San Diego–Chula Vista–Carlsbad · November 15, 2026 – January 1, 2027
Christmas and holiday events for kids in San Diego
50 tree lightings, Santa visits, light displays and holiday shows around San Diego, November 15 to New Year’s Day. 6 are free.
Don’t miss
- Nov15SunNutcracker and shows
Through Dec 31
Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas! at The Old Globe
Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage, The Old Globe, Balboa Park
PaidAges 3+
- Dec5SatChristmas
Through Jan 1
Holiday Roller Rink in Downtown Escondido
Holiday Roller Rink, Maple Street (Downtown Escondido)
- Nov20FriNutcracker and shows
Through Dec 27
Lamb's Festival of Christmas (Lamb's Players Theatre)
Lamb's Players Theatre
Paid
NovemberSun, Nov 15 – Mon, Nov 30
- Nov17TueNutcracker and shows
Tue, Nov 17 · 5:45 PM
Storytime with a Ballerina: The Nutcracker — Santee Library
San Diego County Library - Santee Branch
- Nov18WedNutcracker and shows
Wed, Nov 18 · 5:30 PM
Holiday Concert with Hillsdale Middle School Music — Rancho San Diego Library
San Diego County Library - Rancho San Diego Branch
All ages
- Nov20FriTree lightings
Fri, Nov 20 · 5:30 PM
2026 Santee Holiday Lighting
Santee Trolley Square
Free
- Nov21SatChristmas
Sat, Nov 21
Christmas Bricktacular at LEGOLAND California
LEGOLAND California Resort
With admission
- Nov21SatChristmas
Sat, Nov 21
Pinery Christmas Trees – Rancho Bernardo
Pinery Christmas Trees – Rancho Bernardo
Paid
- Nov27FriSanta visits
Fri, Nov 27 · 5:00 PM
North Pole Limited Holiday Train — Campo
Campo Depot (Campo Railroad Museum)
From $15All ages
- Nov27FriTree lightings
Fri, Nov 27 · 5:30 PM
Jingle Jets Holiday Lighting Celebration aboard USS Midway
USS Midway Museum
Paid
- Nov28SatCrafts and cookies
Sat, Nov 28 · 10:00 AM
Holiday Ornament Drop-In Class (Small Business Saturday)
Bravo School of Art
From $20
- Nov28SatNutcracker and shows
Sat, Nov 28 · 7:30 PM
ei8ht – JCompany Youth Theatre Hanukkah musical
David & Dorothea Garfield Theatre, Lawrence Family JCC
From $36
- Nov28SatChristmas
Sat, Nov 28
Wild Holidays at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
With admissionAll ages
DecemberTue, Dec 1 – Fri, Dec 18
- Dec2WedSanta visits
Wed, Dec 2 · 4:00 PM
Photos with Santa — Vista Library
San Diego County Library - Vista Branch
- Dec2WedSanta visits
Wed, Dec 2 · 4:00 PM
Selfies with Santa (Santee)
Santee Trolley Square (amphitheater stage)
Free
- Dec4FriNutcracker and shows
Fri, Dec 4 · 1:00 PM
Holiday Songs Around the World Concert
Coronado Public Library
- Dec4FriCrafts and cookies
Fri, Dec 4 · 3:30 PM
Winter Craft: Hanukkah Suncatchers — Cardiff Library
San Diego County Library - Cardiff-by-the-Sea Branch
Ages 3–12
- Dec4FriTree lightings
Fri, Dec 4 · 5:00 PM
Liberty Station Hanukkah Celebration & Menorah Lighting
Central Promenade, Liberty Station
- Dec4FriTree lightings
Fri, Dec 4 · 5:30 PM
Fallbrook Tree Lighting Festival
Fallbrook Community Center
- Dec5SatMarkets and festivals
Sat, Dec 5 · 1:00 PM
Winter Wonderland Festival — California Center for the Arts, Escondido
California Center for the Arts, Escondido
Free
- Dec5SatNutcracker and shows
Sat, Dec 5 · 2:00 PM
Westwind Brass Holiday Concert at Mission Trails
Mission Trails Regional Park Visitor Center (outdoor amphitheater)
- Dec5SatTree lightings
Sat, Dec 5 · 3:00 PM
Small Town Holiday & Tree Lighting — Imperial Beach
Pier Plaza, Imperial Beach
- Dec5SatTree lightings
Sat, Dec 5 · 4:00 PM
Little Italy Tree Lighting and Christmas Village
Piazza della Famiglia, Little Italy
- Dec5SatChristmas
Sat, Dec 5 · 5:00 PM
Holiday at the Rancho — Leo Carrillo Ranch
Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park
Paid
- Dec5SatTrain rides
Sat, Dec 5 · 5:00 PM
Winter Movie in the Park: The Polar Express
Old Poway Park
- Dec5SatParades
Sat, Dec 5 · 6:00 PM
75th Annual Jaycees Christmas Parade (Escondido)
Grand Avenue parade route, Escondido
- Dec5SatParades
Sat, Dec 5
Fallbrook Christmas Parade
Downtown Main Avenue, Fallbrook
- Dec6SunParades
Sun, Dec 6 · 1:00 PM
La Jolla Christmas Parade and Holiday Festival
La Jolla Recreation Center (Holiday Festival); parade starts at Kline and Girard
- Dec6SunLight displays
Sun, Dec 6 · 3:00 PM
Holiday Lights in Downtown El Cajon
Downtown El Cajon
Free
- Dec8TueMarkets and festivals
Tue, Dec 8 · 4:00 PM
Winterfest — Alpine Library
San Diego County Library - Alpine Branch
All ages
- Dec9WedMarkets and festivals
Wed, Dec 9 · 7:30 PM
Cirque Musica Holiday Wonderland — Escondido
California Center for the Arts, Escondido — Concert Hall
From $54
- Dec9WedNutcracker and shows
Through Dec 20
The Nutcracker 2026 (San Diego Civic Youth Ballet)
Casa del Prado Theater, Balboa Park
From $30
- Dec10ThuChristmas
Thu, Dec 10 · 5:00 PM
Holiday Tree Trimming Celebration
Escondido Public Library
- Dec11FriChristmas
Fri, Dec 11 · 3:30 PM
Christmas in the Park at Old Poway Park
Old Poway Park
- Dec11FriChristmas
Fri, Dec 11 · 4:00 PM
Coastal Christmas Holiday Light Spectacular — Del Mar Fairgrounds
Del Mar Fairgrounds
Paid
- Dec12SatChristmas
Sat, Dec 12 · 10:00 AM
Rancho Christmas at Rancho Guajome Adobe
Rancho Guajome Adobe
From $3
- Dec12SatMarkets and festivals
Sat, Dec 12 · 12:00 PM
Holiday in the Village (La Mesa)
La Mesa Village (La Mesa Blvd)
- Dec13SunLight displays
Sun, Dec 13 · 5:30 PM
San Diego Bay Parade of Lights
San Diego Bay waterfront (viewing along the parade route, including Cesar Chavez Park pier)
Free
- Dec15TueCrafts and cookies
Tue, Dec 15 · 5:30 PM
Carols, Crafts, & Cookies
San Diego County Library - Rancho San Diego Branch
- Dec17ThuNutcracker and shows
Thu, Dec 17
The Nutcracker — Golden State Ballet with the San Diego Symphony
San Diego Civic Theatre
PaidAll ages
- Dec18FriCrafts and cookies
Fri, Dec 18 · 3:30 PM
Winter Craft: Foam Gingerbread Houses
San Diego County Library - Cardiff-by-the-Sea Branch
Ages 3–12
Christmas breakSat, Dec 19 – Fri, Jan 1
- Dec19SatSanta visits
Sat, Dec 19 · 8:30 AM
Breakfast with Santa in Fallbrook
Fallbrook Community Center
From $5
- Dec19SatChristmas
Sat, Dec 19 · 11:00 AM
Noteworthy Puppets: Holiday Hijinks
San Diego County Library - Del Mar Branch
- Dec19SatNutcracker and shows
Sat, Dec 19 · 1:00 PM
The Nutcracker (San Diego Ballet) at The Magnolia, El Cajon
The Magnolia
Paid
- Dec19SatNutcracker and shows
Sat, Dec 19 · 2:00 PM
The Nutcracker (City Ballet of San Diego) at California Center for the Arts, Escondido
Concert Hall, California Center for the Arts, Escondido
Paid
- Dec21MonNew Year’s Eve
Mon, Dec 21 · 9:30 AM
Holiday Surf Camp (Christmas and New Year's Weeks) – Surf Diva
Surf Diva Surf School (meets at La Jolla Shores)
From $430
- Dec24ThuCrafts and cookies
Thu, Dec 24 · 3:30 PM
Winter Craft: Pom-Pom Snowflakes — Cardiff Library
San Diego County Library - Cardiff-by-the-Sea Branch
Ages 3–12
- Dec27SunNutcracker and shows
Sun, Dec 27 · 6:00 PM
World Ballet Company: The Nutcracker with Live Orchestra — Escondido
California Center for the Arts, Escondido — Concert Hall
PaidAges 2+
- Dec31ThuCrafts and cookies
Thu, Dec 31 · 10:30 AM
Preschool Storytime and Noon Year's Eve Craft
San Diego County Library - Cardiff-by-the-Sea Branch
- Jan1FriNutcracker and shows
Fri, Jan 1 · 2:00 PM
Happy 112th Birthday, Spreckels Organ! (New Year's Day concert)
Spreckels Organ Pavilion, Balboa Park
FreeAll ages
All seasonLight displays, Santa visits, shows and exhibits that run for weeks. Check the organizer’s page for open nights and times.
- Nov15SunNutcracker and shows
Through Dec 31
Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas! at The Old Globe
Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage, The Old Globe, Balboa Park
PaidAges 3+
- Nov20FriNutcracker and shows
Through Dec 27
Lamb's Festival of Christmas (Lamb's Players Theatre)
Lamb's Players Theatre
Paid
- Dec5SatChristmas
Through Jan 1
Holiday Roller Rink in Downtown Escondido
Holiday Roller Rink, Maple Street (Downtown Escondido)
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For organizers
Hosting a tree lighting, Santa visit or holiday show in San Diego?
List it on Grassy Knees and it can show up on this Christmas page, in the metro’s weekend picks and in the app. Free to post until Oct 31.
How this list works
Tree lightings, Santa visits, light displays, Nutcrackers, menorah lightings and Noon Year’s Eve parties, beyond your own block. This page collects every event and program in our San Diego listings whose title names Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Santa, holiday lights, the New Year or the like, dated between November 15 and January 1. 50 are still ahead. Each one opens its listing page, which links to the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. Dates are in Pacific Time.