{"id":406269,"date":"2025-11-26T15:38:22","date_gmt":"2025-11-26T15:38:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/406269\/"},"modified":"2025-11-26T15:38:22","modified_gmt":"2025-11-26T15:38:22","slug":"10-surprising-things-you-didnt-know-about-thanksgiving-in-san-diego","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/406269\/","title":{"rendered":"10 surprising things you didn\u2019t know about Thanksgiving in San Diego"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Thanksgiving spread at Bahia Resort. (Photo courtesy of Bahia Resort)<\/p>\n

You think you know Thanksgiving \u2014 but you probably don\u2019t know the San Diego version. The city may not get snow for the holidays, but it has its own distinct twists on Turkey Day that most people never hear about. From historic harvest feasts to surfing before the big meal, <\/a>here are some surprising traditions and facts that make Thanksgiving in San Diego uniquely its own.<\/p>\n

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  1. Thanksgiving Proclamation of 1906<\/strong>
    After the catastrophic 1906 San Francisco earthquake, Thanksgiving took on deeper meaning across     California. Gov. George C. Pardee <\/a>designated Nov. 29, 1906, as a day of general thanksgiving, recognizing the state\u2019s resilience after one of the deadliest disasters in U.S. history (California State Archives, Doc15344).<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \"\"<\/a>A copy of the Nov. 20, 1906 Thanksgiving Proclamation that held a special significance to the people of California. In this\u00a0Thanksgiving Proclamation, Gov. George C. Pardee officially designated Nov. 29, 1906, \u201cas a day of general thanksgiving to Almighty God\u201d. (Photo courtesy of the city of San Diego.gov digital archives<\/a>)<\/p>\n

    2. Old Town Harvest Feasts<\/strong>
    Long before     turkey<\/a> took center stage, early settlers in Old Town<\/a> gathered for harvest-style meals featuring corn, beans, squash, and wild game. These celebrations blended Mexican and Indigenous food traditions, creating one of the earliest regional expressions of Thanksgiving in California.<\/p>\n

    \"GMO<\/a>Genetically modified corn is growing in the United States. (File photo by Preston Keres, USDA)<\/p>\n

    3. Mission Thanksgiving Celebrations<\/strong>
    At     Mission San Diego de Alcal\u00e1, <\/a>Spanish missionaries and local Indigenous communities reportedly held annual harvest observances. These events combined religious rituals with communal feasting to mark the end of the growing season.<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/a>A painting of Mission San Diego de Alcal\u00e1 as it appeared in 1848 depicts the original campanario (\u201cbell tower\u201d), before it was reduced to rubble. The painting also shows the enclosed front portico. (Photo via Wikipedia\/public domain)<\/p>\n

    4. Balboa Park Public Festivities<\/strong>
    From the 1930s through the 1950s,     Balboa Park <\/a>served as a Thanksgiving gathering spot. Families enjoyed concerts, parades, and community dinners \u2014 a festive alternative for San Diegans who weren\u2019t traveling.<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/a>Food and Beverage Building \u2013 Balboa Park \u2013 Expo \u2013 1915. (Photo courtesy of the San Diego History Center)<\/p>\n

    5. Surfing Before the Feast<\/strong>
    In true San Diego fashion, many locals hit the waves on Thanksgiving morning at beaches such as     La Jolla Shores <\/a>and Pacific Beach. Sun, surf, and stuffing \u2014 only here does that combination feel perfectly normal.<\/p>\n

    \"A<\/a>A member of the Bad Boys of Summer Surf Club dons a Santa hat for its weekly surfing session at La Jolla Shores Beach in a previous year. (File photo by Chris Stone\/Times of San Diego)<\/p>\n

    6. Local Turkey Farms<\/strong>
    Family farms in areas like El Cajon and Fallbrook supplied fresh turkeys long before supermarkets became the norm. These small producers helped shape early Thanksgiving food traditions across the region.<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/a>Turkey farms in the area once provided fresh turkeys. (File photo by Chris Stone\/Times of San Diego)<\/p>\n

    7.Fall Harvest Festivals<\/strong>
    Rural communities such as Julian host apple picking, pumpkin patches, and cider tastings in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving. These seasonal events blend into the holiday spirit and offer families an early taste of celebration.<\/p>\n

    \"Pumpkins\"<\/a>Pumpkin patch. (File photo by Chris Stone\/Times of San Diego)<\/p>\n

    8. A Seafood Thanksgiving<\/strong>
    Before turkeys were widely available, coastal families sometimes served abalone, shrimp, or fish for Thanksgiving dinner. It wasn\u2019t unusual for holiday meals to reflect the maritime culture of the region.<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/a>White seabass on a commercial fishing boat. (File photo courtesy of California Department of Fish and Wildlife)<\/p>\n

    9. Hotel del Coronado Traditions<\/strong>
    For more than a century, the     Hotel del Coronado<\/a> has offered multi-course Thanksgiving dinners featuring both classic dishes and local seafood \u2014 a holiday tradition rooted in San Diego\u2019s coastal history.<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/a>The Hotel Del in 1899. (Photo Courtesy The Hotel Del)<\/p>\n

    10. Turkey Trots and Community Runs<\/strong>
    San Diego\u2019s     Thanksgiving Day runs <\/a>\u2014 including downtown routes and Balboa Park courses \u2014 draw thousands each year and often support local food banks and nonprofits.<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/a>Sailors run a 5K race on the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson in a previous year. (File photo courtesy of the Navy)<\/p>\n

    Note:<\/strong> Some early traditions \u2014 including Old Town harvest meals, mission observances, and seafood-based Thanksgivings \u2014 come from regional history and oral stories that reflect San Diego\u2019s cultural heritage and evolving holiday customs.<\/p>\n

    Sources<\/strong>:<\/p>\n