Table of Contents
Holiday Event
Holiday Wonderland at Petco Park
Dec 12–14, 2025
If you’ve ever wanted to sled on real snow inside a baseball stadium, your oddly specific dream is coming true. Petco Park’s winter wonderland is where San Diegans go to experience winter for a few hours before returning to their regularly scheduled 70-degree programming. It’s got all the festive magic like a giant tree and light displays without any of the actual frostbite.
55th Annual San Diego Bay Parade of Lights
Dec 14, 2025
Forget decking the halls; San Diegans deck their yachts for this iconic holiday tradition. Join the rest of the city jockeying for a patch of grass to watch over 80 boats light up the bay with this year’s “An Out of This World Christmas” theme. It’s a free spectacle that’s totally worth braving the waterfront crowds.
Pacific Beach Holiday Parade
Dec 13, 2025
The 45th Annual Pacific Beach Holiday Parade is a festive community event taking place along Garnet Avenue from Haines Street to Bayard Street on Saturday, December 13, 2025, from 1 PM to 3 PM, celebrating the season with a “Candy Coated Holiday” theme. The parade features local groups, decorated floats, and holiday spirit as part of Pacific Beach’s seasonal festivities.
The Holiday in Concert
Dec 12, 2025
Ditch the Netflix queue for a night and experience the ultimate holiday movie glow-up. The San Diego Symphony is performing the score to *The Holiday* live while you watch the film at the gorgeous Rady Shell. It’s the perfect excuse to get cozy, feel festive, and remember why we all wanted to house-swap in the mid-2000s.
The Nutcracker (Golden State Ballet)
Dec 12–14, 2025
Trade your flip-flops for a night of high culture that’s actually entertaining, complete with a Mouse King who’s got more drama than a reality TV show. Golden State Ballet’s stunning production at the Civic Theatre is the perfect excuse to feel fancy and escape the holiday chaos for a couple of hours.
La Mesa Holiday in the Village
Dec 13, 2025
Tired of the usual holiday chaos that involves more traffic than tinsel? Escape to La Mesa for an old-fashioned street festival where you can live out your Hallmark movie dreams, complete with horse-drawn carriages and ‘ice’ skating. It’s the perfect way to feel festive without having to untangle a single string of lights yourself.
Home Alone in Concert
Dec 13, 2025
Get ready to tell the San Diego Symphony to ‘keep the change, ya filthy animal’ as they play the iconic score to *Home Alone* live at The Rady Shell. It’s your favorite holiday heist movie, but with a major audio upgrade that doesn’t involve a Talkboy. This is the perfect chance to feel festive and nostalgic without having to check on your own kids every five minutes.
Coastal Christmas Holiday Light Spectacular
Dec 12–14, 2025
Get your dose of winter cheer without the actual frostbite at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. You can skate on eco-friendly ‘Glice,’ which is basically ice that’s never seen a temperature below 65 degrees, just like most locals. With millions of twinkling lights and cozy fire pits, it’s the perfect excuse to finally wear that one sweater you own.
Gaslamp Holiday Pet Parade & Pups in the Pub Party
Dec 13, 2025
If your idea of holiday cheer involves dogs in ugly sweaters and a post-parade pint, this is your mecca. The Gaslamp essentially turns into a furry, festive runway, proving that pets are far better at celebrating the holidays than most humans. It’s pure, unadulterated joy with a side of craft beer.
Mission Bay Parade of Lights
Dec 13, 2025
Why wrestle with your own tangled Christmas lights when you can watch dozens of boat captains do it on a grand scale? This uniquely San Diego parade lets you see some seriously festive vessels cruise the bay, all capped off by a spectacular fireworks show. It’s the ultimate holiday light-seeing event, and you don’t even have to check the bulbs.
Market / Fair
Makers Arcade Holiday Fair
Dec 13–14, 2025
Find gifts that scream ‘I have great taste’ instead of ‘I went to the mall an hour ago’ at this massive waterfront market. With 140+ local makers, live music, and cocktails, you can get your shopping done without losing your will to live. Get there early for free swag or catch the Parade of Lights on Sunday, because your holiday experience deserves an upgrade.
Music
Benett Tsai, Cello & Rodolfo Leone, Piano
Dec 14, 2025
Get ready to be ridiculously impressed by cellist Benett Tsai, a certified prodigy, and pianist Rodolfo Leone, who actually won a Beethoven competition in Vienna. Think of it as a musical power-up before the holiday chaos, a classy way to prove you do more than just go to the beach. You’ll leave feeling more cultured than a pot of yogurt.
The All-American Rejects with Joyce Manor
Dec 12, 2025
Get ready to scream-sing like you’re 17 again, because The All-American Rejects are bringing their iconic hits to Del Mar’s slick new venue, The Sound. With Joyce Manor also on the bill, this night is your official excuse to relive your pop-punk glory days. Just try not to throw your flip phone on stage.
Comedy
Sam Tallent LIVE!
Dec 12–13, 2025
Get ready for some gloriously unhinged storytelling when Sam Tallent takes over the Gaslamp’s best comedy basement. His high-energy, off-the-cuff style is a perfect fit for the intimate American Comedy Co., so you know the show is going to be hilariously unpredictable. Just be prepared to meet that two-drink minimum while you’re trying to catch your breath from laughing.
Sports
Jingle Bell Run
Dec 14, 2025
Finally, a 5K where out-of-breath Santas and jogging reindeer are the norm, not a cry for help. Tie some jingle bells to your shoes and prance through Liberty Station to support arthritis research, proving that holiday spirit can even make cardio seem like a good idea. There are warm beverages at the finish line, which is the only motivation we really need.
San Diego Gulls vs. Henderson Silver Knights (Game 1)
Dec 12, 2025
Tired of paying a car payment for pro sports tickets? Catch the San Diego Gulls deliver some on-ice justice without emptying your wallet. It’s the perfect excuse to yell at something other than the I-5 traffic and eat your weight in classic arena hot dogs.
San Diego Gulls vs. Henderson Silver Knights (Game 2)
Dec 13, 2025
Trade the beach for the boards and watch the Gulls settle a score with the Henderson Silver Knights in their second game in two days. Expect fast-paced action, questionable life choices in the penalty box, and probably a free giveaway to prove you were there. It’s the most aggressive you’ll see San Diegans get outside of a Trader Joe’s parking lot.
