You can feel it in your fingers and toes, Christmas is all around, as the song from Love Actually goes. Still, the weekend celebrates Hanukkah traditions and plenty of joyful gatherings to close out the year. Did you remember to grab the Trader Joe’s Jingle Jangle?
There are only a few days left to enjoy Petco Park’s Holiday Wonderland, open daily through Dec. 23 at Gallagher Square. Light displays, meet-and-greets with Santa and other characters, rides on the grand carousel and Christmas train, real-snow sledding and live entertainment are all included in the price of admission (food, drinks and shopping are extra). During select dates and times, a mariachi band performs in Feliz Navidad Land, adding festive music to the fun. Tickets start at $18 for kids and $25 for adults, with children under 36 inches admitted free with a ticketed adult.
As the eight days of Hanukkah continue through sundown on Dec. 22 so do the local celebrations:
Congregation B’nai Tikvah will hold its annual Hanukkah Party and Iron Latke Competition Friday at 6 p.m. at the Escondido Masonic Center, 1331 S. Escondido Blvd. Guests are encouraged to bring non-perishable food for Interfaith Community Services and gently used coats, hoodies and shirts for Sharia’s Closet. Fields of Light: A Chanukah Celebration is Sunday from 4-6 p.m. at Coastal Roots Farm in Encinitas. Celebrate with live music from Kol Tefillah, an illuminated garden, traditional games and latkes. Admission is $25 for adults, $10 for children. Preregistration is required here. View this post on InstagramSeaWorld San Diego has brought back its beloved Penguin Cam for the holidays, offering live views of more than 200 penguins frolicking in the snow at the park’s Penguin Encounter habitat. The camera streams five penguin species – King, Adelie, Gentoo, Chinstrap and Macaroni – as they play, receive checkups and get fed. The park adds more than two tons of snow to the habitat daily.
The San Diego Zoo Safari Park transforms into a winter wonderland Friday from 4-8 p.m. as part of its Wild Holidays celebration on select dates through Jan. 4. The Escondido park will feature live musical performances, a giant wildlife-themed Christmas tree, a choreographed light display at Safari Base Camp and photos with Santa. Stroll through the Bridge of Lights and watch an interactive reading of “‘Twas the Night Before Wild Holidays” while noshing on festive treats.
If you’re looking for some TGIF action, Ox Coffee in Mission Valley hosts its second annual Holiday Coffee Cocktail Class at 6 p.m., where you can learn and sample three festive cocktails and decorate a gingerbread house with all supplies provided. Tickets are $45. City Tacos invites guests to wear an ugly sweater at any of its six San Diego locations (Encinitas, La Mesa, North Park, Ocean Beach, Pacific Beach and Sorrento Valley) and tag @citytacossd on social media for a chance to win one of five $50 gift cards. Friday is fight night at The Smoking Gun in the Gaslamp Quarter for Paul vs. Joshua with early seating and prelims at 5 p.m. Full bar, menu and sound on every TV. The college football playoffs kick off at 5 p.m. with No. 8-ranked Oklahoma versus No. 9 Alabama, and Sandbar in Mission Beach is showing the game with sound.
Australian troupe Pony Cam brings back Burnout Paradise to La Jolla Playhouse this weekend. Four performers mount treadmills and race to complete a series of escalating tasks – including cooking, reciting Shakespeare and walking a dog – while running 12 miles before time elapses. Performances run Friday and Saturday nights and Saturday and Sunday matinees at 1:30 p.m.; tickets are $39-$59. If you’re keen on audience participation, they recommend selecting a seat near the front or an aisle for access to the stage.
If you still need to get some shopping done, Portland Bazaar’s long-awaited sister market expansion is happening at The Soap Factory in Logan Heights Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. San Diego Bazaar convenes more than 75 local makers, plus a photo booth, live DJs, gift-wrapping stations and bites/drinks from some of your favorite local spots.
The San Diego Rescue Mission hosts its annual free Christmas feast Saturday from 1-3 p.m. at 120 Elm St. downtown. People experiencing homelessness or hardship are invited to enjoy a traditional holiday meal, plus hot showers with haircuts from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and medical services, pet care and spiritual support. Donations to support the effort – $2.72 per meal – can be made at www.sdrescue.org. The mission is also collecting new or gently used towels for hot showers. Toy donations for families in the mission’s care are also welcome.
Chula Vista Center puts on Grand Posada Sunday from 3-6 p.m. The free celebration includes large-scale art installations, live performances including folklorico, Santa photos, an artisan market and hands-on workshops. Families can take part in a 1,000+ toy giveaway while supplies last and explore the immersive “Mi Casa es Tu Casa” exhibition, which invites you to submit holiday photos for display.
That same holiday spirit carries into a weekend of live music across San Diego County, from festive Christmas favorites performed by a Motown revue, a Beatles tribute and an all-star jazz band, to high-energy shows featuring heavy metal, a rising local rock act and a special appearance by Lupita Infante – where tickets start at just $16! If live music is on your radar, our guide might just strike a chord.
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