December Nights (Balboa Park)
First weekend
500k+ attend, free, museums late-open.
We use cookies for essential site functions and, with your permission, for analytics and advertising. California residents can opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information at any time. See our Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, and Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information.
December 2027 · Updated weekly
The best month for locals. December Nights, Hotel Del ice, Parade of Lights, mild-and-magical.
Last updated · December 2027 events are still being announced
Weather
Highs 66°F, lows 49°F. Ocean 60°F. Occasional rain, mostly cool and sunny.
Why December
December Nights at Balboa Park (350K attend free), Hotel Del outdoor ice, Parade of Lights.
Signature events
Auto-updated from our events database — concerts, festivals, sports, family, culture, and nightlife.
Events for December 2027 are still being announced. This guide updates automatically as confirmed dates are added — most December concerts, festivals and sports schedules land three to four months out.
December in San Diego reliably brings December Nights, Hotel Del ice skating, Parade of Lights — annual fixtures we list as soon as organizers confirm the dates.
In the meantime, browse the live events calendar or read the December visitor guide for weather, crowds and planning.
These annual fixtures run in December nearly every year. Dates below are the usual window — we swap in confirmed dates and ticket links as organizers publish them.
First weekend
500k+ attend, free, museums late-open.
All month
Oceanfront ice rink through early January.
Two Sundays mid-December
Decorated boats parade the bay after sunset.
Dec 31
Fireworks at midnight over Embarcadero.
The Sandi Spots Newsletter
New beach finds, hidden taco shops, weekend events, and seasonal guides — once a week from a local. No spam, ever.
One email a week. Unsubscribe anytime.
Written and fact-checked by the Sandi Spots Editorial team — San Diego residents publishing under Sleep Coast LLC. Every place we recommend has been visited in person or verified against an official source, and no business can pay for inclusion or a higher ranking. Last updated .