Celebrate like Blanche, Dorothy, Rose and Sophia at The Golden Girls Christmas Experience in Little Italy. (Photo courtesy of Bucket Listers)

Picture it: San Diego 2025. You can deck the lanai at a Golden Girls holiday pop-up, sip wine beside a live giraffe and even ice skate by the sea this weekend.

Get your groove on Friday at 4:30 p.m. as the Steph Johnson Quartet plays a free outdoor concert, part of La Jolla Music Society’s Wu Tsai QRT.yrd Concert Series at The Conrad. Johnson, an award-winning jazz, soul, funk and blues artist, is also co-founder of the Voices of Our City Choir, featured in the PBS documentary The Homeless Chorus Speaks.

Mannheim Steamroller, or “MSR” as the die-hard fans call them, brings its sweet seasonal synth to the Civic Theatre Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., with its long-running holiday spectacle, Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis. Now in its 48th season, the Grammy-winning group rolls out classic Christmas hits in its distinctive sound, performed by 15 musicians on more than 20 instruments against a backdrop of dazzling multimedia effects. Tickets start at $52.

Catch the world premiere of Sea Otters: A Wild Family Adventure at the Fleet Science Center’s IMAX® Giant Dome Theater starting Friday. Follow Finn, a playful otter pup as he explores the rugged coast of Vancouver Island in this immersive documentary. A Fleet Experience admission ticket includes one documentary film and costs $24.95 for adults, $22.95 for seniors and $19.95 for children. 

Friendsgiving at the Bayou Friday brings a holiday feast to North Park’s Louisiana Purchase, where you can dig into an all-you-can-eat buffet of Chef Quinnton Austin’s signature dishes for $40 and add an optional $60 open bar. Regular dinner service is also available, and reservations are strongly encouraged.

Say “thank you for being a friend” at The Golden Girls Christmas Experience, a pop-up at Bayside Kitchen in Little Italy running through Jan. 11. The celebration turns the beloved sitcom’s Miami-inspired setting into a holiday-themed haven, complete with Golden Girls desserts, seasonal cocktails and photo-ready spots such as Blanche’s Boudoir and the iconic lanai. Expect weekend drag brunch, trivia nights, bingo and Shady Pines Tea Time, with general admission starting at $19.90 and special events priced from $27.50 to $43.

If you’re getting an early start on holiday shopping or hunting for unique handmade decor – two markets are ready to help:

The Japanese Friendship Garden’s Holiday Market opens at 10 a.m. Saturday with more than 20 vendors, crafters, artists and food booths. Entry is included with the garden’s $16 admission.
The 41st annual Encinitas Holiday Street Fair takes over six blocks of 101 South Coast Highway Sunday starting at 9 a.m. with more than 450 vendors, carnival rides, a beer garden and live performances across three stages.

Start your Saturday with a jolt at barleymash, where ginger’s – the lounge beneath the restaurant – comes alive with “Steeped in Sound.” Let a live DJ and coffee cocktails be your eye opener in the Gaslamp District from 10:30 a.m. to 2:20 p.m. The 21+ event is free to attend, with RSVPs requested.

Bring your friendly furry friend – or perhaps take one home – at the 16th annual Doggie Street Festival Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at NTC Park in Liberty Station. This free event features adoptable pets from more than a dozen rescues, vendors selling pet products and accessories, veterinarian tips, contests, music, a kids’ art area and plenty of goodies for animals and their owners. 

Orfila Vineyards & Winery in Escondido welcomes a live giraffe to the lawn Saturday for a family-friendly hangout from 2-4 p.m. “Groovin with a Giraffe” includes DJ sets throughout the day, a mobile petting zoo, food, wine and plenty of outdoor seating. Please note, guests may view the giraffe, but petting and feeding are not allowed.

San Diego’s skating season serves up festive fun on the ice that might tempt you to try a triple salchow or even a triple lutz. Rady Children’s Hospital outdoor rink at Liberty Station’s is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., with $25 admission for adults/$15 for children and proceeds support the hospital’s Thriving After Cancer Program. Hotel del Coronado’s Skating by the Sea debuts Friday from 2-10 p.m., including a 5:30 p.m. performance by actress and singer Jenna Leigh Green. General admission runs $40-$45, depending on the date, with value skate days at $35. And for those heading to the mountains, the Viejas Outlet Center Ice Rink in Alpine is open from 3-10 p.m. through Jan. 11, offering $24 skating for adults and teens, $22 for kids 12 and under. 

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