Christmas Activities

Activities for Christmas in San Diego

Join in these fun 2016 Christmas Activities and Christmas Holiday Events in San Diego, CA. Visit with Santa and see the spectacular holiday tree lights in San Diego. Enjoy this special time of year with your family in beautiful San Diego.

I love our Mediterranean climate in San Diego. Our winters are mild, so you can go ice skating on the beach, enjoy a sunny day in Balboa Park, or enjoy more traditional holiday activities.

Updated September 21 2016 by San Diego Beaches and Adventures

For other San Diego, Oceanside, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Solana Beach, Del Mar, La Jolla, and Coronado events and activities in Southern California during November and December, see San Diego Events November and San Diego Events December.

Holiday Events and Christmas Events

Kids Christmas Activities

Grinchmas at Universal Studios Hollywood - Grinchmas returns to Universal Studios in late December through the holidays. Get in the holiday spirit with the Grinch, at Universal Studios Hollywood, and get 2017 admission free.

The Nutcracker - December 8 to 24 2016. No Christmas season would be complete without the The Nutcracker ballet one of the best San Diego Christmas activities. Buy tickets at www.cityballet.org.

Jingle Bell Run/Walk - December 10 2016 starting at 8 AM at Balboa Park San Diego (Park Blvd. and Presidents Way). Put on your reindeer antlers or other holiday costume and running shoes in the fun San Diego event to support the Arthritis Foundation.

Christmas Gifts - Personalized 2017 Tide Calendar - Now is a great time to order personalized photo calendars. You can order calendars with the graphical tides, so you can tell when it is a great time to go the your favorite beach. Great Christmas gifts and happy memories. To order your Personalized Calendars see www.calendarlink.biz.

Holiday Festival…A Family Celebration - November 26 - January 1 from 4pm - 9pm at Hotel del Coronado. Enjoy outdoor ice skating at Coronado beach, and a visit with Mrs. Claus at The Del. Sip hot cocoa, libations, and enjoy the festive entertainment, Christmas caroling, and fireworks. The resort’s 100,000 twinkling white lights will provide a magical backdrop for the evening’s festivities. For more information and schedule see www.hoteldel.com.

Mission Bay Christmas Parade of Lights - Saturday December TBD 2016 at San Diego Mission Bay Park. Free SD holiday parade at 7 PM followed by fantastic firework display at 9:00 PM. More than 60,000 people are expected. The best viewing is from Riviera Shores, Crown Point, Santa Clara Point, the east side of Vacation Island the west side of Fiesta Island.

Encinitas Holiday Parade - free event December TBD 2016 tarting at 5 PM in downtown Encinitas Cal. Holiday parade and tree lighting ceremony in historic Encinitas. Tree Lighting Ceremony at 5:00 pm in the Lumberyard shopping center courtyard on Coast Highway 101. The Parade begins at 5:30, heading south along Coast Highway 101 from D Street to J Street. encinitasparksandrec.com

La Jolla Christmas Parade and Holiday Festival - Sunday December 4 2016. Join in the holiday fun with horses, floats and antique planes fly over earlier in the day, with the La Jolla San Diego parade starting at 1:30 pm in downtown La Jolla at Kline & Gerard. After the parade is a festival with crafts, games, fun and food, and Santa. The tree lighting begins around 4:30. www.ljparade.com

Disneyland Christmas - mid November 2016 - early January 2017. Disneyland Christmas holiday time at the happiest place on earth. Take your loved ones on a Disneyland Christmas holiday vacation. Disneyland Christmas 2014

Legoland Holiday Snow Days - late November 2016 to early January 2017. Enjoy some fun snow play at Legoland. Try snow tubing, ice skating or make a snow ball. Special discount rates apply. Fireworks Dec. 26 - 30. Legoland California

Photo credit Rancho Noel Trees, Potrero

Cut Your Christmas Tree - No list of Christmas activities would be complete without the holiday tradition of cutting your own Christmas tree from a local farm in San Diego. For a list of farms or lots see www.cachristmas.com

Del Mar Santa by the Sea - Sunday December 4th 2016 from 3 - 5 PM. Horse and carriage rides, Santa, cake walk, live music, tree lighting and more in downtown Del Mar. More fun Christmas activities for this holiday season. www.delmarmainstreet.com

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! - Nov. 5 - Dec. 24 2016 at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego Balboa Park. Christmas activities wouldn't be the same without the Grinch. Shows at various times, and some shows may be adults only. Get your San Diego Grinch Tickets at www.theoldglobe.org

Julian Christmas Tree Lighting - Saturday after Thanksgiving (Nov. 26 2016) at Julian’s Pioneer Park. Festivities to open the Christmas season begin at 4 PM, and the tree lighting at 6 PM in the charming historic town of Julian. Christmas carols, Santa. Free admission for this Christmas event. For more information about the Julian Living Christmas Tree see www.julianca.com

Gaslamp Quarter Holiday Pet Parade - Sunday, December 11 2016 at 3 PM. Wear you holiday costume and join the parade. Prizes for Best Costumed Duo, Cutest Critter, Best Pet Costume & Best of Show. Enjoy the pet expo from 1-5 PM, parties, and more. $15 to $20 to register and free to watch. www.gaslamp.org

Garden of Lights - December 3 to 23, 26 to 30 2016 from 5 – 9 PM at San Diego Botanic Gardens (formerly Quail Botanic Gardens) in Encinitas. Dazzling light display, holiday crafts, horse drawn wagon rides and more. For more information see www.sdbgarden.org

San Diego Bay Parade of Lights - Sunday December 11 and 18 2016 from 5:30 – 7:30 PM. The parade of decorated boats starts at southwest end of Shelter Island, and travels past Harbor Island, the Embarcadero, Seaport Village, Coronado Ferry Landing Marketplace before ending at the navy carrier turning basin. www.sdparadeoflights.org.

Big Bay Balloon Parade - December 27 2016 in downtown San Diego CA. The Port of San Diego brings this televised exciting family event full of marching bands, magnificent floats, drill teams and enormous balloons. Family Festival activities afterwards at the Broadway Pier. For more information, or to pre-order your Grandstand tickets for preferred seating at the San Diego Big Bay Balloon Parade, see www.holidaybowl.com

The Del New Year’s Eve Gala - New Years Eve San Diego party at The Del, Hotel del Coronado. Ring in 2017 at a San Diego New Years party, and expensive but delightful evening. Champagne reception in the magnificent Crown Room, followed by a lavish dinner and dancing in the oceanfront Ballroom. Ages 21 and older only. Additional parties for children and teenagers including dinner, beach games and bonfire. For additional information about the Hotel Del New Years Eve Party see www.hoteldel.com.

Other Fun Things to Do in San Diego - For other fun events and activities, see San Diego Events December and San Diego Events January.