Looking for a San Diego holiday vacation rental? December in San Diego means December Nights in Balboa Park, boats covered in lights on the bay, a famously quirky parade in Ocean Beach and sunsets you can watch in a sweater. For families getting together for the holidays, we recommend three homes: Palm Parkside near Balboa Park (sleeps 15), Seaside Square two blocks from the sand in Ocean Beach (up to 19), and OB Surfer's Paradise for a smaller crew with a dog.
We are Aubrey and Brad of Salt & Sky Lodging Co., and we live and host here year round. Here is how to spend the holidays in San Diego this year, with 2026 dates, and where to stay.
Why spend Christmas in San Diego?
Most of the country spends December indoors. In San Diego you can walk the beach in the morning, see holiday lights in the evening, and eat dinner outside under string lights. Days are usually mild and nights are cool enough for a fire, a hot tub or a warm drink on the porch.
It is also an easy place to bring everyone together. Grandparents can fly into San Diego International, kids have beaches and the San Diego Zoo, and there are holiday events almost every weekend of the month. A rental home with a big kitchen and a long table means you can still cook the family dinner, just with palm trees outside.
San Diego holiday events in 2026
These are the dates we have confirmed for this year. Check each event's own site before you go, since times can change.
- Skating by the Sea, Hotel del Coronado: November 20, 2026 to January 3, 2027. Ice skating on a rink right next to the beach.
- December Nights, Balboa Park: Friday, December 4 from 4 to 10 pm and Saturday, December 5 from noon to 10 pm. California's largest free holiday festival, now in its 49th year.
- OB Holiday Parade, Ocean Beach: Saturday, December 5, along Newport Avenue.
- San Diego Bay Parade of Lights: Sundays, December 13 and December 20, starting at 5:30 pm at Shelter Island. Free to watch from the shore.
- Jungle Bells, San Diego Zoo: December 18, 2026 to January 3, 2027, with lights and entertainment in the evenings. Included with Zoo admission.
December Nights in Balboa Park
December Nights is the big one. On the first weekend of December, Balboa Park fills with holiday lights, live music on several stages, and food from all over the world. It is free, and it draws a huge crowd, so plan to arrive early and use the free shuttle or the trolley instead of hunting for parking.
This is where a home near the park pays off. From Palm Parkside, Balboa Park is a six minute walk. You can head over in the afternoon, walk home when the little ones are tired, and go back later for the lights.
Holiday lights on the water: the Parade of Lights
For more than 50 years, San Diego's boaters have decorated their boats and sailed them past the shoreline in December. The 2026 Parade of Lights runs on two Sunday evenings, December 13 and 20. It starts at Shelter Island at 5:30 pm, passes Harbor Island, Seaport Village and the Embarcadero, and ends near the Coronado Ferry Landing.
Shelter Island is a short drive from Ocean Beach, so if you are staying in OB you can grab dinner, bring blankets and find a spot on the shore. Arrive early for a good view.
Christmas in Ocean Beach
Ocean Beach does the holidays its own way. The OB Holiday Parade on Saturday, December 5 rolls down Newport Avenue with homemade floats, VW buses and plenty of dogs in costumes. Each year the community Christmas tree goes up at the foot of Newport Avenue, steps from the sand, and locals decorate it together.
The rest of the month, OB is perfect for slow beach days. Walk the pier, watch the surfers, browse the vintage shops on Newport, and catch the sunset at Sunset Cliffs. For more ideas, read our local guide to the best things to do in Ocean Beach.
Beach bonfires in winter: where you can still have one
A beach fire is a classic way to end a San Diego day, but in winter you have to know where to go. The fire rings on the Ocean Beach sand are summer only. Year round, the City of San Diego keeps fire rings around Mission Bay, including at Bonita Cove, Mariner's Point and Ventura Cove, a short drive from Ocean Beach. The Port of San Diego also maintains fire rings at Shelter Island.
The rules are simple: fires only inside the rings, wood, charcoal or paper only, and no fires between midnight and 5 am. Rings are first come, first served, so get there before sunset.
Prefer to skip the crowds? All three homes below have their own fire pit or fire table, so you can have the bonfire feeling in your own backyard.
Where to stay for the holidays in San Diego
Palm Parkside: the big family house near Balboa Park
Palm Parkside is a 1911 Craftsman between North Park and South Park, six minutes on foot from Balboa Park and a six minute drive from the San Diego Zoo. It sleeps 15 across six bedrooms and four baths, and it has three kitchens, so cooking the holiday dinner for a crowd is easy.
- Two living rooms, a gas fireplace, a record player and board games
- A backyard with a hot tub, a fire table, string lights and an outdoor projector for holiday movies
- A garage game room with a pool table
- A bunk room with four twin beds for the cousins
- Dog friendly, up to three dogs, with fenced yards
- Rated 4.98 from 100 reviews, and an Airbnb Guest Favorite
Seaside Square: four beach homes for the whole family in Ocean Beach
Seaside Square is our little compound in the middle of Ocean Beach, two blocks from the beach and one block from Newport Avenue. There are four homes around one shared courtyard: a three bedroom front house, two townhomes with balconies and a studio. Each has its own kitchen and entrance.
That setup is made for the holidays. Book the whole compound for up to 19 guests and everyone gets their own space, then meet in the courtyard for dinner at the long table under the string lights, with the fire table going. You can walk to the OB Holiday Parade and the tree at the foot of Newport. Or book just one home for a smaller trip.
OB Surfer's Paradise: a cozy beach house for a smaller crew and the dog
OB Surfer's Paradise is a two bedroom, two bath home that sleeps six in a quiet part of Ocean Beach, across from Collier Park and about a 15 minute walk to Dog Beach. It is a great fit for a couple, a small family or anyone bringing a dog home for the holidays.
- A fenced backyard with a fire pit, a grill and string lights
- A private infrared sauna for chilly December evenings
- Five beach cruisers for rides to Sunset Cliffs
- A doggy door, an outdoor dog wash, and dog beds and bowls
- A Pack 'n Play, high chair and baby gate for little ones
Ringing in the New Year in San Diego
New Year's week is one of the busiest times of the year here. Skating by the Sea runs through January 3, and Jungle Bells keeps the Zoo lit up into the new year too. A morning walk on the beach on January 1 is a San Diego tradition all its own. If you are coming for New Year's, book early and plan dinner reservations ahead.
Tips for planning a holiday stay in San Diego
- Book early. Homes that sleep a big group go first in December.
- Pack layers. Days can be warm in the sun, but evenings by the water get cool.
- Skip the parking hunt. Use the free shuttle or the trolley for December Nights, and get to the Parade of Lights early.
- Plan one big dinner at home. A rental with a full kitchen and a long table makes the holiday meal easy, and nobody has to drive home after.
- Want snow instead? Our fully decorated Christmas cabin in Julian is about an hour from San Diego.
Why book direct with Salt & Sky
When you book on our site, you get our best rate with no third-party booking fees, and you talk directly to the San Diego team who cares for the home. Need room for even more people? See our large group vacation rentals in San Diego.
San Diego holiday vacation rentals: common questions
What is the weather like in San Diego in December?
Usually mild and sunny during the day, with cool evenings, especially near the water. Bring a warm layer for nights out at the beach or the Parade of Lights.
When is December Nights 2026?
Friday, December 4 from 4 to 10 pm and Saturday, December 5 from noon to 10 pm, in Balboa Park. It is free.
When is the San Diego Bay Parade of Lights in 2026?
Sunday, December 13 and Sunday, December 20, starting at 5:30 pm at Shelter Island. It is free to watch from the shore.
Can you have a bonfire on the beach in San Diego in winter?
Yes, but only in designated fire rings. The Ocean Beach rings are summer only, while the City keeps year-round rings around Mission Bay, such as Bonita Cove, Mariner's Point and Ventura Cove. Fires are not allowed between midnight and 5 am.
Which San Diego vacation rental is best for a big family holiday?
Palm Parkside sleeps 15 near Balboa Park, with three kitchens and a game room. Seaside Square in Ocean Beach sleeps up to 19 across four homes around one courtyard, two blocks from the beach.
Spend the holidays in San Diego
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