The holidays are a special time of year, and a perfect time to get out and about with the family. San Diego is filled with lots of fun activities during the holidays. Below are a some festive events and places that have special seasonal activities that are sure to help you get in the spirit!

Holiday Festival…A Family Celebration at the Hotel Del Coronado
The Hotel Del Coronado is having a special event, “Holiday Festival…A Famiy Celebration” from 4pm-7pm on Wednesday, November 28th. Have a visit with St. Nick and his elves, enjoy holiday games, ice skate on their beautiful beach front rink, enjoy fireworks at 6:15pm, and more! No reservations required. Skating by the Sea pricing and further details available at www.hoteldel.com.

Balboa Park December Nights
The 35th Annual Balboa Park December Nights is from 5pm-10pm on December 7th, and from Noon-10pm on Saturday, December 8th. This free community event includes entertainment, free entry to participating Balboa Park museums from 5pm-9pm, food for purchase, and more! This has been a family tradition since I was a young child, and we look forward to it each year. I highly recommend arriving early, and visiting the House of Pacific Relations Cottages. Here you’ll find international foods and have the opportunity to tour each of the neat cottages. More information is available at www.balboapark.org.

Sunny and Angel Save Christmas
Celebrate the holidays with a fun family event, Sunny and Angel Save Christmas, at Helen Woodward Animal Center! Take a special tour of the Animal Center, interact with barn animals, listen to holiday story time about Sunny and Angel, the two miracle twin foals born at the Animal Center, enjoy delicious treats, hands-on crafts, meet and have a picture taken with Santa, and receive a personalized letter and gift. Proceeds from the event to help support the Animal Center. Sunny and Angel Save Christmas is happening select times and days in December, with advance reservation. More info available at www.animalcenter.org

Let it Snow ~ A Digital Holiday Show at the FleetLet it Snow, is a new animated holiday digital show at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, in Balboa
Park. The show features seasonal sights and festive classics from Frank Sinatra and Chuck Berry to Burl Ives and Brenda Lee. Immersed in delightful animation and a full-dome giant-screen setting. Let it Snow runs through Sunday, January 6, 2013. More info at www.rhfleet.org.

Gaslamp Holiday Pet Parade
The Gaslamp Holiday Pet Parade is happening on Sunday, December 9th. Come downtown and see hundreds of pets dressed up in fun costumes, many in holiday attire, parading around the streets. The event commences at Gaslamp Hilton Park at the corner of 4th Ave. And K St. at 3pm. We attended this event last year, and the kids loved it! More info, and entry form at www.gaslamp.org

Garden of Lights at San Diego Botanic Garden
San Diego Botanic Garden, located in Encinitas, is holding their annual Garden of Lights nightly, from 5pm-9pm December 8th-23rd and December 26th-30th. Enjoy more than 100,000 sparkling lights as you stroll through the garden, take a wagon ride pulled by beautiful Belgian draft horses, make s’mores, enjoy live music, and more! This is one of our favorite events! More details available at www.sdbgarden.org.

SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration
Enjoy SeaWorld as they transform the grounds into a Winter Wonderland with Snow World, Santa’s Cottage, Santa’s Reindeers In Training, Breakfast with Shamu and Santa, seasonal treats, beautiful holiday decor and more! Snow World will be open daily 11/17-1/5/13. More info available at www.seaworld.com.

San Diego Bay Parade of Lights
The 41st Annual San Diego Bay Parade of Lights is happening from 5:30pm-9pm on Sunday, December 9th, and Sunday, December 16th. This free, festive event, includes 80 boats decorated with lights, and fireworks. The parade begins at Shelter Island, and passes by Harbor Island, the Embarcadero, Seaport Village, and ends at the Coronado Ferry Landing. Embarcadero Park, next to Seaport Village, is a great place to watch the event. Pack your blankets and lawn chairs and make your way down early to find a nice spot to sit and enjoy the parade. More info available at www.sdparadeoflights.org.

Holiday Snow Days & Wintery Nights at LEGOLAND
Enjoy holiday entertainment, build a snowman with LEGO® accessories, holiday treats, extended hours on certain nights, view the World’s Largest LEGO® Christmas tree and more during Snow Days & Wintery Nights at LEGOLAND California. Holiday Snow Days is open daily from 11/23-12/31, and Wintery Nights are select evenings through 12/30. More info available at www.legoland.com.

Jungle Bells at the San Diego Zoo
Visit the San Diego Zoo as they transform the already beautiful grounds with incredible twinkling light displays, yummy treats, animal encounters, music, extended hours, and more! Jungle Bells runs from 12/15-1/6, except 12/24. More info at www.sandiegozoo.org.

Del Mar Holiday of Lights
The Del Mar Holiday of Lights begins November 23rd on the Del Mar Racetrack. The event runs from 5:30pm-10:00pm Sunday-Thursday, and 5:30pm-10:30pm Friday-Saturday and includes thousands of lights, many of which are on fun animated displays. A Holiday Hayride is available from 5:30pm-9:30pm on November 23rd, November 30th, December 7th & December 14th. We love driving through the Holiday of Lights! More info available at www.holidayoflights.com.

There’s so much to do in San Diego during this festive season! Perhaps we’ll see you at one or more of these fun places or events! Happy holidays!