# Sensory-friendly and adaptive activities for kids in San Diego

> 6 sensory-friendly sessions (Sensory Santa, low-sensory nights at light shows, relaxed performances, quiet museum hours) and adaptive programs for kids with disabilities in the San Diego–Chula Vista–Carlsbad area, each linked to the organizer’s own page with the date we last checked it.

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/sensory-friendly

Towns with listings: San Diego (5), Escondido (1).

## Rinks and ongoing programs

### Around the San Diego–Chula Vista–Carlsbad area (1)

- [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…

## Dated events

### San Diego (5)

- [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…
- [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 Performance — Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas! at The Old Globe](https://grassyknees.com/san-diego/activities/sensory-friendly-performance-dr-seuss-s-how-the-grinch-stole-christmas--listing-c71f29269b0f2f449e02a14d) — Sat, Dec 12 · 10:00 AM · Old Globe Theatre (Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage), Balboa Park · sensory-friendly · checked Oct 27. 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…
- [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…

More for families in San Diego: https://grassyknees.com/san-diego.md