. Check out these Mom-inspired in-person events that the whole family (but especially Mom) will en . . .

Memorial Day Events and Activities 2025

Memorial Day Events and Activities 2025

This Memorial Day Weekend, spend some time with your family honoring and remembering the sacrifices of our military heroes. Don’t miss USS Midway’s Legacy Week, (May 23-May 26) an annua . . .

How to Have a Retro Summer

How to Have a Retro Summer

The kids are out of school—it’s time to simplify your schedules and encourage as much outdoor play as possible. We recommend having a retro summer! What is a Retro Summer? What exactly d . . .

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