TGI Weekend! As December rolls in, the holiday activities around San Diego County are plentiful. Of course, if ice skating and Christmas music aren't your thing, there are still other ways to enjoy our city, from foodie tours and outdoor markets to a craft beer fest or a nature walk. Get up. Get out. Play!
Thursday, Nov. 29
Holidays at Legoland
10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Legoland California Resort
Legoland California Resort is decked out in festive décor now through Dec. 31 as the theme park celebrates the holiday season. One highlight: an impressive 30-foot-tall Christmas tree made of Lego bricks and outfitted with twinkling Lego ornaments, which comes to life with light and music each night. Guests will be able to meet their favorite Lego characters dressed in seasonal attire – plus Santa Claus himself – and enjoy live entertainment throughout the park, including a new holiday light show. The park will also be dishing out exclusive seasonal treats, like peppermint shakes and Nutella and peppermint crepes, to name a few. The holiday bells and whistles are included with regular paid admission into Legoland, which starts at $75 for ages 3 and up.
North Park Thursday Market
3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., North Park Way & Granada Avenue (North Park)
Shop local produce at this year-round farmers market located on the corner of North Park Way and 29th Street. Farm-fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, eggs, sauces, bread and even handcrafted gifts will be available for purchase from local small businesses. The free festival also features live music and is surrounded by gourmet dining options in the heart of North Park.
Viejas Outlet Center Ice Rink
Times vary, Viejas Casino and Resort
Hit the ice skating rink at Viejas Casino & Resort – one of the largest rinks of its kind in sunny Southern California. A $16 ticket for adults or $14 ticket for kids (12 and under) gets you 90 minutes on the ice, or you can buy a season pass if you plan to visit several times this season. The rink is typically open from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. during the week and 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. on the weekends. Check the schedule here before you go.
Taste + Tequila Old Town San Diego
5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Old Town San Diego
Eat and sip your way through Old Town San Diego’s best Mexican food and tequila at this annual self-guided, walking foodie tour. A $35 ticket gets you a tequila sampling and cocktail, plus food samples at each participating restaurant. Eateries on the list this year include Café Coyote, Casa de Reyes, Old Town Mexican Café and Old Town Tequila Factory, to name a few. Visitors can also buy a food-only ticket for $25.
Oceanside Sunset Market
5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Main Street Oceanside
As if anyone needed another excuse to head to the beach for an evening sunset over the Pacific Ocean, the Main Street Oceanside business association is giving you one anyway. The Oceanside Sunset Market is taking over four city blocks of the downtown area so that about 200 local merchants can feature homemade crafts and tasty grub as live music wafts through the sea breeze-driven air. The free market is located on Pier View Way between Pacific Coast Highway and the Ocean every Thursday.
Thursday Beer Run
6:30 p.m., Eppig Brewing (Point Loma)
Need a little motivation to get you through that evening workout? How about the promise of discount pints of beer after a run around San Diego Bay? Eppig Brewing is teaming up with Step by Step Run Co. to host two- or three-mile runs for athletes of all levels at 6:30 p.m. each Thursday through December. The run starts and ends at Eppig (2817 Dickens St.), where suds will be served with a $1-off discount. The run is free to attend.
Dr. Seuss's ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas!’
7 p.m., The Old Globe
The Grinch can't stop Christmas from coming this year but he can bring his shenanigans to The Old Globe. For the 21st year, the theater in Balboa Park is showcasing "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" the classic musical with catchy tunes like, "You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch," and "Welcome, Christmas (Fah Who Doraze)." See the show on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage with tickets starting at $54.
Friday, Nov. 30
Rady Children’s Ice Rink
10 a.m to 10 p.m., Liberty Station
Grab your skates and take a spin on the ice while supporting a good cause this holiday season. NBC 7 and Telemundo 20 are partnering with Rady Children’s Hospital for this festive ice rink in the heart of Liberty Station. All proceeds benefit the hospital’s Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders. The Rady Children’s Ice Rink is open every day from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. through Jan. 6 at Liberty Station, except Christmas Day. Tickets are $15 for adults and $13 for children. Discounts are available for military personnel.
San Diego Gulls vs. Manitoba Moose
7 p.m., Valley View Casino Center
Cheer on the San Diego Gulls at this Friday night home game as the team takes on the Manitoba Moose. Tickets start at $23; the puck hits the ice at 7 p.m.
Ten Tenors: Home for the Holidays
7:30 p.m., California Center for the Arts Escondido
Australian singing sensations the Ten Tenors take the stage at the California Center for the Arts in Escondido for a night of holiday classics – both traditional and contemporary tunes. The group’s festive hit list includes “Joy to the World,” “Last Christmas,” and “The Christmas Song,” to name a few. Tickets to this show range between $35 and $70.
Waitress: The Musical
8 p.m., San Diego Civic Theatre
“Waitress” – inspired by the film – heads to the live stage at the San Diego Civic Theatre this weekend, bringing along its original music and lyrics by 6-time Grammy nominee Sara Bareilles. The Tony-nominated production follows the story of Jenna, a waitress and pie maker stuck in a small town and a loveless marriage who finds inspiration to rebuild her life. The musical’s stop in San Diego stars two local young actresses, Kensley Dibble of Temecula, and Sloane Viora of Point Loma. Tickets start at $26.50. If you can’t make the Friday performance, there are four more shows: 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. Sunday.
Liberty Station Tree Lighting & Holiday Festivities
5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Liberty Station’s North Promenade
Liberty Station will deck the halls Friday night at this tree lighting and holiday festival in the North Promenade. Enjoy live entertainment before or after the 88-foot Norfolk Pine lights up; a holiday movie will also be played outside. NBC 7 and Telemundo 20 will attend this festive affair. Stop by our booth to say hello.
Saturday, Dec. 1
Del Mar Craft Beer Fest
11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Del Mar Thoroughbred Club’s Grandstand
The Craft Beer Fest returns to the Del Mar Racetrack, boasting more than 100 samples of local and international brews, as well as rare ales and ciders. A pre-sale $22 ticket includes racetrack admission and five 7-ounce samples of suds. The event will also include a DJ, silent disco dance party and beer-centric activities like a Stein Holding Contest. Local brewery reps will be on-hand to answer questions about their beers, too. Cheers!
Chula Vista Starlight Parade & Children’s Faire
2 p.m. to 6 p.m., Memorial Park (Faire) and Third Avenue (Parade)
This Chula Vista holiday tradition returns, bringing festive cheer to all. The Children’s Faire runs from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Memorial Park and will boast holiday activities, crafts, games and pictures with Santa. The Starlight Parade – which starts at 6 p.m., making its way north on Third Avenue, from H to E streets – will feature local marching bands and other community groups. This event draws a big crowd each year but limited parking is available at Chula Vista City Hall and the Chula Vista Library. http://www.starlightparade.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/StarlightMap-1.pdf NBC 7 and Telemundo 20 will be there; stop by our booth to say hello!
Little Italy Tree Lighting & Christmas Village
4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Little Italy
The 20th annual Little Italy Tree Lighting and Christmas Village rings in the holiday season in the heart of Little Italy with festive décor, seasonal vendors, live music, holiday treats, and even horse carriage rides. Santa plans to visit at 4 p.m. and listen to kids’ Christmas wishes in “Santa’s Living Room” on India Street. The community has two Christmas trees: A 25-foot-tall beauty made of more than 1,100 poinsettias in the center of Piazza Basilone and a 20-foot-tall tree in the Piazza della Famiglia, which lights up at 6:30 p.m.
Holiday by the Bay
5 p.m. to 11 p.m., Hilton San Diego Bayfront
Looking for a little more excitement this holiday season? New this year, the Hilton Bayfront is opening a holiday adventure park along San Diego Bay. Holiday by the Bay features reimagined traditions -- like a two-story ice tubing slide, “iceberg” bumper cars and a dynamic light show centered around a Christmas tree, to name a few. For adults, festive cocktails will be doled out at the Yule Lodge cocktail bar. The adventure park is open through Jan. 5, 2019, to those with a ticket, starting at $20 or $15 for those under 12. Some activities cost extra.
Jesus Adrian Romero Live in Concert
8:30 p.m., Copley Symphony Hall
Jesus Adrian Romero, an author, Latin Christian singer, composer and pastor from Sonora, Mexico, brings his talents to Copley Symphony Hall. Romero has been nominated for three Latin Grammy Awards and runs Vastago Producciones, a record label dedicated to the production and distribution of music with a Christian message. Tickets to his show start at $58.
Sunday, Dec. 2
Guided Nature Walk
9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., Mission Trails Regional Park
Start your Sunday with a little nature walk at Mission Trails Regional Park. A trail guide will take visitors through one of three trails -- the Oak Grove Loop, the Visitor Center Loop or the Riverside Grinding Rocks -- while talking about the plants, animals, geology, history, and ecology of the park. These weekly guided walks are free and open to the public and begin at the Visitor Center. Wear sturdy shoes and bring water, a hat and sunscreen. Rain cancels the walk.
Skating by the Sea
Times Vary, Hotel Del Coronado
There are few places in the world where you can glide on an ice rink just feet from the ocean. The Hotel Del Coronado offers just that at their annual Skating by the Sea event. Through Jan 1, 2019, guests can take a spin on this beachside rink and enjoy sweeping views of the San Diego Bay with the purchase of a $35 ticket. Times vary by day so be sure to check the schedule here before you go.
Three Decades in the Rearview
10 a.m. to 5 p.m., San Diego Automotive Museum (Balboa Park)
Over the past 30 years, the San Diego Automotive Museum in Balboa Park has exhibited cars and motorcycles from across the globe. This retrospective exhibit, “Three Decades in the Rearview,” showcases a variety of unique vehicles that encapsulate the automotive culture including race cars, hot rods, low-riders and more. The anniversary exhibit runs through Jan. 26, 2019, and is included with the purchase of a general admission ticket, which costs $10 for adults and $4 for kids age 15 and under.
It's Electric
10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Fleet Science Center
Explore the nature of electricity through several interactive exhibits at the Fleet Science Center. The museum’s newest exhibit, “It’s Electric,” uses 16 fun activities to teach about fundamental properties, like magnetic fields and batteries. The exhibit is included with the purchase of a general admission ticket, which costs $22 for adults and $19 for kids up to 12 years old.
Escape the Nat
12 p.m. to 5 p.m. (Tuesday through Sunday), San Diego Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum in Balboa Park is getting in on the "Escape Room" craze with a fun puzzle game of its own on the lower level of the museum. The premise: there's a deadly viral outbreak and you must help find the cure by combing through the museum archives in search of clues that must be solved to save the world. Groups of two to six players can join the game, and ticket prices vary depending on the number of people participating. For instance, two people can play for $80; the ticket price includes admission to the museum. Guests must make reservations in advance for a slotted time Tuesday through Friday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Live Music at Liberty Public Market
1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Liberty Public Market
Enjoy some free, live music Sunday on the patio at Liberty Public Market as local group, The Counterfeits, jam to top 40 covers and their own feel-good originals. It’s the perfect break between bites at the marketplace.
Free or Cheap Things to Do in San Diego
Times and locations vary
Looking to save some cash, but still enjoy the city? In San Diego, there are still plenty of activities to enjoy for free or on the cheap. Go for a hike at Torrey Pines State Park or Cowles Mountain, stroll Balboa Park, try a new craft brewery, admire the murals of Chicano Park or read a book at a downtown park. Get out there and explore America’s Finest City.
Photo Credit: Instagram/@tracycg13