December 6 Plan: Yuletide Festival, Then El Cajon’s Holiday Lights

The plan in one paragraph

Spend the day in 1420 at the Yuletide Medieval Festival at El Monte County Park in Lakeside, then drive about 12 miles west into Downtown El Cajon for Holiday Lights in Downtown El Cajon and its tree lighting at 6:30 p.m. The festival runs 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday; to see the tree lit, leave the park by about 5:30 p.m. If you want more time downtown for Santa photos, the train rides or the artisan market, leave earlier in the afternoon.

What is confirmed for Holiday Lights in Downtown El Cajon

The organizer, the Downtown El Cajon Association, lists Holiday Lights in Downtown El Cajon on its website for Sunday, December 6, 2026, from 3 to 7 p.m. It is free and community-wide. The KPBS events calendar carries the same date and hours, gives the location as Prescott Promenade, 200 East Main Street, El Cajon, and describes it as for all ages. Planned activities, per the organizer:

• A microbubble “Snow Zone”
• Live music
• Kids’ train rides
• Photos with Santa
• A festive artisan market with local vendors
• A tree lighting at 6:30 p.m. in Prescott Promenade, led by Mayor Bill Wells

What is not published

Neither listing gives times for the individual activities, such as when Santa photos or train rides end, or whether they have lines or limits. KPBS notes that event dates and times are subject to change. Check the Downtown El Cajon Association’s event page in the days before you go, and again on the morning of December 6 before you head to the festival, because there is no cell coverage at El Monte County Park.

Sample timeline for Sunday, December 6

A relaxed version of the day, with the feast as an option:

• 10-11 a.m.: Arrive at El Monte County Park. Show your printed or screenshotted ticket at the gate.
• Late morning: Walk the guild encampments and the artisan marketplace, and find the children’s areas if you have kids along.
• Noon: If you booked the St. Nicholas Feast ($85, or General Admission with the Feast for $110), Sunday’s seating is at noon. Seats are limited to 100 per day.
• Afternoon: Jousting, the battle pageant and the King’s Procession. The daily show schedule is not published, so ask at Guest Services by the park entrance when you arrive.
• About 4:41 p.m.: Sunset. Put on your warm layer before the evening chill sets in.
• About 5:30 p.m.: Leave the festival. Allow time to walk to your car or catch the shuttle if you used shuttle parking.
• About 6 p.m.: Arrive downtown, park and walk to Prescott Promenade.
• 6:30 p.m.: Tree lighting. The event runs until 7 p.m.

The route from El Monte County Park to Downtown El Cajon

From the park, head west on El Monte Road to Lake Jennings Park Road. OpenStreetMap’s routing then follows Mapleview Street to State Route 67 south and Magnolia Avenue into downtown, about 11.6 miles and roughly 20 minutes without traffic. Allow extra time for traffic and for parking. Interstate 8 west is an alternative from Lake Jennings Park Road.

The Downtown El Cajon Association’s own directions from Lakeside or Santee are: CA-67 south to El Cajon, take Exit 1B toward I-8 East / El Cajon, and continue onto Magnolia Avenue, which brings you to Magnolia Avenue and Main Street. Download an offline map before you reach the park, since your phone will have no signal there for routing.

Parking downtown

The association says free street parking is available throughout Downtown El Cajon, but spaces are time-limited and cars parked beyond the posted limits may be cited or towed. It does not yet publish a list of surface lots for visitors. Read the signs where you park, and expect busier streets than usual on an event night.

If you would rather not drive between the two, the El Cajon Transit Center (Green, Orange and Copper trolley lines) is about a 20-minute walk from downtown, according to the association, but there is no published transit link to El Monte County Park.

What to bring

• Your festival ticket and parking confirmation, printed or saved as screenshots.
• Cash for festival vendors. There are ATMs on site, but vendors may not take cards if the festival Wi-Fi goes down.
• Warm layers. You will be outdoors from morning until after dark.
• Comfortable shoes for the park’s grass and for walking downtown.
• An offline map of Lakeside and El Cajon.
• Snacks and water for the drive if you have young children.
• If you bring a dog to the festival, a leash no longer than 6 feet.

Festival tips for a two-stop day

Buy festival tickets online in advance; each day is a separate ticket. Adult admission (11 and older) is $35, military or 65+ is $30, children 10 and under get in free, and parking is an add-on: General Shuttle & Parking is $10 and Fairgrounds Premium Parking is $35 (limited). The shuttle lot’s location and hours are not published either, so ask before you buy if you need to leave by a set time.

The festival runs rain or shine. If it rains, check the downtown event page before driving to El Cajon.

Questions