San Diego’s December Nights will transform Balboa Park into a festive wonderland December 5-6, offering global cuisine, live performances, and free museum access.

SAN DIEGO — San Diego’s largest free holiday festival, December Nights, will return December 5 and 6 to Balboa Park. The family-friendly event will transform the park into a winter wonderland filled with holiday lights, food from around the world, live music, dance performances and free admission to many museums. 

Here’s a guide to everything you can expect at December Nights this year.


When is December Nights? 

This year’s festival will be held on Friday, December 5, from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., and Saturday, December 6, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. 


Performers and Entertainment

This year, there will be live performances at the Casa del Prado, Organ Pavilion, Palisades Plaza, Palms, Plaza de Panama and Spanish Village. Performances include everything from dancing and singing to educational presentations. 

Click here to see a list of the performers, along with the times of their performance, and what stages they will be on. 


Shopping

There will be several vendors at Balboa Park for the December Nights event, selling clothing, jewelry and other accessories. To view the full list of the 2025 vendors, click here. 


Food and drinks

Après Tavern, located in the Plaza de Panama, is a European-inspired beer, wine and holiday cocktail garden. Some of the food offerings include savory crepes, charcuterie boards, and spiced nuts. There will also be pub-style games like giant Jenga, liar’s dice and ring toss, along with lounges and photo opportunities. The tavern will run from 3 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Friday, and 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Saturday. 

Visitors can also visit the International Spirits Garden, south of the International Cottages, for alcoholic beverages from around the world. The garden is available for 21+ guests from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, and from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday. 

To view a full list of all of the food and beverage vendors this year, click here. 


Getting there

December Nights is one of San Diego’s largest two-day events, and draws hundreds of thousands of people. According to the City of San Diego, there is limited capacity for access and parking at December Nights. If you do choose to drive to the event, the City recommends purchasing your parking in advance to secure your spot.

If you prefer to be dropped off and avoid traffic and parking altogether, the Rideshare Zone for both commercial and personal rides is located along 6th Avenue.

With a nearby transit hub near City College, the City said riding the MTS trolley or bus is another great way to get to the event. The City College transit hub is serviced by the Blue and Orange trolley lines, as well as several bus routes. From the City College transit hub, you can walk or bike 1.5 miles to the event, or hop on one of the free December Nights event shuttles. 

The shuttle service will have pickup and drop off at the City College parking garages (16th and B Streets), Downtown, near City Hall and parking areas (3rd Avenue and A Street) and in Little Italy, near the Green Line trolley stop and the County Administration parking garages (Beech Street and Kettner Boulevard).

Click here for additional information from MTS.


There are also two free bike and scooter valets available during December Nights, located at the corner of Park Blvd. and Village Place, and at the west entrance to the Cabrillo Bridge. The free bike valet hours are Friday, December 5th, from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., and Saturday, December 6th, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.


Museums and organizations

Balboa Art Conservation Center

Visitors can make stamp art at the Balboa Art Conservation Center. Using cochineal dye, guests of all ages will be able to combine science and art to make prints inspired by the History Center’s Poinsettia Tree. The event will take place inside the San Diego History Center from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Guests can participate in a free activity called “Paint and Take”. Each person can choose a small miniature figure to paint and take home. The museum exhibits will be closed. On Friday, the activity will take place from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., and on Saturday, it will take place from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.

At the Fleet Science Center, guests can experience over 100 interactive exhibits free of cost from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. 

Japanese Friendship Garden and Museum 

The Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum will be opening the upper garden for free from 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. on December 5th and December 6th. Guests can view the garden’s decorations, participate in family crafts and enjoy festive drinks in the beer garden.

The Marston House will be decorated for the holidays in the early 20th-century style.

The Museum of Us will be open for free on December 5-6 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. for December Nights. The Museum will be closed during the day.

Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater

The theater will put on “Tiny Tim, A Christmas Carol Story” at 5 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Explore the San Diego Museum of Art for free during December Nights. Enter at the west side of the plaza near Panama 66 for food and drinks. It will be open to the public from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

San Diego Air and Space Museum 

The museum’s pavilion will transform into a winter wonderland, filled with holiday decor. Admission is free for all from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. 

San Diego Natural History Museum 

There will be free access to the following exhibitions: Amazement in the Basement, Coast to Cactus, Extraordinary Ideas from Ordinary People, Fossil Mysteries, Living Lab and Unshelved. The Pomerado Brass Quintet will be playing holiday tunes from 5 to 6:30 PM each night in the Museum’s Atrium on Level 1. Guests can visit the North Pole Hideaway Rooftop Bar or South Pole Lounge for curated holiday cocktails and mocktails, wine, beer, soft drinks and hot cocoa. Last entry to the rooftop will be at 9 p.m.

San Diego Automotive Museum

The 1909 Harvester will be decked out for the holidays, along with holiday trees, lights and Santa. Santa is available on Friday from 5 to 8:30 p.m. and Saturday from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

San Diego Model Railroad Museum 

Get pictures with Santa, enjoy the Toy Trains Through the Decades winter exhibit, and see the Toy Train Gallery decked out for the holidays. There will be free admission from  5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Mingei International Museum

The museum will play the holiday classic movie, “The Muppet Christmas Carol,” in the outdoor courtyard, with showings both at 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. There will also be hands-on craft activities and a photo station. 

The center will be open from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

It’s the Jewels of the Season: Holidays at the Timken, an annual tradition since 1988 featuring a collection of ornaments designed and handcrafted by local artists Florence Hord and Elizabeth Schlappi. Each ornament features semi-precious gems, sequins, stones and figurines collected by the two artists from around the world.

Enjoy holiday magic at the Village Arts Center while watching artists create in their open studios. All studios will be open until 10 p.m. 

On December 6, WorldBeat Center’s San Diego Taiko group will be participating in the annual December Nights weekend celebration. Catch their live performance at the Spanish Village Stage on Saturday from 1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. 

A group of 33 nations/cultural groups will bring ethnic foods, beverages, and the “Spirit Garden,” featuring various ethnic spirits, to San Diego. There will be traditional song, dance and instrumental performances.

Institute of Contemporary Art San Diego

ICA will hold its annual Ceramics Sale inside its gallery, surrounded by the NextGen 2025 exhibition. It will be open from 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. 

The Balboa Park carousel will be open on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $4 a ride or 4 for $14.


Map

Here’s a look at the full map of Balboa Park for the December Nights event.