Midterms are over, college applications are coming to an end, and hopefully Christmas shopping is out of the way. Now it’s Winter Break, two free weeks of no homework or waking up before the sun rises. Only, the worst part about break is realizing you’ve spent the entirety of it lying in bed. Luckily, San Diego has an abundance of Winter activities for families and friends throughout the city.
The Nutcracker
Starting with a classic, the well-known Victorian-era story of The Nutcracker will be sparking their first performance of the year at The City Ballet of San Diego. They will begin on December 20th, running until the 23rd with tickets varying from $39 to $119, depending on seating choices and dates. If attended, you may run into live carolers in the theater lobby, adding to the full holiday experience. This is recommended for all age groups as the story has been around since the 1800’s, spreading both new experiences and nostalgia.
In addition to the ballet itself, they are also offering a Nutcracker Tea Party on December 22nd with one performance at 11am and the other at 3pm. This event will be located at Liberty Station with holiday treats, a performance by the San Diego Ballet, and Santa. Younger kids and ballet fans may enjoy meeting the ballerinas and watching an additional holiday performance.
Holiday Bowl Parade
This year at Snapdragon Stadium a Holiday Bowl Parade will be taking place. On Friday, December 27th at 10am, expect bands, floats, balloons, drill teams and so much more. In past years, over 100,000 street side spectators have attended the parade, alongside television watchers. If you are up for helping out with the parade, you can also apply to volunteer on the Holiday Bowl website. Presented by Kaiser Permanente, join or volunteer at the parade and check it off your bucket list this year.
Ice Skating
My favorite ice skating location also happens to be at Liberty Station. The Rady’s Children Ice Rink is a great place to celebrate the holidays with your loved ones. From Thursday, November 21st through Sunday, January 5th, join Liberty Station for its 27th year of fun for about $15 to $20. Not only is ice skating a definitive activity of Winter, but this location actually raises funds for the Thriving After Cancer program at the Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders. By choosing this ice rink, we can support Cancer survivors while simultaneously enjoying the holidays.
Christmas Lights
Holiday lights are one of the best ways to get in the Christmas spirit and San Diego does a great job at that. First up is “Lightscape” at San Diego Botanic Gardens from November 15th to January 5th, ranging from $13 to $29. This garden is a mile long walk, just the right amount of time and lights to enjoy, especially on a cold night. Old Town Trolley’s Holiday Sights & Festive Nights is a $20 ride around Old Town. There will be sing-along caroling with the Elf conductors with holiday facts, trivia, history, and traditions. The tour will take you around lit up Old Town, Little Italy, Banker’s Hill, Garrison Street, and more. This is a great event for visiting family or if you’re in the mood to check out the city.
Free Fun
Not every holiday even requires the funds, San Diego provides lots of free activities as well. Starting off with “All That Jazz” Lightshow Spectacular at Hotel Del Coronado, running until January 5th. This lightshow is accompanied by holiday jazz and beautiful colors. Not to mention it was the world’s first electrically lit outdoor Christmas tree. “Lights at the Lakes” is yet another show located at Santee Lakes Campgrounds which is also free. You can walk around, ride a golf cart, or even reserve a cabin for some overnight fun. Poway’s Christmas in the Park is an old fashioned holiday tradition with kids crafts, caroling, model train displays, and a visit from Santa. Enjoy a free night out in San Diego with the lights, Christmas tree decorating, and more.
San Diego has a great amount of parades, lightshows, and events for the Winter season, so why not put them to use. Christmas is the best holiday in my opinion because of how much there is to do, the cold weather, and not to mention the classic Christmas movies and traditions. The Winter season is a great way to bring your family and friends together, and what better place to do that than San Diego.
