The holiday season is here in San Diego, and we’re blessed to live in a beautiful place with excellent year-round weather. The water remains perfect for surfing over the holidays, and it’s also a great time to check out the wonderful holiday events happening in San Diego. Here are several must attend holiday events in San Diego, CA:
NOW THROUGH DECEMBER 30: OLD TOWN TROLLEY’S HOLIDAY LIGHTS AND SIGHTS TOUR
After a full day of surfing, head just a few miles inland from the beach for this memorable annual holiday tour of San Diego. Take a festive trolley ride through several neighborhoods, including Old Town and Balboa Park, viewing beautiful Christmas lights, caroling, and listening to great stories.
Spend a relaxing evening away from busy holiday shopping and activities at San Diego Botanic Garden’s special holiday festivities. The garden transforms into a beautiful winter scene, lit up by over 100,000 lights. Special activities include nightly entertainment, mulled wine and delicious food, holiday displays, and horse-drawn wagon rides.
NOW THROUGH JANUARY 1ST: SEAWORLD’S CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION
Head over to the area by the beach to celebrate Christmas all month with SeaWorld. Along with adding a Christmas twist to their popular animal shows, SeaWorld currently has several Christmas-oriented attractions, including Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, a nightly tree lighting of the largest Christmas tree in Southern California, Santa and Shamu’s Village, and two live reindeer.
NOW THROUGH JANUARY 2ND: JUNGLE BELLS AT THE SAN DIEGO ZOO
Every day except Christmas Eve, San Diego’s famous zoo stays open until 8 p.m. and becomes a center of holiday magic fun for adults and kids for the cost of your regular admission ticket. Delight in animal encounters, a celebration of lights, a holiday forest, the twinkle light trolley, Santa’s Igloo, holiday movie showings, and more.
NOW THROUGH JANUARY 2ND: SKATING BY THE SEA
Go just South of Ocean Beach for a unique, tropical ice skating experience at Hotel del Coronado! The hotel provides ocean views and beautiful holiday scenery, and a percentage of your tickets will get donated to Make a Wish Foundation. There are also a few holiday shows and ice skating lessons; contact the ice rink for full details.
DECEMBER 18, 5 P.M.: SAN DIEGO BAY PARADE OF LIGHTS
Come early to get a great spot by the pier and watch a parade of over 100 boats float by fully decked out in holiday lights and decor. This unique, popular annual event is in its 45th year and attracts over 100,00 attendees. Every year, boats decorate according to a different theme; this year will celebrate 100 years of the San Diego Zoo.
San Diego hosts a number of college football bowls at this time of year. Whether you love football or only watch it rarely, you can celebrate in style at no cost with a day of free festivities at America’s largest balloon parade. Along with gigantic balloons, the parade features marching bands, floats, and drill teams. After the parade finishes, head over to Broadway Pier for a battle of the bands that starts at 11:45 a.m.
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Once you have hit up a couple of events, see us for the real holiday event – surf lessons in Pacific Beach. Everything is included, just bring a swimsuit and a towel. Click here to learn more