Balboa Park's December Nights vs. The San Diego Bay Parade of Lights

I think it's true that location matters, especially when you're thinking about gathering your family and friends for a holiday event. If you have mobility challenges, you'll also want to consider accessibility so you'll know what you're signing up for before you arrive.

San Diego Museum of Art December Nights

Pinpointing Balboa Park

Balboa Park is an iconic location found just north of Downtown San Diego offering green space perfect for a picnic, trails, cafes, museums and much more. It's also close to the Little Italy neighborhood (my favorite for the amazing food), the Gaslamp District, and home to the #1 attraction in the city, the San Diego Zoo. It's centrally located for sure and with so much to offer guests of all types, it's really hard to beat!

It's also quite handicap accessible with sidewalks throughout. For the December Nights event, service animals are allowed, but due to heavy crowds and lots of noise, people are discouraged from bringing their pets.

Sun just went down on Shelter Island Looking Towards Downtown

Where is the San Diego Parade of Lights?

The San Diego Parade of Lights is a cool event because you can check out the boats at multiple locations. You can see the parade from its start point at Shelter Island, or stop at any of the other 5 spots the parade will pass by.

Depending on where you set up, there may be sidewalks and with any luck, you won't have to travel too far to the edge of the San Diego Bay making the experience handicap accessible. With so many different locations to watch, there is no shortage of options!

Downtown San Diego Fred Electric Shuttle

And the Best Location Award Goes To…San Diego Parade of Lights!

While I love Balboa Park and it's true that it's centrally located, you just can't beat the variety of premium locations to watch the San Diego Bay Parade of Lights.

From Shelter Island and the Embarcadero, all the way to the Ferry Landing on Coronado and the new Pier at Cesar Chavez Park, you really can't go wrong!

Both events offer plenty to see to get you in the holiday spirit, but as you'll quickly find, one of the events offers quite a bit more things to see and do!

Santa's Sleigh at December Nights in Balboa Park

Balboa Park December Nights

When you're looking for things to see and do, Balboa Park December Nights won't disappoint!

Here's a look at what to expect:

• A Huge Light Show (Balboa Park is transformed with Christmas lights and trees, as well as a decorated Santa's sleigh!)
• International Cottages (You'll find tasty food and unique decorations here.)
• Drink Around the World (Yep, it's beer and wine from different countries!)
• Family Zone & STEAM Activities (This is great fun for the kids!)
• Live Music and Entertainment (Look for stages set up throughout the park.)
• Rides, Shows, & More (Don't miss the Ferris wheel set up in the Pan American Plaza parking lot, right in front of the San Diego Air and Space Museum.)

Discover the Embarcadero Boardwalk

San Diego Parade of Lights

While there's the parade of boats, of course, there is also a Parade of Lights Dinner to check out. You can have dinner aboard the Victorian-era 1898 steam ferryboat Berkeley on either parade day.

If you don't want to go to dinner and just want to watch the Parade of Lights from Star of India, that's an option too.

Light Display at December Nights

More Holiday Fun: Balboa Park December Nights

We love the boat parade, but there are more diverse activities at Balboa Park December Nights, which is why our Go Visit San Diego team puts this one on top!

Before you head out to either event, it's important to know how long you're going to be there so you can plan accordingly.

How Much Time Will December Nights Take?

Since December Nights is held for two days, and you could go during the day on December 6th, you can really spend as much time as you want. I would say you can be there as long as your feet don't start hurting but my suggestion for you would be to plan for 3 to 4 hours.

As a bonus tip from a local, make sure to be there for at least a few hours at night as the park lights up with holiday light displays and an unreal dose of holiday cheer!

How Long Will I Be at the Parade?

The holiday boat parade starts at 5:30pm on both days and it will take about one and a half hours to complete. There aren't any other activities, so I'd say you can be in and out in two hours max!

December Nights Vendors

The Longer Event: Balboa Park December Nights

With so many activities to try and decorations to see, Balboa Park December Nights is clearly the longer holiday event and our choice when it comes to having enough time to really dive deep into the holiday spirit.

However, I will say that if you'd prefer an easy breezy holiday event that doesn't require a lot of walking and only lasts about 90 minutes, the boat parade could be the perfect option.

I love that both events are free and that they provide a great experience for families to spend time together over the holidays. But when it comes to the event, extras and special experiences, the events do have differences.

Birdrock Coffee Vendor at December Nights

Special Things to Do at December Nights

Our founder Todd, especially loves the International Cottages. Each tiny house represents a different country.

For this event, they open up and serve authentic food and drinks from their home countries. The thing that's special about this is the food service which is only for special occasions. We hear the German House is a must-visit!

Submarine the Californian and the Star of India

Parade Stand-Outs and Unique Experiences

The parade's stand-out event is the Parade of Lights Dinner.

As I mentioned above, the Maritime Museum of San Diego hosts guests on the Victorian-era 1898 steam ferryboat Berkeley for a tasty dinner from 5:00pm until 6:30pm, a unique way to experience the event for sure!

Dancing Stage in December Nights

Where to Visit for More Activities: Balboa Park December Nights

Balboa Park December Nights stands out because of the cottages, the kid-friendly activities, vendors, live musical performances, and all of the amazing decorations you will see for free!

California Tower During December Nights in Balboa Park

The Overall Winner: Balboa Park December Nights

While both events embody the holiday spirit and the San Diego vibe, for our team at Go Visit San Diego, we chose Balboa Park December Nights! It has a variety of experiences and offers the option of making it a day-long family event.

But if you're looking for a 90 minute holiday event that will also get you and your family into the holiday spirit, the parade is also an amazing sight that the kids will love too!

The good news here is that the dates don't overlap. So if you can, I say why not try and squeeze in both for a truly magical San Diego holiday season!