18 Magical Holiday Events in San Diego – Let MTS Be Your Sleigh Ride to the Fun

The holidays are here in San Diego, and MTS is your ride to all the fun and festive events around town – from La Mesa to La Jolla, South Bay to Balboa Park, and all points in between.

New this year for the holiday season is Contactless Payments. If you’re a seasonal rider, you can simply use a credit or debit card (including mobile wallets) to get you on-board (one credit card per person required). Plus, if heading out with the family, youth can ride free with the YOP pass.

Check out our full list of celebrations below be sure to tag MTS on Instagram, TikTok and X when you ride!

San Diego Holiday Events

1. Holly Jolly Trolley

Gaslamp Quarter Station – Green Line
Saturday, December 14, 2024 | 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Walk-ups available 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
sdmts.com/rider-info/events/holly-jolly-trolley

Hop aboard the Holly Jolly Trolley for the merriest ride of the season! Ride around downtown San Diego in style aboard a Christmas-themed vintage Trolley. Guests can enjoy hot cocoa, cookies, a photo booth, and holiday crafts. Didn’t snag tickets? Limited walk-up spots are available! Ride the Green Line to Gaslamp Quarter Station to join the holiday cheer.

2. December Nights

Balboa Park
Friday, December 6, 2024 (3:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.)
Saturday, December 7, 2024 (11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.)
sdmts.com/rider-info/events/december-nights

San Diego's largest free holiday event is back with dazzling lights, live music, food vendors, free museum admission (after 5 p.m.), and performances at the Organ Pavilion. Avoid parking headaches by taking our FREE Park Blvd. Shuttle from City College Transit Center to Balboa Park. See our December Nights page for extra service information.

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by San Diego’s Holiday Speakeasy | Santa's Lair (@santaslairsd)

3. Festive Speakeasies & Bars

Discover the holiday spirit at San Diego’s themed speakeasies and bars! Whether you’re looking for creative cocktails or cozy atmospheres, these spots are sure to jingle your bells.

• Snowed In
  Fort Oak - 1011 Fort Stockton Dr, San Diego, CA 92103
  Route 10, 83
• Xmas Bar
  John Boy - 401 G Street, San Diego, CA 92101
  Route 3, Fifth Avenue Station, Gaslamp Quarter Station
• Santa’s Lair
  Parq Nightclub – 615 Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101
  Fifth Avenue Station, Routes 2, 7, 110, 901, 923, Rapid 215, 225, 235, 280, 290
• Over the Top Holiday Lounge
  Top of the Hyatt - 1 Market Pl, San Diego, CA 92101
  Seaport Village Station or Convention Center Station
• Bar St. Nick
  Lime in the Coconut - 248 3rd Avenue, Chula Vista, CA 91910
  Routes 701, 704, 705, 929
• Miracle
  Draft House Belmont Park - 3125 Ocean Front Walk, San Diego, CA 92109
  Route 8

4. Outdoor Ice Skating

Now through January 5, 2025

Lace up your skates for the outdoor rink! There’s nothing like ice skating under the stars. There are two locations accessible by transit:

• Rady Children’s Ice Rink at Liberty Station (via Route 28)
• Hotel del Coronado (via Route 901 or 904)

5. Holiday Mini Golf

Tapper's Mini Golf at The Loma Club (via Route 28)
Now through January 5, 2025
thelomaclub.com

Deck the "holes" with holiday cheer for “Tappers Stole Christmas” holiday mini golf pop-up. Adults can enjoy a special 9-hole rate + hot toddy for $20!

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Petco Park Events (@petcoparkevents)

6. Petco Park Holiday Market

Petco Park
December 5 – 27, 2024
gsevents.ticketsauce.com/e/holiday-market-24

The Holiday Market at Petco Park is back! Visit the market for dazzling light displays, visits with Santa and his reindeer, lots of local shopping, and live entertainment. Don’t miss the nightly snowfall and be sure to take the Trolley for easy access to Petco Park!

7. Jungle Bells at the San Diego Zoo

San Diego Zoo
Now through January 5, 2025
zoo.sandiegozoo.org/jungle-bells

Experience the San Diego Zoo after dark this holiday season with Jungle Bells! Enjoy live holiday music, reindeer games, light displays, and get your photo taken with Santa! MTS offers fast and easy service to the San Diego Zoo via Rapid 215 or Route 7.

8. Little Italy Tree Lighting and Christmas Village

Little Italy
Saturday, December 7, 2024 (4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.)
littleitalysd.com/events/little-italy-tree-lighting

Stroll through Little Italy for some Christmas cheer as they hold their annual tree lighting and Christmas Village. Take the Trolley’s Green Line or UC San Diego Blue Line to County Center/Little Italy – the festivities are just a few blocks from the Trolley station.

9. La Jolla Christmas Parade & Holiday Festival

La Jolla Village
Sunday, December 8, 2024 (11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.)
ljparade.com

Celebrate California-style with the theme “Palm Trees & Poinsettias” in La Jolla with a holiday parade and festival. Visit Santa’s Village in front of the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library and then attend the Christmas Parade starting at 1:30 p.m. near the intersection of Kline & Girard. Get to Santa’s Village and the La Jolla Christmas Parade with MTS - take Route 30 or 140 to get to La Jolla.

Photo by the Chula Vista Starlight Parade

10. Chula Vista Starlight Parade & Festival

Memorial Park, Chula Vista
Saturday, December 14, 2024 (3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.)
starlightparade.com

The 60th Annual Starlight Parade and Festival is back for another year of family fun in Chula Vista. The event takes place in Memorial Park with a holiday festival and tree lighting, live performances, photos with Santa, and the Starlight Parade. The UC San Diego Blue Line can take you to Chula Vista off E Street or H Street. Routes 701, 704, 705, 709, or 929 all stop near Third Avenue in Chula Vista. Use our Trip Planner for exact directions and times.

11. Holiday in the Village

Downtown La Mesa
December 14, 2024 (12:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.)
lamesavillageassociation.org/holiday-in-the-village-a-la-mesa-tradition

La Mesa’s 9th annual Holiday in the Village will feature an ice-skating rink, mini golf, inflatable bouncies, an Elf Adventure Trail, live entertainment, strolling carolers, fire pits, and plenty of food and holiday shopping. Take the Orange Line to La Mesa Blvd. Station.

Photo by Port of San Diego

12. 54th Annual San Diego Bay Parade of Lights

San Diego Bay
December 8 & 15, 2024 (5:30 p.m.)
sdparadeoflights.org

The San Diego Bay Parade of Lights will sail by for its 54th annual run. Boats will be decorated to fit this year’s theme, “Peace on Earth”.

For added insight into the participating boats, viewers can watch the parade from near the announcers’ areas. Announcers will be located at the Maritime Museum on the Embarcadero and Coronado Landing. With an expected crowd of 100,000 for this festive parade, viewers are encouraged to Park and Ride. You can get within walking distance of Harbor Drive from a few locations:

• County Center/Little Italy (UC San Diego Blue Line / Green Line)
• Santa Fe Depot (UC San Diego Blue Line / Green Line)
• Seaport Village (Green Line)
• Convention Center (Green Line)
• Gaslamp Quarter (Green Line)
• Barrio Logan (UC San Diego Blue Line

Holiday Bowl Parade Float – Photo by Nathan Rupert

13. Port of San Diego Holiday Bowl Parade

Downtown San Diego
December 27, 2024 (10:00 a.m.)
holidaybowl.com/holiday-bowl-parade

The bayside streets of downtown San Diego will come alive with the Port of San Diego Holiday Bowl Parade presented by Kaiser Permanente! A long tradition of the Holiday Bowl, this fun family event brings together world-class marching bands, magnificent floats, entertaining drill teams, and a procession of enormous balloons! Street-side viewing of the parade is FREE!

There are several viewing locations accessible via the Trolley:

• County Center/Little Italy (Green Line, UC San Diego Blue Line) 
• Santa Fe Depot (Green Line, UC San Diego Blue Line) 
• America Plaza (UC San Diego Blue Line) 
• Seaport Village (Green Line) 

Harbor Drive is within walking distance of the stops above to give you easy access to view the parade.

14. DirectTV Holiday Bowl & KBG Sky Show

Snapdragon Stadium
December 27, 2024 (5:00 p.m.)
holidaybowl.com

Since its 1978 debut, the Holiday Bowl has been one of the most exciting college football games. The Holiday Bowl switches venues this year debuting at Snapdragon Stadium in Mission Valley. The Holiday Bowl will feature teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Pac-12 Conference. Fans can enjoy the 101.5 KGB Sky Show postgame which will light up the sky with its spectacular fireworks display.

Fans are encouraged to skip the traffic and ride the MTS Trolley to the game. Fans can take the Green Line to Stadium Station.

15. 44th Annual Kwanzaa Celebration

WorldBeat Center, Balboa Park
December 29, 2024 (6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.)
worldbeatcenter.org/event/44th-annual-kwanzaa-celebration-umoja-unity/

Celebrate Kwanzaa at the WorldBeat Cultural Center. They will be celebrating with 4 of the 7 days of Kwanzaa. Featuring ceremonial candle lighting, live drumming, poetry reading, and a traditional feast. Accessible via Rapid 215 or Route 7.

16. Hanukkah Happening

Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, La Jolla
December 15, 2024 (12:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.)
my.lfjcc.org/14871/14874

The Hanukkah Happening is a festive celebration featuring an interactive family concert by the LeeVees from New York. The LeeVees are a rock band featuring songs about Hanukkah. The event will also feature other family friendly activities such as face painting, crafts, a costume contest, a latke eating contest, food, and more. Take the UC San Diego Blue Line to the Executive Drive Station.

17. Liberty Station Hanukkah & Menorah Lighting

Liberty Station, Central Promenade (via Route 28)
December 26, 2024 (5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
libertystation.com/events/salute-the-season/menorah-lighting

Liberty Station, in partnership with The Chabads of Downtown San Diego and Pacific Beach, will host a public menorah lighting at Liberty Station’s Central Promenade to commemorate the first night of Hanukkah. The magical, family-friendly festivity will include entertainment, packaged treats, and the traditional lighting of the menorah.

18. Hanukkah Festival

Seaport Village – Lighthouse District
December 28, 2024 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
seaportvillage.com/events/hanukkah-festival-2024

This free event at Seaport Village will feature live music, festive performers, and the traditional lighting of the menorah. Take the Green Line to Seaport Village Station for easy access to the festivities.