Let the most festive time of year begin! While San Diego is magical year-round, the holidays kick it up a notch. Check out these transit-friendly events and festivities to close out 2025.
1. Happy Trolley-Days
📍 UTC, Palomar St., Grossmont, and Fashion Valley
🗓️ Tuesday, December 9, 2025 – Friday, December 12, 2025, 4 – 6 p.m.
🔗 sdmts.com/rider-info/events/happy-trolley-days
‘Tis the season to take transit! To wish you “Happy Trolley-Days,” the MTS team will be hosting pop-ups at various transit centers. Stop by on your evening commute for some hot cocoa and cookies, plus a small, special winter MTS item! Click here to view the pop-up dates and locations.
Photo by Rebeca Anchondo
2. December Nights
📍 Balboa Park
🗓️ Friday, December 5, 2025 (3-11 p.m.) – Saturday, December 6, 2025 (11 a.m. - 11 p.m.)
🔗 sdmts.com/rider-info/events/december-nights
The city’s annual December Nights returns for another year of festive fun. This free event draws thousands to enjoy the music, lights, attractions, vendors, food and more. MTS is offering a free shuttle service from City College Transit Center to Balboa Park (drop-off and pick-up on the west side of the park only). Read more about the shuttle service on our December Nights event page.
3. Holiday Pop-Ups
There are always new holiday themed experiences every year and here are a few of the latest ones, all transit accessible.
- The Golden Girls Christmas Experience at Bayside Kitchen (Little Italy)
2137 Pacific Hwy, San Diego, CA
Green Line or UC San Diego Blue Line Trolley to County Center/Little Italy - Yo Ho Ho-liday Tavern at Margaritaville (Gaslamp)
435 6th Ave., San Diego, CA)
Green Line to Gaslamp Quarter Station - Emo Christmas at El After Social Club (Gaslamp)
815 5th Ave, San Diego, CA
Orange Line or UC San Diego Blue Line to 5th Avenue Station - Snowed In at Fort Oak (Mission Hills)
1011 Fort Stockton Dr., San Diego, CA
Route 10 - Holiday Oasis Experience at Inside Out (Hillcrest)
1642 University Ave., San Diego, CA
Routes 1, 11, Rapid 215
Festivities, Parades, and More
4. East Village Tree Lighting & Holiday Market
📍 Faultline Park – 1433 Island Ave.
🗓️ Sunday, November 30, 2025 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
🔗 eastvillagesandiego.com/events/east-village-tree-lighting-and-holiday-market
Kick off the start of the holiday season with tree lighting and holiday market in the heart of East Village! Enjoy live music, food and drinks, kids activities, and more. Faultline Park is located just two blocks away from Park & Market Station off the Orange Line or UC San Diego Blue Line.
5. Coronado Parade & Tree Lighting
📍 8th & Orange to RH Dana in Coronado, CA
🗓️ Friday, December 5, 2025 at 6 p.m.
🔗 coronadotimes.com/event/holiday-parade-and-tree-lighting-2/
Get ready for Coronado’s 50th Annual Holiday Parade & Tree Lighting happening Friday, December 5 at 6 p.m. from 8th & Orange to RH Dana & Adella. Celebrate the golden milestone with 50+ festive parade entries, a big tree wrapped in over two miles of lights, and a special visit from Santa himself. Use Routes 901 or 904 to get to and around Coronado.
Photo by the Chula Vista Starlight Parade
6. Chula Vista Starlight Parade
📍 Near Memorial Park – 373 Park Way, Chula Vista, CA
🗓️ Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 3 p.m. - 7 p.m. / Starlight Parade at 6 p.m.
🔗 starlightparade.com
Get ready to shine brighter than ever at the highly anticipated 61st Annual Starlight Parade & Festival! Deck out in your most sparkly gear and join us as Third Avenue transforms into a magical wonderland. Don’t miss this signature Chula Vista holiday celebration (or our bus in the parade)! Routes 701, 704, 705, or 709 all stop near Third Avenue in Chula Vista.
7. Ocean Beach Holiday Parade: Galactic Holiday Beach Bash
📍 Corner of Newport Ave. & Sunset Cliffs Blvd.
🗓️ Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 5:05 p.m.
🔗 oceanbeachsandiego.com/resources/local-news/ob-holiday-parade
Come celebrate the holidays Ocean Beach style with their 46th Annual OB Holiday Parade. This year’s theme is “Galactic Holiday Beach Bash.” Get ready for a cosmic holiday parade like no other! Take Route 35 to get the heart of OB.
8. Little Italy Tree Lighting and Christmas Village
📍 Piazza della Famiglia – 523 W Date St., San Diego, CA
🗓️ Saturday, December 6, 2025 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
🔗 littleitalysd.com/events/little-italy-tree-lighting
Join in the fun for Little Italy's annual Tree Lighting and Christmas Village! The neighborhood transforms into a winter wonderland with twinkling lights, 10-foot nutcrackers, two spectacular Christmas trees, live entertainment, a visit from Santa and a traditional Italian tree lighting ceremony at 6:30 p.m. in Piazza della Famiglia plus a Christmas Village market. Take the Green Line or UC San Diego Blue Line Trolley to County Center/Little Italy.
9. La Jolla Christmas Parade & Holiday Festival
📍 La Jolla Recreation Center, 615 Prospect Street, La Jolla, CA
🗓️ Sunday, December 7, 2025 from 11:30 a.m to 4:30 p.m. Parade starts at 1:30 p.m.
🔗 ljparade.com
The 69th Annual La Jolla Christmas Parade will feature bands, floats, equestrians, vintage vehicles, dogs, and marshals representing community leaders, schools, and community service organizations. The Holiday Festival features Santa visits for children, arts and crafts, games, music and face painting. Get to the festival with MTS by taking Route 30.
10. La Mesa Holiday in the Village
📍 La Mesa Blvd. Between Spring St. And 4th St.
🗓️ Sunday, December 13, 2025 from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.
🔗 lamesavillageassociation.org/holiday-in-the-village-a-la-mesa-tradition
The La Mesa Village Association's 10th annual Holiday in the Village event will feature a variety of enhanced holiday traditions like “ice” skating, mini golf, selfies with Santa, strolling carolers and more! Take the Orange Line to the La Mesa Blvd Station.
11. Liberty Station Hanukkah + Menorah Lighting
📍 2850 Roosevelt Rd., San Diego, CA
🗓️ Sunday, December 14,2025,5 from 5 p.m. to 8 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 Hanukkah at the Central Promenade next to the Rady Children’s Ice Rink. Take Route 28 to Liberty Station.
Photo by Tony Webster
12. 55th Annual San Diego Bay Parade of Lights
📍 Shelter Island to Ferry Landing on Coronado
🗓️ Sunday, December 14, 2025 and Sunday, December 21, 2025 starting at 5:30 p.m.
🔗 sdparadeoflights.org
The San Diego Bay Parade of Lights continues its long-standing San Diego tradition with the 55th annual San Diego Bay Parade of Lights which promises to dazzle and entertain bayfront crowds on December 14 and December 21, 2025. Participants in this year’s holiday boat parade will decorate their boats to fit this year’s theme, “Out of this World.” View the our San Diego Bay Parade of Lights event page for details on getting to this event.
13. 45th Annual Kwanzaa Celebration
📍 World Beat Center – 2100 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA
🗓️ Friday, December 26, 2025 to December 29, 2025 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
🔗 worldbeatcenter.org/events/
Celebrate Kwanzaa at the WorldBeat Cultural Center. Celebrating 4 of the 7 days of Kwanzaa with ceremonial candle lighting, live drumming, poetry reading and a traditional feast. The celebration is accessible via Route 7 or Rapid 215.
Holiday Shopping
14. San Diego Made Holiday Market
📍 NTC Park - Preble Field, 2455 Cushing Rd., San Diego, CA
🗓️ Saturday, November 29, 2025 – Sunday, November 30, 2025
🔗 sdmademarkets.com
This creative holiday festival will feature local makers and offers attendees a unique shopping experience outdoors in the vibrant Liberty Station NTC Park Field. Take Route 28 to Liberty Station.
15. Holiday Wonderland at Petco Park
📍 Gallagher Square at Petco Park – 899 J St., San Diego, CA
🗓️ December 5-23, 2025 (Select Dates)
🔗 mlb.com/padres/tickets/events/holiday-wonderland
Holiday Wonderland is back at Petco Park for its fifth year, lighting up Gallagher Square! Take photos with Santa, ride the carousel and Christmas train, sled down a snowy hill, and wander through sparkling light displays. Enjoy festive drinks, seasonal treats, and shop local artisan vendors. Tickets start at $18 for kids and $25 for adults. Take the Trolley to 12th & Imperial or Gaslamp Quarter Station.
16. Makers Arcade Holiday Fair
📍 Broadway Pier – 1000 Harbor Dr., San Diego, CA
🗓️ Saturday, December 13, 2025 (10 a.m. - 5 p.m.) and Sunday, December 14, 2025 (11 a.m. - 8 p.m.)
🔗 makersarcade.com
This two-day artisan market features over local makers and handmade vendors, live music from San Diego artists, gourmet food trucks, photo booths, make-and-take craft stations, and interactive art and play areas. Take the Green Line or UC San Diego Blue Line to Santa Fe Depot, or Routes 923 or 992.
Family-Friendly Holiday Activities
17. Midway’s Jingle Jets
📍 USS Midway Museum – 910 N Harbor Dr., San Diego, CA
🗓️ November 28, 2025 – December 30, 2025
🔗 midway.org/event/jingle-jets-2025
The USS Midway Museum’s holiday tradition returns for its 3rd year, brighter, bigger and more magical than ever! Visit on select nights to enjoy over a million dazzling lights, festive performances and holiday cheer for the entire family. Take the Green Line or UC San Diego Blue Line to Santa Fe Depot, or Routes 923 or 992.
18. Jungle Bells at the San Diego Zoo
📍 USS Midway Museum – 910 N Harbor Dr., San Diego, CA
🗓️ December 19, 2025 – January 4, 2026 (Select Dates)
🔗 zoo.sandiegozoo.org/jungle-bells
Experience the magic and the spirit of the holiday season at the San Diego Zoo with the jolly return of Jungle Bells with entertainment and merry experiences. Accessible via Route 7 or Rapid 215.
19. HoliGlow
📍 Otay Ranch Town Center - 2015 Birch Road #915, Chula Vista, CA
🗓️ December 19, 2025 – January 4, 2026 (Select Dates)
🔗 theholiglowexperience.com
Experience HoliGlow, a holiday photo playground by Casa De Otay. Wander through festive rooms, capture magical moments and sip seasonal drinks at the Casa De Otay frosted bar. Use Route 707 or Rapid 225.
20. Malibu Farm - Let it Snow (Seaport Village)
📍 Seaport Village - 849 W Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA
🗓️ December 1 – December 31, 2025 from 5 – 5:30 p.m.
🔗 seaportvillage.com/events/malibu-farm-snow-2025
Catch the winter spirit with snow flurries every night at 5 p.m. throughout December. Flurries are made with eco-friendly artificial snow and can be enjoyed bayside at Malibu Farm. Take the Green Line to Seaport Village Station.
Whether you’re going to December Nights, one of the many festivals or parades around town, doing a little holiday shopping, or spending time with your family this season, let MTS be your ride to all the holiday fun this season. Happy Holidays!
