PINKY! Best Gift Ever!
I love, love, love the holidays. This year the holidays will be extra special for our family because it will be Pinky’s first time celebrating. As Mommy, I took the liberty of creating a list of festivities our family can participate in. I know we may not be able to do everything, but at least I can cross a few things off this list and be ready to tackle the ones I don’t next year. Please share your experiences with any of the festivities listed. We’d love to hear your stories. Have a wonderful Holiday Season everyone.
- Holiday of Lights at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Opens Thanksgiving Night until January 2, 2011. This is a light display drive through at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. You can take a hayride or opt to ride in your own car. However, just know if you want to go on the hayride, it’s recommended that you purchase your tickets in advance. They also have other forms of entertainment like pictures with Santa, fire pits for roasting marshmallows and live music.
- Omas Christmas Tree Patch. If you missed the pumpkin patch, there’s still time to visit the Christmas patch and maybe pick out a tree for trimming. Unfortunately, our little condo doesn’t provide the space we need for a large, live tree. That doesn’t mean that Pinky shouldn’t enjoy them. Omas also offers hayrides, hot chocolate and candy canes for the kids.
- Photos with Santa at Seaport. I found this link when I was trying to find out when Santa would appear at the Westfield Shopping Centers. I’ve been living in San Diego all my life and I never knew Seaport Village set up their own Santa Photo Op. After reviewing the site, it looks like it might be a whole lot better than the ones at the mall. Pinky can’t miss her photo op with Santa.
- Surfin’ Santa Only in San Diego can Santa arrive on a ship and yell Ho, Ho, Ho in his shorts. This is a unique twist to the previous Santa Photo Op. On November 27th again in Seaport Village, kids will be able to greet Santa, enjoy arts and crafts and learn about how they can be environmentally friendly.
- San Diego Bay Parade of Lights This year marks the 39th Annual Festival of Lights. This year’s theme is The Sounds of Christmas. On December 12th and 17th boats will parade around the San Diego Bay in a moving spectacular light show, fire works included!
- Balboa Park December Nights I have been wanting to attend this for years now. Last year we didn’t attend because Daddy was sick, maybe this year we’ll finally get to go, this time with our Thing 3. This is another two day only event happening Friday, December 3rd and Saturday December 4th. December Nights offers entertainment, food, and free entrance to the museums. It’s considered San Diego’s largest free community festival.
- Poinsettia Bowl For all of you football fans, there is the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl. The mission of the non-profit San Diego Bowl Game Association is to generate tourism, exposure, economic benefit and civic pride for San Diego and its citizens by presenting the nation’s most exciting and entertaining bowl games and festivals of events. The San Diego Make-A-Wish Foundation will once again be this year’s beneficiary.
- Festive & Free Neighborhood Light Displays There are several neighborhoods who get together and get into the spirit of Christmas by hanging lights and decking out their front yards. This link actually provides the street names of the best neighborhood light displays. Best part about this activity is it’s free!
- Ice Skating on the Beach This is another one of those, ONLY SAN DIEGO activities. Everybody loves our weather, but during the holidays, sometimes we wish for snow, or even rain. The next best thing is being able to ice skate on the beach in Coronado Island. It’s so contradictory, it’s so San Diego. And, if you’re not up for the ice skating at the beach, there is always the Ice Rink at Horton Square opening tomorrow, November 18th. The large Christmas tree will have you feeling like your in Time Square New York! Pinky might not be able to join in on this activity just yet but I’m sure she’d enjoy observing.
- Holiday Plays I love attending plays and musicals, especially around the holidays. They are a perfect way to enjoy the holiday with the whole family. There’s just something about live entertainment that, well brings everything to life! The Grinch Who Stole Christmas is a classic; and don’t forget to contact your local church to find out what they have planned to help remember the true meaning of Christmas…Jesus’ Birth!
So there you have it, 10 things you can do with your family this Holiday Season! Like I said, I don’t think we’ll be crossing all of them off our list this year, but it’s always good to know what’s available. I really look forward to sharing the story of Christmas with Pinky, showering her with gifts, baking cookies, building gingerbread houses and trimming the (mini) tree!
If you have any family traditions or activities we didn’t list here, please comment!I know there are a lot of things still left to do in San Diego during the holidays!
We wish you and your family the very best as you prepare and enjoy this Holiday Season!