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Christmas Events · December 1–26, 2026
Christmas Events in San Diego 2026: Lights, Shows & Things to Do
San Diego's December runs on light displays and waterfront traditions: December Nights in Balboa Park, the lighted boat parade on the bay, ice rinks at the beach and in Liberty Station, and neighborhood light streets people drive across the county to see. Dated listings first, then the full holiday plan.
Christmas Events events, day by day
Dated listings for December 1–26, 2026, pulled from our live San Diego calendar and refreshed daily.
Tuesday, December 1
🎵 ConcertThe Residents - Eskimo Live w/ Rushadicus
See website for times
Belly Up Tavern · Solana Beach
Wednesday, December 2
🎤 ComedyThe Shit Show LIVE!
8pm
American Comedy Co. · Gaslamp Quarter
- 🎵 Concert
Squirrel Nut Zippers - Christmas Caravan 2026
See website for times
Belly Up Tavern · Solana Beach
- 🎵 Concert
Mini Trees
See website for times
The Casbah · Little Italy
Tickets & event details
Get tickets on Official box officeOfficial listingAffiliate link — we may earn a commission. Our picks are chosen editorially.
🎵 ConcertKacey Musgraves: Middle of Nowhere Tour
See website for times
Pechanga Arena San Diego · Midway
Thursday, December 3
🎤 ComedyJoey Avery LIVE!
8pm
American Comedy Co. · Gaslamp Quarter
🎵 ConcertAlison’s Halo / Alison’s Halo / Alison’s Halo / Blossom / Cathedral Bells
See website for times
SOMA San Diego · Midway
Friday, December 4
👨👩👧 FamilyFreeDecember Nights 2026
3pm
Balboa Park · Balboa Park
👨👩👧 FamilyFreeChristmas on El Prado
5pm
Balboa Park · Balboa Park
- ⚾ Sports
San Diego Gulls vs. Tucson Roadrunners
7pm
Pechanga Arena San Diego · Midway
Tickets & event details
Get tickets on Official box officeOfficial listingAffiliate link — we may earn a commission. Our picks are chosen editorially.
- 🎤 Comedy
Joey Avery LIVE!
7pm
American Comedy Co. · Gaslamp Quarter
🎵 ConcertMe First And The Gimme Gimmes / Riverboat Gamblers / The Cineramas
See website for times
Observatory North Park · North Park
🎵 ConcertYouthful Visions: Carreño, Prokofiev & Sibelius
See website for times
Jacobs Music Center · Downtown
- 🎵 Concert
Spike & The Gimme Gimmes / Riverboat Gamblers / Cineramas
See website for times
Observatory North Park · North Park
Saturday, December 5
🍽️ Food & DrinkFreeSan Diego Made Holiday Market
10am
ARTS DISTRICT Liberty Station · Point Loma
- 👨👩👧 FamilyFree
December Nights Saturday
12pm
Balboa Park · Balboa Park
👨👩👧 FamilyFreeOcean Beach Christmas Parade
5:05pm
Newport Ave · Ocean Beach
👨👩👧 FamilyFreeOcean Beach Holiday Parade
5:05pm
Newport Avenue · Ocean Beach
- 👨👩👧 FamilyFree
Carlsbad Village Tree Lighting
5:30pm
State Street · Carlsbad
- 🎤 Comedy
Joey Avery LIVE!
7pm
American Comedy Co. · Gaslamp Quarter
🎵 ConcertPedro Fernandez
See website for times
Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre · College Area
- 🎵 Concert
Max McNown / Ian Munsick / Graham Barham
See website for times
Frontwave Arena · Oceanside
- 🎵 Concert
Youthful Visions: Carreño, Prokofiev & Sibelius
See website for times
Jacobs Music Center · Downtown
Sunday, December 6
🎉 FestivalFreeEncinitas Holiday Street Fair
10am
Coast Highway 101 · Encinitas
- 👨👩👧 FamilyFree
Ocean Beach Tree Lighting
6pm
Newport Avenue · Ocean Beach
- 🎵 Concert
Victoria Monét
See website for times
Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre · College Area
🎭 CultureDeck the Windows: Downtown Encinitas Holiday Art Week
See website for times
Downtown Encinitas · Encinitas
Tickets & event details
Get tickets on Official box officeOfficial listingAffiliate link — we may earn a commission. Our picks are chosen editorially.
Monday, December 7
- 🎵 Concert
MACK GEIGER - WHEN IT’S POURING 2026 TOUR
See website for times
Belly Up Tavern · Solana Beach
Tuesday, December 8
🎭 CultureAdministrative Closure
1pm
Port of San Diego
- 🎵 Concert
Coming Soon
See website for times
The Casbah · Little Italy
Tickets & event details
Get tickets on Official box officeOfficial listingAffiliate link — we may earn a commission. Our picks are chosen editorially.
- 🎵 Concert
The Womack Sisters
See website for times
The Casbah · Little Italy
Tickets & event details
Get tickets on Official box officeOfficial listingAffiliate link — we may earn a commission. Our picks are chosen editorially.
Wednesday, December 9
- ⚾ Sports
San Diego Gulls vs. Calgary Wranglers
7pm
Pechanga Arena San Diego · Midway
Tickets & event details
Get tickets on Official box officeOfficial listingAffiliate link — we may earn a commission. Our picks are chosen editorially.
Thursday, December 10
- 🎵 Concert
JD McPherson - SOCKS: A Rock N’ Roll Christmas Tour w/ Melissa Carper
See website for times
Belly Up Tavern · Solana Beach
🎤 ComedyJanine Harouni LIVE!
See website for times
American Comedy Co. · Gaslamp Quarter
Friday, December 11
🎤 ComedyYannis Pappas LIVE!
7pm
American Comedy Co. · Gaslamp Quarter
- 🎵 Concert
Sleepless in Seattle In Concert (Rady Shell)
See website for times
Jacobs Music Center · Downtown
- 🎵 Concert
The Jayhawks - Sanctuary Park Tour: Celebrating 40 Years of The Jayhawks
See website for times
Belly Up Tavern · Solana Beach
- 🎵 Concert
The String Cheese Incident: Just Keep Spinning Tour
See website for times
Belly Up Tavern · Solana Beach
- 🎤 Comedy
Rachel Williams LIVE!
See website for times
American Comedy Co. · Gaslamp Quarter
Saturday, December 12
- 👨👩👧 Family
Poinsettia Day at San Diego Botanic Garden
10am
San Diego Botanic Garden · Encinitas
👨👩👧 FamilySafari Park Christmas Caravan
5pm
San Diego Zoo Safari Park · Escondido
- 👨👩👧 FamilyFree
Mission Bay Boat Parade of Lights
7pm
Mission Bay · Mission Bay
- 🎤 Comedy
Yannis Pappas LIVE!
7pm
American Comedy Co. · Gaslamp Quarter
👨👩👧 FamilyFreeOceanside Harbor Parade of Lights
7pm
Oceanside Harbor · Oceanside
- ⚾ Sports
Jingle Bell Run
8am
Balboa Park · Balboa Park
- 🎤 Comedy
Rachel Williams LIVE!
See website for times
American Comedy Co. · Gaslamp Quarter
- 🎵 Concert
The String Cheese Incident: Just Keep Spinning Tour
See website for times
Belly Up Tavern · Solana Beach
- 🎵 Concert
RAMONES X, Living Eyes
See website for times
The Casbah · Little Italy
Tickets & event details
Get tickets on Official box officeOfficial listingAffiliate link — we may earn a commission. Our picks are chosen editorially.
- 🎵 Concert
The FABBA Show - Tribute to Abba, It's Britney Beep
See website for times
Belly Up Tavern · Solana Beach
- 🎵 Concert
The FABBA Disco Christmas show w/ It's Britney Beep
See website for times
Belly Up Tavern · Solana Beach
- 🎭 Culture
San Diego Ballet: The Nutcracker
See website for times
Civic Theatre · Downtown
Sunday, December 13
- 🎵 Concert
Coming Soon
See website for times
The Casbah · Little Italy
Tickets & event details
Get tickets on Official box officeOfficial listingAffiliate link — we may earn a commission. Our picks are chosen editorially.
Tuesday, December 15
- 🎵 Concert
Buy at Ticketmaster
See website for times
Jacobs Music Center · Downtown
Tickets & event details
Get tickets on TicketmasterTicketmasterAffiliate link — we may earn a commission. Our picks are chosen editorially.
Wednesday, December 16
- 🎭 Culture
Historic Places Lunch & Learn: Women Who Built San Diego
11:30am
5200 Campanile Dr. San Diego CA 92182
Thursday, December 17
- 🎵 Concert
The Milk Carton Kids - Lost Cause Lover Fool HOLIDAY TOUR w/ Rosi Golan
See website for times
Belly Up Tavern · Solana Beach
Friday, December 18
🎤 ComedyDesi Banks LIVE!
7pm
American Comedy Co. · Gaslamp Quarter
- 🎵 Concert
Buy at Ticketmaster
See website for times
Jacobs Music Center · Downtown
Tickets & event details
Get tickets on TicketmasterTicketmasterAffiliate link — we may earn a commission. Our picks are chosen editorially.
Saturday, December 19
- 👨👩👧 FamilyFree
San Diego Bay Parade of Lights: Second Weekend
5:30pm
San Diego Bay · Harbor
Tickets & event details
Get tickets on EventbriteEventbriteAffiliate link — we may earn a commission. Our picks are chosen editorially.
- 👨👩👧 FamilyFree
Snowfall at Coronado Ferry Landing
5pm
Coronado Ferry Landing · Coronado
- ⚾ Sports
San Diego Gulls vs. Coachella Valley Firebirds
6pm
Pechanga Arena San Diego · Midway
Tickets & event details
Get tickets on Official box officeOfficial listingAffiliate link — we may earn a commission. Our picks are chosen editorially.
- 🎤 Comedy
Desi Banks LIVE!
7pm
American Comedy Co. · Gaslamp Quarter
- 🎭 Culture
California Ballet: The Nutcracker
7pm
Civic Theatre · Downtown
Sunday, December 20
- 🎤 Comedy
Desi Banks LIVE!
7pm
American Comedy Co. · Gaslamp Quarter
Tuesday, December 22
- 🎭 Culture
California Ballet Nutcracker
2pm
Civic Theatre · Downtown
- 🎵 Concert
Never Die Young - The James Taylor and Carole King Holiday Show
See website for times
Belly Up Tavern · Solana Beach
Wednesday, December 23
Thursday, December 24
- 🎭 Culture
Administrative Closure
8am
Port of San Diego
Friday, December 25
- 🎭 Culture
Administrative Closure
8am
Port of San Diego
Saturday, December 26
- 🎵 Concert
Jimmy's Buffet - 3rd Annual Buffett Birthday Bash
See website for times
Belly Up Tavern · Solana Beach
How locals plan Christmas Events
December Nights is the first weekend
Balboa Park's free two-day festival draws several hundred thousand people. Do not drive — use the free shuttle from the designated lots or take the trolley and walk up from downtown, and go Friday evening rather than Saturday.
The lighted boat parade
San Diego Bay's parade of lights runs two Sundays in December. Watch free from Shelter Island, Harbor Island, the Embarcadero or the Coronado Ferry Landing; the Embarcadero fills earliest.
Light displays to plan around
Jungle Bells at the Zoo, Wild Holidays at the Safari Park, holiday nights at SeaWorld and Belmont Park, plus free neighborhood streets — Christmas Card Lane in Rancho Peñasquitos and the Garrison Street lights in Point Loma. Weeknights are far easier than weekends.
Christmas Day itself is quiet
Most restaurants and all shops close, but the beaches, Sunset Cliffs and Torrey Pines are open and lovely — a Christmas-morning beach walk is a local tradition. Hotel restaurants and Convoy District spots are the reliable open kitchens.
Christmas Events in San Diego: common questions
What Christmas events happen in San Diego?
December Nights in Balboa Park, the San Diego Bay Parade of Lights, Jungle Bells at the Zoo, Wild Holidays at the Safari Park, SeaWorld's Christmas Celebration, ice rinks at Liberty Station and Hotel del Coronado, and free neighborhood light displays. Dated listings for this year appear at the top of this page.
Where are the best Christmas lights in San Diego?
For free displays, Christmas Card Lane in Rancho Peñasquitos and Garrison Street in Point Loma are the two best-known neighborhood drives. For ticketed shows, Jungle Bells at the San Diego Zoo and Wild Holidays at the Safari Park are the largest.
Is anything open on Christmas Day in San Diego?
Beaches, parks and hiking trails are open, and the Zoo runs holiday hours. Most shops and independent restaurants close, but hotel restaurants and many Convoy District spots stay open — reserve ahead.
What is the weather like in San Diego at Christmas?
Highs near 65°F and lows around 48°F, mostly dry with occasional winter rain. It is comfortable outdoors during the day and jacket weather for evening light displays.
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About this guide
Published by the Sandi Spots Editorial team at Sleep Coast LLC. Guides combine local perspective and source research. Check the individual guide for firsthand observations and follow official links to confirm current details.