{"id":408447,"date":"2025-11-27T13:57:11","date_gmt":"2025-11-27T13:57:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/408447\/"},"modified":"2025-11-27T13:57:11","modified_gmt":"2025-11-27T13:57:11","slug":"nov-28-30-holiday-smackdown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/408447\/","title":{"rendered":"Nov. 28-30 \u2013 Holiday SmackDown"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Shop Small Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. across Ocean Beach. (Photo courtesy of the Ocean Beach MainStreet Association)<\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re into professional wrestling or shop small \u2018til you drop, San Diego County dishes out holiday markets, tree lightings, live music and sports to keep your post-Thanksgiving calendar as full as your stomach.<\/p>\n

Youth dance company BalletCenter Studios reimagines the holiday classic with Clara & the Nutcracker Soldier<\/a> at the Joan B. Kroc Theatre in Rolando, following orphan Clara\u2019s journey to find family as nursemaids become Sugarplums and a greedy headmistress transforms into the Rat Queen. Performances run Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $32 \u2013 $63.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Draft Republic in San Marcos wraps up its Wicked pop-up<\/a> this weekend with an Emerald City-inspired speakeasy serving themed cocktails such as Galinda\u2019s juice alongside Wicked Wings and Popular Pink Pasta. Catch the all ages experience Friday 4 p.m. to close and Saturday-Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to close.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Liberty Station kicks off festive season with its Holiday Tree Lighting<\/a> Friday from 5-9 p.m. in the North Promenade and Vesper Venue. The event includes lighting of an 88-foot Norfolk pine, live entertainment, firetruck rides, free photos with Santa and an outdoor showing of The Grinch.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Just 2 days away! \ud83c\udf84Join Liberty Station this Friday, Nov 28 from 5\u20139 PM for the 11th Annual Holiday Tree Lighting \u2014 with FREE firetruck rides, live entertainment, photos with Santa, and a showing of The Grinch. \ud83d\udcab<\/p>\n

Full lineup: https:\/\/t.co\/IGSfqrxxMq<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/I3nyYJyFrv<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Liberty Station (@Liberty_Station) November 26, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

More tree lightings around the county include Holiday Lights in Downtown El Cajon<\/a> Saturday from 4-8 p.m. on Prescott Promenade with a snow zone, train rides, artisan vendors and a 6:15 p.m. ceremony led by Mayor Bill Wells. Chula Vista Center\u2019s annual tree lighting<\/a> runs Saturday from 3-6 p.m. with live mariachi, kids\u2019 crafts and handmade gifts. The East Village Tree lighting<\/a> at Fault Line Park offers a holiday market, live music, Santa photos and family activities Sunday from 4-8 p.m.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The San Diego Made Holiday Market<\/a> at Liberty Station got a weather reprieve and is rescheduled this weekend \u2013 perfectly timed for Small Business Saturday. More than 125 local makers and artisans will fill NTC Park at 2455 Cushing Road, along with live music, gourmet food trucks and seasonal workshops. The outdoor festival runs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $5 (free for kids under 10), available online or at the door, with a $10 option that includes a limited-edition canvas shopping bag.\u00a0<\/p>\n

For neighborhoods celebrating Small Business Saturday across the county, check out our guide<\/a>. In Ocean Beach, the MainStreet Association<\/a> hosts Shop Small Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. \u2013 spend $50 or more at local businesses, then spin a prize wheel at the OBMA Welcome Booth in Veterans Plaza Park for swag and gift cards. Pick up an OBeachy Bingo card and hunt for \u201cOB Parrots\u201d hidden in 96 businesses through Dec. 19 for more prizes. Cap off the day at City Tacos\u2019 OB Playground<\/a> (4896 Voltaire St.) with a 5:30 p.m. tree lighting, Santa photos, free hot chocolate, cookies and Christmas coloring pages for the kiddos.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Jazz fans can catch trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos leading an all-star ensemble through John Coltrane\u2019s Blue Train<\/a> Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Jacobs Music Center with tickets starting at $42. No More Tears: A Tribute to Ozzy Osbourne<\/a> features San Diego musicians performing Ozzy and Black Sabbath classics Saturday at 8 p.m. at Brick by Brick in Bay Park for $16. Southern California swing revival band Big Bad Voodoo Daddy<\/a> hits The Magnolia Performing Arts Center in El Cajon Saturday at 7:00 p.m. with tickets starting at $37.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Renowned trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos brings the music of John Coltrane\u2019s legendary Blue Train to Jacobs Music Center \u2014 joined by some of the finest jazz musicians performing today. \ud83c\udfba \u2728 <\/p>\n

Secure your seats today!
\ud83d\udcc5 Sat, Nov 29 | 7:30pm
\ud83c\udf9f\ufe0f https:\/\/t.co\/RFtFgeRtMf<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/1sQ5wsFbWw<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 San Diego Symphony (@SanDiegoSymph) November 26, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

You might want to stretch and make sure you have Gatorade on hand for a massive weekend of sports in San Diego.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The third annual Rady Children\u2019s Invitational<\/a> moves to Jenny Craig Pavillion on the University of San Diego campus this year, tipping off\u00a0 Thanksgiving Day followed by third-place and championship games Friday. This year\u2019s field features a power-conference showdown with the Big Ten\u2019s Wisconsin Badgers, the SEC\u2019s Florida Gators, the Big 12\u2019s TCU Horned Frogs and the Big East\u2019s Providence Friars. Tickets start at $72.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been nearly 18 years since WWE brought a premium live event to San Diego with Survivor Series: WarGames<\/a> at Petco Park Saturday at 3:30 p.m. The matches showcase the region\u2019s rich wrestling heritage, featuring Chula Vista native Rey Mysterio, Jr<\/a>. and his son Dominik in a title match against former Mission Beach resident John Cena. Tickets start at $107.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Beyond the main event, the Survivor Series Superstore<\/a> is open all weekend at the San Diego Convention Center\u2019s Hall H, offering merchandise and paid photo ops with WWE superstars. Nearby venues are joining in: Borrego Rooftop Kitchen + Cocktails<\/a> at Hotel Indigo is serving \u201cThe Finisher,\u201d a bourbon cocktail with cherry and spice, while San Diego-founded Dr. Squatch is selling WWE soap<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

San Diego FC<\/a> hosts the Western Conference Final<\/a> Saturday at Snapdragon Stadium, taking on the Vancouver Whitecaps after becoming just the second expansion team to reach the round in its inaugural season. The match sold out in less than 24 hours, but fans who missed out can still join the action at five official playoff hubs:<\/p>\n