Here are some of the best things to do this weekend in San Diego from Thursday, Dec. 7 to Sunday, Dec. 10.
Thursday
Community in Unity: This is Escondido’s holiday season-opening event. Enjoy food from local restaurants, wineries and local craft breweries. Musical groups representing Escondido communities will provide entertainment. Guests are encouraged to donate new, unwrapped toys and pajamas. Pajamas of all sizes will benefit the children and teens of Solutions for Change; toys for boys and girls, ages 4 to 12, will benefit the Escondido Police Athletic League. 5:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday.City Hall Dome at Broadway and Valley Parkway. $40. Register online: greaterescondido.org/community-in-unit
“Rally for Light:” This Hanukkah rally, hosted by Chabad SDSU, includes the lighting of a 20-foot menorah representing the triumph of light over darkness. The event will include community leaders, dignitaries and students sharing messages of resilience and togetherness and a stand against hate and intolerance. 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday. 6115 Montezuma Road, San Diego. Free, but donations are accepted online fore the cost of the menorah. eventbrite.com/e/rally-for-lights-a-chanukah-celebration-tickets-764082119187?aff=erellivmlt
Oceanside tree lighting: Santa arrives by firetruck for this annual holiday tree lighting ceremony and gift market in Oceanside. Activities for kids are available from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Highlights include holiday music, carolers, cookies and milk, jump houses, a bungee run, a children’s zip line and giant slides. 5 p.m. Thursday. Regal Cinema Plaza, 401 Mission Ave., Oceanside. mainstreetoceanside.com
Holiday Open House: Celebrate the holidays with La Jolla Music Society at a festive and free family event. The Wu Tsai QRT.yrd will be transformed into a winter wonderland. There will be cider or hot cocoa, storytime and kids crafts along with holiday shopping with local artisans at a holiday market. 4 p.m. Thursday. The JAI at The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. theconrad.org/events/2023-holiday-open-house/
Friday
“Wally & his Lover Boys”: Compulsion Dance & Theatre revives this sex farce written and directed by Michael Mizerany about a middle-aged divorced man finding more attention than he can handle with two 30-something male lovers. 7 p.m. tonight through Monday and Dec. 15-17. The Black Box Theater at Diversionary Theatre, 4545 Park Blvd., San Diego. $22. Production contains adult subject matter, sexual themes, male nudity and profanity. compulsiondancetheatre.org
Carols by Candlelight: The 34th annual Carlos by Candlelight returns with Deana Carter, Charlie Worsham, Anna Vaus, Back to the Garden and Steve Vaus all singing their hits and favorite Christmas songs to benefit Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. California Center for the Arts, Escondido. Tickets are $25-$99. carolsbycandlelight.com
Renée Ahdieh in Conversation with Lizz Huerta: Bestselling YA Author Renée Ahdieh will present the final book in the Beautiful Quartet series, “The Ruined.” She’ll be joined in conversation by fellow YA author Lizz Huerta. Afterward, fans can ask questions and get their books signed by the author. 7 p.m. Friday. Neil Morgan Auditorium, 330 Park Blvd., San Diego. Free. Register online: sandiego.librarymarket.com/event/ruined-renee-ahdieh-conversation-lizz-huerta-348148
Christmas in the Park: This annual old-fashioned holiday celebration includes caroling, a craft boutique, holiday sweets and warm dinner foods, visits with Santa and horse-drawn hayrides. Night time rides are planned around the tree lighting ceremony, followed by Santa’s arrival by train. 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday and 3:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday. Free admission with additional costs for train rides and Santa visits. Free shuttles from 3 to 9 p.m. from the Poway City Hall parking lot and Poway Adult School parking lot. poway.org/Calendar.aspx?EID=2370
Jingle Terrace Live: Check out a holiday light show and activities for all ages hosted by the city of Vista and Moonlight Amphitheatre. Special entertainment offered on certain nights, such as Jingle Band concert, holiday crafts, a maker’s market and visits with Santa and reindeer. Visitors are asked to bring a donation of food for the North County Food Bank. 5:30 to 9 p.m. Dec. 8-23. Moonlight Amphitheatre at Brengle Terrace Park, 1250 Vale Terrace Drive, Vista. Free. jingleterracelive.com
Saturday
Holiday market and tree lighting: The holiday event is hosted by the East Village Association, featuring a curated holiday market by San Diego Markets, live music, foods, activities for the kids along with photos with Santa Claus. The annual tree lighting to kick off the holidays will be 5:45 p.m. 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday. Quartyard and 13th Street. eastvillagesandiego.com.
Oceanside Harbor Parade of Lights: The annual Parade of Lights features boats of all shapes and sizes decorated for the holidays, with lights, ornaments and holiday trimmings. Many of the captains and boat crews dress up in their holiday best, with a few Santas joining in the festive parade. The best decorated powerboat, sailboat and small-craft boats will be awarded prizes. 7 p.m. Saturday. Oceanside Harbor. visitoceanside.org/blog/oceanside-harbor-parade-of-lights
On Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021 at the Pacific Beach Holiday Parade, dancers from the Oh La La, Dance Academy, Inc made their way down the parade route.
(Nelvin C. Cepeda/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Pacific Beach Santa Run and Holiday Parade: Pacific Beach will become Santa city this Saturday, starting with the annual 5K San Diego Santa Run at 8:30 a.m. Runners will wear matching Santa suits as they take to the streets. A kids’ run and dog run will take place afterward, followed by the Pacific Beach Holiday Parade at noon. The parade runs down Garnet Avenue from Haines Street to Cass Street, and this year, spectators are invited to wear ugly Christmas sweaters. Watch floats, local bands, dancers and more, with a special parade appearance by Santa. Pacific Beach. pacificbeach.org/event/pacific-beach-holiday-parade-2
Santa coming on Holiday Express: Catch Santa arriving in style on the holiday train. Highlights include free train rides, face painting, children’s holiday crafts, balloon sculptures and photos with Santa. Musical entertainment is from 1 to 4 p.m. featuring Southwestern College Jazz Vocal Ensemble, The Music Machine and Sound Unlimited from Bonita Vista High School, Serenity Sisters and Eastlake High School Titan Concert Choir, Titanium & Spotlight Show Choir. 1 p.m. Saturday. Eastlake Village Marketplace on the corner of Eastlake Parkway and Otay Lakes Road. Free. shopeastlakemarketplace.com/special-events
Escondido Christmas parade and holiday festival: With a theme of Jurassic Christmas, the Jaycees’ Christmas parade will take over downtown Escondido on Saturday. It will start near the post office on Escondido Boulevard and head south, then turn east on Grand Avenue to Juniper Street, north on Juniper to Valley Parkway, west on Valley Parkway to Broadway, north on Broadway, then west on Woodward Avenue. Later in Grape Day Park, a multicultural holiday festival will take place with entertainment, a Santa’s Village, inflatables, shopping, food and more. The parade begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday. facebook.com/EscondidoJaycees. The holiday festival beings at 11 a.m. Grape Day Park, 321 N. Broadway, Escondido. usamulticultural.org/holiday-festival
Mission Bay Parade of Lights: The holiday boat parade takes off at SeaWorld with a fireworks kickoff, then heads west, north and east, ending at The Mission Bay Beach Club. The parade will be set up near Mission Bay hotels and resorts, including Bahia Resort Hotel, Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa, The Dana on Mission Bay, Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa, Marina and Paradise Point Resort. Free for spectators. Viewing areas will offer special festive food and beverage menus and family-friendly holiday festivities, such as bonfires and s’mores, live music, holiday games and Santa. 5:30 p.m. Saturday. discovermissionbay.org
“Cirque Dreams Holidaze”: The Roberts Group presents this family-friendly, circus-style show featuring jugglers and acrobats and an original score to tell familiar holiday stories. 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday. San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Second Ave., Downtown. $42.50 and up. sandiegotheatres.org
Winter Wonderland: El Cajon hosts a free “Winter Wonderland” event. The movie “Rise of the Guardians” will be shown and there will be free photos with Santa, snow, rides and games. 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday. Wells Park, 1153 E. Madison Ave., El Cajon. Free. elcajon.gov/your-government/departments/parks-recreation/special-events/winter-wonderland
Holiday Lights concert: The North Coast Symphony puts on its Holiday Lights concert. The orchestra will play festive favorites old and new, including Holst’s In the Bleak Midwinter, Jaffe’s Symph-Hanukkah, Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 1 Daydreams on a Winter Journey, Rimsky-Korsakoff’s Christmas Eve Suite. The orchestra will be led by conductor Liesl Hansen. 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Encinitas Community Center, 1140 Oakcrest Park Drive, Encinitas. Admission is $15; $12 seniors/students/military, free for children age 18 and under. northcoastsymphony.com
North Park Winter Wonderland: North Park Main Street hosts a Winter Wonderland festival. Highlights include ice skating, a light show, a photo booth and shopping, along with food, drinks and entertainment. noon to 8 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday at North Park Mini Park. Free. eventbrite.com/e/north-park-winter-wonderland-festival-tickets-755237043327
“Jingle” sing-along: San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus presents a holiday sing-along concert, “Jingle.” 8 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday. Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Ave., San Diego. Tickets are $31.50 to $76.50. sdgmc.org
Sunday
Sailboats, yachts and dinghies light up San Diego Bay during the 48th annual San Diego Bay Parade of Lights.
(Nelvin C. Cepeda/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
San Diego Bay Parade of Lights: Beginning at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 10 and Dec. 17, the procession of decorated boats will be arriving off the shore of the San Diego Bay. This year’s theme is “Christmas Traditions Around the World.” The parade takes a little over an hour to pass any given point along the parade route, including Shelter Island (start of parade) at 5:30 p.m., Harbor Island at 6:15 p.m., The Embarcadero at 6:45 p.m., Seaport Village at 7:15 p.m., The Pier at Cesar Chavez Park at 7:30 p.m. and Ferry Landing on Coronado at 7:45 p.m. (Times are approximate). Visit sdparadeoflights.org.
“Let the Stable Still Astonish”: The La Jolla United Methodist Church Chancel Choir and Dorian Bells present their annual Christmas concert with anthems, carols and compositions and arrangements by John Rutter, Craig Courtney, Joel Raney. 4 p.m. Sunday. 6063 La Jolla Blvd. Free-will offerings accepted. (858) 454-7108. lajollaunitedmethodist.org
Hanukkah Celebration: Sesame Place San Diego will host a family-friendly Hanukkah celebration with a Menorah lighting, dreidel games, scavenger hunts, dancing and Hanukkah story time. Kosher food, overseen by Rabbi Daniel Reich, will be available while supplies last. During park hours on Sunday. sesameplace.com/san-diego/events/hanukkah-celebration/
Johannes Brahms & Fraulein Clarinet”: La Salon de Musiques presents works for clarinet and strings by Weber, Puccini and Brahms. 4 p.m. Sunday. La Jolla Woman’s Club, 7791 Draper Ave., La Jolla. $45-$90. lesalondemusiques.com
San Diego Craft Collective arts and crafts fair: Stop by for a make and take craft, a free kids craft, raffle and art sale. Noon to 3 p.m. Sunday. San Diego Craft Collective, 2590 Truxtun Road, Studio 106, San Diego. Register online for $5 make and take craft. sandiegocraft.org/product/arts-craft-fair/
“Sing We Now of Christmas”: The music ministries of Hope United Methodist Church present their annual free holiday concert. 5 p.m. Saturday. 10 a.m. Sunday. 16550 Bernardo Heights Parkway, San Diego. Free-will offerings accepted. (858) 485-5840.
The Living Nativity: Christ Presbyterian Church hosts a free interactive walk-through Christmas story, featuring Mary and Joseph on the way to Bethlehem, baby Jesus in a manger, the innkeeper, shepherds and angels in the field, wise men and Emperor Augustus. 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday. Christ Presbyterian Church of Rancho La Costa, 7807 Centella St., Carlsbad. christ-pres.church.
Ongoing events
“A Christmas Carol”: Cygnet Theatre’s annual production features Sean Murray’s adaptation of the Charles Dickens novella, with sing-along carols, puppetry, special effects and Murray as the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge. 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays. 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays. 3 and 8 p.m. Saturdays. 2 p.m. Sundays. Through Dec. 24. 4040 Twiggs St., Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. cygnettheatre.com
“Plaid Tidings”: San Diego Musical Theatre once again presents this holiday edition of the popular doo-wop musical comedy “Forever Plaid.” In this version, the long-dead 1960s-era men’s vocal quartet, the Plaids, are resurrected for one night to give the holiday concert they never got to sing in life. 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays. 8 p.m. Fridays. 3 p.m. Saturdays. 2 p.m. Sundays. Through Dec. 24. SDMT Stage, 4650 Mercury St., San Diego. $25-$70. (858) 560-5740, sdmt.org
“Elf, The Musical”: Theatre at the Welk presents this new musical comedy based on the children’s book and Will Ferrel movie about a human boy raised as a Christmas elf at the North Pole who returns to New York City to find his human family and restore the spirit of Christmas in the Big Apple. 1 and 7 p.m. Thursdays and Saturdays; 1 p.m. Sundays. Through Dec. 24. 8860 Lawrence Welk Drive, Escondido. $67, adults; $32.50, children 14 and under. (760) 749-3448, tickets.thewelksandiego.com
“1222 Oceanfront: A Black Family Christmas”: New Village Arts Theatre presents the third annual production of local playwright Dea Hurston’s holiday musical comedy about a widow whose decision to change her holiday traditions after a new man enters life causes family uproar. 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Through Dec. 24. 2787 State St., Carlsbad. $28-$55. (760) 433-3245, newvillagearts.org
‘Respectfully Christmas’ at Lamb’s: In a nod to the huge success of its long-running productions of “Million Dollar Quartet” in 2022 and “R-E-S-P-E-C-T” in 2023, Lamb’s Players Theatre has crafted a new holiday show of Christmas songs and carols featuring cast members from both shows. 7 p.m. Tuesdays- Saturdays. 2 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays. Through Dec. 24. Lamb’s Players Theatre, 1142 Orange Ave., Coronado. $36-$72. (619) 437-6000. lambsplayers.org
