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The Holidays at San Diego’s Five Biggest Attractions

Experience the holidays in sunny San Diego. All of the city’s top attractions host special events to ring in the season. See Santa go scuba diving or explore the wildlife at the San Diego Zoo. Watch it all light up at night with dazzling lights! Wherever you go, you’ll get into the holiday spirit at San Diego’s Biggest Attractions. 

San Diego Zoo 

Explore the wonderful world of wildlife at the San Diego Zoo this holiday season. The Jungle Bells special event runs all throughout December to January 5. Bring the whole family to enjoy musical performances and entertainers. The new Aurora experience offers a breathtaking visual and sound display that recreates the colorful Northern Lights. Along the Aurora pathways, you’ll discover dazzling lights and magical wind, water, and ice sprites. Of course, no visit to the zoo would be complete without visiting all the animals throughout the zoo. 

SeaWorld

You haven’t seen Christmas light up quite like this at SeaWorld, with over 1 million lights on display. The holiday celebration lasts from late November into early January. Explore Rudolph’s Christmas town and take photos with the reindeer characters and all their friends. Children will adore the Sesame Street Christmas Village full of twinkling lights, carolers, and furry friends from Sesame Street Enjoy all of this alongside Sea World’s marine animal exhibitions.

LEGOLAND California

You’ve never seen Santa quite like this before, stacked with LEGOS! LEGOLAND California will impress all ages with its enormous sculptures made entirely of the beloved brick toys. This theme park has more than just LEGOS. Creatures of the deep swim in tanks at the SEA LIFE AQUARIUM. The LEGOLAND Waterpark will cool anyone off on a sunny California day. Get really into the theme by staying at a LEGOLAND Hotel and Castle with interactive LEGO features.

San Diego Zoo Safari Park 

At the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, the holidays got a whole lot wilder. Head over to the Safari Base Camp and Nairobi Village for an afternoon of entertainment. When the sun goes down, the party keeps going. The park lights up the night with Christmas colors. Lights and music create a holiday spectacular in Nairobi Village. Over at the Mombasa Pavillion, the Alley Cats sing a cappella harmonies of classic holiday songs. Santa and Mrs. Claus wait to greet you with storytelling and activities for the entire family. You can’t miss the Ice Castle with its dynamic light show, too! 

Birch Aquarium 

The Birch Aquarium welcomes adults and children of all ages to its Holiday Seas ‘n’ Greetings. Experience the most wonderful SEAson with colorful coral and ocean life. Scuba Santa goes under the water in the tanks, combining comic relief, magical moments, and educational experiences, perfect for children. Don’t forget to bring the camera for photo ops with Santa while he swims. Kids will have fun while exploring Birch Aquarium during the scavenger hunt. 

Belmont Park 

San Diego weather might not feel quite like winter, but you can experience the holiday spirit at Belmont Park. Winter Wonder at Belmont Park welcomes you to its holiday spectacular from December 1 to January 5, 2020. This beachside park dates back 94 years, offering all the charm you could want during a day or evening out. When the sun goes down, the night lights up. You’ll love the sparkling lights display all throughout the park to inspire holiday cheer. Bring toys to contribute to the holiday toy drive then go explore the Christmas themed sculptures. Don’t forget to take a photo with Santa!

San Diego Botanic Garden 

The San Diego Botanic Garden looks even more beautiful lit up with lights. Experience the holiday tradition at this family-friendly festival at the Botanic Wonderland! This year, the Garden decorated the Hamilton Children’s Garden and Toni’s Treehouse with even more lights. Explore unusual tropical plants while sharing Christmas cheer with the entire family.

Liberty Station Hanukkah 

Liberty Station welcomes people from all walks of life to celebrate the Festival of Lights. The Liberty Station Hanukkah lights up the night with holiday festivities and music. Don’t miss the Menorah Lighting and celebrate a miracle in San Diego during the Jewish holiday.

Nothing beats spending the holidays in a place like San Diego. Enjoy the spirit of Christmas under the sunny California sun. Best of all, you can enjoy discounts on admission to the San Diego Zoo, Birch Aquarium, Sea World, and more. Don’t miss your savings with the Go San Diego Pass with up to 55% off gate prices and other great deals.

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Filed Under: Tourist Attractions

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