12/11 Calendar
12/2: CORONADO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE & PARADE
Location: Ferry Landing, Orange Avenue and Rotary Park, Coronado
Admission: Free
coronadochamber.com
Play in snow, welcome Santa’s arrival by sea and watch a holiday parade before hitting Orange Avenue’s chic shops as the yuletide rises in Coronado.
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12/2-3: DECEMBER NIGHTS
Location: Balboa Park
Admission: Free
balboapark.org
Roughly 300,000 visitors are expected to revel amid magical light displays, multicultural foods and musical performances at San Diego’s largest free community festival, where participating museums waive their entrance fees.
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12/2-4, 8, 10-11: THE WHO’S TOMMY
Location: Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, La Jolla
Admission: $16
lfjcc.org
Pay homage to The Pinball Wizard at J Company Youth Theatre’s full-tilt (though family-friendly) production of The Who’s landmark 1960s rock opera Tommy.
12/3: NORTH PARK TOYLAND PARADE & FESTIVAL
Location: University Avenue, North Park
Admission: Free
toylandparade.com
Kris Kringle himself will make an appearance at this traditional holiday parade of marching bands, beauty queens and vintage cars.
12/3-4: SAN DIEGO GAY MEN’S CHORUS PRESENTS YULE TUBE
Location: Balboa Theatre, Downtown
Admission: $25-43
sdgmc.org
Share the season’s cheer as 150 vocalists belt out classic Christmas tunes-along with groovy and devilish renditions of their own.
12/4: LA JOLLA CHRISTMAS PARADE & HOLIDAY FESTIVAL
Location: Girard Avenue, La Jolla
Admission: Free
ljparade.com
A La Jolla tradition, this daylong Christmas celebration features a parade, an antique aircraft ?yover and a Christmas tree lighting, plus photos with Santa.
12/10: MISSION BAY BOAT PARADE OF LIGHTS
Location: Mission Bay shoreline
Admission: Free
sandiegoeventmanagement.com
Crown Point and Fiesta Island offer the best vantage points for this festive procession of elaborately decorated, holiday tune-blaring boats.
12/11: GASLAMP HOLIDAY PET PARADE
Location: Hilton Park (corner of 4th Ave. and K St.), Gaslamp
Admission: Free to watch, $10 to participate
gaslamp.org
Never mind the halls: deck Fido out in the most silly or adorable costume, or just watch other gussied-up pooches and pets pawtaking in the merry march.
12/11, 18: SAN DIEGO BAY PARADE OF LIGHTS
Location: San Diego Bay shoreline
Admission: Free
sdparadeo?ights.org
Smuggle a thermos of eggnog and wave to sea vessels adorned with thousands of mini-lights as they cruise around Shelter Island and on toward Coronado Ferry Landing. (Camping on either end of the Embarcadero affords the best views.)
12/11-12/23, 12/25-12/31, 1/1-1/2: JUNGLE BELLS AT THE SAN DIEGO ZOO
Location: San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park
Admission: $40
sandiegozoo.org
Celebrate joy to the animal world this season with the Zoo’s festivities, which include nightly tree-lightings, special animal shows and visits to Santa’s workshop.
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12/21: POINSETTIA BOWL
Location: Qualcomm Stadium, Mission Valley
Admission: $35-55
poinsettiabowl.com
The Western Athletic and Mountain West conferences battle for NCAA pigskin glory.
12/28: HOLIDAY BOWL
Location: Qualcomm Stadium, Mission Valley
Admission: $60-75
Holiday Bowl” href=”https://www.holidaybowl.com” target=”_blank”>holidaybowl.com
To be preceded by the famous Port of San Diego Big Bay Balloon Parade, this faceoff between the Pac-12 and Big 12 conferences is expected to sell out quickly.
12/29-1/1: SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW
Location: San Diego Convention Center, Downtown
Admission: $9-12
sdautoshow.com
Come see what’s new in vroom for 2012, and ?nd your V8 soul mate, as more than 500 automakers show off their hot new wheels through exhibits and workshops.