101 Ideas for Holiday Family Fun in San Diego - 2024
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!
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Santa Sightings
| Multiple dates starting Nov 29 - Dec 21, 2024 | North Pole Limited – Pacific Southwest Railway Museum |
| Nov 30, 2024 | Surfin Santa Parade & Photos — Seaport Village |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 29 - Dec 24, 2024 | Where Is Santa - Chula Vista Center |
| Dec 1, 2024 | 9th Annual Unleash the Holiday Cheer! |
| Multiple dates starting Dec 6, 2024 | Photos with Santa | Holidays at Hotel del Coronado |
| Multiple dates starting Dec 7, 2024 | Selfies with Buddy the Elf at Seaport Village |
| Multiple dates starting Dec 7, 2024 | Selfies with Santa at Santa's Workshop — Seaport Village |
| Multiple dates starting Dec 7, 2024 | Santa Meet and Greet in Julian |
| Dec 8, 2024 | North Pole By The Sea — Visit Del Mar Village |
| Dec 21, 2024 | Polar Express — San Diego Model Railroad Museum |
| Dec 24, 2024 | Breakfast with Santa — Seaport Village |
Old-Time Christmas
| Nov 30, 2024 | Holiday Hayride Julian CA Fort Cross Old Timey Adventures |
| Multiple dates starting Dec 5, 2024 | Victorian Christmas Teas in Julian |
| Dec 13, 2024 | Las Posadas – Old Town San Diego |
| Dec 13 & 14, 2024 | Poway's Christmas in the Park |
Light Displays
| Multiple dates starting mid Nov, 2024 | Christmas Tree Trail in San Diego, California |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 15, 2024 | Lightscape - San Diego Botanic Garden |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 22, 2024 | Jingle Jets - USS Midway Museum |
| Nov 29th, 2024 | Liberty Station Tree Lighting |
| No 30, 2024 | Country Christmas Tree Lighting in Julian |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 30, 2024 | San Diego Christmas Lights Tour 2024 | San Diego Holiday Tours |
Holiday Festivals and Parades
| Multiple dates starting Nov 16, 2024 | Winter Wonder Beachside at Belmont Park |
| Dec 4, 2024 | Holiday Festival | Celebrate the Holidays at Hotel del Coronado |
| Dec 6 & 7, 2024 | Balboa Park December Nights |
| Dec 6, 2024 | Holiday Parade & Tree Lighting | Coronado Chamber of Commerce |
| Dec 7, 2024 | Encinitas Holiday Parade |
| Dec 7, 2024 | Vista Christmas Parade |
| Dec 7, 2024 | Joy in Julian - Holiday Light Parade |
| Dec 7 & 8, 2024 | Winter Wonderland - Center for the Arts, Escondido |
| Dec 8, 2024 | La Jolla Christmas Parade |
| Dec 8 & 15, 2024 | 54th Annual San Diego Bay Parade of Lights |
| Dec 14, 2024 | Holiday in the Village, A La Mesa Tradition |
| Dec 14, 2024 | Mission Bay Boat Parade 2024 in San Diego |
| Dec 14, 2024 | Oceanside Harbor Parade of Lights - Visit Oceanside |
| Dec 22, 2024 | NUTCRACKER TEA PARTY WITH SAN DIEGO BALLET |
| TBD | Port of San Diego Holiday Bowl Parade |
Holiday Theater
Holiday Concerts
Christmas Tree Experience
| Multiple dates starting Dec 5, 2024 | East County San Diego Christmas Tree Farm - Oma's Family Farms |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 29, 2024 | Christmas Trees – Mountain Valley Ranch |
Ice Skating
| Multiple dates starting Nov 1, 2024 | Viejas Outlet Center Ice Rink |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 21, 2024 - Jan 5, 2025 | Rady Children's Ice Rink at ARTS DISTRICT |
| Multiple dates starting Dec, 2024 | Ice Skating | Julian Farm and Orchard |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 21, 2024 - Jan 5, 2025 | Skating by the Sea® - Celebrate the Holidays at Hotel del Coronado |
Dia de los Muertos
| Oct 1 - Nov 3, 2024 | Dia de los Muertos - La Experiencia: Honoring the Dead - Fiesta de Reyes |
| Oct 26, 2024 | Día de los Muertos with Mariachi los Camperos at the Rady Shell |
| Oct 27, 2024 | Oceanside Die de lose Muertos |
| Nov 1 - 3, 2024 | Día de Los Muertos – Old Town San Diego |
| Nov 2, 2024 | Annual Día de los Muertos Celebration in Chula Vista |
Hanukkah
| Dec 26, 2024 | Hanukkah Menorah Lighting | Liberty Station | San Diego |
| Dec 28, 2024 | Hanukkah Festival — Seaport Village |
Shopping & Craft Fairs
| Nov 8 - 9, 2024 | Gift, Art & Craft Show in Julian Town Hall |
| Nov 24, 2024 | Encinitas Holiday Street Fair - Kennedy Faires |
| Multiple dates starting Dec 5, 2024 | Petco Park Holiday Market |
| Dec 7, 2024 | Christmas Market at the Julian Mining Company |
New Year's Eve
| Dec 30, 2024 | New Years in Southern California with Rose Parade Tour and San Diego |
| Dec 31, 2024 | Kids' New Year's Eve Event | LEGOLAND® California Resort |
| Jan 1, 2025 | New Years in Southern California with Rose Parade Tour and San Diego |
| Jan 1, 2025 | SDBC New Year's Day Ride — SDBC |
| Jan 1, 2025 | Salute to Vienna New Year's Concert | Jacobs Music Center |
| Feb 8 & 9, 2025 | San Diego Chinese New Year - San Diego CA |
Miscellaneous
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