San Diego, California, offers an array of annual holiday activities as well as concerts, plays and other events that vary each year. With a mild winter climate and miles of oceanfront, San Diego and neighboring cities hold many outdoor activities throughout December. Whether you're a resident or a visitor, you're sure to find plenty of ways to celebrate in San Diego.
December Nights
December Nights at Balboa Park, held the first Friday and Saturday of each December, highlights San Diego's holiday season and attracts more than 300,000 visitors. You can eat international cuisine, shop for gifts, and watch music and dance performances. Participating museums also offer free admission from 5 to 9 p.m. each evening.
Bowl Games
The Poinsettia Bowl, held the week before Christmas, features teams from the Pac 10 and Mountain West college conferences. The Holiday Bowl takes place the following week and matches competitors from the Pac-12 and Big 10 college conferences. The morning of the Holiday Bowl, you can check out the Port of San Diego Big Bay Balloon parade. Held downtown, the parade attracts around 100,000 people each year with floats, bands and giant balloons.
Boat Parades
Taking place on two consecutive Sunday evenings in December, the San Diego Bay Parade of Lights features more than 100 boats decorated with a different holiday theme each year. Approximately 80,000 people attend this annual event, watching the boat parade from the Embarcadero, Harbor Island and other waterfront areas. Mission Bay also holds a Christmas Boat Parade of Lights culminating into a fireworks show.
Parades in Nearby Cities
In Chula Vista, the annual Starlight Parade takes place during the early evening and offers carolers, bands, classic cars, floats and Santa. Coronado's Holiday Celebration features a parade, holiday tunes, Christmas tree lighting and fireworks. La Jolla also holds a Christmas Parade and Holiday Festival with horses, floats, bands, classic cars and more.
Other Celebrations
LEGOLAND, located in nearby Carlsbad, hosts a nightly Christmas tree lighting throughout December, with the tree made of Legos. As part of its Holly Jolly Holidays celebration, LEGOLAND also features a musical, fireworks and Lego holiday displays. You can drive through the Del Mar Fairgrounds to see more than 400 exhibits in the Holiday of Lights display, open from late November to early January. The San Diego Zoo's Jungle Bells also features light displays depicting various animals. Sea World also offers a tree-lighting ceremony, as well as holiday shows starring sea lions, otters and orcas.
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