101 Ideas for Holiday Family Fun in San Diego - 2023
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 24, 2023 | North Pole Limited – Pacific Southwest Railway Museum |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 16, 2023 | Santa's Village | SkyPark at Santa's Village |
| Nov 25, 2023 | Surfin Santa Parade & Photos — Seaport Village |
| Multiple dates starting Dec 1, 2023 | Where Is Santa - Chula Vista Center |
| Dec 2, 2023 | Holiday Dog Party | Warwick’s |
| Dec 2 & 3, 2023 | Selfies with Buddy the Elf at Seaport Village |
| Dec 2, 3 & 9, 2023 | Selfies with Santa at Santa's Workshop — Seaport Village |
| Dec 3, 2023 | 8th Annual Unleash the Holiday Cheer! |
| Dec 3, 2023 | North Pole By The Sea — Visit Del Mar Village |
| Dec 9, 2023 | Polar Express — San Diego Model Railroad Museum |
Old-Time Christmas
| Nov 25, 2023 | Country Christmas in Julian |
| Nov 25, 2023 | Holiday Hayride Julian CA Fort Cross Old Timey Adventures |
| Dec 8, 2023 | Las Posadas – Old Town San Diego |
| Dec 8 & 9, 2023 | Poway's Christmas in the Park |
| Dec 9, 2023 | Polar Express — San Diego Model Railroad Museum (sdmrm.org) |
Light Displays
Holiday Festivals and Parades
| Multiple dates starting Nov 11, 2023 | Winter Wonder Beachside at Belmont Park |
| Nov 19, 2023 | Encinitas Holiday Street Fair - Kennedy Faires |
| Dec 1 & 2, 2023 | Balboa Park December Nights |
| Dec 1,2023 | Holiday Parade & Tree Lighting | Coronado Chamber of Commerce |
| Dec 2, 2023 | Encinitas Holiday Parade |
| Dec 2, 2023 | Winter Wonderland - Center for the Arts, Escondido |
| Dec 2, 2023 | Holiday in the Village, A La Mesa Tradition |
| Dec 2, 2023 | Holiday Parade - Ocean Beach |
| Dec 3, 2023 | Vista Christmas Parade |
| Dec 3, 2023 | SoNo Fest & Chili Cook-Off |
| Dec 3, 2023 | La Jolla Christmas Parade |
| Dec 27, 2023 | Port of San Diego Holiday Bowl Parade |
Holiday Theater
| Multiple dates starting Nov 8, 2023 | Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! 2023 | The Old Globe |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 17, 2023 | Ebenezer Scrooge’s BIG San Diego Christmas Show | The Old Globe |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 25, 2023 | Lamb's Players Theatre | Respectfully Christmas |
| Multiple dates starting Dec 1, 2023 | A Christmas Carol - Cygnet Theatre |
| Dec 2 & 3, 2023 | Evolution Dance Center presents The Nutcracker - California Center for the Arts, Escondido |
| Dec 2 & 3, 2023 | Pryntsev Ballet Academy — The Nutcracker |
| Multiple dates starting Dec 8, 2023 | The Nutcracker - San Diego Civic Youth Ballet 2023 |
| Dec 9 & 10, 2023 | Cirque Dreams Holidaze |
| Dec 15 & 16, 2023 | The Nutcracker (Ballet) |
Holiday Concerts
| Dec 1 & 2, 2023 | Christmas Concert & Sing-A-long |
| Dec 3, 2023 | Randi's Jingle Ball 2023 |
| Multiple dates starting Dec 15, 16, 17 2023 | Noel Noel | Jacobs Music Center |
| Multiple dates starting Dec 8, 2023 | Jingle Terrace Live | Moonlight Stage Productions |
| Dec 9 & 10, 2023 | Jingle – San Diego Gay Men's Chorus |
| Dec 11, 2022 | Home for the Holidays - Jacobs Music Center |
| Dec 11 & 12, 2023 | Million Dollar Quartet Christmas | San Diego Theatres |
| Dec 15 & 16, 2023 | Charlie Brown Jingles and Jazz at The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center - La Jolla by the Sea |
| Dec 16, 2023 | An Irish Christmas | San Diego Theatres |
| Dec 16, 2023 | A Festival of Christmas |
| Dec 17, 2023 | Mariachi Sol De Mexico: A Merry-achi Christmas | San Diego Theatres |
| Dec 23, 2023 | DISNEY Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas In Concert | Jacobs Music Center |
| Dec 28, 2023 | Mannheim Steamroller Christmas | San Diego Theatres |
Christmas Tree Experience
| Multiple dates starting Nov 18, 2023 | PB Christmas Tree Country |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 24, 2023 | East County San Diego Christmas Tree Farm - Oma's Family Farms |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 24, 2023 | Grinch’s Christmas Trees |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 24, 2023 | Christmas Trees – Mountain Valley Ranch |
Ice Skating
| Multiple dates starting Nov 3, 2023 | Viejas Outlet Center Ice Rink |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 10, 2023 | Ice Skating | Julian Farm and Orchard |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 16, 2023 | Rady Children's Ice Rink at ARTS DISTRICT |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 17, 2023 | Skating by the Sea® - Celebrate the Holidays at Hotel del Coronado |
Hanukkah
| Dec 5, 2023 | Rancho Bernardo Christmas Tree and Menorah Lighting Ceremony |
| Dec 7, 2023 | Hanukkah Menorah Lighting | Liberty Station | San Diego |
| Dec 12, 2023 | Hanukkah Under The Stars |
Kwanzaa
| Dec 26, 27, 28, 29, 2023 | 43nd Annual Kwanzaa Celebration |
Shopping & Craft Fairs
| Dec 2, 2023 | BAZAR NAVIDEÑO HISPANAS EN SAN DIEGO |
| Dec 2 & 3, 2023 | Holiday Fair 2023 - Makers Arcade Makers Market in San Diego |
| Dec 9, 2023 | Nightmare Before Christmas Holiday Night Market |
New Year's Eve
| Dec 30, 2023 | New Years in Southern California with Rose Parade Tour and San Diego |
| Dec 31, 2023 | Kids' New Year's Eve Event | LEGOLAND® California Resort |
| Dec 31, 2023 | Alternative New Year’s Eve Ascension 2024 |
| Dec 31, 2022 - Jan 3, 2023 | New Years in Southern California with Rose Parade Tour |
| Jan 1, 2023 | SDBC New Year's Day Ride — SDBC |
| Feb 4 & 5, 2023 | San Diego Chinese New Year - San Diego CA |
Miscellaneous
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