San Diego family weekend planner
Holiday events in San Diego: lights, Santa and Christmas shows
Holiday events in San Diego for 2026: 6 listings across 1 city — light displays, Santa visits, tree lightings, Nutcracker shows, markets and New Year's Eve, from official calendars.
San Diego's family calendar is outdoor-first — beaches, Balboa Park and the bay — with the zoo and museums as the reliable fallback. Libraries and city recreation centers run the weekday programs, and the coastal marine layer often makes a morning at the beach a better bet than an afternoon.
What's on this weekend in San Diego →
Light displays and lantern walks
- Candlelight Concert — Fleet Science Center, San Diego · Nov 13
Nutcracker and holiday shows
- Magic of Christmas Show — Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater, San Diego · Nov 27
- Nutcracker — San Diego Junior Theatre at Casa del Prado Theatre, San Diego · Dec 9
- Grinch Sensory-Friendly — The Old Globe, San Diego · Dec 12 · Free
Holiday markets, ice rinks and fairs
- Holiday Marketplace at Mission Trails Visitor Center — San Diego Parks and Recreation, San Diego · Nov 14 · Free
- Tezukuri-Ichi Holiday Market — Japanese Friendship Garden and Museum, San Diego · Nov 21
Holiday traditions in San Diego
Quick questions
When do the holiday lights start in San Diego?
The earliest listing on this page opens Nov 13: Candlelight Concert.
What holiday events in San Diego are free?
2 of the 6 listings here are free, including Holiday Marketplace at Mission Trails Visitor Center, Grinch Sensory-Friendly.
Where can we see Santa in San Diego?
Santa visits are usually announced later in November. This page updates every day as organizers publish them.