December is finally here, so we’re making a list and counting down to Christmas with 25 seasonal suggestions you can find around our city.
You can try following along like an Advent calendar, or you can choose your own adventure from our list of festive treats, gatherings, and shopping experiences that make the holiday season a special time in San Diego.
4. Write a letter to Santa, and mail it to him at the mailbox at the Piazza della Famiglia in Little Italy. All letters submitted by Sunday, Dec. 11, will get a response from the man in red.
5. Time for eggnog — try Dark Horse Coffee Roasters’ Egg Nog Cold Foam Cold Brew, or warm it up and get a specialty latte.
6. It’s time to decorate, so head to City Lights Collectibles in Bay Park to support a local, family owned business that sells ornaments + holiday lights.
2022 Holiday Market | Thursday, Dec. 1-Friday, Dec. 23 | 4-10 p.m. | Petco Park, 100 Park Blvd., San Diego | $10-$20 | The annual event lights up the ballpark with more decorations, vendors, food + drinks.
A Christmas Carol | Thursday, Dec. 1-Saturday, Dec. 24 | 7 p.m. | Lamb’s Players Theatre, 1142 Orange Ave., Coronado | $22-$86 | Kerry Meads’ adaptation of the Charles Dickens story returns.
Turnover | Thursday, Dec. 1 | 8 p.m. | The Observatory North Park, 2891 University Ave., San Diego | $25 | A night of live rock music.
Holiday “In” — Jazz at the Ballroom | Thursday, Dec. 1 | 8-9:30 p.m. | California Center for the Arts, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido | $30-$50 | Swing into the holidays with tributes to Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and other Hollywood + Broadway legends.
Friday, Dec. 2
Kid’s Night Out | Friday, Dec. 2 | 4:30-9 p.m. | Oak Hall at the Mickey Cafagna Community Center, 13094 Civic Center Dr., Poway | Free | A night for kids in grades 1-5 to enjoy games, crafts + activities.
Soul of a Decade | Friday, Dec. 2 | 8:30 p.m. | The Merrow, 1271 University Ave., San Diego | $12 | Music, cocktails + dancing.
Saturday, Dec. 3
Little Italy Tree Lighting & Christmas Village | Saturday, Dec. 3 | 4-8 p.m. | Piazza della Famiglia, 555 W. Date St., San Diego | Little Italy kicks off the holiday season with its annual community festival.
The Psychedelic Furs | Saturday, Dec. 3 | 8 p.m. | The Music Box, 1337 India St., San Diego | $77 | The longtime post-punk band headlines this 21+ show.
Sunday, Dec. 4
Moon Voyage Market | Sunday, Dec. 4 | 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | Adams Avenue Theater, 3325 Adams Ave., San Diego | $10 | Adams Avenue Theater, La Loupe Vintage + Chrome City team up for this curated showcase of local makers, artists, and vintage vendors.
La Jolla Christmas Parade and Festival | Sunday, Dec. 4 | 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. | La Jolla, 1008 Wall St., San Diego | Free | Enjoy live entertainment + seasonal activities, followed by the 66th annual parade at 1:30 p.m. along this route.
We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
If you’re one of the whopping 110 million Americans over age 50 — or a wise Millennial looking to get ahead — SmartAsset’s no-cost tool makes it easy to find vetted financial advisors serving our local area.
Looking for a New Year’s resolution? Try wasting less. The City of San Diego plans to roll out300,000+ “green bins” in January for organic waste like yard trimmings and food scraps. The initiative will be free for residents, and aligns with California Senate Bill 1383’s efforts to reduce landfill waste by 40%. 🗑️ (Fox 5)
The San Dieguito River is rising as it receives water from Lake Hodges. This will help maintain the condition of the reservoir’s century-old dam due to increased water from recent rainfall. No flooding is expected, but anyone visiting the San Dieguito River should take precautions due to higher water levels. 💧 (San Diego Union-Tribune)
Travel
Gas prices are staying in reverse. For the first time since March 3, the average cost of a gallon of regular, self-serve gasoline in San Diego County fell below $5. Yesterday, this average hit $4.978 thanks to a 6-cent drop — the 19th day in a streak of declines. ⛽ (KPBS)
Civic
Del Mar has a gift for visitors: free parking. The city won’t enforce 2-hour limits on weekends in December and for a holiday break from 5 p.m.Friday, Dec. 16-9 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 1. Other regulations will remain enforced, like 20-minute spaces and metered spots on Maiden Lane + Coast Boulevard. 🅿️ (Fox 5)
Real Estate
For the fourth month in a row, home prices are leveling down. Data from the Case-Shiller Index revealed that prices in the San Diego metro area fell 2.1% in September when compared to August — but are still 9.5% higher than August 2021. 📉 (Times of San Diego)
Arts
Artist Jon Savage is preparing for a colorful display, coming to The Studio Door in Hillcrest. His exhibit “7250” is a collection of works celebrating SoCal culture and his experiences as a deaf artist. Its grand opening is this Saturday and it will run through Friday, Dec. 30. 🖼️ (San Diego Union-Tribune)
Cause
Nova Easy Kombucha is giving back like a pro. The brand will host its Holiday Social Hour Fundraiser at its Ocean Beach Taproom on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 5:30-8:30 p.m., to benefit Corazón de Vida. Guests will be joined by two US Olympic athletes, three players from San Diego Loyal, and Padres pitcher Daniel Camarena. 🥇
Feel Good
Happy birthday, Grandma — a Galapagos tortoise who is the San Diego Zoo’s oldest residentturned 138, making her older than the zoo itself. The shelled senior celebrated by devouring a birthday treat made of flowers, fruit, grass, and leaves. 🐢 (NBC 7)
Shop
If you work from home like us, you’ve likely become accustomed to having stiff muscles at the end of a workday due to prolonged sitting. Combat this with a little office upgrade — an electric standing desk paired with a sleek under desk treadmill. Oh, and don’t forget to stay hydrated.*
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A waterfront tradition has returned to Ocean Beach. Right where Newport Avenue ends, a 65-ft Christmas tree is rising from the sands.
For more than 40 years, a tree has been donated to the community by a local, harvested from a yard because it was overgrown or needed to be removed. This year, OB’s holiday tree was gifted by a Midway District resident.
And just like in previous years — it’s a little crooked — but the eclectic beach community likes it that way.
This week, the tree is getting dressed for the holidays so it will be ready for the 43rd annual OB Holiday Parade on Saturday, Dec. 3, at 5 p.m. Santa Claus will also be visiting the tree that day, with additional appearances on two following Saturdays: Dec. 10 + Dec. 17.
THE WRAP
Editor’s pick:Good morning, San Diego. I hear sleigh bells ringing — my stereo is in full Christmas mode. It’s no secret that Monica and I are big Mariah Carey fans, so we fit right in with other San Diegans.
According to Apple Music, “All I Want For Christmas Is You” is the top Christmas song among locals. If that’s not your tune, “Jingle Bell Rock” by Bobby Helms is the city’s second most popular holiday song.
Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Get ready for the full return of December Nights.
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