Dec 1^st – Dec 4^th 2022: The Indio International Tamale Festival

Celebrating its 30th year, the Indio International Tamale Festival is a festive Christmas event full of family fun. According to their website they have the world’s biggest bounce house (covering 13.000 square feet and rising 32 feet off the ground!), live entertainment, folkloric ballet, luchador fights, refreshing micheladas, carnival rides, a roller disco, a farmer’s market and of course, Tamales! Entry to the festival is free but bring cash and card with you for the carnival rides, tamales and any of the market items you might wish to purchase. There are passes that you can buy online for all-day/all-night access to the rides and attractions.

This year the festival is adding a Mercadito de Noche on the Thursday and Friday to extend the festival to four days in total.

Dec 1^st – 23^rd 2022: The Holiday Market at Petco Park

The Holiday Market at Petco Park is a family event with holiday light displays, a wide range of delicious festive treats and snacks, festive gift shops, Santa and his Christmas Yuletide Squad, a 30-foot Christmas tree and even a carousel ($3 additional cost).

The three holiday light displays are themed as Candyland, Winter Wonderland and Classic Christmas. The vendors at the gift shops are rumored to be selling a range of ornaments, locally made arts and crafts, wood figures, fleece, handmade soaps and more with a partial vendor list available on the event website. There is also mention of live entertainment on select nights on the Sycuan Stage (no calendar or entertainment information given – likely on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays as an educated guess).

Dec 2^nd – 3^rd 2022: Balboa Park December Nights

According to Christmasontheprado.com December Nights has been a staple of December celebrations in San Diego for almost 45 years. It roots began in 1978 when 10 cultural associations and the Community Christmas Center to found “Christmas on the Prado”. In 2001 it was controversially renamed to “December Nights” and reinvented into a community event with food, beer gardens, local crafts, free entry into the 17 onsite Museums, various live entertainment and, of course, holiday decorations and lights.

During the pandemic the event was temporarily changed to a drive-through vendor fair, but this year the event returns to its roots and you’ll be able to walk amongst the happy crowds and enjoy all the museums, lights, vendors and people watching of past years. Make sure to check out the International Cottages where you can learn about various Holiday traditions from around the world!

Dec 8^th 2022 – Jan 1^st 2023: Snow N Glow in Del Mar

Want a classic white Christmas? Why not try Snow n’ Glow, which actually has 2 locations in 2022.  One is in Ventura taking place from November 27th to December 26th and the other is in Del Mar with dates of December 8th to January 1st.

This might be sunny Southern California, but when they say “Snow” in “Snow n’ Glow” they mean it!

They have snow tubing on their Snow Hill, which is covered with real snow!  And they also have Igloo-like structures available for rent where, if you rent the Holiday Magic Igloo option,  you can get fresh snow delivered to your Igloo for you and your friends and family to be able to build your own snowman and make snow angels (though we did see that it can get quite pricey).

Another great option at Snow n’ Glow, and for a much lower price, is their Winter Wonderland holiday light display featuring over 1 million lights which opens from 5pm daily during the event.  There are food and drink vendors within the event so you could enjoy a hot chocolate as you view the lights.  The event is open select dates Thursday to Sunday, with the addition of the entire week leading up to and including Christmas day!