Julian Country Christmas and Tree Lighting

Julian celebrates the holiday season with the lighting of thousands of bright lights on the town’s living Christmas tree and a special homage to the individuals who contribute time, skills, and energy to making Julian what many consider the best small town in Southern California.

The tree lighting set to take place in Julian’s Pioneer Park at 5:00 PM on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, marks the beginning of the annual Julian Country Christmas celebration, three weeks of holiday festivity during which visitors and residents can capture the spirit of the season in an old fashioned way.

Festivities begin at 1:00 PM with a program of Christmas carols sung by local vocalists.

It’s easy to get into the spirit of the season in Julian, where it just feels like Christmas. The historic town, known for its apples, is set in the Cuyamaca Mountains an hour’s drive east of San Diego, where December days and evenings are crisp and cool. With the scents of apple pies emerging from ovens and spiced cider on a back burner, Julian also smells like Christmas.

Founded during a gold rush in the 1870s, Julian looks and sounds like Christmas too. Twinkling white lights and garland outline wooden false-fronted buildings along Main Street and up the side streets. In the spirit of the season, many shopkeepers add their own favorite Santas, sleighs and reindeer, garlands, wreaths and bows to the show. The Julian Pioneer Museum and historic Grosskopf House are all decked out in Victorian holiday finery.

Everywhere you’ll hear the sounds of Christmas as well…costumed strolling carolers recall Victorian times, when Julian was a thriving Gold Rush town, and the Julian Doves and Desperadoes share Christmas memories in living history dramas.

It can be a real pleasure to browse Julian shops during the holiday season. Most, including the Julian Crafters who set up shop in Town Hall during the season, offer one-of-a-kind items that can’t be found in shopping malls. Friendly shopkeepers take pride in providing personal service to every visitor.

Julian’s lodgings put out a special welcome during the holidays. The bed and breakfast inns are decorated in holiday finery. And most innkeepers prepare special holiday treats for their guests.