Outdoor Holiday Things to Do in San Diego: Weather and Ideas

What December weather is like in San Diego

The short answer: pleasant days, chilly evenings, and the odd rainy spell. NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals for San Diego International Airport, right by the bay, show an average December high of 66°F and an average low of 49.8°F. Average December rainfall there is 1.67 inches, spread over about three days with a tenth of an inch or more.

Move inland and the range widens. At El Cajon, the normal December high is 68.5°F but the normal low drops to 41.7°F, about eight degrees colder than the coast, with 1.83 inches of rain on average. East County valleys, including the area around Lakeside, can feel noticeably colder after dark than the beaches do.

The practical takeaway: plan outdoor holiday events in December with confidence, keep an eye on the forecast for the occasional storm, and expect the temperature to fall quickly once the sun goes down in the late afternoon.

What to wear to outdoor holiday events

Dress for two seasons in one day. A T-shirt can be enough at noon, while an evening parade by the water calls for a real jacket. A simple layering system covers most outings:

• Base: a comfortable long-sleeve shirt or light sweater.
• Warm layer: a fleece or wool sweater you can tie around your waist at midday.
• Outer layer: a wind-resistant jacket, ideally water-resistant in case of showers.
• Extras for after dark: a hat or beanie, light gloves for kids, and a blanket for sitting on the ground or a seawall.
• Footwear: closed shoes you can walk in all day; park lawns can be damp in the morning or after rain.
• Sun protection: sunglasses and sunscreen still matter on bright December days.

Outdoor holiday events in San Diego for 2026

These open-air events have confirmed 2026 information from their organizers:

• December Nights, Balboa Park: free; Friday, December 4, 4 to 10 p.m., and Saturday, December 5, noon to 10 p.m.
• San Diego Bay Parade of Lights: free; Sundays, December 13 and 20, starting at 5:30 p.m.
• Skating by the Sea, Hotel del Coronado: an outdoor ice rink on the beachfront, November 20, 2026 to January 3, 2027.
• Wild Holidays, San Diego Zoo Safari Park: select evenings November 28 to January 3, 2027, open until 8 p.m.
• Whale watching, Cabrillo National Monument: season runs late December to mid-March.

Evening events: dress warmer than you think

December Nights is the City of San Diego’s largest free holiday festival, with lights, music, attractions and food across Balboa Park. The Friday session runs until 10 p.m., so most of it happens after dark. Crowds are large, so plan parking or transit before you go using the official page.

The Parade of Lights sends decorated boats along the bayfront to the pier at Chicano Park and then toward Coronado. There is no cost to watch, and organizers ask spectators to arrive early because the best spots get crowded. You will be standing or sitting by the water for a couple of hours after sunset, so this is the event to bring the warmest layers and a blanket.

At the Safari Park in Escondido, Wild Holidays runs November 28 and 29, December 18 to 23, and December 26 through January 3, 2027, with the park open until 8 p.m. and activities included with admission. Escondido is inland, so plan for a cooler evening than you would get on the coast.

Daytime outdoor ideas

Not every outdoor holiday plan has to happen at night. Skating by the Sea at the Hotel del Coronado opens at 10 a.m. on weekends in early December and daily from December 18, and a morning skate in the sun followed by a beach walk is a very San Diego way to spend a winter day. Tickets cover 90 minutes on the ice with rentals included.

On Point Loma, Cabrillo National Monument says whales can be seen passing the coast from late December through mid-March. Bring binoculars and a windbreaker; the point is exposed.

Other easy daytime ideas need no tickets at all: a holiday picnic in a neighborhood park, a coastal walk at low tide, or a drive to see light displays as the sun sets.

An open-air medieval festival in Lakeside

The Yuletide Medieval Festival is held outdoors on the grass at El Monte County Park in Lakeside on December 5 and 6 and December 12 and 13, 2026, rain or shine. Saturdays run until 8 p.m., well after sunset at around 4:30 p.m., so pack a warm layer for the evening hours and wear shoes that can handle a lawn.

Plan around short December days

December brings the shortest days of the year, so outdoor plans work best when you think about light as well as temperature. Put hikes, beach walks and long drives in the morning or early afternoon, and save light shows and parades for after sunset, when they look their best.

If you are heading to an evening event, eat a real meal beforehand, carry water, and keep a small flashlight or headlamp in your bag for dark parking lots and paths. Check closing times for parks and trails too; many open spaces close at or soon after sunset, and gates can lock before you get back to the car.

Finally, give yourself extra time. Popular holiday events draw crowds and traffic, and a relaxed arrival in daylight beats hunting for parking in the dark.

If it rains

With only about three days of meaningful rain in an average December, a wet forecast for one day does not have to wreck a weekend of plans. Before you go, check each event’s weather policy: some run rain or shine, some pause sessions, and many tickets are not refundable for weather.

Keep a backup in mind, such as an indoor museum or a theater matinee, and pack a compact umbrella or rain shell in the car.

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