FreeFree entry; food and some activities extraArts & Culture
Balboa Park December Nights
San Diego, CA
Free entry; food and some activities extra
By Simir Shah
The city's biggest free holiday festival fills Balboa Park with lights, music stages, and food from around the world, and draws more than 350,000 people over two days. Several museums open free in the evening, including the San Diego Museum of Art from 5–9pm, and the Japanese Friendship Garden opens its upper garden free 3–9pm. Expect heavy crowds; transit or rideshare is easier than parking.
Good for
- Ages 10+
Happening near here
- Spreckels Organ Pavilion Sunday ConcertsSan Diego · <1 mi · Sundays 2pm (one hour)Free
- San Diego Zoo HalGLOWeenSan Diego · <1 mi
- Little Italy MercatoSan Diego · 1 mi · Sat 8am–2pmFree
- Summer Movies in the ParkSan Diego · 1 mi · Sat duskFree
San Diego city depth 2026Annual event
Map
Nearby places
Balboa Park Resident Free TuesdaysSan Diego · Museums & Learning<1 miJapanese Friendship GardenSan Diego · Parks & Hiking<1 miSan Diego Model Railroad MuseumSan Diego · Museums & Learning<1 miSan Diego Museum of ArtSan Diego · Arts & Culture<1 miMuseum of UsSan Diego · Museums & Learning<1 miSpanish Village Art CenterSan Diego · Arts & Culture<1 mi
Keep planning
Eat nearby in San Diego
- Corvette DinerBurgers & American · $$ · kids menu
- Buona ForchettaPizza & Italian · $$
- Hodad'sBurgers & American · $
- Lucha Libre Taco ShopMexican & Tacos · $