61. Balboa Park December Nights
City: San Diego, CA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Description: Balboa Park twinkles, glistens, and shines during the holidays. This weekend-long celebration, usually held at the beginning of the month, includes carolers, a candlelight procession, ethnic food and crafts stands, and general holiday merriment. Admission to the museums is free after 5:00 p.m. Stock up on goodies at the museums’ shops.
62. Old Town Holiday In The Park And Candlelight Tours
City: San Diego, CA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (619) 220-5423
Description: Walk through the historic districts of San Diego, view the holiday period decorations, and listen to stories about the early days of Old Town. The Las Posadas reenactment of Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter is held midmonth. There’s entertainment, caroling, and refreshments. Old Town’s shop owners decorate their stores, and most are open late during the tours.
63. Boat Parades Of Lights
City: San Diego, CA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Description: The parades feature boats of all shapes and sizes decorated for the holiday season. To get the best view of the Mission Bay Christmas Boat Parade, Insiders suggest watching it from Crown Point. For Oceanside’s boat parade, anywhere in the harbor is perfect. For San Diego Bay’s, the best views are at Seaport Village and Harbor Island. If you want to enter your boat, call or contact the local parks and recreation office or chamber of commerce. Remember to wear a warm jacket. It can be breezy and cold on December evenings. Most parades start about 7:00 p.m.; watching is free but traffic can be gnarly. Take public transportation or carpool when feasible.
64. Holiday Parades And Celebrations
City: San Diego, CA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Description: Chula Vista’s annual Starlight Yule Parade begins at 5:30 p.m. downtown at Third Avenue and includes floats and marching bands. There is also a crafts fair and tree-lighting ceremony. Ocean Beach has a parade and tree festival, too. The parade there goes down Newport Avenue and includes every children’s organization in the community. At the end of Ocean Beach’s parade, there is a holiday festival and community tree lighting. All are free events. For more information, contact the cities’ chambers of commerce or parks and recreation offices.
65. San Diego International Auto Show
City: San Diego, CA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Address: 111 West Harbor Drive
Description: More than 32 domestic and foreign manufacturers roll out their newest and fastest and sleekest vehicles for this popular show. You’ll see auto design exhibits, cars of the future and past, and exotic street machines. Admission is $10.00 for those age 13 and older; children ages 7 through 12 and younger enter for $5.00. There are discounts for seniors and the military. Sunday is Kids’ Day, with special activities. Check newspapers, car dealers, chain supermarkets, and local restaurants for discount coupons for adult admission to this event.
66. Pacific Life Holiday Bowl
City: San Diego, CA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (619) 283-5808
Address: 9449 Friars Road
Description: The Holiday Bowl, held in late December, features a football face-off between nationally ranked teams from the Big 12 and either the WAC or the Pac 10. Begun in 1978, the Holiday Bowl has earned a reputation for close games. This is a popular event in San Diego, so get your tickets early; they range in price from $50 to $55. (Read more about the Holiday Bowl in our Spectator Sports chapter.)
City: San Diego, CA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals