KidsOutAndAbout is San Diego's online guide to everything for kids, teens, and families! The activities we've listed here are confirmed for this year, but many require reserving ahead of time, so click through to make arrangements. Enjoy the holidays!
If we're missing an activity that should be on our list, please email Mindy Mangan at mindy@kidsoutandabout.com. Please make sure to include a link to the event when you email. Thank you!
Below are items that have been posted to our calendar. If you are affiliated with a business hosting a holiday event that should be on our calendar, we'd love to see it there... it's free to post! Click here for instructions about how to add your organization to our list and easily post your events to our calendar!
If you don't already receive our free weekly e-newsletter for San Diego, sign up today to make sure you're in the know about free stuff, festivals, classes, camps, vacation ideas, and all the best events near you! In the meantime, enjoy the ideas below for holiday family fun!
Santa Sightings
| Multiple dates starting Nov 14, 2025 |
Visit Santa at Westfield UTC |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 14, 2025 |
Visit Santa at North County Mall |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 14, 2025 |
Visit Santa at The Shoppes at Carlsbad |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 15, 2025 |
Visit Santa at Fashion Valley |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 28 - Dec 21, 2025 |
North Pole Limited – Pacific Southwest Railway Museum |
| Nov 29, 2025 |
Surfin Santa Parade & Photos — Seaport Village |
| Multiple dates starting Dec 5, 2025 |
Photos with Santa | Holidays at Hotel del Coronado |
| Dec 7, 2025 |
10th Annual Unleash the Holiday Cheer! |
| Dec 7, 2025 |
North Pole By The Sea — Visit Del Mar Village |
| Dec 22 - 25, 2025 |
Jingle Belle Family Cruise - Bahai Resort Hotel |
Meals with Santa
Old-Time Christmas
Light Displays
| Multiple dates starting Nov 14, 2025 |
Lightscape - San Diego Botanic Garden |
| Multiple dates starting mid Nov, 2025 |
Christmas Tree Trail in San Diego, California |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 21, 2025 |
“Wonder of Oz” Lightshow Spectacular - The Del |
| Nov 28, 2025 |
Liberty Station Tree Lighting |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 28, 2025 |
Jingle Jets - USS Midway Museum |
| Select Nights Nov 28 - Jan 4, 2026 |
Wild Holidays - San Diego Zoo Safari Park |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 29, 2025 |
San Diego Christmas Lights Tour 2024 | San Diego Holiday Tours |
| Nov 29, 2025 |
Julian's Country Christmas Tree Lighting |
| Dec 6, 2025 |
Holiday Tree Lighting - Oceanside |
| Dec 14, 2025 |
Holiday Lights Spectator Cruise - Flagship Cruises |
| Select Dates Dec 19 - Jan 4, 2026 |
Jungle Bells - San Diego Zoo |
| Dec 21, 2025 |
Holiday Parade of Lights Dinner Cruise - Flagship Cruises |
Holiday Festivals and Parades
| Dec 3, 2025 |
Holiday Festival | Celebrate the Holidays at Hotel del Coronado |
| Dec 5, 2025 |
Holiday Parade & Tree Lighting | Coronado Chamber of Commerce |
| Dec 5 & 6, 2025 |
Balboa Park December Nights |
| Dec 6, 2025 |
Encinitas Holiday Parade |
| Dec 6, 2025 |
Joy in Julian - Holiday Light Parade |
| Dec 6, 2025 |
Vista Christmas Parade |
| Dec 6 & 7, 2025 |
Winter Wonderland - Center for the Arts, Escondido |
| Dec 7, 2025 |
SoNo Fest & Chili Cook-Off |
| Dec 7, 2025 |
La Jolla Christmas Parade |
| Dec 13, 2025 |
Oceanside Harbor Parade of Lights - Visit Oceanside |
| Dec 13, 2025 |
Holiday in the Village, A La Mesa Tradition |
| Dec 13, 2025 |
Mission Bay Parade of Lights |
| Dec 14 & 21, 2025 |
Annual San Diego Bay Parade of Lights |
| Dec 21, 2025 |
San Diego Parade of Lights |
| Jan 2, 2026 |
Port of San Diego Holiday Bowl Parade |
Holiday Theater
| Multiple dates starting Nov 5, 2025 |
Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! - The Old Globe |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 21, 2025 |
Ebenezer Scrooge's BIG San Diego Christmas Show |
| Nov 21 & 22, 2025 |
¡Cómo el Grinch robó la Navidad! - The Old Globe |
| Nov 26, 2025 |
The Snow Queen - Civic Theatre |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 26, 2025 |
A Christmas Story: The Musical - Cygnet Theatre |
| Dec 2, 2025 |
Swan Lake |
| Multiple dates starting Dec 3, 2025 |
Lamb's Players Theatre | Festival of Christmas |
| Multiple dates starting Dec 10, 2025 |
Cygnet's A Magical Holiday: Christmas at The Joan |
| Dec 11 - 14, 2025 |
Star Theatre Co. Presents, “Annie, Jr.” |
| Dec 19, 2025 |
Candlelight Ballet: Swan Lake - Star Theatre |
| Dec 21, 2025 |
An Irish Christmas - Balboa Theatre |
| Dec 28, 2025 |
A Magical Cirque Christmas - Balboa Theatre |
Nutcracker Performances
Holiday Concerts
| Nov 16, 2025 |
MARIACHI LOS CAMPEROS: Fiesta Navidad - Jacobs Music Center |
| Nov 21, 2025 |
Vienna Boys Choir – Christmas in Vienna - Jacobs Music Center |
| Nov 21, 2025 |
Mannheim Steamroller Christmas - Civic Theatre |
| Nov 22, 2025 |
Engelbert Humperdinck A Night of Holiday Classics & Greatest Hits - The Sound |
| Dec 3, 2025 |
Irish Christmas in America - California Center for the Arts, Escondido |
| Dec 7, 2025 |
Stellarum performs: A Festival of Christmas - at Kensington Community Church |
| Dec 11, 2025 |
The Holidays with Canadian Brass - The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center |
| Dec 12, 2025 |
THE HOLIDAY in Concert - The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park |
| Dec 13, 2025 |
Meet the Brass: ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas - Jacobs Music Center |
| Dec 13, 2025 |
Home Alone in Concert - The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park |
| Dec 13 & 14, 2025 |
SDGMC presents JINGLE: 40 Years of Holiday Cheer - Balboa Theatre |
| Dec 19, 2025 |
Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings - Star Theatre |
| Dec 19 - 21, 2025 |
Noel Noel at The Rady Shell |
| Dec 28, 2025 |
Candlelight: The Best of Joe Hisaishi - Star Theatre |
| Jan 1, 2026 |
Salute to Vienna New Year's Concert - Jacobs Music Center |
Christmas Tree Experience
Ice Skating
Holiday Meals
Hanukkah
Shopping & Craft Fairs
Hands On for the Holidays
Get Moving for The Holidays
New Year's
Miscellaneous
| Nov 12 - Dec 14, 2025 |
Geppetto's Toys for Tots - Seaport Village |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 14, 2025 |
SeaWorld's Christmas Celebration - SeaWorld San Diego |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 21, 2025 |
Beachside Igloo | Celebrate the Holidays at Hotel del Coronado |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 22, 2025 |
Holidays Event - LEGOLAND® California |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 29, 2025 |
Movies on the Beach | Coronado Beach Activities at The Del |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 29, 2025 |
Santa Letter Desk at Julian Town Hall |
| Dec 1 - 31, 2025 |
Malibu Farm-Let it Snow - Seaport Village |
| Dec 6, 2025 |
Nitro Circus: ‘Off The Rails’ - Pechanga Arena |
| Dec 7, 2025 |
Malibu Farm Gingerbread House Workshops — Seaport Village |
| Dec 7, 2025 |
Nutcracker Tea Party with San Diego Ballet - Liberty Station |
| Dec 13, 2025 |
Christmas With The Animals - San Diego Zoo |
| Dec 13, 2025 |
Holiday Toy Ride — SDBC |
Below are holiday events that have been posted to our calendar by local organizations... even MORE holiday events! If you are affiliated with a business hosting a holiday event that should be on our calendar, we'd love to see it there... it's free to post! Click here for instructions about how to add your organization to our list and easily post your events to our calendar!
