# Sensory-Friendly Performance — Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas! at The Old Globe

> Event for families in the San Diego–Chula Vista–Carlsbad area (CA). Times are Pacific Time.

- When: Sat, Dec 12 · 10:00 AM
- Where: Old Globe Theatre (Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage), Balboa Park, 1363 Old Globe Way, San Diego, CA 92101
- Ages: For children on the autism spectrum and families with special needs; the show admits ages 3+ except at 10:30 a.m. all-ages performances
- Price: Tickets by phone or in person only (price not printed)
- For kids with sensory or other needs: Sensory-friendly. Sensory-friendly: fewer loud noises and flashing lights, a quiet area in the lobby for children who need a break, on-site volunteer specialists to help families, and an online social story to prepare. Tickets available by phone (619) 234-5623 or in person only.
- Organizer: The Old Globe
- Official page: https://www.theoldglobe.org/
- Last checked: Tue, Oct 27

Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Nov 2, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about
Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-11-01), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/san-diego/activities/sensory-friendly-performance-dr-seuss-s-how-the-grinch-stole-christmas--listing-c71f29269b0f2f449e02a14d

## About

The Old Globe sets aside one morning performance of its long-running holiday musical, Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, as a sensory-friendly show for children on the autism spectrum and their families, and for other families with special needs who would welcome a more relaxed theater visit. The production is slightly adjusted: there are fewer loud noises and flashing lights, a quiet area in the theater lobby is available for children who need to leave their seats during the show, and on-site volunteer specialists help families from arrival through the performance. The Globe publishes an online social story with words and pictures that parents can view or print ahead of time to prepare children for the trip. The musical runs about 80 minutes with no intermission and features the songs 'You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch' and 'Welcome, Christmas'. Before the show, the Globe hosts a separate sensory-friendly AXIS holiday event in its Craig Noel Garden. Tickets for this performance are sold only by phone or in person at the Ticket Office.

## Similar picks in San Diego

- [Sensory-Friendly Nutcracker Matinees — Golden State Ballet at the San Diego Civic Theatre](https://grassyknees.com/san-diego/activities/sensory-friendly-nutcracker-matinees-golden-state-ballet-at-the-san-di--listing-703c59fc92ea46b8865e3a92) — Sat, Dec 19 (+2 more dates) · 2:00 PM · San Diego Civic Theatre · sensory-friendly · checked Oct 27. Golden State Ballet sets aside three matinees of its Civic Theatre Nutcracker as Family- and Sensory-Friendly performances for young children and anyone who does better in a…
- [Sensory-Friendly AXIS Holiday Event at The Old Globe](https://grassyknees.com/san-diego/activities/sensory-friendly-axis-holiday-event-at-the-old-globe--listing-a3ddce77c3cb8a3dbe6f9b6b) — Sat, Dec 12 · 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM · Craig Noel Garden, The Old Globe, Balboa Park · sensory-friendly · checked Oct 27. The Old Globe's sixth annual sensory-friendly AXIS event fills the Craig Noel Garden with low-key holiday fun for neurodiverse children and their families on the morning of the…
- [Sensory Friendly Mornings at the Children's Museum of Discovery](https://grassyknees.com/san-diego/activities/sensory-friendly-mornings-at-the-children-s-museum-of-discovery--listing-6ddc44e27c7a1eb51d7e4b45) — Sundays 9:00–10:30 a.m. · Children's Museum of Discovery, Escondido · With admission · sensory-friendly · checked Oct 16. Every Sunday from 9 to 10:30 a.m., before regular hours, the Children's Museum of Discovery in Escondido opens for families with children on the autism spectrum or with sensory…
- [Accessibility Mornings (Sensory-Friendly) at the Fleet Science Center](https://grassyknees.com/san-diego/activities/accessibility-mornings-sensory-friendly-at-the-fleet-science-center--listing-0f51d7d5eecba921f0098410) — Sat, Nov 21 (+1 more date) · 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM · Fleet Science Center · All ages · With admission · sensory-friendly · checked Oct 30. On the third Saturday of the month the Fleet opens its galleries an hour early for a sensory-friendly visit, then screens a documentary in the Giant Dome at 10 a.m. with house…
- [Sensory-Friendly Caring Santa — Fashion Valley](https://grassyknees.com/san-diego/activities/sensory-friendly-caring-santa-fashion-valley--listing-913fd533716ed84ce0b37078) — Sun, Dec 6 · 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM · Fashion Valley (Macy's Center Court) · sensory-friendly · checked Oct 27. Caring Santa is a private, sensory-friendly Santa visit held before Fashion Valley's usual Santa hours, set aside exclusively for children with special needs and their families…
- [Nightmare Before Christmas Saturday Performance Workshop (Ages 7–15) — Broadway Theater, Vista](https://grassyknees.com/san-diego/activities/nightmare-before-christmas-saturday-performance-workshop-ages-7-15-bro--listing-2d61f3873a45a1566cde8b0a) — Rehearsals November 7, 8, 14, 15, 21 and December 5, 12, 19, 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m… · Broadway Theater, Vista · Ages 7–15 · From $175 · checked Oct 27. A short-run youth theater workshop in downtown Vista that takes kids from audition to opening night in about six weeks. On the first day each child sings a one-minute song of…

## More for families

- [Things to do with kids in San Diego County, CA](https://grassyknees.com/san-diego/counties/san-diego-county-ca) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/san-diego/counties/san-diego-county-ca.md)
- [Christmas lights and holiday events for kids in San Diego](https://grassyknees.com/san-diego/christmas) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/san-diego/christmas.md)
- [Sensory-friendly and adaptive activities for kids in San Diego](https://grassyknees.com/san-diego/sensory-friendly) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/san-diego/sensory-friendly.md)
- [This weekend in San Diego](https://grassyknees.com/san-diego/this-weekend) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/san-diego/this-weekend.md)
- [Things to do with kids in San Diego](https://grassyknees.com/san-diego) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/san-diego.md)
