Jessica Chenoweth 
The first weekend in December has SO many events happening in San Diego it will be hard to chose which ones to check out! First and foremost – it’s December Nights this Friday and Saturday. If you’ve never been to December Nights before at Balboa Park, you are missing out. This is the largest free festival in San Diego and there is so much to do, you might want to go both nights. Almost all of the park’s museums are open and offer free admission during the event. Plus there are food vendors, entertainment, decorations, shopping and SO MUCH more! Parking and traffic can be a pain, so make sure plan ahead
More Info: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/e028df060dc941af9dd6ebe9726f872c/page/December-Nights/
But that’s not all that is happening in San Diego this weekend. It really is the busiest weekend in San Diego with a ton of different holiday events happening, many of them free!
Little Italy Tree Lighting & Christmas Village Ho Ho Ho… Can you hear those jingle bells? This year SANTA IS BACK for our annual Little Italy Tree Lighting and Christmas Village on Saturday, December 3rd from 4:00pm-8:00pm! Transforming into a winter wonderland with Christmas twinkle lights down all the streets, our beautiful urban neighborhood will be adorned with 10-foot tall nutcrackers and kinetic tree holiday displays on street corners, Christmas songs and more. https://www.littleitalysd.com/events/little-italy-tree-lighting
Holiday in the Village The La Mesa Holiday in the Village is a FREE event featuring live music, cozy fires, craft vendors, food, holiday photo opportunities including selfies with Santa, and a kids’ area bigger than Santa’s Toy Shop! http://www.lamesavillageassociation.org/holiday-in-the-village-a-la-mesa-tradition
OB Holiday Parade For more 40 years, our quaint little surfing village of Ocean Beach has hosted one of the best Holiday Parades in SoCal. On Saturday, December 2nd, Newport Avenue is lined with colorful OBceans and visitors all eagerly awaiting the commencement of the 44th Annual OB Holiday Parade at Sunset! https://obtowncouncil.org/holiday-parade/
SoNo Fest & Chili Cook-Off The festive and fiery SoNo Fest & Chili Cook-Off promises everything a person could want in a fun day including craft beer, wine, shopping music and chili! https://sonofestchilicookoff.com/
December 2023 Art Walk La Jolla Village Merchants Association will be hosting its monthly Art Walk on the first Friday of the month. The last one of the year will be on Decmber 1st from 4 pm to 7 pm. La Jolla has long been known for its iconic and cutting-edge galleries and proudly presents First Friday Art Walks a free sip, snack, and stroll through 16+ iconic galleries. https://lajollabythesea.com/
Encinitas Holiday Parade Kick off the holiday season at the 2023 Encinitas Holiday Parade. The Parade begins at 5:30pm, heading south along South Coast Highway 101 from D Street to J Street and is expected to have approximately 90 entries, concluding at 7:30pm. The Holiday Parade is a long-standing tradition in Encinitas, bringing together the community for an evening of family fun for everyone. https://www.encinitasca.gov/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/1275/244
La Jolla Christmas Parade & Holiday Festival Spread some holiday cheer at the La Jolla Christmas Parade & Holiday Festival. A wonderful Christmas parade lures people from all around to the sidewalks of downtown La Jolla. You’ll see floats, marching bands, community groups, drill teams, vintage vehicles, horses, Santa Claus and yes ~ a camel. Church bells peal with a fly-over. There is also a Holiday Festival called Santa’s Village. It features Santa visits for children, arts-and-crafts, games, music, and face-painting. https://www.ljparade.com/
Headquarters Annual Snow Day Join us at our Annual Snow Day to celebrate the holiday season. Families will enjoy a real snow play area, visits with Santa, kids crafts, a holiday DJ, giveaways & sweet treats. https://www.instagram.com/theheadquarters/?hl=en
Winter Wonderland Festival Join us for a weekend of winter magic at the Annual Winter Wonderland! We’re thrilled to bring the North Pole to the heart of Escondido for this special holiday event. This year, we’ve extended the festivities for an entire weekend, ensuring there’s plenty of time to immerse yourself in the holiday spirit. https://artcenter.org/event/winter-wonderland/
Chula Vista Starlight Parade & Festival Join us to celebrate the holidays in Chula Vista at the Starlight Parade and Festival, a long-standing tradition in the South Bay community. Mark your calendars, and don’t miss the opportunity to be a part of or enjoy the Starlight Parade and Festival. https://www.starlightparade.com/
Makers Arcade Holiday Fair This two-day holiday shopping event will feature more than 100 small-batch makers, craft cocktails, beer, gourmet food trucks, live music, photo trailers, styled lounges, door favors, and more! Tickets $7 at the door and include access to the shopping hall and food truck court, photo booths, make-and-take stations, live music, and interactive art and play areas. https://makersarcade.com/holiday-fair-2023/
Del Mar Village Winter Taste & Sip Stroll the festively decorated streets as you enjoy culinary creations from our award-winning Del Mar Village restaurants, sips from local beverage partners at “Sip Stops” inside downtown Del Mar businesses, live music and other holiday happenings as part of the North Pole by the Sea day of family-friendly festivities. https://www.visitdelmarvillage.com/winter-taste-and-sip
