The holidays are upon us and it’s just a matter of time before the relatives come to visit. Whether your children are coming home from college for the holiday break or the in-laws are making their annual trek (or both), here are some great ideas for family outings that really let San Diego’s holiday spirit shine.
Oceanside Harbor’s Parade of Lights - December 13 from 7 PM to 9 PM.
The Oceanside Harbor’s Parade of Lights is a family-friendly parade on the water. Boats of all shapes and sizes from yachts to kayaks will be lit up with holiday themes as they stride around the harbor. Be on the lookout for Santa look-alikes waving from the boats as they float by. Don’t miss the great family-friendly restaurants that the harbor has to offer as well, each flaunting their own holiday spirit. Be sure to catch this free event that only happens once a year.
Poway’s Christmas in the Park - December 13th from 3:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Another free Christmas celebration is taking place at the Old Poway Park. Christmas traditions come to life as a live Christmas lighting ceremony, horse-drawn hay and pony rides, petting zoos, face painting, steam locomotives, holiday sweets, and more invade the park for this holiday spectacular. Shuttles are available to take guests to and from the celebrations, as parking around the park will be limited. This family-friendly venue is perfect for children and adults alike.
San Diego Bay’s Parade of Lights - December 14th and 21st, starts at 5:30 PM
The San Diego Bay’s Parade of Lights is an annual tradition for many San Diegans. The San Diego Bay will be lit up with over 80 decorated boats, each matching the annual theme. This year’s theme is "Children’s Stories." The parade lasts about an hour to one and a half hours to pass by any given point along the parade route. It starts at Shelter Island (5:30 PM) and will pass by Harbor Island (6:00 PM), the Embarcadero (6:30 PM), Seaport Village (7:00 PM), and will end at the Ferry Landing in Coronado (7:30 PM). Whether you go every year or are thinking about viewing for the first time, this spectacle is one of the best family holiday events San Diego has to offer.
San Diego Zoo’s "Jungle Bells" - December 13 - January 4th
The holiday spirit has turned the San Diego Zoo into a festive animal wonderland. The zoo will be featuring many holiday-themed events during their "Jungle Bells" celebration, including a Polar Express 4-D experience, Santa’s Igloo, A Twinkle Light Trolley, Costumed Characters, animal-themed christmas caroling, and much more. There’s nothing quite like animals celebrating the holidays, and the zoo is a perfect spot for families to experience this magical time of year together.
SeaWorld San Diego’s Christmas Celebration - November 15 - January 4
Looking for a unique family-fun experience in San Diego? Check out SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration, featuring some of the best holiday attractions in town. Experience the wonder of Sea World’s "Snow World," which contains more than 6,500 square feet of fresh snow every day. You can go sledding, throw snowballs, or even try building a snowman, even in the sunny San Diego weather. Other attractions include Santa’s Cottage, SeaWorld’s Christmas Tree of Lights, a Reindeer Training Academy, the Christmas Village, Breakfast with Shamu and Santa, and more. There’s no other place to get the wonder of Christmas and sea animals all in one place.
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