It’s beginning to look a lot like the holidays, so if you’re ready for holly jolly family fun and making magical memories in the process, we can help. Here are San Diego’s best festivities of the season.
The Gaslamp Holiday Pet Parade
Get ready to deck the paws! The Gaslamp Holiday Pet Parade returns Saturday, Dec. 13 at 1 pm as pets and their humans strut through the historic Gaslamp Quarter in their most festive attire. Compete for prizes in categories like Best Holiday Spirit, Cutest Pet and more! Enjoy live entertainment, holiday vendors and photo ops at this paw-some San Diego tradition. For details and registration, visit https://gaslamp.org/news/gaslamp-quarter-pet-parade.
Balboa Park Explorer Pass
Give the gift of culture this holiday season with a Balboa Park Explorer Pass! Spend more quality time with loved ones while discovering all that the Balboa Park Cultural District offers. The Balboa Park Explorer Pass grants access to 16 museums, including San Diego Air & Space Museum, Fleet Science Center, Japanese Friendship Garden and San Diego Natural History Museum. Learn more and start exploring today at www.BuyMyExplorer.org.
The Winter Splendor Celebration at Hideout Mountain Lodge
The Winter Splendor Celebration at Hideout Mountain Lodge is San Diego’s most enchanting holiday escape! Nestled high above the Santa Ysabel foothills, this 40-acre wonderland sparkles with dazzling lights, snow play, ice skating, cozy fire pits and festive igloo dining from Dec. 12–Jan. 4. It’s a joyful mix of music, laughter and mountain charm where families, friends and couples celebrate the spirit of the season! Advance tickets required. www.WinterSplendorCelebration.com.
San Diego Symphony
Noel Noel returns to The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park on Dec. 19 (7:30 pm), Dec. 20 (6 pm) and Dec. 21 (5 pm). Experience Christmas classics and holiday sing-alongs on San Diego Bay as Noel, a North Pole elf, searches for missing letters to Santa. Will Christmas be saved in time? Featuring San Diego Symphony Orchestra, San Diego Master Chorale, San Diego Children’s Choir and San Diego Musical Theatre Academy. https://www.theshell.org/performances/noel-noel-2025/
Family Christmas Tree Farm
Join Family Christmas Tree Farm for a tradition your family will cherish: Find and cut down the perfect Christmas tree in our beautiful, lush forest! Or, choose from one of our freshly cut Noble, Douglas or Grand Fir trees. Meet farm animals and take a hayride—it’s fun for the whole family! Open daily, starting Friday, Nov. 28, 10 am—8 pm. 300 Pepper Drive, El Cajon. Visit www.FamilyChristmasTreeFarm.com for more information.
The Old Globe Theatre
The Old Globe presents a fast, funny and theatrical reimagining of one of the most beloved holiday stories ever told. Ebenezer Scrooge’s BIG San Diego Christmas Show has the traditional elements of Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol,” but with a comic local twist. Audiences of all ages will cheer Scrooge’s rediscovery of the Christmas spirit in this riotous Dickens mash-up filled with music and laughter—all set in “wintery” San Diego. www.TheOldGlobe.org
Village Walk
Visit Village Walk at EastLake for a dazzling holiday light show and snowfall every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 30 through Dec. 21 at 6 pm and 7 pm. On Saturday, Dec. 6 enjoy free visits with Santa in his sleigh from Noon–3 pm, plus free train rides and a craft. Sunday Fun Day is Dec. 7, with free photos with Frosty in a life-size photo frame. www.ShopVillageWalk.com
Julian’s Country Christmas
Julian’s Country Christmas offers joy-filled, family-friendly fun with Santa visits at Town Hall, a Christmas sing-along and light parade (Dec. 6 at 6 pm), “A Christmas Carol” performances, and a mailbox where kids can send letters to the North Pole. Enjoy unique shopping, dining and lodging options. www.juliancountrychristmas.com
Coastal Christmas Holiday Light Spectacular
Experience a Coastal Christmas—10 days of festive fun featuring a dazzling holiday lights trail, live entertainment, photos with Santa, a holiday market, specialty foods, hot cocoa and more! Optional activities include Glice skating, Frosty’s Fun Zone, a Holiday Wine Walk (21+) and reservable private igloos and fire pits. Dec. 12–14, 18–23 and Dec. 26, 4–9 pm at Del Mar Fairgrounds. Buy tickets and special experiences at www.coastalchristmasdelmar.com.
The Super Dentists Visits with Santa
Join us for Santa Day at The Super Dentists! Enjoy festive photos with Santa, ToothKeri and MeloD, plus hot chocolate, cookies and a free SuperMouth gift (different dates for each location). Capture holiday smiles and earn extra reward points with morning appointments. To schedule, call (619) DENTIST or visit www.thesuperdentists.com/santa-visits.
Celebrate Hanukkah
Looking for fun ideas to celebrate Hanukkah with your family? Discover creative crafts, tasty recipes, local Menorah lightings and more in our round-up of ways to celebrate Hanukkah with kids. We’ve even included San Diego’s favorite Jewish delis, which offer traditional foods for the holiday. Find all the details at www.sandiegofamily.com/things-to-do/seasonal-happenings/ways-to-celebrate-hanukkah.
New Year’s Eve with Kids
Ring in the new year! When you have kids at home, planning a big New Year’s Eve out for parents can be challenging (and expensive). Don’t worry. There are plenty of fun ways to make the last evening of the year special for the whole family! Discover local kid-friendly events in addition to great ideas for making epic New Year’s Eve memories at home at www.sandiegofamily.com/things-to-do/seasonal-happenings/7-ways-to-ring-in-the-new-year-with-your-kids.
Map of Christmas Lights
Wondering why our Map of Christmas Lights is the best? Because we were the first to create it over 30 years ago -- and more importantly, we have connections with the homeowners and businesses featured, so we update the information year after year, adding new neighborhoods, updating themes, dates and more. www.sandiegofamily.com/things-to-do/san-diego-s-best-map-of-christmas-lights
Updated November 2025
