Instead of taking the stage, The Old Globe’s annual production of this Christmas classic is going a more traditional route with a special radio streaming of the show. Tune in to 89.5 FM for this exciting audio-only spin on a time-honored tradition.
Help spread some holiday cheer this year with One Paseo’s toy drive. In collaboration with local nonprofit Home Start, One Paseo’s trolley is transforming into a bountiful gifting sleigh decked with holiday decor. To participate, drop unwrapped and new gifts into the sleigh December 1-13. Wrapping supplies are also needed, so if you have extra to spare, bring it along with the gifts!
Join Santee’s Lantern Crest Senior Living for their inaugural holiday lights experience, a completely drive-thru event. Guests will drive down a brightly lit path of extravagant holiday displays and lights. Along the way, drive up to Santa’s Workshop to purchase hot cocoa, apple cider, and sweet treats to benefit the Lantern Crest Foundation, which provides care for low-income seniors.
Petco Park’s Gallagher Square is being transformed into a festive holiday market this year. Wend your way down a one-way trail through an Old World–inspired market with artisan vendors, grand light displays, crafts, food and beverages, and much more. The trail is divided into holiday themes like Candyland, Home for the Holidays, and Winter Wonderland. There will be DIY crafts and charming gifts you can peruse, ideally with a hot cider or tasty bratwurst in hand. The market is operating on reservations for specific time slots to adhere to social distancing guidelines.
840 K Street, Downtown
Chicken and waffle sliders at Taste of December Nights
This annual San Diego tradition is turning one of its most popular hallmarks—the food, obviously—into a drive-thru experience. Guests can attend the three-day event the first weekend of December to enjoy tastings from over 20 food trucks and vendors, including Tarantino’s sausages, chicken and waffles, and chicken tikka masala grilled cheese.
The Timken Museum of Art’s ornament-making workshop is going virtual this year. Let teaching artist Elizabeth Washburn walk you and the family through the crafting steps, inspired by their Jewels of the Season ornament collection. By purchasing the Family Ornament Kit, you’ll come prepared to decorate with two large ornaments and an assortment of family-friendly materials from the original collection.
La Mesa’s annual holiday gathering will return with social-distancing guidelines in place. Attendees can visit plenty of photo-op stations, enjoy festive bites at the food court, get into DIY projects at the holiday craft market, and shop giftables from local vendors and artisans. The market will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The Pink Lady’s award-winning holiday tea will return this year for select dates in December. Enjoy a menu of select teas, tasty sandwiches, and seasonal homemade sweets in a classic tea time with a holiday twist, hosted on their Patio Sol, where the twinkle lights will provide the ideal ambience to get you into the spirit of the season. Prefer something a little stronger? The hotel is also offering a select menu of special cocktails, including a Holiday Mule and a Figgy Smash.
Little Italy is kicking off their holiday happenings with a virtual streaming of their Little Italy Holiday Special, with performances by the Our Lady of the Rosary Choir, a reading of ’Twas the Night Before Christmas, and special messages from Little Italy’s business owners before the annual tree lighting ceremony. Throughout the rest of the month, watch for more merry celebrations like their Wednesday Holiday Market (each Wednesday in December excluding December 30), their 10th annual Toy Drive, and the weekly, virtual holiday cocktail classes with some of Little Italy’s most beloved mixologists. As always, little ones can drop off their letters to Santa at the big red mailbox in the Piazza della Famiglia.
The Del Mar Fairgrounds’ new drive-in experiences continue in December. Holidays in Your Car will lead merry guests through an immersive drive-thru light show that includes over a million LEDs. Then, enjoy the drive-up Santa Saves Christmas stage show. On December 19, the event will collaborate with City Ballet to host a live two-show performance of The Nutcracker.
Give your curbside pickup the holiday treatment at Café Coyote’s Winter Wonderland drive-thru. On these select dates you can pick up your takeout order from Santa Claus and grab your holiday photo all from your car! Place your order online and write “Santa Sunday” in the comments to guarantee your takeout experience.
This Point Loma pasta eatery is giving their three alfresco dining areas the holiday treatment. Dine amid a wintery wonderland scene complete with oversize ornaments, cascading garlands, fleece blankets, sparkling decor, and much more. Cesarina also has two chiminea fireplaces set up to keep guests warm and will have two special à la carte menus for Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. The big holiday makeover will be revealed on December 8, coinciding with Italy’s Feast of the Immaculate Conception—their official start to the Christmas season.
Enjoy a festive breakfast reception at Eats by Sam (“Sam the Cooking Guy,” that is), with a special appearance by Surfin’ Santa. The menu will include classic dishes like French toast and breakfast sandwiches, and spiked holiday beverages for the over-21 crowd. After you and the little ones grab photos with Surfin’ Santa, stick around for the interactive magic show, live music, and holiday goodie bags.
In collaboration with the Timken Museum of Art, the San Diego Model Railroad Museum is hosting a virtual holiday event to celebrate a Timken tradition. Every year, the museum displays the Jewels of the Season, a collection of handcrafted ornaments adorned with gems, sequins, stones, and more from around the globe. The virtual event will showcase these special pieces and offer a history on the ornaments, conducted by Lynne Thompson. This event is part of a greater campaign by the SDMRM to commemorate their 40th anniversary.
Explore the third annual Enchanted Village from the comfort of your car at this year’s drive-thru experience. San Diego–based nonprofit Noah Homes welcomes guests to cruise this immersive holiday display with over 100,000 lights and themed attractions, including a drive-thru light tunnel and towering musical Christmas tree. The nonprofit raises money to provide long-term care and accommodations for those with developmental disabilities.
While the annual tree-lighting ceremony will be skipped this year, visitors can still marvel at and take their picture in front of Liberty Station’s 88-foot twinkling Christmas tree in the North Promenade. The Norfolk pine will debut the day after Thanksgiving and remain throughout the holiday season. Also, the Chabad of Downtown San Diego will host a menorah lighting on the first night of Hanukkah, December 10, at the Central Promenade. In collaboration with San Diego Ballet, Liberty Station is also hosting a drive-in live performance of The Nutcracker.
Polite Provisions is adapting their annual winter wonderland pop-up to adhere to the latest safety guidelines. Enjoy your seasonal cocktails on their socially distanced outdoor patio (no reservations) with eight craft cocktails, two festive shots, and one punch to choose from. A few highlights? The Hot Buttered Rum with apple butter, the tiki-inspired Zombie, and their classic Holiday Punch.
The waterfront village will set the scene for a festive season with lights, decor, and plenty of merry happenings. First, admire the lifesize Surfin’ Santa mural and surfboard tree at Urban Beach. For more photo ops, take a picture with santa himself by the food court—previously Wyland Gallery—now through December 24. There will be social distancing guidelines in place to keep you (and Kris Kringle) safe. Throughout the season, masked carolers and holiday elves will be walking the village to bring that extra touch of holiday cheer.
The Grass Skirt is packing their holiday spirit into takeout cocktail kits all season long. Each week, the tiki-chic hangout will release a new box to pick up or be delivered with a mug-of-the-week, a cocktail kit for six, and extra goodies. The lineup kicking off the first week on November 25 includes the “Runaway Sleigh” gin cocktail with cranberry-sage syrup and zesty lime juice.
Neighborhood Lights
Multiple dates and locations
San Diego’s neighborhoods make a statement year-round, but some especially so during the holiday season. You and your loved ones can tour neighborhood blocks that traditionally go all-out on their decorations, like Poway’s Candy Cane Lane, Santee’s Starlight Circle, and Point Loma’s Garrison Street to check out the bright lights and amazing displays. Whether you take your self-guided tour on foot or by car, these free, organic festivities are not to be missed.
The iconic 1,200-acre preserve’s history dates back more than 150 years, evolving from a scrub-filled plot atop a mesa overlooking what’s now Downtown to an urban oasis—the largest of its kind in the country—filled with an array of museums, attractions, gardens, trails, restaurants, and more. Balboa Park is an epic playground where San Diegans and visitors alike can experience the great outdoors just as easily as they can enjoy a world-class performance or explore groundbreaking discoveries.
Tucked away in the Spanish Colonial Revival-style architecture are 18 diverse museums that allow visitors to spend the day learning about, well, anything. A great place to start is the San Diego History Center. Located in the Casa del Balboa building, the museum tells the story of the city’s past, present, and future through photographs and art, clothing and textiles, and interviews with people who witnessed history-making events firsthand. The San Diego Natural History Museum takes visitors even farther back with interactive exhibitions that show what the region was like up to 75 million years ago.
Blast off on a simulated trip to space at the San Diego Air & Space Museum, then check out artifacts from aviation legends, including the Wright brothers, Amelia Earhart, and Buzz Aldrin. Discover new perspectives revolutionizing the science world, learn about an often overlooked but overutilized utility, and exercise your creativity at the Fleet Science Center.
Calling all theater-lovers, Balboa Park has something for you, too. The San Diego Junior Theatre will present their musical take on beloved children’s book A Bad Case of the Stripes from June 26 through July 12. And laugh, cry, and marvel in awe as the pros of The Old Globe perform Kim’s Convenience, the award-winning comedy that inspired the popular series, from May 15 to June 14.
There’s nowhere else in Balboa Park quite like WorldBeat Cultural Center. The institution celebrates African diaspora and indigenous cultures around the world using art, music, dance, and education. The building, a renovated water tower covered in colorful murals, houses a performing arts center, museum, gift shop, cafe, and outdoor classroom.
If you’d like a side of nature with your culture, Balboa Park has you covered there, too. Stroll through the gardens of the Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum, a monument to the relationship between San Diego and its sister city, Yokohama, Japan. Inspired by traditional Japanese design dating back centuries, the 10-acre respite features a living exhibition that showcases plants native to both cities.
If there seems like a lot going on in Balboa Park, it’s because there is. Let theBalboa Park Cultural Partnership be your guide. The organization is the umbrella for 24 of the park’s institutions and offers an Explorer Pass that allows visitors to access multiple museums for one affordable price. The hardest part is picking where to start.
16 Museums, One Pass
Save on admission to San Diego’s top museums with the Balboa Park Explorer Pass. Explore 16 museums of art, science, history and culture across Balboa Park — all with one affordable pass. Choose the option that fits your pace: the Limited Pass (one day for up to four museums), the Parkwide Pass (seven consecutive days of access to all 16 museums) or the Annual Pass (365 days of unlimited exploring).
Looking for an experience-driven gift? Let the museum lover in your life enjoy their favorite museums all year with a Balboa Park Explorer Annual Pass gift voucher.
Bigger experiments, brighter ideas, and boundless curiosity await at the newly reimagined Fleet Science Center. This summer, the Fleet debuts Element 8 Cafe, an expanded theater queuing and concessions space, two new gallery spaces, and, for the first time, a free entrance gallery exploring science in and around San Diego. The transformation marks a new chapter for the Fleet, keeping it a vital, innovative, and accessible science hub for the region. Visitors are invited to explore the experience this summer and connect with the power of science like never before.
Address: 1875 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101 Website:FleetScience.org Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily Phone: 619-238-1233
Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum
An accredited cultural gem, the Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum brings traditional Japanese garden design to life with koi ponds, curving walkways and layers of greenery. Guests explore bonsai trees, streams and peaceful nooks while taking part in exhibits, educational programs and festivals that illuminate Japanese culture. Situated in the heart of Balboa Park, the garden doubles as a meditative retreat and a dynamic gathering place, welcoming visitors to slow their pace and connect more deeply.
Address: 2215 Pan American Road E, San Diego, CA 92101 Website:Niwa.org Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily; last admission at 6 p.m. Phone: 619-232-2721
The Old Globe
A San Diego summer favorite, The Old Globe invites audiences to experience a beloved local tradition in its outdoor Lowell Davies Festival Theatre.
This summer, the 2026 Shakespeare Festival presents two thrilling tales of power, passion and romance. Measure for Measure, running June 14 through July 12, 2026, is a riveting story of justice and hypocrisy that asks who holds power, who is punished and what it truly means to be virtuous. Much Ado About Nothing, playing Aug. 2–30, 2026, is a classic rom-com packed with schemes, sparks and laughter as opposites attract. Audiences can enjoy both shows for $44.
Address: 1363 Old Globe Way, San Diego, CA 92101 Website:TheOldGlobe.org Hours: Box office open Tuesday–Sunday, 1 p.m. to final curtain Phone: Box office, 619-234-5623
San Diego Air & Space Museum
Aviation and space exploration come to life at the San Diego Air & Space Museum. See an airworthy replica of the Spirit of St. Louis, a Gee Bee racer and historic aircraft from World War I, World War II and the Korean and Vietnam eras. Get up close to the Apollo 9 command module — one of only 11 of its kind in the world — along with Mercury and Gemini capsules, Mission Control and space shuttle simulators, and a selfie spot beside a lunar lander on the moon. Running through 2026, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! brings oddities from around the world to Balboa Park.
Address: 2001 Pan American Plaza, San Diego, CA 92101 Website:SanDiegoAirAndSpace.org Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Phone: 619-234-8291
San Diego History Center
History belongs to everyone. At the San Diego History Center, two experiences bring that history to life this summer: America at 250 and the Center for Women’s History. America at 250 traces San Diego’s place in 250 years of U.S. history, while summer programs invite children to learn and explore. The Center for Women’s History amplifies the voices of women whose leadership and creativity have shaped our region.
By understanding our past, we build a more vibrant and inclusive community together. These vital educational experiences are only possible through generous community support. Discover your roots, spark meaningful dialogue, and help keep San Diego’s stories alive for future generations.
Address: 1649 El Prado, Suite 3, San Diego, CA 92101 Website: SanDiegoHistory.org Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday–Sunday Phone: 619-232-6203
San Diego Junior Theatre
Junior Theatre is San Diego’s longest-running youth theatre program, empowering students ages 4 to 18 to explore storytelling, performance, and collaboration in a supportive environment. Through classes, camps, and productions, young artists build confidence, creativity, and lifelong skills onstage and off. Each season features a wide range of opportunities, from introductory experiences to advanced training in acting and musical theatre.
Looking for a summer adventure? Junior Theatre’s Summer Camps deliver dynamic programs for grades K–12, including musical theater intensives, acting academies and immersive JT Studio experiences. It’s a place where imagination truly takes center stage.
Address: 1650 El Prado, Suite 208, San Diego, CA 92101 Website:JuniorTheatre.com Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Phone: 619-239-1311
San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat)
This summer, The Nat is talking trash—literally. Their newest exhibition, Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea, features larger‑than‑life marine sculptures made of ocean debris collected from beaches. It invites visitors to explore the impact of plastic pollution and discover ways to take action.
But the experience doesn’t stop at the gallery doors. Friday nights, the exhibition transforms into an ocean-themed “dive bar” during Nat at Night. Select Sundays bring something brand new: a rooftop brunch with sweeping Balboa Park views. Add two new giant-screen films and five floors of nature to explore, and The Nat is shaping up to be one of the season’s must-visit destinations.
Address: 1788 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101 Website: SDNat.org Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays in summer Phone: 619-232-3821
WorldBeat Cultural Center
The WorldBeat Cultural Center is a nonprofit multidisciplinary cultural organization dedicated to promoting, presenting and preserving Indigenous cultures worldwide through music, art, dance, education, sustainability and community programs. WorldBeat elevates multicultural artists, expands opportunities for cultural enrichment and fosters deeper understanding across traditions. WorldBeat offers a holistic cultural experience that inspires pride, unity, connection and belonging for all ages.
Address: 2100 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA 92101 Website:WorldBeatCenter.org Hours: Classes: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, 6–9 p.m. Exhibits and café: Friday–Sunday, 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Phone: 619-230-1190
Event Calendar
Throughout 2026: Ripley’s Believe It Or Not!
Step into a world of the weird and wonderful at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! at the San Diego Air & Space Museum in Balboa Park. Explore hundreds of bizarre artifacts, interactive displays and unbelievable stories that celebrate the curious and the extraordinary.
Presented in partnership with the San Diego Museum of African American Fine Arts, San Diego’s Lost Neighborhoods uses augmented reality, oral histories, and archival materials to explore communities and residents displaced by redlining, freeway construction, and other discriminatory policies.
Spend a summer night at The Old Globe. The Lowell Davies Festival Theatre stages Measure for Measure (June 14–July 12) and Much Ado About Nothing (Aug. 2–30), offering two unforgettable Shakespeare productions for just $44.
The Old Globe | 1363 Old Globe Way, San Diego, CA 92101
June 8–Aug. 7: Theatre Summer Camps
Summer camps at Junior Theatre spark creativity for grades K–12 with hands-on training, musical theatre intensives, acting academies, and JT Studio experiences.
A museum visit turns into a Sunday Funday with the addition of rooftop brunch, featuring mimosas, bloody Marys, and brunch bites from Wolfish by Wolf in the Woods (June 14, August 9) and Hash House a Go Go (July 12).
Nagashi at the Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum by floating a lantern to honor loved ones who have passed. Stroll merchant booths, enjoy cultural performances in the Inamori Pavilion, and sample food vendors plus a beer and sake garden in the lower garden.
Explore arts, science, history, and culture in the Balboa Park Cultural District with one convenient, affordable Pass. The Balboa Park Explorer Pass is your ticket to up to 16 museums and endless fun! Purchase your pass at BuyMyExplorer.com.
In the heart of Pacific Beach, bar Ella debuted in 2023 with Executive Chef Brendan Nugent at the helm. Drawing on experience from both coasts, Nugent crafts a sustainable, seasonal menu inspired by his Northeast childhood and master‑gardener grandmother. Expect East Coast classics like lump crab cake, garlic shrimp in Old Bay broth and scratch‑made spaghetti with clams. Nugent’s commitment to using every part of each ingredient keeps waste low and the cooking sustainable. At bar Ella, first‑time guests become family.
Try This!
Lamb Lollipop: 24-hour buttermilk and za’atar marinated lamb, roasted, seared and finished with housemade chermoula.
Giuseppe Annunziata, General Manager; Emiliano Muslija, General Manager; Marcello Avitabile, Executive Pizza Chef; & Joseph Serra, Pizza Manager
At Amalfi Cucina Italiana, dining is a celebration of Italian tradition, hospitality and craftsmanship. General managers Giuseppe Annunziata and Emiliano Muslija have created a welcoming atmosphere where every glass of wine and plate of pasta reflects Italy’s culinary heritage.
Executive chef Marcello Avitabile, a five-time world pizza champion, and pizza chef Joseph Serra bring craftsmanship and soul to every dish through handmade pastas, artisan pizzas and authentic Italian flavors. all.
Try This!
Margherita Pizza: With San Marzona tomato sauce, mozzarella, basil, extra virgin olive oil, and prosciutto.
Jeremy Ogorek, Owner & Arturo Aguilar, Chef du Cuisine
At VanMan’s Kitchen, guests can enjoy grass-fed smash burgers, tallow fries, and milkshakes, all prepared with the same the commitment to quality San Diegans have come to expect from VanMan’s soaps and skincare products. That means everything is prepared in-house—and we mean everything, from the ketchup to the mayo to the pickles—and made from organic, natural ingredients. In fact, the fries are cooked in the same high-quality suet tallow that’s used for the company’s skincare products. That’s because when VanMan’s says you shouldn’t put anything on your body you wouldn’t eat, and you shouldn’t eat anything you wouldn’t put on your body, it’s not a cute marketing gimmick. It’s a commitment to always providing customers with the best possible ingredients. Another non-negotiable for VanMan’s Kitchen? Keeping all of this accessible. Expect a welcoming, laidback vibe and price tags that make eating organic food affordable to all.
Try This!
Classic Smash Burger: 100% Grass-fed beef, American cheese, organic lettuce, organic tomato, organic sliced onion, house pickles and burger sauce on a potato bun. Best with a side of tallow fries.
VanMan’s Kitchen
1380 Garnet Avenue, San Diego, California 92109 858-203-3795 | vanmanskitchen.com
Kevin Bang, Store Manager, National City & Jay Oh Store Manager, La Jolla
Tous les Jours has grown into a reputable bakery café franchise since its launch in the U.S. in 2004, with over 200 stores nationwide and more than 1,800 locations worldwide. Tous les Jours specializes in freshly baked breads, pastries, cakes, desserts, and premium beverages. Using only the finest ingredients, the products are known for their unique flavors and wholesome quality, with a wide variety of fresh, delicious items prepared daily for every occasion.
Tous les Jours has built its core strength in making the best kinds of bread, freshy baked in store every morning. The bakery uses carefully selected ingredients to offer stylish cakes and desserts in all types and sizes, depending on the occasion. From bold espresso to handcraft smoothies, the beverages are the perfect accompaniment to the artisan baked goods.
Stop by in June for 50% off a beverage with a purchase of a piece of cake, or a free beverage with purchase of a whole cake.
Try This!
Cloud Cake: Delight in this light and fluffy treat available in fresh cream, strawberry, triple berry, green tea, chocolate, mango and blueberry yogurt.h sake-soy vegetables and furikake onigiri.
Tous les Jours – La Jolla
3363 Nobel Drive, La Jolla, California 92037 858-699-3006 | @touslesjourslajolla
Tous les Jours – National City
1420 East Plaza Boulevard, B5, National City, California 91950 619-773-6033
