A Complete Guide to All the Holidays in San Diego

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! is one of the most famous Christmas tales. See this classic storybook live on stage at the Old Globe Theater in Balboa Park with a yearly performance based on the 1966 movie adaptation.

Sing along to all your favorite songs and a few new ones as you and the family watch a charming tale sure to make your heart grow three sizes. This is an excellent way to get in the spirit, and it also makes for a charming new tradition your family can share for generations to come.

If you’re looking for a unique San Diego holiday experience, the San Diego Santa Run is the perfect event for you!

Each year thousands of people clad in Santa costumes fill the streets of Pacific Beach during the annual Santa Run. This run is a 5k marathon that takes place on December 9 this year.

All are invited to watch the Santa Run, and if you register ahead of time, you can join in! Be sure to wear a costume if you plan on participating.

The Santa Run holds an afterparty with fun themed events and the Pacific Beach Holiday Parade following the conclusion of the run.

The Hilton Bayfront San Diego hosts one of the biggest bashes of the year on Big Night San Diego. This massive party begins in the evening on New Year’s Eve and continues straight on until midnight. Dance all night, sing your heart out to the year’s hottest songs, and enjoy the rush of being part of the crowd during this pulse-pounding celebration.

Perks of attending include an open bar, experienced DJs, multiple dance floors, and VIP options with upgrades including private rooms and access to a buffet. Big Night is the ultimate in New Year’s Eve parties and can’t be missed.

If loud parties aren’t your scene, a cruise around the bay might be more your style. Relax to the soothing sounds of live music and stunning views of the bay’s landmarks on a New Year’s Eve Brunch or Dinner Cruise. All meals are freshly prepared with many options to choose from.

Guests on the cruise will enjoy a multi-course meal as they tour the San Diego Bay, plus a complimentary champagne toast for those 21 and older. We love this cruise as a more family-friendly way to celebrate New Year’s Eve, as all ages are invited, with free admission for kids under three.

Start a tradition of incorporating healthy habits into the holiday season when you sign up for the O’Side Turkey Trot. This annual event held in Oceanside is a great way to get your family active before sitting down for a big Thanksgiving meal, and since the proceeds go toward charity, you’ll get to give back too!

The O’Side Turkey Trot has four unique races, with two options for adults and two for kids, letting the whole family get in on the fun. Live entertainment and a costume contest round out the experience as a rapidly-growing new Thanksgiving tradition.

San Diego’s Little Italy neighborhood is best known for its Italian fare, but restaurants like Herb & Wood serve up Thanksgiving dinner in style too. Enjoy all the classic desserts and sides - plus turkey, of course - infused with a subtle Mediterranean flare for a truly unbeatable menu.

Herb & Wood is one of my personal favorite restaurants in all of San Diego. Eating Thanksgiving dinner there comes with the added benefit of getting to skip out on all the tidying and washing-up of eating at home. I say save yourself the hassle and spend the extra time with your family instead. Your stomach will also thank you!

Skull face paint is one of the most recognizable symbols of any Día de Los Muertos celebration. The decorative skull pattern evokes the image of La Catrina, a famous character from Mexican folklore who has long been associated with the holiday.

If you want to celebrate Día de Los Muertos like the locals do, getting Catrinas face paint is a fun activity for both adults and kids. You can find face painting booths around Old Town during the days leading up to the holiday, as well as during the festivities on Día de Los Muertos itself.

Join in a massive parade right after sunset, starting at the Immaculate Church on San Diego Ave. and continuing all the way to El Santos Campo Cemetery. This candlelight procession features dancers in full regalia, a live Mariachi band, and a large public altar located inside the cemetery.

The El Santos Campo Cemetery parade takes place annually on the evening of Día de Los Muertos, which is on Nov. 2nd every year. Both watching the parade and participating are completely free, as well as suitable for all ages.

To learn more about the festivities before and during the celebration, including this year’s specific times, performers and more, check out our Complete Guide to the Día de Los Muertos Celebration in Old Town San Diego.

Día de los Muertos celebrations in Barrio Logan are annual events that center around culture and tradition. Altars or ofrendas decorated with marigolds and themed painted skull decorations line the streets of the Cultural District of Barrio Logan. For a few weeks each year, the area transforms into a depiction of the Day of the Dead that’s right out of the history books.

Barrio Logan’s annual festivities are dubbed Espíritu de Xochimilco, or “Spirit of Xochimilco,” a name that calls back to the holiday’s roots and celebrates its Mexican origins. With two blocks of vendors, food trucks, and decor, families can’t go wrong by spending the holiday in Barrio Logan.

While many San Diego celebrations have all the trappings of Día de los Muertos - complete with face paint, sugar skulls, and Catrinas costumes - few bring the soul of the holiday to the forefront quite like the festivities in Chula Vista.

Community ofrendas and live performances by musicians and dancers make the celebration one to remember. Walk the rows of vendor stalls or settle in to watch a family-friendly movie with the kids in the evening. Chula Vista’s Día de los Muertos event isn’t the biggest party in the city, but its wide range of activities and shows more than make up for it!

Are you looking to pick your own pumpkins this season for decorating or carving? Look no further than one of our favorite pumpkin patches in all of San Diego!

The pumpkin patch at Pumpkin Station allows visitors to select their own pumpkins from the field or sort through pre-picked gourds. The patch has a variety of shapes and sizes, color and more so you can carve your spookiest jack-o-lantern or paint a funny face instead!

Pumpkin Station has three locations in San Diego, with two “station” style sites in Del Mar and Mission Valley. These stations have farm-fresh pumpkins ready to go, as well as rides, a bouncy castle, and a small petting zoo. Visit the location at Rancho Bernando for the full farm experience, which includes a larger petting zoo, train rides, hayrides, and a corn maze.

Summers Past Farms is a family-owned farm that hosts pumpkin picking and other fun activities for kids every fall. The pumpkin patch is open for visitors each October, while the farm’s store and gardens are open to visitors all year long.

Pick up a few seasonal gifts and homemade treats at the quaint shop, or head out into the field to select your own pumpkin. Other Halloween and fall-themed activities hosted at Summer Past Farms include a hay fort and a corn maze. Snap some pictures and make it a trip you’ll never forget!