Want a festive weekend in San Diego? We’ve got yearly yuletide events like the Golden State Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker, plus new traditions like Project [BLANK]’s Fates, Boots and Bob, which introduces an alien adventure into the Christmas canon. Of course, that’s not all of San Diego’s seasonal shindigs. The Vandals will play rowdy holiday tracks at the House of Blues and Exclusive Collection Gallery will exhibit original Grinch drawings by Dr. Seuss, in addition to 10 more can’t-miss happenings.
Food & Drink | Concerts & Festivals | Theater & Art Exhibits | More Fun Things to Do
Food & Drink Events in San Diego This Weekend
Monello Cocktail & Spirit Pairing Dinner
December 19
Chef Fabrizio Cavallini and GBOD Beverage Director Ryan Andrews will lead a four-course pairing dinner at Monello featuring Woodford Reserve Bourbon this Friday at 7 p.m. Guests will dine on handmade pasta and sip bourbon-infused cocktails. Andrews will also explore the history and production process of the whiskey. This meal is $125 and only open to 24 guests. To RSVP, you must submit a $50 reservation deposit.
750 West Fir Street, Little Italy
Duck Dive Holiday Onesie Brunch
December 20
Enjoy a cozy meal in Pacific Beach at Duck Dive’s annual Holiday Onesie Brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Come in your most comfortable onesie or pajamas and indulge in sweet and savory breakfast items like chorizo potato hash and stuffed French toast. Buying an entrée gets you $19 bottomless mimosas, also available until 2 p.m.
4650 Mission Boulevard, Pacific Beach
Coastal Chill: Winter Solstice Celebration at Garibaldi
December 21
Spend your Winter Solstice at Garibaldi‘s fun and frosty Coastal Chill event at 4 p.m. this Saturday on the third floor of InterContinental San Diego. The event includes music from DJ Ayla Simone, luxe winter parkas, a snow machine, heaters, and an all-you-can-eat buffet that features oysters, lobster, and mussels. Also included in the ticket price are bottomless Amaro hot chocolate and Mediterranean s’mores with a dessert wine pairing, as well as an intention-setting station, where every card completed marks a $1 donation to the conservation nonprofit Wildcoast. Tickets can be purchased on Resy for $85.
901 Bayfront Court, Downtown
Concerts & Festivals in San Diego This Weekend
Digable Planets and The Pharcyde at The Sound
December 19
Legendary hip hop groups from opposite coasts—Brooklyn-based Digable Planets and LA’s The Pharcyde—will collide for a night of alternative rap at The Sound this Thursday at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $61 for this concert.
2260 Jimmy Durante Boulevard, Del Mar
The Vandals Christmas Formal at House of Blues
December 20
Orange County–bred punk rockers The Vandals have always had a soft spot for Christmas, dating back to their 1996 holiday album Oi to the World! This year, the band is bringing its annual Christmas Formal concert to San Diego this Friday night at the House of Blues. Tickets start at $42 for this show.
1055 Fifth Avenue, Gaslamp
Las Posadas: A Traditional Mexican Christmas Celebration at Balboa Theatre
December 20
This Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Balboa Theatre, Las Posadas will tell the story of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem and the birth of Jesus through traditional Mexican carols and American holiday tunes. Tickets start at $34.
868 Fourth Avenue, Gaslamp
Sara Petite Presents A Loretta Lynn Christmas at The Casbah
December 22
Local americana artist Sara Petite will channel the country storytelling of the legendary Loretta Lynn in a performance with her band and some special guests this Sunday at 6 p.m. at The Casbah. Petite will debut her track “Honky Tonk Angel” and sing a handful of Christmas essentials in this intimate performance. Tickets are $20 for this concert.
2501 Kettner Boulevard, Harborview
Theater & Art Exhibits in San Diego This Weekend
Merry Grinch-Mas at Exclusive Collection Gallery
Through December 31
Ted Geisel, known to readers worldwide as Dr. Seuss, penned iconic children’s books like How the Grinch Stole Christmas! In the new Merry Grinch-Mas exhibition from Exclusive Collection Gallery’s The Arts of Dr. Seuss collection, the gallery will display private images featuring Seuss’ beloved green grump, including works signed by his wife, Audrey Geisel.
621 Fifth Avenue, Gaslamp
Fates, Boots and Bob: A Hijacked Hootenanny Holiday Hullabaloo at Bread & Salt
December 20
This Friday at Bread & Salt Gallery, performers from Project [BLANK] will present the intergalactic comedy Fates, Boots and Bob: A Hijacked Hootenanny Holiday Hullabaloo. It’s A Christmas Carol with several twists, including an extraterrestrial visitor and a piece of sacred toast. This event has all-in pricing—you can choose your cost, from $5 to $50. Attendees are also invited to bring items like new clothing, undergarments, reusable water bottles, and non-perishable food items to donate to Border Angels.
1955 Julian Avenue, Logan Heights
Golden State Ballet Presents The Nutcracker at Civic Theatre
December 20–22
Travel to the Land of the Sweets with Clara and the Nutcracker Prince at Golden State Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker at the Civic Theatre. There will be five performances of The Nutcracker this weekend. Tickets start at $48 for this timeless holiday ballet.
1100 Third Avenue, Downtown
Lighthouse Players Present: A Christmas Carol, the Musical
December 21–22
The Lighthouse Players offer a musical version of A Christmas Carol with period-era costumes and a live orchestra this weekend. There will be performances on Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at The Bornemann Theatre. Tickets range from $25 to $35 and can be purchased here.
555 Deer Springs Road, San Marcos
More Fun Things to Do in San Diego This Weekend
Mini Golf Pop-Up at Swing Social
December 18
Test out your putt-putt skills this Wednesday from 4 to 9 p.m. as Swing Social sets up 18 holes of mini golf in the Gaslamp. Golfers can enjoy nearby food and drink specials, such as $16 draft beers and $10 Wagyu smash burgers and fries at Swing Social, long happy hours at Huntress (6 to 9 p.m.) and Lumi (4 to 9 p.m.), and $12 Wagyu sliders and spicy chicken sliders at Rustic Root. Tickets for this all-ages pop-up are $20; ticket prices will rise to $39 the day of the event.
527 Fifth Avenue, Gaslamp
The Office: Holiday Party at Rooftop Cinema Club Embarcadero
December 19
Spend your Thursday evening with Dunder Mifflin employees and superfans of The Office at the Rooftop Cinema Club Embarcadero. The Office: Holiday Party will run through the show’s iconic holiday party episodes: “Christmas Party,” “A Benihana Christmas – Parts 1 & 2,” and “Moroccan Christmas.” The screening at 6:30 p.m. is already sold out, but tickets ($33) for the 9:45 showing are still available. Your booking comes with a reserved loveseat; a heater; and a hot, seasonal, non-alcoholic beverage of your choice.
1 Market Place, Embarcadero
Fit Athletic Yoga at The Rady Shell
December 21
Beat the holiday stress with a free group yoga session this Saturday morning on the grass lawn of the Rady Shell at Jacobs Park. Instructor Viktoria Talbot of FIT Athletic leads the class from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.. Anyone interested in attending can RSVP on Eventbrite.
222 Marina Park Way, Embarcadero
