We’re now fully immersed in the most wonderful time of the year, and fittingly, the amount of fun things to do this weekend can be summed up in a single word: wonderful. Balboa Park December Nights, the Holiday Wonderland at Gallagher Square and tree lightings in Little Italy and Carlsbad will all be ripe with Christmas cheer. Those who dine out can enjoy brunch with a side of King Tides at The Marine Room and the return of Nutcracker Tea, featuring a vignette of The Nutcracker and a ballet 101 explainer for the audience courtesy of the San Diego Ballet. Also, embrace the season of giving by supporting Vanguard Culture’s tasting menu fundraiser at Matsu or Punk Rock Saves Christmas, a two-day festival and toy drive for Promises 2 Kids.
Food & Drink | Concerts & Festivals | Theater & Art Exhibits | More Fun Things to Do
Courtesy of The Marine Room
Food & Drink Events in San Diego This Weekend
Vanguardista Night at Matsu
December 3
Support the artistic endeavors of San Diego nonprofit Vanguard Culture by dining this Wednesday from 4-9 p.m. at Matsu. During Vanguardista Night, patrons can enjoy a six-course Japanese tasting menu—curated by chef and owner William Eick—that embraces the creative avenues of Vanguard, as well as a silent auction with unique arts and culinary experiences up for grabs. Dinner is $300 per person, $150 of which is a tax-deductible donation toward Vanguard Culture. Guests may also liven up their meal with a wine/sake pairing add-on for $125.
626 South Tremont Street, Oceanside
King Tide Brunch at The Marine Room
December 6 & 7 and January 3 & 4
For two exceptional wave-crashing weekends, The Marine Room will host its King Tide Brunch, a picturesque opportunity to see the highest tides of the season from the restaurant’s ocean-facing dining room. Diners can enjoy a brunch buffet with seafood, prime tenderloin, sweet and savory items and much more during an exclusive morning meal at The Marine Room. Reservations can be made from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. during the first weekends of December (6 & 7) and January (3 & 4). Brunch is $95 per person, with the option of a $20 add-on for free-flowing Champagne.
1950 Spindrift Drive, La Jolla
Nutcracker Tea with the San Diego Ballet
December 7
Sip tea, coffee or hot chocolate and watch an up-close preview of the San Diego Ballet’s The Nutcracker during Liberty Station’s 8th annual Nutcracker Tea. Attendees can enjoy seasonal goodies, photo booths, pictures with Santa Claus, and following the show, a San Diego Ballet artist will instruct the audience in learning basic ballet moves. Nutcracker Tea times with the San Diego Ballet will be held at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. this Sunday at the Liberty Station Convention Center. Tickets range from $72 to $82; children 7 months old and younger do not need a ticket.
2600 Laning Road, Point Loma
Courtesy of San Diego Civic Theatre
Concerts & Festivals in San Diego This Weekend
Mariachi Sol De México: A Merry-achi Christmas at Balboa Theatre
December 4
José Hernández’s Mariachi Sol De México ensemble will harness the Christmas spirit into passionate, mariachi-inspired versions of holiday classics this Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Balboa Theatre. During A Merry-achi Christmas, concertgoers will hear some of the genre’s signature tunes paired with yuletide favorites like “Feliz Navidad,” all brought together by the vivid and harmonious sounds of trumpet, vihuela, guitarrón and much more. Tickets range from $56 to $148 for this concert.
868 Fourth Avenue, Gaslamp
Balboa Park December Nights
December 5 & 6
Spend this Friday (3 to 11 p.m.) and Saturday (11 a.m. to 11 p.m.) strolling through a feast of wintery activities at Balboa Park during this free annual festival. December Nights will feature six live entertainment areas with demonstrations, music and dance performances, a ferris wheel in Pan America Plaza, international cuisine and cocktails, family-friendly movie screenings and an assortment of clothing, jewelry and accessories for sale. Several museums will also be offering activities, workshops and free entry, with special features including the Ceramics Sale at ICA Central and the Holiday Stamp Studio at the Mingei International Museum.
Balboa Park
Punk Rock Saves Christmas at Burning Beard Brewing Co.
December 5 & 6
Partake in a two-day punk rock festival and toy drive at Punk Rock Saves Christmas, with all ticket sales and donations funding gifts for local foster youth through Promises 2 Kids. Acceptable items to donate include dolls, board games, Legos, bikes, skateboards and baby, toddler or teen books. Throughout the weekend, enjoy performances from 15 local punk bands, plus a variety of vendors and raffles at Burning Beard Brewing Company this Friday from 4-9 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 9 p.m. Two-day general admission is $29 online and single-day tickets can be purchased at the door; kids ages 10 and younger will receive free entry.
785 Vernon Way, El Cajon
Vienna Teng at Lou Lou’s Jungle Room
December 7
As an accomplished singer-songwriter, classically trained pianist and longtime renewable energy consultant, Vienna Teng has proven that she can’t be pigeonholed. Last November, following a decade-plus away from music in favor of parenthood and her environmental career, Teng released the uplifting mini-EP We’ve Got You which features three soothing interpretations of the title’s theme. Now that she’s resumed the life of a touring musician, Teng is still finding time to embrace her dual passions, even hosting climate action hangouts with fans of her music on Patreon. Tickets are $39 for her concert this Sunday at 8 p.m. at Lou Lou’s Jungle Room.
2223 El Cajon Boulevard, North Park
Courtesy of Athenaeum Music & Arts Library
Theater & Art Exhibits in San Diego This Weekend
Let It Be Christmas at Lamb’s Players Theatre
December 3-28
Though it has evolved over the years across an array of creative local productions, Lamb’s Festival of Christmas remains a December staple at Lamb’s Players Theatre. After a few years of R-E-S-P-E-C-T-F-U-L-L-Y Christmas, Lamb’s is putting on Let It Be Christmas, a new script by the theater’s associate artistic director Kerry Meads about the power of community during the holiday season. Tickets range from $68 to $118 for Saturday and Sunday matinees (2 p.m.) and $48 to $98 for all other evening (7 p.m) and matinee performances.
1142 Orange Avenue, Coronado
89 Carson Junction Road at Diversionary Black Box
December 5-14
An ill-fated romance between two Army Rangers sets up the tense showdown at the heart of 89 Carson Junction Road, a world premiere production written and directed by Michael Mizerany. This one-act play, produced by Compulsion Dance & Theater, centers on a Christmas Eve confrontation between the vengeful, anguished Archer (armed with a gun), his former paramour Hank, and three bystanders at the Arizona diner where it all unfolds. Tickets are $32, with performances Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 7 p.m. this week and next inside the Diversionary Theatre’s intimate Black Box space.
4545 Park Boulevard, University Heights
New Exhibitions at Athenaeum Art Center
December 5-31 and December 6 – January 3, 2026
This weekend, visitors to Athenaeum Art Center can enjoy a Kitchmas time tradition and a showcase of faculty works. On Friday, Brian & Ryan’s 10th annual celebration of Kitchmas (Dec. 5-31) will commence with an opening reception (6 p.m.) and a zany pageant by Project [BLANK] (7:30 p.m.) packed with special guests, a talking tree and plenty of noodles; pageant tickets range from $5-$50 with a suggested amount of $15. Then Saturday, catch the opening of the Athenaeum Faculty & Staff Exhibition (Dec. 6 – Jan. 3), with a range of pieces from the educators at Athenaeum’s School of the Arts to be displayed; this exhibition will have a free opening reception Sunday, Dec. 13 from 5-8 p.m. coinciding with the Barrio Logan Art Crawl.
1955 Julian Avenue, Logan Heights
MOMIX: Alice at the Civic Theatre
December 6
Moses Pendleton’s esteemed company of dancer-illusionists, MOMIX, will explore what lies beyond the rabbit hole during Alice this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Civic Theatre. Inspired by the reality-bending fantasy of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, this imaginative production guides the audience through Alice’s journey via an unpredictable spell of movement. Prior to the show there will be a prelude interview hosted by Malashock Dance Executive Director Molly Puryear at 6:30 p.m. Tickets range from $36 to $99 for this performance.
1100 Third Avenue, Gaslamp
Courtesy of MLB
More Fun Things To Do in San Diego This Weekend
Tree Lighting Celebration at The Forum Carlsbad
December 5
The Forum Carlsbad will spark a month of holiday celebrations with its 23rd Annual Tree Lighting Celebration, with live entertainment, wintery characters, a light show and festive snowfall this Friday from 6-8 p.m. Visitors can stroll around the outdoor mall for a variety of activities, including music from cover band Woodie and The Longboards, photos with Santa Claus, a vintage photobooth bus, seasonal desserts and a carnival booth game. Plus, the festive Christmas Tree Wonderlights will play hourly from 5 to 9 p.m. through Christmas Day.
1923 Calle Barcelona, Carlsbad
Holiday Wonderland at Gallagher Square
Select Nights from December 5-23
Beginning this Friday, Gallagher Square will resemble a North Pole-esque Holiday Wonderland, filled with nightly snowfall, a 40-foot Christmas tree and illuminating themed walkthroughs. Starting at 4 p.m. each day, reserve a time slot to enjoy carnival games, live performances, kids craft activities, nightly snowfall, photo ops and a train chugging around the festivities. Plus, the holiday features will include local artisans selling everything from stationery to stocking stuffers, as well as seasonal menu items like themed cocktails and spiked hot chocolate. Tickets for adults ($25-$28) and children ages 12 and younger ($18-$22) can be purchased here.
899 J Street, Downtown
Little Italy Tree Lighting & Christmas Village
December 6
We don’t make the rules, but Christmastime in Little Italy can’t truly begin until the neighborhood’s unique trees are gleaming with holiday decor. Fortunately during this Saturday’s Little Italy Tree Lighting & Christmas Village, attendees can admire the traditional lighting of the Piazza della Famiglia’s permanent tree, along with the glow of Joshua Hubert’s Aurora LED sculpture at Piazza Basilone. This Saturday, from 4 to 8 p.m., attendees can also check out 10-foot tall nutcrackers, live Christmas music and a holiday-themed market on India Street.
523 West Date Street, Little Italy
Nitro Circus: Off The Rails at Pechanga Arena
December 6
Travis Pastrana’s band of extreme sports fanatics are riding higher, faster and more dangerously than ever during Nitro Circus’ Off The Rails World Tour, coming to Pechanga Arena this Saturday at 7 p.m. The lineup will include skate, scooter and motocross athletes performing death-defying stunts and tricks across a variety of competitions. Ticket options start at $87, with upgrade opportunities like the 21+ Super Fan Experience ($299), which comes with a custom merch bundle, pre-show Q&A session with the athletes, VIP deck access and much more.
3500 Sports Arena Boulevard, Midway
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San Diego Sockers vs. Milwaukee Wave at Frontwave Arena
December 7
With the new season underway and their loss to the Chihuahua Savage in the 2025 Ron Newman Cup providing some extra fuel, the San Diego Sockers once again have championship hopes. Sadly, the team’s 14-game undefeated run at Frontwave Arena finally came to an end last Friday after a 5-4 overtime loss to the Empire Strykers. This Sunday (3 p.m.), they’ll look to start a new home win streak when they take on the Milwaukee Wave, and fans can enjoy a themed sock giveaway as the team celebrates Holiday Night. Tickets range from $32 to $81 for this match.
3475 Hero Drive, Oceanside