San Diego stays sunny in December, offering warm days and cool evenings that make exploring the city a treat. While other destinations bundle up, you can walk on beaches, tour outdoor attractions, and enjoy holiday festivities without a heavy coat. December also brings smaller crowds to popular spots, giving you more space to soak in the sights. The city transforms with twinkling lights and seasonal celebrations, creating a festive atmosphere that you'll love experiencing.
San Diego's Best Holiday Festivals and Light Shows
December in San Diego means spectacular light displays and holiday festivals that bring neighborhoods to life with seasonal cheer. Here are a few displays you won't want to miss.
December Nights at Balboa Park
Balboa Park becomes a holiday wonderland during December Nights, one of the largest free festivals in the country. The event fills the park's Spanish colonial buildings with lights, music, and the scent of international foods. You can explore museum exhibits, watch performances on multiple stages, and browse handmade crafts from local artisans.
San Diego Bay Parade of Lights
Watch decorated boats glide across the water during the San Diego Bay Parade of Lights, a floating spectacle that happens on two Sunday evenings in mid-December. The parade route runs along Harbor Island, Seaport Village, and the Embarcadero, where you can stand at the water's edge for free. San Diego City Cruises offers special viewing experiences if you want to see the parade from the water itself. Boats of all sizes compete for prizes, adorned with elaborate light displays and holiday decorations.
Neighborhood Holiday Displays
Little Italy hangs thousands of lights along India Street, creating a canopy of twinkling stars overhead. The neighborhood hosts a tree lighting ceremony early in the month and keeps the lights up through New Year's.
Seasonal Twists at CityPASS® Partner Attractions
Several top San Diego attractions offer special holiday programming in December, giving you even more reasons to visit these popular spots.
SeaWorld® San Diego's Christmas Celebration
SeaWorld® San Diego transforms into a winter wonderland with its Christmas Celebration. The park adds holiday-themed shows featuring Sesame Street characters, dazzling light displays throughout the grounds, and seasonal treats at food stands. You can meet sea lions wearing Santa hats and watch Shamu's Christmas Miracles, which combines marine animals with holiday magic.
Jungle Bells at San Diego Zoo
The San Diego Zoo celebrates the season with Jungle Bells, featuring thousands of lights strung throughout the pathways and special entertainment. Live musicians perform holiday classics while you walk past animal habitats decked out in festive decorations. The zoo creates snow play areas where kids can experience the white stuff, even though San Diego's December temperatures hover around 65 degrees. Evening visits during Jungle Bells give you a different perspective on the zoo, with lit pathways guiding you through exhibits that take on new character after dark.
USS Midway's Jingle Jets
The USS Midway Museum adds holiday cheer to its historic aircraft carrier with Jingle Jets. The ship's flight deck gets decorated with lights, and Santa makes appearances for photos with families. The museum stays true to its naval heritage while incorporating seasonal elements, creating a unique setting for winter activities in San Diego that you won't find anywhere else.
Holidays at LEGOLAND® California
LEGOLAND® California turns into a festive playground during its Holidays at LEGOLAND celebration. The park features a towering LEGO Christmas tree with sparkling lights, holiday-themed shows like Jingle Jamboree, and meet-and-greets with LEGO Santa and other seasonal characters. Kids can enjoy building activities and snap photos with giant LEGO wreaths, while families savor holiday treats scattered throughout the park. Evening visits include Santa's Christmas Magic Fireworks, adding a burst of color to the coastal night sky.
Outdoor Adventures and Wildlife
December's mild weather makes it perfect for exploring San Diego's natural beauty, and you might even spot some seasonal visitors.
Whale Watching Season Begins
Gray whales start their migration south in December, passing close to San Diego's coastline on their way to Baja California. Several companies offer whale-watching tours that launch from the harbor, taking you out to sea where you can spot these massive mammals breaching and spouting. The migration continues through April, but December marks the beginning when excited tour guides point out the first sightings of the season.
La Jolla Cove and Torrey Pines
La Jolla Cove attracts fewer visitors in December, giving you a quieter experience at one of Southern California's most photographed spots. Seals lounge on the rocks below the cliffs, and tide pools reveal sea stars and anemones during low tide. A few miles north, Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve offers hiking trails with ocean views and rare pine trees found nowhere else on Earth. The cooler December temperatures make hiking more comfortable than summer's heat, and the winter light creates stunning conditions for photography.
Balboa Park's Gardens
Beyond the December Nights festival, Balboa Park's gardens bloom year-round thanks to San Diego's climate. The Botanical Building's lily pond reflects the structure's arched windows, and desert gardens showcase plants that thrive in dry conditions. December brings fewer crowds to these spaces, letting you wander the paths and admire the landscape architecture without competing for photo spots.
Local Winter Traditions and Culture
San Diego adds its own spin to winter traditions, mixing beach vibes with holiday spirit.
Ice Skating at Hotel del Coronado
The Hotel del Coronado sets up a seasonal ice skating rink on its beachfront lawn, creating a surreal scene where you can skate with palm trees and ocean waves in the background. The rink operates throughout December and into January, offering both daytime and evening sessions. The Victorian hotel, built in 1888, provides a grand backdrop for this winter activity that feels both traditional and distinctly Southern Californian.
Festive Dining in Little Italy
Little Italy's restaurants create special menus for December, featuring seasonal ingredients and holiday-inspired dishes. The neighborhood's Italian heritage shines during the Festa celebrations, and many restaurants offer outdoor seating that takes advantage of San Diego's pleasant winter weather. You can grab cannoli from a bakery and stroll under the lighted canopy that transforms India Street into a glowing walkway.
Old Town Holiday Celebrations
Old Town San Diego State Historic Park celebrates Las Posadas, a traditional Mexican holiday observance that reenacts Mary and Joseph's search for shelter. The candlelit procession, traditional music, and authentic food give visitors a glimpse into how California's early settlers marked the season. Explore the historic district aboard the Old Town Trolley, which offers a convenient way to experience the area's festive atmosphere.
Make Your San Diego Holiday Unforgettable With CityPASS® Tickets
San Diego CityPASS® tickets give you access to San Diego's top things to do while saving up to off regular admission. The tickets remain valid for multiple days, letting you pace your visits and soak in December's special programming without rushing. Start planning your San Diego holiday adventure with CityPASS® tickets and discover why December might be the perfect time to visit America's Finest City.