San Diego 2022 Holiday Guide: Events, Festivals, Attractions and Parades

EVENTS and FESTIVALS:

• November 18 | Santee Holiday Lighting Celebration

The 18th annual Holiday Lighting Celebration will have numerous free kids’ activities, along with live music, photos with Santa, snow sledding, and a tree lighting ceremony. More details HERE.

• November 20 | Encinitas Holiday Street Fair

The 26th annual Holiday Street Fair returns to downtown Encinitas with more than 450 booths to visit, plus dozens of unique downtown Encinitas retailers, the street fair is a perfect opportunity for holiday shopping, and fair-goers can also enjoy live music and dance performances on three stages, including local favorite 2 Tone Sounds on the Beer Garden Stage. As a way of honoring the city’s roots, Encinitas 101 MainStreet Association will sell Poinsettias at its booth as examples of the rich farming history from 1920’s Encinitas and the Ecke Family. Animal lovers of all kinds are welcome to bring their beloved companions to receive a “Blessing of the Animals” in The Lumberyard. More details HERE.

• November 22 | Otay Ranch Town Center Tree Lighting Ceremony and Santa’s Arrival

The Center will celebrate the arrival of Santa Clause and light its 50-foot-tall Christmas tree, which boasts 17,000 lights! The event also features free holiday crafts for kids, free cookies and hot chocolate (while supplies last, 5-6:30 pm), a magic snowfall at Santa’s House, roaming carolers, music, and more.

• November 23 | iHeartRadio Holiday Special

Celebrate the start of the holiday season with our Holiday Special featuring exclusive performances by Alicia Keys, Backstreet Boys, Dan + Shay, John Legend, and Megan Trainor. Listen starting at 7pm on Holiday Season Radio on our FREE iHeartRadio App.

• November 25 | Liberty Station Tree Lighting and Festivities

Salute the Season’s main event, the Liberty Station Tree Lighting & Holiday Festivities will take place from 5-9pm. Gather your loved ones in Liberty Station’s North Promenade for live entertainment, then gaze upon the 88-foot Norfolk Pine Tree as it is lit up by a patient family of Rady Children’s Hospital at 6:15pm. More details HERE.

• November 26 | Julian’s County Christmas and Tree Lighting

Gather your loved ones and enjoy a magical evening of the iconic 88-foot Norfolk pine tree lighting as well as live entertainment, festive firetruck rides, free photos with Santa, and The Grinch movie showing. More details HERE.

• November 26 | Surfin’ Santa Arrival at Seaport Village

Head over to Seaport Village for the festive Surfin’ Santa Arrival. Hang-ten with Santa and enjoy a lively parade along the Seaport Village boardwalk, live music, street performers and photo opportunities of your family and friends surfing with Santa.

• December 2-3 | December Nights in Balboa Park

Join the festivities during Balboa Park December Nights, a two-day holiday celebration of food, entertainment and fun. The sights, sounds and smells of the holiday season fill the air as the museums and cultural institutions in Balboa Park, the nation’s largest urban cultural park, open their doors free of charge. Festivities include carolers, live music, light displays, theater and dance performances, and delicious foods from around the world.

• December 3 | Little Italy Tree Lighting and Christmas Village

Little Italy transforms into a winter wonderland with Christmas twinkle lights down all the streets adorned with 10-foot tall nutcrackers and kinetic tree holiday displays on street corners, Christmas songs and more.

• December 3 | La Mesa Holiday in the Village

La Mesa Village friends and family will have the chance to take part in FREE festive fun with live music, cozy fires, craft vendors, food, holiday 360 photo booth, the grand return of “selfies with Santa”, and a kids’ area bigger than Santa’s Toy Shop! This year’s locally loved La Mesa Holiday in the Village is going back to its roots to bring guests more entertainment, more vendors, and an inclusive holiday experience for ALL AGES to enjoy! Get in the holiday spirit while playing carnival games, listening to carolers, and enjoying delicious food and drinks from La Mesa local favorites. More details HERE.

• December 4 | Sono Fest & Chili Cook-Off

The festive and fiery SoNo Fest & Chili Cook-Off is a fundraiser for McKinley Elementary with local chili, live music, arts & crafts, indie goods and lots of good vibes.

• December 4 | Starlight Nights in Downtown Chula Vista

Enjoy a holly, jolly holiday celebration and ring in the holidays in style this year as you hop on Santa’s Holiday Train and ride through Downtown Chula Vista, shop from unique local businesses at the Holiday Market curated by Las Jefas Market, enjoy live music from the main stage at Memorial Park, and take your official holiday family photo with Santa himself for free! More details HERE.

• December 9 – 11 | San Diego Symphony’s Noel Noel

Experience an all-new holiday story and script, full of cozy holiday moments, favorite tunes, and jolly spirit at the San Diego Symphony’s Noel Noel, San Diego’s favorite annual holiday music tradition. All are invited to come to The Rady Shell early for holiday activations throughout the park, including themed food and beverage delights. More details HERE.

• December 10 | Poway’s Christmas in the Park

Join us at Old Poway Park for an old-fashioned holiday tradition that will take you back in time with caroling, live music, a visit with Santa, free children’s crafts, model train displays, and so much more! Purchase tasty holiday treats, finish your Christmas shopping at the craft boutique, or board the Poway Midland Railroad for a night-time ride around the park. More details HERE.

• December 10 & 11 | San Diego Railroad Museum’s Winter Express Experience

This ticketed before-hours event will immerse children with special holiday activities around the museum, running Christmas trains (including one YOU help make!), and storytime with St. Nick himself. After Santa goes back to the North Pole, enjoy a day of museum admission. More details HERE.

• December 18 | Hanukkah and Menorah Lighting at Liberty Station

Liberty Station in partnership with The Chabads of Downtown San Diego and Pacific Beach will host a public menorah lighting at Liberty Station’s Central Promenade to commemorate the first night of Hanukkah. More details HERE.

• December 28 | SDCCU Holiday Bowl and KGB Sky Show at Petco Park

What is San Diego’s Biggest Holiday Party? Three words: festivities, football, and fireworks! It all starts Tuesday December 27th at the Snapdragon Bowl Bash (a FREE event in the Gaslamp) featuring a battle of the marching bands playing in the SDCCU Holiday Bowl. Then enjoy FREE street side viewing of the Port of San Diego Holiday Bowl Parade presented by Kaiser Permanente at 10AM on Wednesday December 28th. That evening, Petco Park hosts two iconic San Diego events for one legendary game day lineup. The 2022 SDCCU Holiday Bowl kicks off at 5PM with a matchup between the Pac-12 and the ACC. When the game ends, the 101.5 KGB Sky Show will light up the San Diego skyline with its famous fireworks show. Join us for San Diego’s Biggest Holiday Party, and get details at holidaybowl.com