From petting reindeer at a ballpark to ice skating by the sea and watching Santa surf, winter in San Diego brings unexpected and delightful holiday experiences. Whether creating new memories or revisiting favorite occasions from the past, celebrating winter in San Diego will warm the hearts of visitors young and old.

Everyone Loves a Parade!

Parades in San Diego don't just happen on the streets: catch an aquatic pageant as decked-out lighted boats parade on Dec. 13 on Mission Bay followed by two stunning parades of maritime lights on San Diego Bay at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 14 and 21. On Dec. 14 at 3 p.m., view a pet holiday parade through the historic Gaslamp District, and enjoy a traditional Christmas parade through the seaside village of La Jolla at 1:30 p.m. on Dec. 7. On Dec. 26, before the Holiday Bowl football game, marvel at the 3 p.m. Big Bay balloon parade along Harbor Drive. Click here for a complete list of winter parades throughout San Diego County.

Festivities for Kids from One to 92

New this year, Holiday Wonderland at Petco Park downtown opens for 12 nights in December and includes magical lighting displays, Polar Express trains, Candyland, live reindeer, a 40-ft. Christmas tree and a visit from Santa. Cultural delights abound during the annual Balboa Park December Nights, held Dec. 5, 3-11 p.m., and Dec 6, noon-11 p.m. This popular holiday event is the largest free community festival in San Diego and includes free admission to the Park's museums from 5-9 p.m. plus delicious foods from around the world.

Yuletide Music, Theater & Dance

The San Diego Symphony presents Eileen Ivers: A Celtic Celebration as part of Holiday Pops, a seasonal music tradition from Dec. 19-21 at Copley Symphony Hall in downtown. America's favorite holiday fable, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, returns to the Tony Award®-winning Old Globe theatre in Balboa Park Nov. 15-Dec. 27 for the 17th year. The timeless holiday classic, The Nutcracker, will be presented by The California Ballet during Dec. 13-14 and 17-21 at the Civic Theatre in downtown San Diego.

San Diego Attractions Sparkle This Season

SeaWorld San Diego's Christmas Celebration returns this year Nov. 15-Jan. 4. Festivities include new Christmas-themed animal shows, festive décor throughout the park, Santa's Cottage, the 320-ft. Skytower Christmas Tree of Lights and SnowWorld, a winter wonderland with gentle hills for kids to sled down and a snowball target area. Dec. 14-Jan. 4 familiar holiday traditions take on a wild twist at The San Diego Zoo's seasonal celebration: Jungle Bells. The Zoo is alight with holiday cheer and decorated with activities to keep the whole family jolly from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. (except Dec. 24.). Guests can experience all-new, holiday-themed animal presentations, light displays, entertainment and nightly tree-lighting ceremony. New this year at LEGOLAND® California's Holiday Snow Days & Winter Nights, Nov. 22-Jan. 4, guests can ice skate in addition to tubing, building snowmen, enjoying the holiday lights and world's largest LEGO® Christmas tree, live entertainment and special treats.

Twinkling Lights and Surfing Santa

Hop aboard the Holly Jolly Holiday Trolley of San Diego nightly from Dec. 4-28 at 7 p.m. (excluding Dec. 5-6 and 24-25), and let the experts guide you on a tour of festive lights in Old Town, the Embarcadero, Gaslamp Quarter, Balboa Park and more. On Nov. 29, dressed in board shorts, flip flops and riding a watercraft, "Surfing Santa" arrives at Seaport Village, a bayfront shopping complex. Following his arrival, a lively parade takes place on the boardwalk from 1-5 p.m., along with festive live music and entertainment, stilt walkers, eco-friendly ornament making with Birch Aquarium at Scripps, a tree lighting ceremony and more. Guests can also take photos with Santa and enjoy holiday crafts.

Holidays on Ice

The landmark Hotel del Coronado located in the seaside community of 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. The resort's famous Windsor Lawn is transformed into a seaside skating rink offering three-hour skating sessions daily from Nov. 27- Jan. 4. Guests can glide gracefully across the ice surrounded by the bustle of downtown San Diego at Fantasy on Ice, located at Horton Plaza. Daily ice-skating sessions are offered 10 a.m.-10 p.m. from Nov. 20-Jan. 4. Viejas Outlet Center in San Diego's East County is proud to be the home of Southern California's largest outdoor ice-skating rink, open Oct 31-Jan. 4.

Culinary Celebrations

Home to more than 90 breweries, San Diego celebrates its love for beer during San Diego Beer Week, Nov. 7-16. The 10-day extravaganza kicks off with the San Diego Brewers Guild Festival, Nov. 7-8, and hundreds of beer-centric events will take place throughout the county. During Nov. 16-23, the 11th annual San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival, the region's largest wine and culinary event, features 200 wine and spirit purveyors and 70 of San Diego's notable chefs. Approximately 180 of the region's top restaurants participate in San Diego Restaurant Week, Jan. 21-26 by offering prix-fixe, three-course dinner menus at just $25, $35 or $45 per person and two-course lunch menus for $10, $15 or $20 per person; visitors can sample the signature cuisine and sophisticated style that make San Diego's dining scene one of the region's top attractions.

Holiday Bowls and Golf Greats

Football fans can catch exciting post-season college games at SDCCU Stadium in Mission Valley, including the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl on Dec. 23, which matches a team from the Mountain West Conference against an at-large opponent, and the Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl on Dec. 27, featuring a top team from the PAC 10 and Big 12. During Feb. 5-8, the annual Farmers Insurance Open PGA golf tournament take place at the world-famous Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla.

Happiest of New Year's Eves

The 10th annual Big Night San Diego New Year's Eve gala is an extravagant 21-and-over celebration to ring in the New Year at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel in downtown San Diego. The all-inclusive party features 12 themed rooms, six dance floors, live bands, DJs and more. (9 p.m. -3 a.m.). LEGOLAND California offers Kids' New Year's Eve festivities that won't have the little ones missing bedtime. Kids' New Year's Eve features live music, entertainers and a countdown with a huge LEGO® brick drop followed by a spectacular fireworks display. The party goes from 2-7 p.m.

Happiness is calling in San Diego. For more information on San Diego's offerings, including exciting vacation packages and valuable coupons for attractions, restaurants and more, visit the San Diego Tourism Authority's website at www.sandiego.org or call 619-236-1212.

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