Top January Events

Experience endless blue skies, expansive beaches, exciting outdoor adventures and these awesome events in San Diego this January.

Don't miss these exciting events happening in San Diego this January.

San Diego Rodeo

When: January 10-12, 2025
The San Diego Padres, in partnership with C5 Rodeo Company Inc and Outriders Present will be bringing the first-ever rodeo to Petco Park.

Farmers Insurance Open

When: January 22-25, 2025
Come to enjoy everything San Diego has to offer! The ocean views, the world-class competition, and fan attractions including, The Michelob ULTRA Zone, Fan Village, autograph areas, a variety of locally themed concession stands and much more! 

San Diego Restaurant Week

When: January 26 - February 2, 2025
Enjoy an 8-day edible extravaganza from Sunday, January 26th through Sunday, February 2nd, featuring 100+ restaurants from Oceanside to Chula Vista offering variations of multi-course menus starting at just $30.

Winter & Spring Gray Whale Watching

When: Thru April
Each year, more than 20,000 gray whales make a 10,000 mile round-trip journey from Alaska to the lagoons of Baja California, where the females give birth to their calves. After spending time in warm Baja California waters so their young can grow strong, they make the journey north again in spring. The longest known distance any mammal migrates on an annual basis, it is truly an extraordinary spectacle to observe. With 70 miles of coastline directly in the migration path, San Diego is an ideal destination to see this impressive parade of gentle giants.

More Awesome January Events

Holidays at LEGOLAND

When: Thru January 5, 2025
It’s time for Holidays at LEGOLAND®, where the Resort is bursting with holiday cheer and festive décor!

SeaWorld's Christmas Celebration

When: Thru January 5, 2025
SeaWorld San Diego’s Christmas Celebration is the fan-favorite experience that brings families together with priceless traditions and fun-filled surprises.

Rady Children's Ice Rink at Liberty Station

When: Thru January 5, 2025
Glide gracefully across the ice surrounded by history at Rady Children's Ice Rink at Liberty Station. 

Viejas Outlet Center Ice Rink

When: Thru January 5, 2025
Lace up your skates and take in the holiday splendor as you relive a cherished piece of your childhood or take your very first spin at the Viejas Ice Rink!

Sesame Place's A Very Furry Christmas Celebration

When: Thru January 7, 2025
The park is transformed into a festive winter wonderland filled with holiday magic and surprises. Guests will enjoy Sesame Street Christmas shows, the Sesame Street Christmas Parade, the Furry Friends Christmas Dance Party, and exciting rides. There will be games, special merchandise, and one-of-a-kind photos with your Sesame Street friends dressed up in their holiday best!

Skating by the Sea

When: Thru January 7, 2025
The landmark Hotel del Coronado offers a unique Southern California experience with Skating by the Sea, an outdoor ice-skating rink adjacent to Coronado Beach and overlooking the Pacific Ocean. During the holidays, the resort's famous Windsor Lawn is transformed into a seaside skating rink offering skating sessions daily.

soundON Festival of Modern Music

When: January 9-11, 2025
The soundON Festival of Modern Music brings together an international roster of composers and performers to present a three-day exploration of contemporary chamber music.

San Diego Brew Fest

When: January 11, 2025
Promising another fun filled day with beer, food trucks, and music. The event will feature dozens of local local and international craft beers, as well as San Diego's most popular food trucks.

Poway Winter Festival

When: January 10-11, 2025
Whether you're building a snowman, sledding down the snow hill, roasting marshmallows by the campfire, making silly faces in our free photo booth, or taking a spin around the synthetic skate rink, there is bound to be something for everyone!

San Diego Resolution Run 5K / 10K / Half Marathon

When: January 11, 2025
Walk, run, skip, crawl - just get out here! Whether this is your first race or you're a trained running professional, there's something for every level! 

SeaWorld Inside Look

When: January 11-20, 2025
This unique event will take you behind the scenes and give you an inside look into what it takes to maintain a premier zoological institution like SeaWorld San Diego.

Borrego Springs Film Festival

When: January 15-19, 2025
One huge theater, one big screen, and endless community enthusiasm, it's a winning combo. The Borrego Springs Film Festival is a young and popular Southern California juried film festival in the categories of narrative, documentary, animation, latino, and short films.

San Diego Underground Film Festival

When: January 18-19, 2025
San Diego Underground Film Festival is a showcase for experimental films, video, and live shows. For our ninth edition, we have an exciting program that includes underground narratives, experimental films, live music, and projector performances by artists who are both local and international.

Kids Marathon Mile at LEGOLAND California

When: January 18, 2025
LEGOLAND® California is host to this special, 1-mile fun run for kids of all ages and abilities. Before the doors open to the public, they're opened for us to enjoy the sights and sounds of LEGOLAND®!

Carlsbad Marathon & Half Marathon

When: January 19, 2025
The Carlsbad Marathon and Half Marathon course goes through Carlsbad Village and along the oceanfront Pacific Coast Highway.

Martin Luther King Jr. 5K

When: January 19, 2025
Walk, jog or run! Join us on Harbor Dr. to celebrate MLK weekend in a healthy fashion with a scenic Embarcadero experience!

Martin Luther King Jr. Festival

When: January 19, 2025
Join the celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy. With an emphasis of the importance of physical and mental well-being within the community while honoring the principles of unity, equality, and social justice championed by Dr. King.

Martin Luther King Jr. Parade

When: January 19, 2025
Join us on Harbor Drive for the 42nd Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Parade. This is one of the largest celebrations of its kind in the United States in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The parade is filled with dazzling floats, phenomenal High School Bands, Drill Teams, Colleges/Universities, Fraternities, Sororities, Churches, Peace and Youth organizations. This year's parade will feature a MLK 5k Walk/Fun Run and Festival.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

When: January 20, 2025
Worldbeat Cultural Center, located in Balboa Park, is celebrating the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. with a family festival. With live music, dancing, vegan food, an outdoor cultural arts & craft vendors marketplace, and more.  

San Diego Lunar New Year Festival

When: January 24-26, 2025
Celebrate this new year with us in a festive environment with dragon and lion dances, firecrackers, games, food, and more!

SeaWorld Mardi Gras

When: January 25 - March 2, 2025
Grab your beads and celebrate this New Orleans-style carnival event complete with live music, extravagant costumes, and Mardi Gras-infused Creole and Cajun food favorites. “Laissez le bon temps rouler!" 

San Diego Jewish Film Festival

When: January 27 - February 8, 2025
The festival annually showcases a selection of the best contemporary Jewish-related films in multiple genres and aims to educate and illuminate the diverse Jewish experience through evocative, independent narrative and documentary films. 

San Diego Tet Festival

When: January 31 - February 2, 2025
Attracting more than 25,000 people every year from all over the city, the 3-day celebration features free admission, a number of new attractions, activities, games, food and live entertainment, including, but not limited to, A-list Vietnamese singers and performers, lion dancing, firecrackers and some of our most popular programs, the Miss Vietnam of San Diego pageant, Step-Up Dance and Golden Voice.