National Stress-Free Holiday Month • Safe Toys & Gifts Month • Pear Month
DECEMBER
Jennifer A. Burman
Calendar
Unwrap the magic of the holidays with our (Santa-approved) list of the biggest and brightest happenings of the season, guaranteed to banish your inner Grinch! Don’t forget to call to confirm dates, times and admission prices.
Still looking for last month’s events? Check out the digital edition of our November issue at SanDiegoFamily.com
saturday | 1 “Dr. Seuss’s How The Grinch Stole Christmas!” Don’t miss this wonderful, whimsical musical based on the classic Dr. Seuss book. Through Dec. 29; visit website for schedule. Tickets start at $29. Old Globe Theatre, Balboa Park. See page 28. Holiday at the Rancho offers a blend of holiday spirit with a bit of western history! Check out a 14-foot tree lighting, train rides, games, shopping, cookie decorating and photos with Santa. 5-8 pm. $10; under 3 free. Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park, 6200 Flying L.C. Lane. Carlsbad. www.carlsbadconnect.org (activity number: 28992). FREE Little Italy’s Tree Lighting & Christmas Village. Featuring two Christmas trees and 10-foot-tall nutcrackers on street corners, vendors, entertainment, carriage rides, holiday treats and Santa. 4-8 pm. Tree lighting is at the Piazza della Famiglia at 6:30 pm; Christmas Village is located on India St., between W. Cedar and W. Grape Sts., downtown San Diego. www.littleitalysd.com. Seas ‘n’ Greetings. Deck the Hall (of Fishes) and get into the holiday spirit with Scuba Santa, animal encounters, a scavenger hunt and more. Today until Dec. 31, 9 am-5 pm. Note: No holiday dive shows on Dec. 24 & 31; only elves will appear in the dive shows
Plan fun family adventures with Out & About with Kids! Access the digital edition at www.sandiegofamily.com. from Dec. 26-30. Free with admission. Birch Aquarium, 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla. www.aquarium.ucsd.edu. Cygnet Theatre’s “A Christmas Carol.” Through Dec. 30; visit website for schedule and tickets. Come to Family Day tomorrow (1-2 pm) that includes an activity station by Geppetto’s Toys, kids’ activities, free hot chocolate and more. 4040 Twiggs St., San Diego. See page 30 for details. San Diego STEAM Maker Festival. More than 200 participating schools, more than 100 student teams participating in STEAM challenges and industry/tech company demos and activities. 10 am-3 pm. $6-$8. Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd. www.sansmf.org. FREE Tree Lighting at Omni La Costa Resort and Spa. A skydiving Santa (4 pm), hot chocolate and cider, carolers, crafts and a holiday market. 1-4 pm; tree lighting, 5:15 pm. 2100 Costa Del Mar Rd., Carlsbad. www .omnihotels.com/hotels/san-diego-la-costa.
Christmas on Crystal Pier. Have your photos taken with Santa on the end of historic Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach. 2-5 pm; please arrive by 4 pm. $10 ($5 if you bring a school supply donation). www.pacificbeach.org. FREE Family Activities at Renaissance Village Academy. Family Game Day, 10 am-3 pm; Holiday Arts & Crafts, 3-5 pm. 10625 Scripps Ranch Blvd., Ste. A, San Diego. www.rvaschool.org. FREE Santa’s Village & Tree Lighting. Breakfast with Santa (9-11 am; $5), crafts, vendors and all-day entertainment. 9 am-7 pm; tree lighting, 5:30 pm. San Marcos Civic Center, 1 Civic Center Dr. www.san-marcos.net/specialevents. Parol Lantern Festival by PASACAT. Experience Christmas in the Philippines
FREE Winter Wonderland Festival
Experience all things merry and bright at this annual event where kids can play with real snow, make winter-themed crafts, see live reindeer and whisper their holiday wishes in Santa’s ear. Also browse holiday vendors, enjoy themed entertainment, from carolers to stilt walkers, and see the Lyric Court come alive with twinkling lights. Dec. 1, 3-8 pm. California Center for the Arts, Escondido, 340 N. Escondido Blvd. www.artcenter.org.
34 • SanDiegofamily.com • December 2018