San Diego’s Holiday Tradition Turns 37
Friday and Saturday December 5th and 6th
Formerly known as Christmas on the Prado, December Nights is now in its thirty sixth year of bringing thousands of San Diegans to our beloved Balboa Park. Organizers expect more than 350,000 people to attend this year’s two day event. To put that number in perspective, Qualcomm Stadium has a capacity of 71,000 people. While 350,000 people might seem like an impossible number, rest assured the organizers are well, um organized and they make this a fantastic event not to be missed. However, parking is a problem, so please take public transportation (or a limo!).
Many of the museums, but not all will be open and with free admission from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM. There’ll be a ton of food vendors and midway-style carnival games so you won’t go hungry or wanting for activities. Street fair type craft booths, live music concerts and dance performances will grace the Organ Pavilion. Cottages at the Houses of Hospitality will be open with each cottage displaying their respective country’s holiday traditions.
There’s a few off-the-beaten path venues you don’t want to miss including Centro Cultural de la Raza (Mexican Cultural Center) and the World Beat Center both located on Park Ave across from the old Navy Hospital. Spanish Village artists studios in the NorthEast corner of the park near the zoo, and San Diego Junior Theatre.
I’m not sure if they have a craft beer garden. If not, maybe you and I should open one!