Embrace the holiday giving season with this guide that’s got something for everyone, including local finds. | Graphic by 6AM City
Shopping for a few special people this holiday season? Browse local items and trending gifts sure to delight everyone on your list.
Gifts for singles
Local pick:Locals Special Treatments | $135 | Gift them a 50-minute massage or facial at Spa Brezza at Mission Bay Resort — they’ll get access to the spa amenities + pool, too.
Knitted weighted blanket | $135.99 | Perfect for a bed or couch, this 15-lb blanket offers comforting weight with an aesthetic knit finish.
Local pick:Sand Cloud Everyday Tote | $30 | This bag comes in cute prints that are suitable for sand + land. Sales contribute to marine conservation — plus, the brand was founded by SDSU alumni.
Funny flip-over desk signs | $14.99 | Perfect for the office gift exchange, peep the funny messages on these signs.
Porta-Potty Shot Glasses | $19.99 | Liven up the gift grab bag with highly-rated porta-potty shot glasses.
Local pick:San Diego Padres Sportula | $24.99 | On one end, you can sear “SD” into your meat, on the other end there’s a bottle opener.
Gifts for foodies
Local pick:Venissimo Cheese colossal gift box | $140 | This includes everything they’ll need for the perfect charcuterie board — available for shipping or pick up at one of the three San Diego stores.
Makers Arcade Holiday Fair | Saturday, Dec. 7-Sunday, Dec. 8 | Times vary | Broadway Pier | $6+ | Shop small and local from 130+ makers while enjoying gourmet food trucks, live music, a kids craft area, and fun photo opportunities.
December Nights | 11 a.m.-11 p.m. | Balboa Park | Free | San Diego’s biggest holiday celebration takes over the landmark with lights, live performances, crafts, food vendors, and activities for the whole family.
PASACAT 28th Annual Parol Lantern Festival | 2-6 p.m. | Eastlake High School, Chula Vista | $20 | Experience an evening of Philippine star lanterns, parol-making workshops, local vendors, and live performances.
Little Italy Tree Lighting & Christmas Village | 4-8 p.m. | Piazza della Famiglia | Free | Revel in holiday-themed decorations, food, live entertainment, and a visit from Santa — don’t miss the tree lighting at 6:30 p.m. sharp.
Sunday, Dec. 8
2024 San Marcos Holiday Market | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | North City, San Marcos | Price of purchase | Eat, drink, be merry, and shop for holiday gifts at this open-air market featuring 150+ local artisans and crafters.
San Diego Bay Parade of Lights | 5:30 p.m. | San Diego Bay | Free | The 54th annual holiday tradition will light up San Diego Bay with a procession of ~80 boats decked out in festive lights and decorations matching this year’s “Peace on Earth” theme.
Wednesday, Dec. 11
Paws & Claus Poolside Cinema | 5:30-7:15 p.m. | La Valencia Hotel | $35 | Bring your pup and cozy up poolside while enjoying themed cocktails + a screening of “Elf” — all proceeds from the $5 Pup Pass will be donated to the San Diego Humane Society.
Thursday, Dec. 12
2024 Holiday Open House | 4-6 p.m. | The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, La Jolla | Free | The Wu Tsai QRT.yrd has transformed into a winter wonderland complete with a holiday market, story time for the kids, and live salsa tunes from the Manny Cepeda Orchestra.
Friday, Dec. 13
Swiftmas Skate Themed Night | 12-10 p.m. | Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina | $25 | Swifties, it’s your “Wildest Dream": Roller skate in “Style” to your favorite Taylor Swift songs at the new, seasonal rink with breathtaking bayfront views.
Coastal Christmas Del Mar | Friday, Dec. 13-Thursday, Dec. 26 (select nights) | 4-9 p.m. | Del Mar Fairgrounds, Del Mar | $12.95+ | The festive attraction returns to Del Mar with twinkling lights, seasonal treats, a “glice” skating rink, a holiday market, photos with Santa, and the kid-friendly Frosty’s Fun Zone.
One of the beautifully detailed light displays at Starlight Circle. | Photo via Monica Garske + SDtoday
The glow of holiday lights makes this time of year feel especially magical. In San Diego County, many neighborhoods and attractions truly dazzle with elaborate light displays, typically up through at least Christmas Day. Here are some of the brightest standouts.
By early December, you’ll typically find dozens of homes along East and West Glendon circles decked out in lights and themes. You can walk through this free neighborhood display or drive slowly. Sometimes, residents set up stands selling hot cocoa — although Santee is cracking down on other vendors at the attraction this year.
Hickory Street in Poway is the ultimate place to get into the spirit. Drive slowly through the free neighborhood display, or park along Carriage Road or Saddlewood Drive and walk around.
The aircraft carrier is once again decked out for the holidays — from bow to stern — with 750,000 of twinkling lights. Visit the ticketed display on select nights through Monday, Dec. 23, 5:30-9:30 p.m.
There’s still time to go to December Nights — the city’s largest free annual festival continues today at Balboa Park, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. New to the fest this year: free rides on a Ferris Wheel and the highly-anticipated reopening of the renovated Botanical Building. See you there. (CBS 8)
Civic
After voters rejected Measure E’s 1-cent tax hike last month, Mayor Todd Gloria said San Diego is facing a $258.2 million projected deficit, so City Hall will make some cuts. Gloria said this includes a hiring freeze, halting the Civic Center Revitalization process, and evaluating the city’s office space leases. (The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Seasonal
The San Diego Bay Parade of Lights will set sail at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 8 and Sunday, Dec. 15. The longtime holiday tradition features ~80 lavishly decked out boats cruising along San Diego Bay and typically draws 100,000+ spectators. Here’s what you need to know before you go.
Announced
During a San Diego visit, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced plans to increase National Guard presence at the US-Mexico border. He also said the design contract for the new Otay Mesa East Port of Entry will be formalized by the year’s end, and the delayed project will be completed by December 2027. (CBS 8)
Open
Olive Street Park is now open in Bankers Hill. The 0.6-acre space features the city’s first AIDS memorial highlighting local AIDS history + organizations. The memorial’s second phase — debuting by Dec. 1, 2025 — will feature an installation with ~10,000 names of San Diegans who lost their lives to AIDS.
Travel
Canada, eh?Porter Airlines will launch its inaugural flight from Toronto to San Diego International Airport on Monday, Dec. 9. SAN said Alaska Airlines will also launch new flights this month: a route to Reno, Nevada begins on Thursday, Dec. 19 and service to Vail/Eagle, Colorado starts soaring on Friday, Dec. 20.
Health
Scripps Health researchers received a $317,000 grant to develop what’s likely the world’s first smart shoulder implant. The tech aims to remotely monitor and transmit data from inside a patient’s shoulder after surgery. The funding will support the team’s initial research at a local clinic over the next two years. (Scripps Health)
San Diegan
Former SD mayor Jerry Sanders will retire by the end of 2024 from his 12-year position as the president + CEO of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce. Chamber COO Jessica Anderson will step into the interim role; the organization expects to appoint its new leader by Feb. 27, 2025.
Sports
Will the Chargers’ Ladd McConkey play against the Kansas City Chiefs? If so, it could be a game-changer. Go beyond the scoreboard and behind the scenes of the Chargerswith Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Watch
Whether going to the movies is a new or existing holiday tradition, there’s something for fans of all ages and interests at AMC UTC 14 this holiday season. Grab tickets to see these new releases — don’t forget the popcorn.*
Fun Fact
SDtoday does not have paywalls because we believe access to essential local news is priceless. You can support our free, daily newsletter with a donation. Think of it like buying us coffee — or tea, if that’s more your style. Thank you for your support.
Tech
Want to turn four-hour tasks into 15-minute wins? Download your free ChatGPT mastery guide for 100 battle-tested prompts you can copy/paste ASAP — no coding required. Plus, the guide explores how to use AI ethically at work.*
Shop
Looking for a last-minute gift? We found one that’s more than 60% off, can be delivered instantly + will last forever. That’s speaking our language. Shop the sale.*
Plan Ahead
Don’t let those leftovers go to waste. Use the remainder of your end-of-year budget + get your business in front of thousands. For a limited time, take 25% off ads in our self-service ad portal when you use promo code 2025 at checkout.
City Guide
City Guide
🌥️ It’s a winter-ful life
211 offers resources for locals across San Diego County. | Photo via Monica Garske + SDtoday
We know the question on your mind, San Diegans — when is it truly going to feel like winter? Thanks to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center, we know what temperatures and precipitation trends to expect in SD for December, January, and February.
While exact weather conditions typically can’t be predicted more than a week in advance, here’s a seasonal outlook to help you prepare for what winter will bring.
Think slightly warm. This winter, San Diego has a 33-40% chance of temps leaning above normal.
Precipitation
With La Niña developing, precipitation may be a bit unpredictable this season — and likely drier than the last two winters. NOAA predicts normal precipitation amounts in parts of San Diego County, but further east, precipitation is likely to lean 33-40% below normal.
Drought
Drought conditions are likely being kept at bay. January-October 2024 made for the 38th wettest year in San Diego County in the past 130 years, but October 2024 was the 14th driest on record.
Drizzlin’ in December
San Diegans know we have it good when it comes to winter. The average high temperature in December is 63.3° and the nighttime low is 52.7°. It’s typically the month with the most rainfall — 5.8 days, or up to 1.65 inches of total rain — and the shortest days with 10 hours of daylight.
This top-rated safety razor with five premium stainless-steel blades. Its double-sided design provides a closer, cleaner shave compared to disposable razors, resulting in less skin irritation.
Hi, friends — I hope you’re enjoying the local holiday vibes. I recently checked out Downtown Skate, an outdoor roller skating rink at the Marriott Marquis that is new to SD’s seasonal rink offerings.
The bayfront attraction is super cute and features lots of holiday lights, high-energy music (there’s a DJ every weekend), and rinkside food + cocktails. It’s open through Sunday, Jan. 5. Check out the rink’s upcoming specialty skating events, too.
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