r the past 39 years, people from all over San Diego County have gathered to spread holiday cheer in the tradition known as December Nights.
The two-day free celebration, held in Balboa Park, offers seasonal entertainment for the whole family as well as festive holiday lighting throughout the park — from the Plaza de Panama to the Botanical Building to the landmark Moreton Bay Fig Tree.
The event, called Christmas on the Prado until 2002, was founded in 1978 by 10 Balboa Park cultural organizations and attracted 3,000 guests. The two-evening event featured museum store shopping, crafts, Elizabethan dances and music.
Over the years, attendance grew, and this year, organizers expect more than 350,000 revelers to experience the sights, sounds and aromas that herald the arrival of the yuletide season.
Visitors will find holiday happenings in almost every corner of the park. Here are some highlights:
Spreckels Organ Pavilion
December Nights officially kicks off the season with opening ceremonies and a tree-lighting event with Mayor Kevin Faulconer at 6 p.m. Friday.
Also performing: House of Scotland Pipe Band, San Diego Chorus of Sweet Adelines, San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus and the Bonita Vista High School Show Choir.
Cascades Holiday Marketplace
What better place to satisfy your sweet tooth cravings than in this marketplace. Located at Fountain Plaza next to the Fleet Science Center and San Diego Natural History Museum, you’ll find snacks like mini doughnuts, homemade ice cream and funnel cakes.
California Quadrangle
This area, by the San Diego Museum of Man, is where the Santa Lucia Procession, a Swedish celebration with candlelight and music, is staged. It takes place at 6 and 8 p.m. each night. Be sure to have some Swedish meatballs and a cup of warm glogg (spiced wine).
House of Pacific Relations International Cottages
With all the walking you’ll be doing at December Nights, you’re bound to build up a hearty appetite. Travel the culinary world of international flavors at the International Christmas Festival. You’ll find aebleskiver (pancake balls) from Denmark, crepes from France, potato pancakes from Israel, chicken adobo and pancit from the Philippines, Viking pea soup from Norway, paella from Spain, sausages from Germany, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia; and much more.
Museums and cultural organizations
Participating Balboa Park museums will offer free admission from 5 to 9 p.m. both days. Each museum will have holiday-themed activities. The San Diego Natural History Museum will feature the Pomerado Brass Quintet and the TubaFours. The Timken Museum of Art will display the annual holiday tree decorated with handcrafted collection of ornaments by local artists Florence and Elizabeth Schlappi, while the San Diego Model Railroad Museum will have a Winter Wonderland model railroad display and a 12-foot, train-themed Christmas tree.
Visit the Casa del Prado Stage, where excerpts from “The Nutcracker” will be performed by the San Diego Civic Youth Ballet, and the San Diego Junior Theatre’s own JT On Tour will sing holiday songs both nights. The San Diego Civic Dance Company will perform a Rockette-style number to the classic “We Need A Little Christmas” on the patio of the Casa del Prado building.
Getting there
Free parking: The San Diego Zoo lot at 2920 Zoo Drive is the only free, non-permitted lot at the park. It fills very quickly, so arrive early.
Disabled parking: There are 156 disabled parking spaces at the Fleet Science Center lot on Park Boulevard and Space Theater Way. The Federal lot at Park Boulevard and Presidents Way has 33 designated parking spaces.
Paid Parking: Optional preferred parking for $25 at the Natural History Museum parking lot and the South Carousel lot (both accessible from Park Boulevard and Village Place) and at the Inspiration Point parking lot for $20 (accessible from Park Boulevard and Presidents Way). These are the closest lots to the park. Cash and/or credit cards are accepted.
Free shuttle service: December Nights shuttles run Friday from 3 p.m. to midnight and on Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to midnight from City College lots (1,500 parking spaces) at 16th Street and B and C streets, and downtown San Diego on Ash Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues. The last shuttles depart for the park at 8:30 p.m. so plan to arrive at the shuttle location before 7 p.m. The last shuttle from the park is at 11:45 p.m.
Public transportation: From the south or east, take the trolley to the City College Station in downtown San Diego and transfer to the MTS Route 7 to Park Boulevard or, from the south or east, take the Orange Line trolley to the Fifth Avenue Station in Downtown and walk two blocks north for the free shuttle. From Hillcrest, Uptown, Mid-City, Normal Heights, City Heights, and North Park communities, take any bus to University Avenue and Park Boulevard and transfer to a special Route 7 shuttle heading to Park Boulevard.
DID YOU KNOW?
In 2015, December Nights was chosen as the fifth Best Holiday Festival in the country in a USA Today online reader’s poll.
December Nights
When: 3 to 11 p.m. Friday; noon to 11 p.m. Saturday
Where: Balboa Park
Cost: Free
Phone: (619) 239-0512
Online: balboapark.org/decembernights
