Events

“December Nights” at Balboa Park

Dec. 5-6. Ring in the season with the city’s largest free holiday festival. Balboa Park hosts two days of family-friendly festivities, including live entertainment and concerts—from ballet to bands to choirs and chorales to puppetry. (We suggest visiting Spanish Village Art Center for all kinds of artsy, festive fun.) The park will be decked out in holiday decor and lights; along with photo ops with Santa; and holiday-themed bites and beverages. See website for details and parking tips. F 3-11 p.m.; Sa 11 a.m.-11 p.m. 1549 El Prado, Balboa Park. Details

Holiday Wonderland at Petco Park

Dec. 5-23. Petco Park’s Gallagher Square becomes an over-the-top holiday haven brimming with festive lighting displays, decorations, holiday characters, seasonal treats and drinks, visits and photos with Santa Claus, an old-fashioned carousel, live entertainment and music, and a 40-foot-tall Christmas tree. Shop for one-of a kind gifts by local artisans; take a ride aboard the Christmas train; experience nightly snowfall while walking through wintery tunnels; sled down a hill of real snow; and more. Open select dates. See website for hours and tickets. 840 K St., East Village. Details

Little Italy Tree Lighting & Christmas Village

Dec. 6. The Little Italy Association kicks off the holiday season with its 26th annual family-friendly celebration. The ‘hood becomes a winter wonderland, outfitted with 10-foot-tall gold nutcrackers; kinetic spiral trees; the lighting of the permanent 25-foot-tall live tree in Piazza della Famiglia (6:30 p.m.); and the return of the Aurora Tree—a Venetian-inspired tree designed by artist Joshua Hubert, located in the Piazza Basilone. The fun also includes holiday treats, seasonal vendors, live music and an appearance by Santa. 4-8 p.m. Free. India Street, Little Italy. littleitalysd.com

Old Town Trolley Holiday Tours

Through Jan. 3. All aboard! Old Town Trolley’s “Holiday Sights & Festive Nights” tours let you explore the festive lights and landmarks of the city—including historical Old Town, Little Italy, Bankers Hill, Garrison Street and more. The 75-minute tours include a seat aboard an old-fashioned Old Town trolley, complete with carol singalongs and elf conductors who double as tour guides full of local trivia, history and holiday fun facts. See website for ticket pricing. (No tours Dec. 25 and Dec. 31.) 4010 Twiggs St., Old Town, 866.754.0966. Details

Food + Drink

“Clicquot in the Clouds” at Manchester Hyatt

Opens Dec. 5. For the first time, Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego opens its private, 32nd-floor lounge in its Seaport Tower to the public for an elegant holiday pop-up experience (select dates). Created in partnership with Moët Hennessy, “Clicquot in the Clouds” includes Veuve Clicquot by the glass (or splurge on Dom Pérignon); holiday cocktails; bites such as oysters and grass-fed beef sliders with truffle-Parmesan frites; and sweeping bay and skyline views. See website for dates offered and reservations (walk-ins also welcome; 21+). 4-11 p.m. 1 Market Place, downtown. Details

“Snowed In” Holiday Pop-Up at Fort Oak

Through Jan. 3. The bar at Fort Oak has been overhauled into “Snowed In,” a holiday pop-up experience comprising over-the-top decorations and a themed cocktail menu. Choose from a dozen libations served in festive mugs and glasses, such as Big Nic Energy made with bourbon, apple cider and spices; Santa Slaps with vodka, cold brew, amaretto, cream and chai; and the signature Snowed In cocktail. Open daily 4 p.m.-midnight (see website for added hours on select dates; closed Christmas Day). Walk-ins only. 1011 Fort Stockton Drive, Mission Hills. fortoaksd.com

“The Frosty Saddle” Pop-Up at Estancia

Now Open. Get into the holiday spirit at Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa, which has transformed Mustangs & Burros into “The Frosty Saddle.” The cozy pop-up experience features holiday decorations, lights, bites and themed cocktails. Open daily 4-10 p.m. See website for details on this and other holiday happenings at Estancia, such as Santa’s Suite (Dec. 5-20), offering photos with Santa, cookie decorating and more; and the Holiday Snow Globe Experience, where you can dine in your own private igloo. 9700 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla. estancialajolla.com

Holiday Cheer at Queenstown Public House

Now Open. Who says it doesn’t snow in San Diego? Bonus points go to Queenstown Public House, which has morphed into a snow-covered gingerbread house for the holidays, thanks to some of the most whimsical, over-the-top decorations we’ve seen anywhere in town. Queenstown “snows” every hour beginning at 5 p.m. Dine outside (we suggest getting your photo taken between the giant candy canes on the stairs) or inside amid hanging gingerbread men and twinkling lights. And try the exclusive Smokey S’mores cocktail! 1557 Columbia St., Little Italy, 619.546.0444. Details

Holiday Happenings at The Lafayette Hotel

Now Available. The Lafayette Hotel is going big with its holiday offerings and aesthetics this year. Grab a drink at the Lobby Bar, beneath its soaring atrium with hanging Christmas trees decorated to the max. Offerings include the classic Old Fashioned, Hot Toddy and rum-based Tiki. Or book a Holiday Tea Service in the  lobby (M-F noon-4 p.m.; $65); enjoy Christmas carolers on the front steps in the evenings; and check out “Night Moves Santa” (F-Sa 8-10 p.m.), taking requests and granting wishes. 2223 El Cajon Blvd., North Park, 619.296.2101. lafayettehotelsd.com

Arts + Culture

Lamb’s Players Theatre: Festival of Christmas

Dec. 3-28. Get into the holiday spirit at Lamb’s Players Theatre, presenting its popular Festival of Christmas—but in a brand-new production and script by Kerry Meads for 2025. This year’s theme, “Let It Be Christmas,” delves into the many ways the holiday season builds a sense of community in our lives. The revue-style production features a talented ensemble cast of a dozen musicians, vocalists and performers delivering gorgeous holiday music. See website for showtimes and ticket pricing. 1142 Orange Ave., Coronado, 619.437.6000. lambsplayers.org

“December Nights” by Michael Warburton. “Snowed In” / Fort Oak is courtesy of Trust Restaurant Group. The Lafayette Hotel by Shannon Partrick. All other images are courtesy of the venues and businesses featured.