The Rady Children’s Invitational is a men’s college basketball tournament in San Diego, California. The first-ever Invitational happens on Thanksgiving Day, 2023, at LionTree Arena on the UC San Diego Campus. With four elite college basketball programs committed to the Invitational through 2024, this holiday tournament promises an unforgettable weekend of basketball, beaches, and the best San Diego offers.
The 2023 field includes the Iowa Hawkeyes (Big Ten), USC Trojans (Pac-12), Seton Hall Pirates (Big East), and the Oklahoma Sooners (Big 12). First-day matchups and tip times will be announced in the coming months. The third place and championship games will take place on Day Two.
7 Ways to Enjoy the Hoop-la in San Diego this Thanksgiving
Get extra bounce out of your visit for the Rady Children’s Invitational
This Thanksgiving, San Diego is serving up heaps of hoops excitement with the inaugural Rady Children's Invitational. But the tournament is just the start of great things to see and do in San Diego. Here's your guide to having a ball in our balmy corner of the country — all holiday weekend long!
Enjoy the best sightseeing on San Diego Bay—with a professionally narrated harbor boat tour of San Diego. Join us on the water as we see Seaport Village, Shelter Island, ship-building and dry-docking facilities, Coronado Island, Point Loma, and Cabrillo National Monument, and much more! As we cruise, we’ll see delightful marine animals and majestic sea birds. Our onboard staff of local history and wildlife enthusiasts can’t wait to share their knowledge with you for a truly memorable experience. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to capture all the sights in photos and video.
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Old Town Trolley's Holiday Sights & Festive Nights
Dec 1 - Dec 30, 2023
When it comes to the holiday season, San Diegans do it better than most. Whether with holiday tamales and margaritas, watching the parade of lights on San Diego Bay, or seeking out local holiday traditions, a San Diego Feliz Navidad day is in order. Because of our year-round picture-perfect weather here, sometimes we need reminding when the holidays are approaching. But when they do, we go all out! For a full-on, unique experience in 'America's Finest City,' take an Old Town Trolley’s Holiday Sights & Festive Nights Tour and ride a wave of holiday cheer! Join in sing-along caroling with our Elf conductors as they share fun holiday facts, trivia, history, and traditions. Enjoy a 15-minute stop at Seaport Village for holiday festivities. Hop aboard to see the festive holiday sights of Old Town, Embarcadero, Seaport Village, and more!
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Port of San Diego Holiday Bowl Parade
Dec 27, 2023
America's Largest Balloon Parade! Marching bands, floats, drill teams and giant balloons parade down San Diego's beautiful waterfront in celebration of the DIRECTV Holiday Bowl.
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DIRECTV Holiday Bowl
Dec 27, 2023
The DIRECTV Holiday Bowl returns to Petco Park after an incredible first year at the nearly sold-out stadium in 2022! With a longstanding tradition of being one of the most exciting Bowl games in the business, the 2023 DIRECTV Holiday Bowl features a Pac-12 and ACC matchup, followed for the second year by the 101.5 KGB Sky Show.
For over 40 years, the DIRECTV Holiday Bowl has played a significant economic role in the success of San Diego's tourism industry. The nonprofit San Diego Bowl Game Association fills hotel rooms and provides patrons for restaurants and shops during one of San Diego’s slowest tourism weeks of the year. Since its inception in 1978, the San Diego Bowl Game Association has created an impact of more than $997 million for the region.
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Events
NEW - Best of the Bay Tour
Dec 6, 2023 - ongoing
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Old Town Trolley's Holiday Sights & Festive Nights
Dec 1 - Dec 30, 2023
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Port of San Diego Holiday Bowl Parade
Dec 27, 2023
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DIRECTV Holiday Bowl
Dec 27, 2023
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