Christmas Activities

Activities for Christmas in San Diego

Join in these fun 2021 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 October 10, 2021 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

Del Mar Santa by the Sea - Sunday December TBD 2021 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. TBD to Dec TBD 2021 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

Mission Bay Christmas Parade of Lights - Saturday December TBD 2021 at San Diego Mission Bay Park. Free SD holiday boat parade from 6 - 9 PM on Mission Bay.

Encinitas Holiday Parade - free event December TBD 2021 starting 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 5 2021. 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 - November 12 2021 - January 9 2022. Disneyland Christmas holiday time at the happiest place on earth. Take your loved ones on a Disneyland Christmas holiday vacation. Disneyland Christmas

Legoland Holiday - November TBD to December TBD 2021. Enjoy some fun snow play at Legoland. Try snow tubing, ice skating or make a snow ball. Special discount rates apply. Fireworks late December around 7 PM and December 31 around 6 PM. 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

Julian Christmas Tree Lighting - Saturday after Thanksgiving (Nov. 27 2021) 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 visitjulian.com

Gaslamp Quarter Holiday Pet Parade - Sunday, December TBD 2021 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

Botanic Wonderland Garden of Lights - December dates TBD 2021 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 12 and 19 2021 from 5 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 TBD 2021 starting at 3 PM 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 2022 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.

To search for hotels and resorts for your stay in San Diego area, see aRes Travel.