December 2013 San Diego Events


December 1, SoNo & Chili Cook-off

A holiday festival in North Park with food, art & crafts, live music, and craft beer. Proceeds to benefit the McKinley Elementary Spanish, art and music programs. Buy your hand crafted ceramic chili bowl and eat! Your bowl comes with five restaurant chili tastings and if you want more you can buy five additional tastings for $5. Your bowl also entitles you to as much community chili as is available, located in “Chili Alley”. Also 5 food trucks will be on-site, and a beer & wine garden with craft beers available. 

Time: 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
Location: Thorn Street, North park (between Bancroft St. & Herman St.)


December 6 -7, Balboa Park December Nights

Balboa Park December Nights will take place for the 35th consecutive year bringing families and friends together to spread holiday joy. Participating Balboa Park museums open their doors free of charge from 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm both evenings. Participate in a truly multicultural experience, enjoying delicious and diverse food, music and entertainment from around the world. 

Time: Friday, Dec. 6, 3:00 -11:00 pm, and Saturday, Dec. 7, noon -11:00 pm
Location: Downtown: N Harbor Drive to G Street


December 7, North Park Toyland Parade & Festival 2013

Bundle up and delight in San Diego’s most joyful parade. Gliding down University Avenue, this cheerful pageant will feel like a Winter Wonderland, as melodious marching bands, upbeat dance groups, cool vintage cars, beauty queens, city officials, Santa and more warm your spirits. 

Time: Starting at 11:00 am – 4:30 pm. Festival will start during the parade
Location: University Avenue between Utah and Iowa Streets

December 7, Holiday in the Village

Celebrate Chula Vista’s New Holiday Tradition! Holiday in the Village returns for its second year.  Head to beautiful Third Avenue Village for entertainment, shopping and holiday merriment.

Time: Noon to 5:00 pm
Location: Along Third Avenue, in Memorial Park and at E Street


December 7, The Mo Run

The Mo Run is the hairiest national moustache themed 5k race series around raising vital awareness and funds for men’s health through our national charity, Movember. Our timed race brings participants – whether they are Mo Bros, Mo Sistas, family, friends, or other supporters – together and unifies them under The Moustache. Runners sport their most fashionable moustaches while running, walking, skipping, or fox-trotting 3.1 miles of moustache-stic fun. 

Time: 11:00 am
Location: De Anza Cove, 3000 North Mission Bay Drive, San Diego

December 8, Gaslamp Holiday Pet Parade & Pet Expo

The Gaslamp Holiday Pet Parade takes over the streets of the Gaslamp Quarter. All pet owners and their furry, feathered and scaled companions are invited to don their favorite costumes and put their best paw, wing and fin forward for this jolly promenade and pet expo, which starts and ends at Gaslamp Hilton Park.

Time: Parade starts at 3:00 pm / Pet Expo 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Location: Gaslamp Hilton Park, at Fourth Avenue and K Street

December 8 & 15, The 42nd Annual San Diego Bay 
Parade of Lights!

The San Diego Bay Parade of Lights is a time-honored holiday tradition brought to San Diego by the boating community. Join the festivities this December with more than 80 boats lavishly decorated according to a new theme each year. The San Diego Bay Parade of Lights is held two consecutive Sundays each year in December. 

Time: The procession will start at 5:30 pm from Shelter Island
Location: The parade is best viewed from Shelter Island, Harbor Island, the Embarcadero,
Seaport  Village, and Ferry Landing in Coronado.


December 11, 3rd Annual Share the Love Food Truck Event

Enjoy gourmet food offerings from 7 different food trucks and support Meals-on-Wheels as a portion of the days’ proceeds feed San Diego seniors. Featured food trucks: Chubby’s Food Truck, Haad Sai Thai, New York on Rye, Not So Fast! Food Truck, The Slider House, Tornado Potato and Sweet Treats.

Time: 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Location: Kearny Mesa Subaru, 4797 Convoy St., San Diego

December 13 & 14, Christmas in the Village - La Mesa

The Village is transformed into a Victorian Wonderland! Don’t miss the strolling minstrels, carolers and street entertainers. Live music is featured in a number of stage areas, while the horse drawn carriage and bonfires fill the boulevard. The kids will love Santa, the carnival rides, ponies and the puppet shows. All specialty shops, boutiques and restaurants open late during event. There will also be food and commercial vendors as well.

Time: Fri & Sat: 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Location: La Mesa Blvd. from Spring St. to Acacia Ave.

December 14, 2013 Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis

The Jingle Bell 5K Run/Walk for Arthritis raises awareness of America’s leading cause of disability and is a fun and festive way to kick off your holidays by helping others. Tie jingle bells to your shoelaces, don your antlers, and run or walk a 5-kilometer route. Includes a fun run for kids (no fee). Awards, prizes, giveaways, health and wellness expo accompanies the event.

Time: 7:45 am - 10:00 am
Location: Balboa Park, 6th & Quince, San Diego
 

December 14, Mission Bay Christmas Boat Parade of Lights

A decorated and lighted boat procession will parade in single file on
Mission Bay, some broadcasting holiday music. Begins at Quivira Basin, and along Crown Point, Vacation Island, Fiesta Island, & Sea World. Best viewing areas for this event is from Crown Point, or the west side of Fiesta Island, or the east side of Vacation Island. The parade ends with a firework display at 9:00 pm and the lighting of the SeaWorld Skytower Tree of Lights.

Time: 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Location: Mission Bay, San Diego - Best viewing areas for this event is from Crown Point,
or the west side of Fiesta Island, or the east side of Vacation Island.

Website: www.mbyc.org

December 14, East Village Holiday Happening

It’s snowing in the East Village!  Bundle up, bring your sled and take a snow day! Featuring a sledding hill made with real snow that is sure to entertain kids of all ages throughout the day!  It will also include unique artisan gifts, great street food, music, and a beer garden!  The EV Holiday Happening features an animal adoption area and a skate boarding demonstration.  This is THE holiday event that’ll break you out of your normal holiday routine.

Time: 10:00 am - 11:30 pm
Location: East Village San Diego,
15th Street (between F St. & G St.)

December 15 thru 31, Jungle Bells – San Diego Zoo

Jungle Bells – the San Diego Zoo is transformed into a magical winter wonderland. You’ll find a nightly tree-lighting ceremony, bell ringers filling the air with music, and lighted animal figures dotting the grounds. Dr. Zoolittle has an interactive “Night before Christmas” show. Enjoy “Animal Magic for the Holidays” critter presentations, “Candy Cane Lane Magical Journey,” and more.

Time: 9:00 am – 8:00 pm
Location: San Diego Zoo, 2920 Zoo Drive, San Diego

December 16, Hot Buttered Run 10K & Kids Kandy Kane Race

An athletic event with a holiday theme: a 5K run/walk and a Kids Kandy Kane race. The race chute is lined with decorated Christmas trees, with festivities at the finish that include hot buttered rum (21+) and hot chocolate, awards, and of course, Santa Claus. Registration includes “Goodie Bag” and after party, music and fun! 

Time: 8:00 am - 1:00 pm
Location: West Mission Bay - Paradise Point, 
1404 Vacation Road

December 21-23, 38th Annual Hmong New Year Celebration

The Hmong New Year is celebrated with a cultural event where household spirits are renewed, ancestral spirits honored, and blessings are given for a
new year. A free event that showcases the Hmong culture and features music, dance, vendors & merchants, cultural foods, a fashion show, and beauty pageant.

Time: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Location:  Kearny Mesa Park, 
3170 Armstrong St., San Diego

December 30, Port of San Diego Big Bay Balloon Parade

As always, this exciting family event brings together world-class marching bands, magnificent floats, entertaining drill teams, and a procession of enormous balloons–more than any other parade! Over 100,000 street-side spectators will enjoy the parade along with a nationwide television audience.

Time: 10:00 am
Location: County Administration Building parking lot, 1600 Pacific Hwy