This post was most recently updated on December 10th, 2022
Will you be visiting San Diego during the holidays this year? Or do you live in San Diego and want to know where you can enjoy Christmas festivities without cost? Here’s a list, though certainly not comprehensive, of some of the best free Christmas festivities to enjoy in San Diego.
Liberty Station Tree Lighting & Holiday Festivities
Friday, November 30, 2018 from 5:00 to 9:00 pm
At Liberty Station’s North Promenade (2848 Dewey Road), you can enjoy live entertainment on the Main Stage. Get your picture taken free with Santa and see the lighting of an 88-foot tall Norfolk Pine Christmas tree (at 6:30 pm). The film How the Grinch Stole Christmas will be shown, and there’s ice skating at the Rady Children’s Ice Rink. Throughout the evening, there will be shopping, entertainment, and lots of opportunities to grab a quick bite or snack at one of many restaurants or Liberty Public Market. Visiting one of the many art galleries or taking a stroll along the water are a few more things to enjoy in Liberty Station.
And if you want to enjoy more holiday events at Liberty Station, you can come back any Saturday in December before Christmas for free Santa pictures and live entertainment from 5 to 8 pm.
On Friday, December 7th, the Liberty Holiday Extravaganza includes open art galleries and holiday-themed exhibits, dance and choral performances.
Little Italy Tree Lighting
Saturday, December 3, 2022 from 4:00 to 8:00 pm
Little Italy is a lovely Italian neighborhood in downtown San Diego. Enjoy festive decor, a visit from Santa, live music and entertainment, horse carriage rides, holiday treats, kids’ arts and crafts, and seasonal vendors. Santa makes his appearance at 4:00 pm and will listen to kids’ wishes in his “living room” on India Street at 6:00 pm. Little Italy has two Christmas trees: one is a 25-foot tower of Poinsettia flowers in the center of Piazza Basilone, and the other is a permanent 20-foot tree in the Piazza della Famiglia (to be lit up at 6:30 pm). Of course, there are also many great places to dine in Little Italy, if you want to add a meal to your itinerary.
Children’s Coalition Christmas on the Prado
Saturday, December 3, 2022 1:00 to 8:00 pm & Sunday, December 4, 2022
The Children’s Coalition Christmas on the Prado is held at Balboa Park. It includes Organ Pavilion Christmas music performances, a tree lighting at 6:30 pm on Saturday, kids’ crafts and fun zone, a full-size nativity diorama, gingerbread house, and photos with Santa. You can bring an unwrapped toy to donate to the Toys for Tots toy drive. There’s also face-painting, an elf contest and the International Cottages with cultural food, music, and decorations.
Balboa Park December Nights
Friday, December 3, 2022 3:00 to 11:00 pm & Saturday, December 4, 2022 noon to 11:00 pm
Christmas festivities at Balboa Park’s December Nights include lights, performances of dance and choral music, a carnival, parades and puppetry, a visit with Santa, food vendors, International Cottages, a living Christmas tree, and free admission to the museums. Parking can be difficult to find, since this event is so popular. Be sure to take advantage of free shuttles that run to off-site parking.
San Diego Bay Parade of Lights
Sunday, December 9 and 16, 2018 beginning at 5:00 pm
See a procession of about 80 lavishly decorated boats as they make their way across the bay. They start at Shelter Island and go to Harbor Island, the Embarcadero, Seaport Village, the Cesar Chavez Park pier, and finally to the Ferry Landing in Coronado. Over 100,000 spectators gather along the waterfront to enjoy this tradition of 47 years. You can even join the procession if you have a boat! (There is a fee to enter a boat, and you can find out more here.)
Old Town Las Posadas
Saturday, December 15, 2018, Noon to 8:00 pm, procession begins at 5:00 pm
Throughout the day, enjoy Christmas entertainment, decorations, and shopping at the many stores in Old Town. The Las Posadas procession is a walking reenactment of the biblical story of Mary and Joseph’s search for a birthplace for Jesus. All are invited to join a candlelight procession and sing traditional holiday carols in Spanish and English as the actors go from inn to inn, symbolically asking for lodging. The procession ends at a nativity tableau in front of the Casa de Estudillo. Evening activities include a pinata party for children and a campfire with s’mores. To join the procession, gather in front of the print shop at 4:45 pm.
San Diego Temple lights
November 25 – December 31, 2022
San Diego temple, photo by Kamala Venkatesh
–Thank you to Kamala for permission to include her beautiful photo here. You can see more of her work on Instagram, and at her website.–
A life-size nativity and beautiful lights are on display at this temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, perched next to Interstate 5. The public is welcome to walk the peaceful grounds, enjoy the light display and take photos.
Christmas Card Lane
Every night, from the day after Thanksgiving through New Year’s
In the suburb of Rancho Penasquitos, residents decorate their homes with giant plywood greetings. Themes range from popular movies to Christmas characters and religious scenes. Neighbors have been decorating their homes since 1982 when resident Alana Hastings came up with the idea to promote Christmas spirit and unity in their neighborhood. The displays can be seen on Ellingham, Oviedo, and Renato streets and include up to 200 homes participating. The best place to park is at nearby Sunset Hills Elementary, 9291 Oviedo St. Then you can walk through the decorated streets. On weekends, you are likely to hear local bands playing, and scouting and school organizations sell baked goods and hot chocolate.
I hope you will enjoy your Christmas traditions and perhaps make some new memories with these Christmas festivities. Whether you are looking for secular or sacred Christmas festivities, this list is a good mix. Merry Christmas, and may the peace of the season be with you!
Christmas in San Diego looks amazing! I would love to see the boat parade all lit up!
The boat parade is something I really want to see this year, too! In the 29 years I’ve lived here, it has always conflicted with other events, but this year they’re holding it on two weekends, so I have a better chance!
So many awesome choices! The parade of lights would be my first pick. We have a lighted boat parade in Vero Beach and I’ve never been home to see it.
Christmas in San Diego looks amazing! I especially love the temple lights and Las Posadas procession!
San Diego sounds like a great place to celebrate the holidays. The tree lighting in Little Italy sounds great. A 25 foot Poinsettia tree sounds must be beautiful. We would want to try to time our visit to see the Parade of Lights. Thanks for giving us a new spot for holiday festivities.
Oh so many memories. I really think more people should anchor a winter trip to San Diego around Balboa Nights and the La Jolla Temple is so beautiful in the season. I would probably include walking around Hotel Del too (but avoid the skating rink like the plague). Make me miss San Diego reading this article.
Wow so many events! Wouldn’t know where to begin. Loved the idea around the card lane. Is such a cool way to decorate the houses for the holiday.
Wow, it sounds like Balboa goes all out for the holidays! I think the hardest part would be enjoying all the festivities at that park and still having time to get to the other activities on your list! 🙂
I’ve always been more of a ba-hum-bug type of person when it comes to Christmas and the holidays but Christmas in San Diego looks amazing. Its already on my to go to list but now I would love to come during the holidays!!!
I didn’t realize that the public can walk through the temple and the lights. i would love to do that and the boat parade
Sherianne, the public can walk anywhere on the temple grounds, but not inside the actual temple itself. We should both make a commitment to see the boat parade this year. I can’t believe I still haven’t gone!
We’ve been to San Diego only once and it was during a day trip from L.A. We only got to stroll around Balboa Park and had an ice cream. So we’d love to return and explore it in depth! With all the things to do and see during Christmas time, this might be the perfect time!
Oh yes, this is a great time of the year to visit San Diego!
I’ve always wanted to go to San Diego, and you’ve just giving me even more incentive!
I love Christmas time! Christmas Card Lane sounds like an amazing experience, to hear local bands play Christmas tunes and drink hot chocolate in the cold southern California winter! The San Diego Bay Parade of Lights looks amazing, the boat folks look like they’re going all out getting into the holiday spirit. I don’t know if I would want to be a part of the parade because then I couldn’t watch the whole thing! I’ll definitely share this with my friends in San Diego! Thanks for sharing!