25 Free Holiday Activities
December Nights in Balboa Park Visit the beach during the holidays
From traditional holiday parades and festivals to the migration of California gray whales along the Pacific coast, a visit to San Diego during the winter offers a wealth of free, fun and festive experiences. Visitors to the region can escape overcast skies and the wintry cold for San Diego’s brilliant sunshine and temperate climate and enjoy diverse wintertime experiences.
The following suggestions for free activities and events are sure to capture the imagination and lift the spirits of visitors to San Diego during the upcoming winter months.
- Join the festivities during Balboa Park December Nights, a two-day holiday celebration of food, entertainment and fun on December 3 – 4. The numerous museums and cultural institutions in Balboa Park, the nation’s largest urban cultural park, open their doors free of charge and festivities include carolers, live music, holiday light displays, theater and dance performances and delicious foods from around the world. www.balboapark.org/decembernights
- Witness a tradition that began as a gift to the children of San Diego in 1947 – the Annual Mother Goose Parade on November 21 in the East County city of El Cajon. One of the biggest parades of its kind in the country and the largest single-day event in San Diego County, the parade features floats, clowns, Santa Claus, marching bands, equestrian teams and celebrity appearances. www.mothergooseparade.org
- Whale watch from the shores and cliffs of Point Loma, as California gray whales migrate south to the warm water breeding grounds off the coast of Baja, California. Spectators can catch a spectacular show during December through March when these majestic mammals pass through the waters off San Diego’s coastline. www.nps.gov/cabr/whales
- Be part of a grand Holiday Celebration on December 3 in Coronado with a festive parade along Orange Avenue, the lighting of a 75-foot Christmas tree, holiday music and a firework show over Glorietta Bay. www.coronadovisitorcenter.com
- Enjoy free organ concerts at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park beginning at 2 p.m. each Sunday. The Organ Pavilion features the world’s largest outdoor pipe organ, where organists resound holiday favorites, waltzes and show tunes from the organ’s monstrous 32-foot lead alloy pipes. www.sosorgan.com
- See Old Town State Historic Park decked out for the holidays on December 11 during Fiesta Navidad. Guests learn how residents celebrated the holidays in the 1800s while enjoying candlelight tours, holiday singers, live performances and complimentary refreshments. www.oldtownsandiegoguide.com/events
- Head over to Seaport Village for the festive Surfing Santa at Seaport Village event on November 27. Hang-ten with Santa and enjoy a lively parade along the Seaport Village boardwalk, music, stilt walkers, kid’s crafts and photo opportunities of your family and friends surfing with Santa. http://www.seaportvillage.com/holidays/surfing-santa.php
- Spread some holiday cheer at the La Jolla Christmas Parade and Holiday Festival on December 5 in downtown La Jolla. The event includes marching bands, floats, equestrian units, vintage automobiles and an appearance by Santa Claus. http://ljparade.com
- Drive to the mountain town of Julian for a warm mug of hot apple cider and delicious slice of Julian’s legendary homemade apple pie. On Saturdays, stroll through the quaint neighborhood streets and enjoy the sounds of wandering Christmas carolers and a living nativity scene. www.julianca.com
- Explore the tide pools in Point Loma when the tide is low to see some of the magnificent creatures of the sea. Point Loma tide pools are located just south of the tip of Cabrillo Point. www.nps.gov/cabr
- Take a walk around Balboa Park and discover its beautiful architecture. Take advantage of the park’s variety of free offerings, including touring its spectacular gardens. Be sure not to miss the “Whoville” decorations in the plaza outside of The Old Globe theatre, which are on display November 20 – December 26, to coincide with the theatre’s annual holiday production of Dr. Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” www.balboapark.org
- Take a walk along one of San Diego’s 70 miles of beaches, all free and open to the public. Enjoy the magnificent Pacific Ocean and collect seashells for decorating special holiday gifts. www.sandiego.org/beachguide
- Visit the Village of La Mesa on December 10 and 11 for Christmas in the Village. Enjoy street performers, carolers, carriage rides, entertainment for the family and more. www.lmvma.com
- Enjoy the Gaslamp Holiday Pet Parade on December 12 in downtown San Diego’s historic Gaslamp Quarter. Owners and their dressed-up pets march down the decorated streets of the neighborhood and end at a Pet Expo featuring an awards ceremony for best-dressed pups. www.gaslamp.org
- Take a drive to the top of Mt. Soledad in La Jolla for a panoramic view of the city all spruced up in holiday decoration. Along the way, take a peek at the beautifully decorated homes in this exclusive community. www.soledadmemorial.com
- Drive to the 600,000-acre Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in San Diego’s East County to marvel at wildlife and a kaleidoscope of colorful flowers amidst the desert warmth. Anza-Borrego is located just two hours from San Diego via Highway 78 and Interstate 8. www.parks.ca.gov
- Gaze up at the massive balloons during the Big Bay Balloon Parade, the country's largest balloon parade, on December 30. Floats, balloons and marching bands are just some of the offerings in this colorful holiday parade along San Diego Bay in downtown San Diego. www.holidaybowl.com
- Enjoy the twinkling waters of San Diego Bay and more than 100 private boats decorated with holiday lights for the 39th Annual Port of San Diego Parade of Lights on December 12 and 19. Great views are available on dry land from Shelter Island, Harbor Island, the Embarcadero, Seaport Village, Marina Park and Coronado’s Ferry Landing. www.sdparadeoflights.org
- Get in the holiday spirit with Chula Vista’s 48th Annual Starlight Parade on December 4, featuring carolers, holiday cheer, floats, drill teams, marching bands, classic cars, a children’s event and visit from Santa. www.thirdavenuevillage.com
- Take a break from holiday shopping for the Pups on Parade and Tree Lighting Ceremony on December 5 in Carlsbad. Dogs wearing holiday attire march down the street with Santa; the event is followed by an afternoon of cider and cookies, storytelling, craft projects and the tree lighting ceremony in the evening. http://visitcarlsbad.com
- Experience a white Christmas in San Diego after making the scenic, one-hour drive to the top of Mount Laguna. Sled down mountain slopes, build snowmen and have snowball fights (weather conditions permitting).
- Delight in the festive gatherings on December 18 during the Mission Bay Christmas Boat Parade of Lights. Over 100 brightly illuminated powerboats and sailboats parade along Mission Bay; the parade ends with a fantastic fireworks show at 9 p.m. above SeaWorld San Diego. www.missionbayparadeoflights.org
- Enjoy complimentary horse-drawn carriage rides, photos with Santa and holiday festivities during the Holiday Downtown event on December 4, 11 and 18 in downtown Escondido. www.downtownescondido.com
- Celebrate holiday cheer on December 11 during Christmas in the Park – Poway. The event features a tree lighting ceremony, visits from Santa, train rides, live music, theatre performances, food, treats, crafts and more. www.powaymidlandrr.org/christmas
- Rock out at the Poinsettia Bowl Battle of the Bands in the Gaslamp Quarter on December 21. Kicking off two days prior to the annual Poinsettia Bowl, which is played in San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium, bands representing the two Bowl football teams line up at opposite ends of Fifth Avenue in downtown’s Gaslamp Quarter and face-off in an old fashion battle of the bands. www.gaslamp.org.
Happy happens in San Diego. For more information on San Diego offerings, including exciting vacation packages and valuable coupons for attractions, restaurants and more, visit the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau's Web site, www.sandiego.org, or call (619) 236-1212. In San Diego, visit the International Visitor Information Center, located along the Embarcadero at the corner of West Broadway and Harbor Drive in downtown; the La Jolla Visitor Center, located at the corner of Herschel Avenue and Prospect Street in La Jolla; or the California Welcome Center, located at the Viejas Outlet Center in Alpine.
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Contacts:
Joe Timko (619) 557-2812
Kate Buska (619) 557-2889
Stephenie Medina (619) 557-2838
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