San Diego Seasons — 2025 Holiday Events and More!
Holiday Events in San Diego: Your 2025 Guide
San Diego comes alive during the holiday season with festive pop-ups, tree lightings, markets, and coastal celebrations. Whether you’re exploring the city as a visitor or a local, here’s a curated roundup of holiday happenings across the region.
Your Holiday Fun Starts Below 🎄
Activities & Festivities
Jingle Terrace Nights at Moonlight Amphitheatre (12/5–21)
A walk-through light experience with music and holiday decor.
Coastal Christmas at the Del Mar Fairgrounds (12/12–26)
A seaside holiday celebration held on select dates throughout December, with lights, igloos, iceskating, and more.
Fireside Films at Rooftop Cinema (Nov–Dec)
Seasonal movie and TV show screenings atop the Manchester Grand Hyatt.
Peppermint Beach Club at Westfield UTC (11/14–12/24)
A festive pop-up with holiday-themed installations, Santa, and professional giftwrapping.
December Nights at One Paseo (11/29–12/20 — Fridays & Saturdays)
Outdoor decor, entertainment, and cozy evening experiences.
Snapdragon Bowl Bash (1/1/26)
A free New Year’s event with games, performers, and food specials.
A Holiday in Oz at The Del Coronado (starts 11/21)
A "Wicked" themed beachfront holiday experience with light shows and festive activities.
Old Town Trolley Holiday Lights Tour (11/29–1/3)
A guided ride through San Diego’s seasonal light displays.
Balboa Park December Nights (12/5–6)
San Diego's largest two-day celebration featuring free museum access and holiday festivities.
Fairmont Grand Del Mar (starts 11/27)
Ice skating, brunch with Santa, and seasonal tea service in a festive resort setting.
Jungle Bells at the San Diego Zoo — (12/19/2025–1/ 4/ 2026)
Lights, animals, and more!
Holiday's at Legoland — (Nov. 22, 2025- Jan. 4, 2026)
Limited time sweet treats, Lego tree, "elfies", and more.
Jingle Jets Holiday Lighting — (select nights Nov. 28- Dec. 30)
Million dazzling lights and festive performances at the USS Midway.
Surfin' Santa —Nov. 29, 2025
Head to Seaport Village for the Surfin' Santa Arrival, enjoy a parade, music, photo opps, and more.
Parades & Tree Lightings
Mission Bay Parade of Lights — 12/13
Maritime Museum: Dinner and lights 12/14 & 21
Encinitas Holiday Parade — 12/6
Coronado Parade & Tree Lighting — 12/5
Little Italy Tree Lighting — 12/6
Poway Christmas in the Park — 12/12–13
Ocean Beach Holiday Parade — 12/5
Starlight Parade & Festival — 12/6
La Mesa Holiday in the Village — 12/13
Liberty Station Hanukkah + Menorah Lighting — 12/14
Paradise Point Tree Lighting (santa paws)— 12/4
Liberty Station Tree Lighting — 11/28
San Diego Bay Parade of Lights — 12/14 & 12/21
La Jolla Parade & Festival — 12/7
East Village Tree Lighting & Holiday Market — 11/30
Gaslamp Pet Parade — 12/14
Oceanside Holiday Tree Lighting — 12/4
Festive Food & Drink Pop-Ups
Adams Ave Spirit Stroll — Opens 11/29
Great Dickens Pop-Up at Duck Dive — Opens 11/28
Winter Lodge at Cutwater — Opens 11/22
Miracle Pop-Up at Botanica and Coster Saloon — Opens 11/18
Clicquot in the Clouds (Grand Hyatt) — Opens 11/29
Elf on the 12th at Mister A’s — Opens early December
Sippin’ Santa at Grass Skirt — Opens 11/18
Deck the Halls at Nason’s Beer Hall — Opens 11/27
Jolly Jolly Bar at F6ix — Opens 11/14
Winter Wonderland at Draft (Belmont Park) — Opens 11/28
Christmas Bar at Goodnight Johnboy — Open now
Santa's Lair — Opens 11/28
The Golden Girls Christmas Experience — Little Italy Opens 11/19
Lafayette Christmas — Through December
Snowed in at Fort Oak — Opens Nov. 19
Holiday Markets
Holiday Artisan Market at Mission Bay Beach Club — 12/13
San Diego Made Market — 11/29-30
Makers Arcade Holiday Fair — 12/13–14
Petco Park Holiday Market — 12/5–7 & 12/10–23
Encinitas Holiday Street Fair — 11/23
Little Italy Wednesday Holiday Market— 12/3-12/22
Seasonal Shows
City Ballet of San Diego: The Nutcracker (12/20–23)
Rady Shell: San Diego Symphony: Noel Noel (12/19–21)
Rady Shell: Home Alone and The Holiday (12/12-12/13)
Rady Shell : Awaken Church Night of Christmas (12/6)
Ebenezer Scrooge’s Big San Diego Christmas Show (11/21–12/28)
How the Grinch Stole Christmas — The Old Globe (11/5–12/31) (in english and spanish)
Jingle Bell Jog & Turkey Trot Guide
Port of San Diego 5K — Downtown — 1/2/26
New Year’s Run 5K/10K — Liberty Station — 12/27
O’side Turkey Trot — Oceanside —11/27
San Diego Resolution Run — Mission Bay — 1/10/26
Red Rose Run — Del Mar — 12/13
Fleet Feet San Diego — San Diego (free) — 11/27
North County Turkey Trot — 4S Ranch — 11/27
Father Joe's Villages 24th Annual Thanksgiving Day 5K — Balboa Park — 11/27
San Diego Santa Run — Pacific Beach — 12/13
Jingle Bell Run — Liberty Station — 12/14
Holiday Half Marathon & 5K — Torrey Pines — 12/20
