San Diego County’s winter season has more to offer than just holiday parties. Before spring arrives on March 20, there is a major golf tournament, Lunar New Year celebrations and a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee in concert.
Here are 15 events and shows to check out this winter season, listed in chronological order.
December
Las Posadas: The Old Town San Diego Chamber of Commerce and Mormon Battalion Historic Site are presenting a recreation of Mary and Joseph’s story at the 67th Annual Las Posadas. The event highlights the travels of a pregnant Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem, looking for shelter. There will be a community procession, a nativity, a live choir, hot cocoa, s’mores and a bonfire. Plus, the public can make a commemorative tin ornament and tour La Casa de Machado y Stewart for photo opportunities. 5 to 7 p.m. Dec. 13. La Plaza de Armas, Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. Free. parks.ca.gov/eventdetails/17943
San Diego Seals home opener: San Diego’s professional indoor lacrosse team, the Seals, are hosting their 2025-2026 season home opener. The squad will face the Rochester Knighthawks. The Seals are already undefeated, after winning their first game of this season on the road versus the Ottawa Blackbears with a score of 16-13. 2 p.m. Dec. 14. Pechana Arena, 3500 Sports Arena Blvd., San Diego. $21-$111. sealslax.com
Decorated boats participate in the 54th Annual San Diego Bay Parade of Lights on Sunday Dec. 15, 2024. (K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
San Diego Bay Parade of Lights: For two Sundays in December, the San Diego Bay waters light up for the holidays. The 55th annual San Diego Bay Parade of Lights brings together close to 80 boats that are decorated with lights and holiday decorations. The parade starts at Shelter Island and flows around the San Diego Bay through Harbor Island, Seaport Village, The Embarcadero, Crosby Park and Observation Pier near Barrio Logan, and ends at the Coronado Ferry Landing. 5:30 pm. Dec. 14 and 21. Free. sdparadeoflights.org
Bingo Loco: What started in Ireland is now arriving in San Diego. Bingo Loco is an interactive game night filled with dance competitions, lip sync battles, prizes, comedy hosts and DJs playing throwback anthems from the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. Bingo Loco is for individuals 21 years of age and older. 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Dec. 19 and 27. Quartyard, 1301 Market St., San Diego. us.bingoloco.com/san-diego
The Roots: The legendary hip-hop group and house band of “The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon” takes the stage at The Magnolia in El Cajon. The group is led by co-founder and emcee Black Thought and drummer and co-founder Questlove from Philadelphia. The Roots was formed in 1987 and performs a mix of hip-hop, new-soul and jazz with guitarists, keyboardists, saxophonists and trumpet players. 7 p.m. Dec. 29. The Magnolia, 210 E Main St., El Cajon. $50-$400. magnoliasandiego.com
January
San Diego Auto Show: Car, truck and sports utility vehicle enthusiasts get the opportunity to see and test drive new and unreleased vehicles at the San Diego Auto Show. Attendees can get inside new vehicle models on the showroom floor that are not for sale yet. They can also get behind the wheel and take some of the vehicles on a test drive at the car show. Plus, there is an array of electric vehicles, including a test track. The last day of the show is family day, where children 12 years and under can attend for free.10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Jan. 1-3. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Jan. 4. San Diego Convention Center, 111 Harbor Drive, San Diego. $12-$18. sdautoshow.com
Thousands gather to watch marching bands, floats, giant balloons and other entertainment during the Port of San Diego Holiday Bowl Parade on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 in San Diego, California. (Ana Ramirez / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Holiday Bowl and Parade: The annual Holiday Bowl is back at Snapdragon Stadium for the 46th time. The college football game pits a team from the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Pacific 12 Conference. The game kicks off at 5 p.m. and is being played in January for the first time. Before the game, the public can see the Holiday Bowl Parade starting at 10 a.m. It takes place on North Harbor Island and features floats, drill teams, marching bands and a procession of large balloons. The parade is free to attend and visitors can being their own chairs to watch on the side of North Harbor Drive from the San Diego County Administration Center Ruocco Park. Jan. 2. holidaybowl.com
San Diego Mojo home opener: The local women’s professional volleyball team, the San Diego Mojo are hosting their 2026 home opener against the Orlando Valkyries. The Mojo are going into their third season as a franchise. The team hired U.S. Olympian Alisha Glass Childress as the new head coach in August and resigned multiple players, including Major League Volleyball all-star Shara Venegas and brought back Carlsbad native Morgan Lewis. 4 p.m. Jan. 11. Viejas Arena, 5500 Canyon Crest Drive, San Diego. provolleyball.com/teams/san-diego-mojo
San Diego Rodeo: The San Diego Rodeo is bringing county culture for a third year at Petco Park. Visitors to this three-day event can expect to see bull riding, team roping, steer wrestling and bareback riding. There will also be more food and entertainment options such as vendors, concerts and family-friendly activities centered on rodeo cultural traditions. Jan. 16-18. Petco Park, 100 Park Blvd., San Diego. $30-$405. rodeosd.com
Martin Luther King Jr. Parade: The public can celebrate the life and legacy of an iconic civil rights activist at the 44th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Parade. The event features drill teams, marching bands and floats from local organizations, schools, fraternities, sororities and churches. The event will also host a 5K walk and fun run. Approximately 90 community groups participated in last year’s parade. The event is coordinated by the Zeta Sigma Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. King was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha. 11 a.m. Jan. 18. Harbor Drive from Ash Street to Pacific Highway. sandiegoalphas.com/mlk-parade
Harris English hits from the rough on the 18th hole during the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines South Course on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Farmers Insurance Open: The annual Farmers Insurance Open returns to Torrey Pines Golf Course. The four-day event brings professional golfers from around the world to compete for a chance to win over $1 million in prize money. Harris English won the 2025 Farmers Insurance Open and $1.674 million. Jan. 29 to Feb. 1. Torrey Pines Golf Course, 11480 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla. farmersinsuranceopen.com
February
San Diego Tet Festival: Celebrate Lunar New Year at the 2026 San Diego Tet Festival. The three-day event showcases various dance groups, live musicians and bands. It also holds a fashion show, a Miss Vietnam of San Diego pageant, carnival rides, a firecracker show, food vendors and lion dance performances each day. The 2026 Lunar New Year animal is the horse. Feb. 20-22. NTC Park at Liberty Station, 2455 Cushing Road, San Diego. Free. sdtet.com
San Diego FC home opener: After a historic inaugural year, San Diego FC returns for its 2026 home opener versus CF Montréal. The club was the top seed in Major League Soccer’s Western Conference last season, winning 19 matches and earning 63 points during the 34-match regular season. This was the most victories and points ever recorded by a new MLS expansion team. The club made it to the MLS Western Conference Finals, but lost to the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1. 7:30 p.m. Feb. 21. Snapdragon Stadium, 2101 Stadium Way, San Diego. sandiegofc.com
March
Elephant Valley opens: The San Diego Zoo Safari Park’s newest exhibit, Denny Sanford Elephant Valley, is scheduled to open in early March. Elephant Valley is designed to showcase to visitors the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s conservation efforts and the communities and culture in Kenya where elephants and people coexist. This new exhibit will also have a two-story building with three dining destinations: Mkutano, Ona Lounge, and Tu Grill. The food is inspired by several African regions, according to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. March 5. San Diego Zoo Safari Park, 15500 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido. sdzsafaripark.org/elephantvalley.
Nine Inch Nails: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Nine Inch Nails bring their Peel It Back Tour to San Diego. The tour started across Europe and now makes its way to the United States. Nine Inch Nails was founded by music producer and songwriter Trent Reznor in the late 1980s and dropped their first album, “Pretty Hate Machine,” in 1989. Over the years, the band has released over 15 studio albums. Rezner has also scored and composed music for films such as “The Social Network” and, most recently, “Tron: Ares.” Nine Inch Nails was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020. 7 p.m. March 9. Pechanga Arena, 3500 Sports Arena Blvd., San Diego. $89-$505 pechangaarenasd.com/event/nineinchnails