North County and San Diego County Events – December include tree lighting, parades, holiday lights and lots of fun activities. Happy holidays!
LEGOLAND Holiday Snow Days and Winter Nights
December 1 – January 3
Location: Carlsbad, One LEGOLAND Dr.
Build a snowman with LEGO® accessories and throw real snowballs at colorful targets. Experience the magic of Winter Nights with shows, music, and twinkling lights.
There’s even a food truck with yummy treats served by Santa’s Elves. Stay for the nightly fireworks over Miniland USA, December 26 – 30. Witness the lighting of a 30-foot tall LEGO Christmas Tree and enjoy live entertainment with LEGO Friends Live. A life-sized LEGO Brick Santa and Reindeer make the perfect family photo. Check the website for specific dates.
Winterfest and Tree Lighting
December 4
5:00 – 8:00 PM
Location: Downtown Vista, various locations
The Vista Village Business Association’s Downtown Winterfest begins Friday Dec 4 at 5:00 PM and continues until 8:00 PM featuring horse-drawn carriage rides and caroling, arts and craft vendors, and the annual Christmas Tree lighting on Friday, Dec. 4 at 6:15 PM at the Cinepolis Theatre. Carolers can be enjoyed in front of the AVO Playhouse and other selected venues. There will be arts and crafts vendors along Main Street.
Buena Vista Audubon Society Whelan Lake Bird Sanctuary Walk
December 5
8:00 AM
Location: Oceanside, Whelan Lake Bird Sanctuary, 3650 North River Rd.
Join Buena Vista Audubon Society for our regular monthly walk and bird survey at Whelan Lake. The freshwater lake, adjacent riparian forest, and grassy upland hills provide an exciting array of bird species throughout the year, making it a favorite place to go birding.
Vista Chamber Christmas Parade
December 5
1:00 – 3:00 PM
Location: Vista, on S. Santa Fe starting at Civic Center Dr.
Join us for a Seussical Christmas Parade on Saturday December 5 at 1:00pm in downtown Vista. We will have over 80 parade entries that include marching bands, equestrian teams, Star Wars characters, team mascots, numerous community groups and Santa himself. The Vista Library, which just celebrated its Centennial here in Vista, will be our Grand Marshall. There will be carnival rides before and after as well as ice sculptures and Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap snowfoam. After the parade head over to the Cinepolis for photos with all our parade mascots, Star Wars characters and more!
Holiday Concert Yale Strom & Hot Pstromi
December 5
2:00 – 3:00 PM
Location: Carlsbad, Ruby G. Schulman Auditorium, 1775 Dove Ln.
Yale Strom, bandleader and violinist, a pioneer among revivalists with extensive research in Central and Eastern Europe and the Balkans among the Jewish and Rom communities. Strom has become one of the world’s leading scholar-ethnographer-artists of klezmer music and history. Strom is also one of the only top composers of Jewish music to carry on the tradition of writing original songs, with Yiddish lyrics.
This is one of three concerts in the holiday concert series on December 3, 5, and 13, and is made possible in part by the Carlsbad Library and Arts Foundation’s Robert H. Gartner Cultural Endowment Fund.
Holiday Tree Lighting and Winter Wonderland Festival
December 5
3:00 – 8:00 PM
Location: Escondido, 340 N. Escondido Blvd.
Every year, the Center brings the North Pole to the heart of Escondido. Children will have the chance to frolic in real snow, decorate their very own Christmas cookies, and even rendezvous with live reindeer!
The highlight for kids is, of course, Santa Claus himself, but there will also be a number of holiday-themed entertainers—from carolers, to stilt walkers, to hula dancers—for all ages to enjoy. Food and drink will be available to warm your hands and hearts, and a number of local businesses will be displaying their wares for your holiday shopping needs.
At dusk, our Winter Wonderland Forest will come alive with twinkling lights, and no one will be able to resist the holiday spirit! There are always a few extra surprises in store, so don’t miss your chance to celebrate the holidays at the Center! This event is free and open to the public. Guests will not need a ticket to enjoy the festival, but you can RSVP if you want to avoid Santa’s Naughty List!
Holiday at the Rancho
December 5
5:00 – 8:00 PM
Location: Carlsbad, Leo Carillo Ranch Historic Park
Blending holiday spirit with a bit of western history, the City of Carlsbad will celebrate the season at its Holiday at the Rancho event Saturday, Dec. 5, from 5 to 8 p.m., at Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park.
The event will feature Santa in a cowboy hat, a tree lighting and a holiday movie under the stars, among other activities at the park located at 6200 Flying L.C. Lane.
Tickets are available at $8 per person and children under 3 are free. Admission includes crafts, face painting, holiday shopping, cookie decorating, 14-foot tree-lighting, an outdoor movie and entertainment.
Children can also sit on the lap of the western-styled Santa, a unique moment that parents can capture with their own cameras or pay $3 for a souvenir photo. Pony rides will be available and are an additional $6.
Rachael Shay, special events supervisor for the City of Carlsbad, said the Holiday at the Rancho is a community holiday celebration that highlights the City of Carlsbad and Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park’s rich history. Attendees can get a taste of this history by taking part in a 30-minute guided tour of the Hacienda. Tours will take place at 6:30 and 7:30 p.m.
Once a working ranchero, the park was owned by actor, philanthropist, poet, preservationist and rancher Leo Carrillo. "We are so lucky to have this unique property in Carlsbad," Shay said. "It lends itself to the nostalgia of the holiday season."
Parking is available at Leo Carrillo Elementary School or on surface streets. Parking will be limited at Leo Carrillo Ranch, and half of the lower lot will be used for disabled parking. To purchase tickets, please visit www.carlsbadconnect.org.
Encinitas Holiday Parade
December 5
5:00 – 7:30 PM
Location: Encinitas, Coast Highway 101
This IS Encinitas Life! Thousands of people will be on floats and in bands with tens of thousands more cheering them on as the 2015 Encinitas Holiday Parade rolls along Coast Highway 101 on Saturday, December 5th. The parade begins at 5:30 PM. It is preceded by a 5:00 PM tree lighting ceremony a the Lumberyard (near Starbucks coffee).
This year’s parade theme is "This IS Encinitas Life!". We invite our parade participants to go all out, find something interesting, unique, fun, amazing that shows off what "Encinitas Life" means to you. Like farming? Maybe surfing? Yoga? Like to "Keep it Funky"? or are you all about the Cardiff Kook or a great Donut? We want to see your creativity and also invite you to show it off and share it with everyone using the hashtags #EncinitasLife and #EncinitasHolidayParade. This year’s parade promises to be a night of fun and already has a ton of interest and participants pouring in.
Garden of Lights
December 5 – 30
5:00 – 9:00 PM
Location: Encinitas, 230 Quail Gardens Dr.
After the sun goes down in December, the San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas is transformed into a dazzling winter wonderland! More than 125,000 sparkling lights illuminate the flora of this fantastic 37-acre urban oasis each evening from 5 – 9 pm for a magical holiday experience.
Garden of Lights, from December 5 – 23 & 26 – 30, is the San Diego Botanic Garden’s annual gift to the San Diego Community. It has events and activities that everyone in your family will enjoy. Nightly entertainment, as well as delicious food will be available. Numerous family-friendly activities are also part of the festivities including:
- Horse-drawn wagon rides (on selected evenings)
- Holiday Crafts
- Spin Art
- Marshmallow Roasting
- Visits with Santa (December 5 – 23)
- Hot Mulled Wine
- Snow for sledding (on selected evenings)
- Puppet Shows (on selected evenings)
- Holiday Carolers (on selected evenings)
- Nutcracker display
Unique plant-related gift items will be on sale at our Gift Shops for the plant lovers in your life. Cork purses, garden-themed jewelry, hats, aprons, candles, and garden art are all available, as well as winter plants, ready to enhance your holiday garden.
Come out and experience the holidays Southern California Style at San Diego Botanic Garden’s Garden of Lights! Adult members $10; Adult non-members $15. All seniors, active military and students $10; All children ages 3-12, $5. Children 2 and under, free. There will be additional fees for some activities. Tickets for Garden of Lights are available at the Welcome Center at the SD Botanic Garden on the evening of visitation. There are no advance ticket sales available at the Garden or on the website. Click the link above for entertainment and activity schedule.
Zemestaneh
December 5
7:30 – 10:30 PM
Location: San Diego, 6790 Top Gun St. #7
Persian Cultural Center Presents ZEMESTANEH Hamnavazan Ensemble Directed by Kourosh Taghavi. Tickets are $25.
Featuring:
- Milad Jahadi- Tonbak & Daf
- Nillofar Shiri- Kamancheh & Vocal
- Hesam Abedini- Vocal & Dayereh
- Kourosh Taghavi- Setar
Vista Community Clinic’s 29th Annual Holiday Homes Tour
December 6
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Location: Vista, various locations
Holiday Homes Tour is a favorite tradition of the season for hundreds of area residents. The tour provides a close-up look at some of the most beautiful homes in the area. Proceeds from ticket sales benefit VCC’s Kare for Kids Fund, which provides high-quality pediatric care for underserved children in North County.
Visitors to the 2015 Holiday Homes Tour on Sunday, Dec. 6 will get a close-up look at four distinctive Vista residences with outstanding architectural details and breathtaking interiors. Their beauty and elegance will be enhanced with holiday decor by a team of talented designers. Another tour attraction is the historic Rancho Buena Vista Adobe, considered to be one of the best preserved historic structures in the region. Shop for unique artisanal gifts at the Holiday Gift Bazaar and enter to win dazzling gift baskets! The tour also offers visitors great holiday decorating ideas for their own homes.
Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 on the day of the tour.
La Jolla Christmas Parade and Holiday Festival
December 6
1:30 – 5:00 PM
Location: La Jolla, starts on Girard Ave. at Kline St.
Spread some holiday cheer at the Annual La Jolla Christmas Parade & Holiday Festival in downtown La Jolla. The event includes marching bands, floats, equestrian units, vintage automobiles and an appearance by Santa Claus. The theme for this year’s parade is "100 Years of Holiday Cheer."
This Wonderful Life
December 10 – 28
Location: Solana Beach, 987 Lomas Santa Fe Dr., Ste. D
James Leaming (Who Am I This Time?) returns to North Coast Rep with the San Diego premiere of his dazzling one-man tour-de-force based on the perennial favorite, It’s a Wonderful Life. Originally directed by Peter Amster and written by Steve Murray. In an amazing display of physical and verbal virtuosity, Leaming brings to life over 32 familiar people…his Jimmy Stewart-inspired George Bailey leads the impressively portrayed cast of characters from Bedford Falls, including Clarence the Angel, Mary, Zuzu and all the colorful townsfolk who rely on him to save them from the greedy Henry Potter. Come see why Leaming leaves audiences cheering.
Breakfast with Santa
December 12
9:00 – 11:00 AM
Location: Escondido, 15500 San Pasqual Valley Rd.
Santa Claus is coming—to the Safari Park! He’ll be here for breakfast, and would love to see you and your family. Gather at the Safari Park’s scenic Kilima Point for a delicious and bountiful breakfast with the jolly ol’ elf himself. You’ll also enjoy a visit with some of our animal ambassadors.
Cost is $24.95 for adults and $15.95 for children ages 3 to 11; plus tax, gratuity, and parking. Admission is required for nonmembers.
Poway’s Christmas in the Park
December 12
3:30 – 8:30 PM
Location: Poway, 14134 Midland Rd.
Are you looking for a great way to get into the holiday spirit and create family memories that will last a lifetime? Witness Christmas traditions come to life in a spectacular fashion at Old Poway Park!
Events include:
- Christmas tree lighting at 5:15 PM.
- Santa’s arrival at 5:30 PM.
- Horse-drawn hay and pony rides, petting zoo, and face painting.
- Steam locomotive train rides, model trains, and live entertainment.
- Holiday sweets and warm dinner foods.
Free shuttles to and from the event will be available at Poway City Hall Parking Lot, 13325 Civic Center Drive, and at Poway Adult School Parking lot located at 13626 Twin Peaks Road. Shuttles will run throughout the event, beginning at 3:00 PM and leaving Old Poway Park for the last trip at 9:00 PM.
Oceanside Parade of Lights
December 12
7:00 – 9:00 PM
Location: Oceanside Harbor
Fishing boats, sail boats, yachts, kayaks and dinghies dress up in holiday swag and circle the Oceanside Harbor to enchant onlookers at the harbor, restaurants and beach.
Many of the boats feature people dressed up like Santa waving to the crowd. One of the best viewing spots is along the side of the Oceanside Harbor near the fishing dock and police station. From this vantage point, you can see the parade twice. The concrete walkway that surrounds much of the harbor is also a good place to view the event. Harbor Village at North Harbor has shops, dining, and seating areas.
Encinitas Ballet Presents The Nutcracker
December 19
Location: Carlsbad, La Costa Canyon High School, 1 Maverick Way
Encinitas Ballet presents The Nutcracker Ballet, this Dec. 19 at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. at the David H. Thompson Performing Arts Center, La Costa Canyon High School.
Internationally acclaimed choreographers Sayat Asatryan and Olga Tchekachova join with award-winning guest artist dancers, visually stunning stage sets and a charming and accomplished local cast, to make Encinitas Ballet’s presentation of the Tchaikovsky classic one of the most acclaimed in North County.
A joyful event for local families, audiences can expect an uplifting and magical performance complete with a dazzling holiday party, giant mice doing battle with toy soldiers, a growing Christmas tree, dancing snowflakes, a Nutcracker that transforms into a handsome prince and exotic dances from around the world.
With sold out performances every year, tickets are now available online at EncinitasBallet.com. Admission is $20 for children and $25 for adults.