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Balboa Park December Nights Fun Guide!

December 3, 2025

Botanical Garden In December

December Nights San Diego

Our December Night’s FUN Guide to celebrating San Diego’s beloved family friendly holiday tradition. This San Diego tradition draws more than 350,000 visitors to Balboa Park for festive, family-friendly fun, which includes live music, arts and crafts, drinks and food from across the globe and, of course, plenty of twinkling holiday lights.

  • Entertainment line up of live music, dancing, choirs, puppetry and more.
  • Free Museums
  • Food Vendors
  • Parking Information
  • Map
  • Gift Guide

December Nights Returns to Balboa Park — 2025!

San Diego is the place to be for the holidays — and nothing kicks off the season quite like December Nights, the city’s largest free community celebration.

Now in its 47th year, December Nights transforms Balboa Park into a glittering, multicultural holiday festival filled with music, lights, food, and—most importantly—free museum experiences. The beloved two-day tradition returns:

  • Friday, December 5 – 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.

  • Saturday, December 6 – 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

What began in the late 1970s as Christmas on the Prado has grown into a spectacular regional celebration that draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Centered in San Diego’s cultural heart, December Nights highlights the incredible museums that make Balboa Park one of the nation’s most vibrant arts and culture destinations.

NEW! Make your holiday plans with our December Nights & Holiday Fun Guide here. We’ll give you the inside scoop on which museums are free this weekend and where to go for the best holiday light shows and events.

The Timken Museum in Balboa Park is beautifully decked out for December Nights and the holidays. Stop by this year-round free museum and see their dazzling ‘Jewels of the Season’ exhibit now on display through December 31.

The Museums

Yes — the museums are FREE!
During December Nights, many of Balboa Park’s incredible museums open their doors at no cost for special evening hours. On Friday and Saturday from 3–10:30 p.m., guests can explore a wide range of exhibitions celebrating art, science, history, culture, innovation, and more. Hours vary. Get all the details here.

Balboa Park is home to 18 world-class museums, and December Nights is one of the best opportunities of the year to experience many of them. Enjoy festive décor, unique holiday programming, hands-on activities, pop-up performances, and late-night gallery access — all included during the free-admission window.

Whether you’re discovering a new favorite or revisiting a beloved institution, the park’s museums are truly the heart of the December Nights experience.

Participating Museums Include

Discover great toys for the kids at the San Diego Automotive Museum.

Discover unique, inspired holiday gifts for everyone on your list at the museum stores in the Park or in our new Holiday Gift Guide. Shop local and support your favorite museum. Not sure what to get or need a last-minute gift? Museum memberships are the perfect choice. Download yours in the twinkling of an eye.

December Nights in Balboa Park kicks off the holiday season with a two-day festival that features food, lights and lots of holiday cheer. It is celebrating its 46th anniversary this year and bigger than ever. Delicious food, tons of lights and plenty of sights and sounds to experience are what makes this FREE event one not to miss.

The Entertainment

There’s a reason hundreds of thousands of San Diegans kick off their holidays with December Nights! The park comes alive with music, dance, and festive performances across multiple stages, featuring everything from cultural dance groups and choirs to puppetry, theatre, and community showcases.

Don’t miss the official tree lighting at 6 p.m. on Friday night, a tradition that launches the weekend with sparkle and cheer.

Entertainment stages can be found throughout the park, including:

  • Plaza de Panama

  • The San Diego Museum of Art plaza

  • Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater

  • Spreckels Organ Pavilion

  • Spanish Village Art Center

Click here for the full entertainment lineup.

👨‍👩‍👧 The Family Zone — Free Fun for Kids!

December Nights 2025 once again hosts a dedicated Family Zone in the Palisades area — a safe, festive space designed just for families. Enjoy free hands-on activities, creative play, and holiday magic all weekend long.

Family Zone highlights include:

  • 📸 Photos with Santa

  • 🎨 Face Painting

  • 🎩 Holiday Hat Making

  • ✂️ Arts & Crafts Stations

  • 🎯 Games & Interactive Activities

  • 📚 Free Children’s Books (while supplies last)

  • 👶 Diaper-Changing & Lactation Station — a comfortable, low-crowd area for new parents

  • Community partners including Altus and Academy of Our Lady of Peace

Families can also catch outdoor movie screenings of “Ice Age” and “Frozen” near the Comic-Con Museum throughout the weekend.

FIND THE ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE HERE

Eat & Drink

Taste your way through December Nights with international specialties, homemade treats, and plenty of warm seasonal favorites. Food is one of the main reasons many San Diegans return year after year—it’s truly part of the magic of the weekend.

December Nights is a family-friendly celebration that brings the community together through lights, music, attractions, and an incredible array of global flavors.

A centerpiece of the experience is the International Cottages Christmas Festival, a longtime foodie favorite featuring authentic cuisine, music, and holiday traditions from more than 30 countries. Visitors can savor dishes such as empanadas from Argentina, bratwurst from Germany, palak paneer from India, Viking pea soup from Norway, pancit from the Philippines, and borscht from Ukraine.

Beyond the global offerings, the festival grounds include kebabs, tacos, pizza, hot dogs, sweet treats, and more. And be sure to stop by the Spanish Village Art Center area, where some of San Diego’s most popular food trucks will be serving throughout the event.

FIND THE FOOD GUIDE HERE

Transportation & Parking

December Nights draws more than 350,000 visitors, so expect significant traffic and limited parking throughout the weekend. Planning ahead will make your experience much smoother.

To help you arrive with minimal stress, be sure to review the Parking & Transportation Tips page, which outlines the easiest ways to get to Balboa Park—whether by shuttle, rideshare, transit, or designated parking areas.

Parking is available in and around Balboa Park during December Nights, but space is limited. Guests can save time and money by purchasing parking passes in advance. Options include:

  • Limited free parking

  • Free ADA-accessible parking

  • Pre-paid parking in designated lots

  • Drive-up paid parking (while space lasts)

All remaining areas require a valid permit.

Full parking details, maps, and purchase links are available here.

 

Parking for People with Disabilities $27.95 in advance, $30 at the event (debit/credit only, no cash)

For people who have state-issued disabled parking credentials, two parking lots are available at the Fleet Science Center on Space Theater Way, and at the Natural History Museum on Village Place, both of which are adjacent to the El Prado event area. Spaces are limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. You must display a valid hanging placard or license plate to access the parking area. Purchase Parking Here.

Zoo Drive in front of the San Diego Zoo Administration Building also features several free disabled parking spaces. Get Directions.

Additionally, there are a limited number of disabled parking spaces in the general paid Lot A at Inspiration Point, and in the preferred paid Lot B at the Federal Lot. The preferred paid Lot B is nearby the event’s Family Zone and Palisades areas.

Download or print the map here.

December Nights Entertainment Line-Up

All stages •  Saturday, Dec. 6

📅 SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6 — FULL SCHEDULE

ORGAN PAVILION

  • San Diego City Guard Band — 11:00–11:45 AM

  • San Diego Hula Academy — 12:00–12:40 PM

  • Encore Vocal Ensemble — 1:00–1:30 PM

  • San Diego Chorus of Sweet Adelines International — 1:50–2:20 PM

  • Raul Prieto Ramirez, San Diego Civic Organist — 2:40–3:40 PM

  • House of Scotland Pipe Band — 4:00–4:30 PM

  • Melanie Nocon + Polynesian Dancers — 5:00–5:30 PM

  • Karyos Comuniad Creations — 5:30–6:05 PM

  • Martin Luther King Jr. Community Choir San Diego — 6:30–7:15 PM

  • LMAAC Vocals Souls — 7:50–7:25 PM (order as printed)

  • APS SD Master Chorale — 8:30–9:00 PM

  • San Diego Saxophone Christmas — 10:00–11:00 PM

PALISADES PLAZA — BONES LOVE MILK “MERRY MINI RAMP”

  • Demo #1 & Giveaways — 11:30 AM–12:00 PM

  • Demo #2 & Giveaways — 1:30–2:00 PM

  • Demo #3 & Giveaways — 4:30–5:00 PM

  • Demo #4 & Giveaways — 5:30–6:00 PM

THE PALMS STAGE (SeaWorld)

  • San Diego Korean Pungmul — 11:00–11:40 AM

  • Mini Shock San Diego — 11:50 AM–12:05 PM

  • All Mighty Future — 12:00–12:05 PM

  • Pearls of Orient — 12:20–12:50 PM

  • SeaWorld San Diego Education Presentation — 12:45–1:25 PM

  • Champa Noy “Little Plumaries” — 1:20–1:50 PM

  • Moore Rhythm — 2:05–2:35 PM

  • Studio K — 2:45–3:25 PM

  • SeaWorld San Diego Education Presentation — 3:30–4:00 PM

  • Posicee Freze — 4:05–4:35 PM

  • Creative Dancers 78 — 4:50–5:20 PM

  • Fuego Dance Crew — 5:35–6:05 PM

  • Canyon Hills High School Music Department — 5:50–6:20 PM

  • Super Tonic — 6:15–7:15 PM

  • Musicians’ Club of San Diego — 7:15–8:15 PM

  • Freemen Levine Band — 9:00–9:40 PM

  • Edmund Casio — 10:00–11:00 PM

PLAZA DE PANAMA STAGE (Broadway San Diego)

  • San Diego Christian Suzuki Strings — 11:00 AM–12:00 PM

  • Belles — 12:30–12:55 PM

  • Raylin Cloggers — 1:00–1:40 PM

  • San Diego Community Jazz Band — 2:00–2:50 PM

  • Ballet Folklorico La Jolla de Mexico — 3:05–3:20 PM

  • LMAAC Vocals Elementary Choir — 3:20–3:30 PM

  • Broadway San Diego — 3:35–3:50 PM

  • Naruwan Taiko — 4:00–4:30 PM

  • Makani Kai Polynesian Dance Troupe — 5:00–5:45 PM

  • Legendary Lion Dance Association — 6:00–6:30 PM

  • Fuego Dance Crew — 6:50–7:00 PM

  • HEADLINER: Frankie J — 7:00–8:15 PM

  • Under the Covers — 8:45–9:35 PM

  • Bonneville 7 with Rip Carson — 10:10–11:00 PM

SPANISH VILLAGE

  • Ikigai + InscripT — 11:10–11:20 AM

  • Malashock Dance Junior Company — 11:35–11:45 AM

  • Kevin Joshua — 12:00–12:30 PM

  • Nrithya Geethanjali Dance School, San Diego — 12:45–1:20 PM

  • Mochi Cafe Show — 12:50–1:55 PM

  • San Diego Taiko — 1:30–2:20 PM

  • Flamenco es Arte San Diego — 2:30–3:00 PM

  • Isabella Erardi — 3:00–3:40 PM

  • San Diego Junior Theatre — 4:00–9:00 PM

  • Joni Sandez y su Grupo Norteño — 9:00–10:00 PM

  • Luis Crespo — 10:30–11:00 PM

MOVIES (Rincon Tribe)

Friday & Saturday

  • Ice Age (short) — 6:15–6:40 PM

    • Commercial Break — 6:40–6:50 PM

  • Ice Age (short) — 6:50–7:15 PM

    • Commercial Break — 7:15–7:25 PM

  • Ice Age (short) — 7:25–7:50 PM

    • Commercial Break — 7:50–8:00 PM

  • Frozen (feature) — 8:00–9:45 PM

Please Support the San Diego Museum Council

In the last 5 years, the San Diego Museum Council has tripled in size. We now work with more than 100 locations all over San Diego County. In 2024 we expanded across the border into Baja, Mexico to increase awareness, connect, provide services and advocate for even more museums in our region. You can help make museums more accessible for more families by giving today at https://sandiegomuseumcouncil.org/support-us/.

Your gift helps make museums more accessible for all! Support the Museum Council and its programs like “Kids Free San Diego” and family half-priced “Museum Month.” Your gift helps us strengthen San Diego’s cultural community by making museums, aquariums, cultural centers and parks more accessible for kids and families.

You can help remove economic barriers so that kids and families from all communities can enjoy our museums and learn about our world.

Now is the time to make a charitable, tax-deductible gift and help us do more of what we do best: make museums more accessible for all and promoting San Diego’s diverse museums and cultural centers to the world. Please donate today!

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