{"id":71036,"date":"2025-11-26T18:42:10","date_gmt":"2025-11-26T18:42:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/71036\/"},"modified":"2025-11-26T18:42:10","modified_gmt":"2025-11-26T18:42:10","slug":"11-fun-things-to-do-in-san-diego-this-month-december-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/71036\/","title":{"rendered":"11 Fun Things to Do in San Diego This Month: December 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

December is somehow already here, and San Diego is closing out the year with one last festive hurrah. As 2026 peeks around the corner, the city is glowing with holiday theater productions, twinkling light displays, cheerful concerts, and end-of-year celebrations. From Santa Runs and over-the-top boat light shows to local makers markets and family-friendly<\/a> festivals, there\u2019s no shortage of fun things to do in San Diego<\/a> this month. Whether you\u2019re chasing holiday cheer,<\/a> planning weekends with visiting family, or looking for the best festive events in San Diego this December, you\u2019ll have no problem filling your calendar before the ball drops.<\/p>\n

Concerts & Festivals<\/a> | Theater & Art Exhibits<\/a> | More Fun Things to Do<\/a><\/p>\n

\"FunCourtesy of Fever
Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings<\/p>\n

Concerts & Festivals in San Diego This Month<\/p>\n

Mariachi Sol de M\u00e9xico at Balboa Theatre<\/p>\n

December 4<\/p>\n

Latin Grammy nominee Jos\u00e9 Hern\u00e1ndez leads Mariachi Sol de M\u00e9xico<\/a> for a festive, family-friendly fiesta featuring classic mariachi tunes and beloved holiday hits at the Balboa Theatre<\/a> in downtown.<\/p>\n

La Jolla Christmas Parade and Holiday Festival<\/p>\n

December 7<\/p>\n

Watch bands, floats, horses, and community groups march through La Jolla Village<\/a>, then take little ones to meet Santa, try their hands at holiday crafts, and get into the spirit of the season at the free La Jolla Christmas Parade and Holiday Festival.<\/a><\/p>\n

San Diego Bay Parade of Lights<\/p>\n

December 14 & 21<\/p>\n

In the San Diego Bay Parade of Lights<\/a>, the floats literally float\u201480 boats will traverse the bay, decked out in dazzling lights and Christmas d\u00e9cor<\/a>, for the viewing pleasure of more than 100,000 attendees.<\/p>\n

Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings at Star Theatre<\/p>\n

December 19<\/p>\n

Score serious romantic brownie points by treating your sweetheart to a Christmas concert by candlelight<\/a>. A string quartet at the Star Theatre in Oceanside<\/a> will serenade audiences with instrumental versions of \u201cO Holy Night,\u201d \u201cJoy to the World,\u201d and other favorites.<\/p>\n

Noel Noel at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park<\/p>\n

December 19\u201321<\/p>\n

The San Diego Symphony Orchestra, Master Chorale, and Children\u2019s Choir will all take the stage at The Rady Shell<\/a> at Jacobs Park for Noel Noel,<\/a> three nights of Christmas tunes and cheerful sing-alongs.<\/p>\n

\"FunPhoto Credit: Johann Milio<\/p>\n

Theater & Art Exhibits in San Diego This Month<\/p>\n

Balboa Park December Nights<\/p>\n

December 5\u20136<\/p>\n

Enjoy free access to the Mingei International Museum<\/a> and the Japanese Friendship Garden, paint mini figures at the Comic-Con Museum<\/a>, pick up handmade ceramic gifts at the Institute of Contemporary Art, and meet Santa Claus at the Automotive Museum as part of Balboa Park December Nights<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Nutcracker at the San Diego Civic Theatre<\/p>\n

December 12\u201321<\/p>\n

Spend an evening in a magical world of sugar plum fairies, leaping nutcrackers, and villainous mice with the Golden State Ballet<\/a>\u2019s breathtaking performance of The Nutcracker <\/a>at the San Diego Civic Theatre.<\/p>\n

\"FunPhoto Credit: 3Pix Studios<\/p>\n

More Fun Things to Do in San Diego This Month<\/p>\n

Nitro Circus at Pechanga Arena<\/p>\n

December 6<\/p>\n

Action movies not quite high-stakes enough for you? Head to Pechanga Arena for Nitro Circus<\/a>, a heart-pumping display of gravity-defying tricks from fearless motocross, skateboard, and scooter athletes.<\/p>\n

Del Mar Fairgrounds\u2019 Coastal Christmas<\/p>\n

December 12\u201326<\/p>\n

Think of the Del Mar Fairgrounds\u2019 Coastal Christmas<\/a> as winter\u2019s answer to the county fair\u2014the family event<\/a> features a sparkling holiday light trail, an ice-skating rink, a wine walk, a kids\u2019 zone, and more.<\/p>\n

PARTNER CONTENT<\/p>\n


\n \"James
\n James Beard Finalist Tara Monsod Debuts \u201cDate Night…
\n <\/a><\/p>\n


\n \"Faces
\n Faces of Healthcare 2025
\n <\/a><\/p>\n

San Diego Santa Run<\/p>\n

December 13<\/p>\n

If St. Nick needed a few doppelg\u00e4ngers to help him hit every house on Christmas Eve, he\u2019d simply need to head to Pacific Beach, where more than 40,000 participants will don his iconic suit for the San Diego Santa Run<\/a>, the city\u2019s silliest 5K.<\/p>\n

Gaslamp Pet Parade<\/p>\n

December 13<\/p>\n

Get your furry family members outfitted in ugly sweaters or elfin attire and join the annual Gaslamp Pet Parade<\/a>. Afterward, animals and their owners can head to the Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter<\/a> for free photo ops, fun games, and a costume contest awards ceremony.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"December is somehow already here, and San Diego is closing out the year with one last festive hurrah.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":71037,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[232,6030,3056,330,74,76,75,1058,420],"class_list":{"0":"post-71036","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-san-diego","8":"tag-232","9":"tag-arts-culture","10":"tag-features","11":"tag-music","12":"tag-san-diego","13":"tag-san-diego-headlines","14":"tag-san-diego-news","15":"tag-theater","16":"tag-things-to-do"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71036","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=71036"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71036\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/71037"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=71036"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=71036"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=71036"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}