{"id":468729,"date":"2025-12-24T11:00:55","date_gmt":"2025-12-24T11:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/468729\/"},"modified":"2025-12-24T11:00:55","modified_gmt":"2025-12-24T11:00:55","slug":"13-things-to-do-in-san-diego-this-weekend-december-23-28","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/468729\/","title":{"rendered":"13 Things to Do in San Diego This Weekend: December 23-28"},"content":{"rendered":"

Though it seems a rain-filled Christmas<\/a> is in the cards, there are still plenty of ways to enjoy the week ahead. Cinephiles can watch screenings of the nostalgic classic A Christmas Story at the Brooks Theater or the thrilling ski flick Downhill Racer at Digital Gym Cinema. Not in the mood for cooking? Check out Christmas Eve dinner specials<\/a> at the Manchester Grand Hyatt or brunch the following morning at the Catamaran Resort Hotel. And fans of The Rolling Stones and Jimmy Buffett are invited to a pair of local holiday traditions<\/a>: Exile on Kettner Blvd., and the Annual Buffett Birthday Bash.<\/p>\n

Food & Drink<\/a> | Concerts & Festivals<\/a> | Theater & Art Exhibits<\/a> | More Fun Things to Do<\/a><\/p>\n

\"FunCourtesy of The Seabird Resort<\/p>\n

Food & Drink Events in San Diego This Weekend<\/p>\n

Piper\u2019s Festive Pairings at Piper<\/p>\n

December 23 & 27<\/p>\n

Savor a selection of wine, cheese, and fresh pastries during Piper\u2019s Festive Pairings<\/a> this Tuesday and Saturday at 3 p.m. at The Seabird Resort. This tasting experience at Piper will feature seasonal tarts, artisanal cheeses, and wines such as Emmolo Sauvignon Blanc, Sea Sun California Pinot Noir, and Miraval C\u00f4tes de Provence Ros\u00e9. Reservations are $44<\/a> per person plus tax and service charge. An additional Piper\u2019s Festive Pairings will take place on Dec. 30.\u00a0<\/p>\n

101 Mission Avenue, Oceanside<\/p>\n

Christmas Dinner at Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego<\/p>\n

December 24\u00a0<\/p>\n

Dine out for Christmas Eve at one of Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego\u2019s onsite eateries. From Dec. 24\u2013Jan. 24, Sally\u2019s Waterfront Dining<\/a> will offer a prime rib with jumbo garlic prawns, a gruy\u00e9re and truffle potato puree, peppercorn-chive horseradish cream, and more for $72. Plus, from Dec. 24\u201329, the hotel\u2019s lobby bar, The Landing<\/a>, will have a pair of entree specials: a ribeye steak with Boursin whipped potatoes, green beans and wild mushrooms ($58) and a buttery Chilean sea bass with smashed fingerling potatoes and charter broccolini spears ($56). Reservations for Sally\u2019s can be made here<\/a>; The Landing doesn\u2019t take advance reservations.\u00a0<\/p>\n

1 Market Place, Embarcadero<\/p>\n

Christmas Day Brunch at Catamaran Resort Hotel<\/p>\n

December 25<\/p>\n

Bring the whole family to the Catamaran Resort Hotel ballroom for Christmas Day Brunch<\/a> this Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the final seating at 2 p.m. Enjoy live entertainment, a complimentary glass of sparkling wine (for 21+ attendees), and stations for carving, desserts, omelets, seafood, and more. Offered dishes include strawberry-stuffed French toast, grilled lemon and herb chicken, and bone-in ham with pineapple brown sugar glaze. Reservations are $151<\/a> for adults, $68 for kids ages 5\u201312, and free for children 4 and under.\u00a0<\/p>\n

3999 Mission Boulevard, Mission Bay<\/p>\n

\"FunCourtesy of Wild Horses Festival<\/p>\n

Concerts & Festivals in San Diego This Weekend<\/p>\n

Exile on Kettner Blvd. at The Casbah<\/p>\n

December 24<\/p>\n

As the age-old saying goes, three things in life are certain: death, taxes, and Exile on Kettner Blvd.<\/a> happening every Christmas Eve at The Casbah. The holidays are a unifying time, and it\u2019s been proven year after year in SD that few things get the people going quite like The Rolling Stones. Hear live renditions<\/a> from throughout the band\u2019s 60+ year career starting Wednesday at 9 p.m. Admission is free, so fans should get there extra early to ensure a good spot in the roughly 200-person venue.\u00a0<\/p>\n

2501 Kettner Boulevard, Middletown<\/p>\n

Jimmy\u2019s Buffett w\/ Lolo Paniolo at Belly Up<\/p>\n

December 26<\/p>\n

Speaking of local music traditions, the nine-piece Jimmy\u2019s Buffett band will perform their yearly tribute to the \u201cMargaritaville\u201d maestro this night Friday (9 p.m.) at Belly Up<\/a>. Whether you\u2019re a casual fan or a full-blown Parrothead, Jimmy Buffett\u2019s music is a testament to easy living, one cheeseburger in paradise at a time. The lineup for the Annual Buffett Birthday Bash<\/a> will be rounded out by tropical country western trio Lolo Paniolo. Tickets<\/a> are $22 (excluding fees) online and $25 the day of; proceeds from this concert will go towards funding for Merkel cell carcinoma research.<\/p>\n

143 South Cedros Avenue, Solana Beach<\/p>\n

Wild Horses Festival at Petco Park<\/p>\n

December 27<\/p>\n

Enjoy a country-style Christmas this Saturday (4\u201311 p.m.) at Petco Park as the Wild Horses Festival<\/a> rides back in town for year five. This year\u2019s showcase of musical Americana is headlined by folk stars Mumford & Sons, the banjo-playing Brits known for earworms like \u201cI Will Wait\u201d and \u201cLittle Lion Man.\u201d Joining them on the bill is alternative western band Lord Huron, bluegrass singer Sierra Ferrell, and folk-pop artist Lily Meola. General admission starts at $65<\/a>, with $400 VIP tickets\u2014which come with exclusive bars, bathrooms, and pit access\u2014also available.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

100 Park Boulevard, Downtown<\/p>\n

\"FunCourtesy of World Ballet Company<\/p>\n

Theater & Art Exhibits in San Diego This Weekend<\/p>\n

LeRoy Robbins: New Deal Photographs at Joseph Bellows Gallery<\/p>\n

Through January 24<\/p>\n

The New Deal gave rise to several transformative ideas, with few as notable as the Federal Art Project<\/a>. This program employed a plethora of talented photographers, giving them both a dependable paycheck and the chance to capture the heartbreaking scale of the Great Depression. LeRoy Robbins: New Deal Photographs<\/a>, on display in the atrium of Joseph Bellows Gallery<\/a>, features a collection of stark black-and-white photos taken in 1930s California, images which help define a bleak moment in world history. New Deal Photographs will be on display through Jan. 24; the gallery\u2019s normal hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.<\/p>\n

7661 Girard Avenue, La Jolla<\/p>\n

City Ballet of San Diego: The Nutcracker at California Center for the Arts, Escondido<\/p>\n

December 23<\/p>\n

If you are nuts about The Nutcracker,<\/a> Tuesday is the last chance to see City Ballet of San Diego\u2019s full-length version of the holiday staple. This local production features a live score by the City Ballet Orchestra and conductor John Nettles, dazzling choreography by Elizabeth Wistrich, and live carolers in the lobby prior to each show. Tickets range from $39-$119<\/a> for both performances this Tuesday (2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.) inside the Concert Hall at the CCAE.\u00a0<\/p>\n

340 North Escondido Boulevard, Escondido<\/p>\n

A Magical Cirque Christmas at Balboa Theatre<\/p>\n

December 28<\/p>\n

Broadway San Diego\u2019s final production of the year will be a total circus, in the best way possible. A Magical Cirque Christmas<\/a> is a festive variety show, with an ensemble of comedy, magic and circus performers combining their talents for a wintry spectacle. Audiences can expect acrobatics, illusions and eye-catching sequences, all set to a soundtrack of holiday favorites. Tickets start at $51<\/a>, with performances Sunday at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at Balboa Theatre.<\/p>\n

868 Fourth Avenue, Gaslamp<\/p>\n

\"FunCourtesy of WorldBeat Cultural Center<\/p>\n

More Fun Things To Do in San Diego This Weekend<\/p>\n

A Christmas Story at Brooks Theater<\/p>\n

December 23\u00a0<\/p>\n

To close out its Winter Wonders Holiday Film Fest, the Brooks Theater will host two nostalgic screenings of A Christmas Story<\/a> this Tuesday at noon<\/a> and 7 p.m.<\/a> \u00a0Most kids want toys for Christmas, others, like Ralphie Parker for instance, want a Red Ryder Carbine Action 200-shot Range Model air rifle. Though A Christmas Story is centered on Ralphie\u2019s unshakeable desire for a Red Ryder BB gun, the film is truly about having a holiday season for the ages, one filled with leg lamps, triple dog dares and an impromptu Christmas feast. General admission is $10 for each screening; those who attend in a holiday sweater will receive a free gourmet hot chocolate.\u00a0<\/p>\n

217 North Coast Highway, Oceanside<\/p>\n

Downhill Racer at Digital Gym Cinema<\/p>\n

December 23<\/p>\n

For the next installment in Digital Gym Cinema<\/a>\u2019s weekly DGC Video series, moviegoers can watch the 1969 cult classic Downhill Racer<\/a> this Tuesday at 7 p.m. In this sports drama, set on the dangerously fast slopes of Europe\u2019s mountain ranges, ambitious skier David Chappellet (played by Robert Redford) sets his sights on Olympic glory. An underrated Redford film, released the same year as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, this film dives into the passionate, but oftentimes selfish, mindset of an elite athlete. Tickets range from $10-$14<\/a> for this screening.\u00a0<\/p>\n

1100 Market Street, East Village<\/p>\n

Kwanzaa Celebration at WorldBeat Cultural Center<\/p>\n

December 26\u201329<\/p>\n

WorldBeat Cultural Center is opening its doors Friday-Sunday from 6-9 p.m. for its 45th Annual Kwanzaa Celebration<\/a>, commemorating the first four days and principles of the week-long Kwanzaa observation (Dec. 26\u2013Jan. 1). The educational and empowering festivities will include keynote speakers, ceremonial candle lightings, live musical performances, poetry readings, and a community feast. Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Dr. Edda L. Fields-Black<\/a>, author Shugri Said Salh, harpist Mariea Antoinette, and drummer Dramane Kon\u00e9 will be among the featured participants. RSVP for the Kwanzaa Celebration here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

2100 Park Boulevard, Balboa Park<\/p>\n

PARTNER CONTENT<\/p>\n


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San Diego Clippers vs. Sioux Falls Skyforce at Frontwave Arena<\/p>\n

December 27 & 28<\/p>\n

The San Diego Clippers will host the Sioux Falls Skyforce for a pair of games at Frontwave Arena<\/a>, tipping off Saturday<\/a> (7 p.m.) and Sunday<\/a> (6 p.m.). After recent losses to Raptors 905 and the Greensboro Swarm, the Clippers are still looking for their first win of the G League regular season. Saturday will be Kids Night, with the first 500 kids in attendance to receive a mascot shoulder pet, and Sunday will be Country Night, featuring themed music, in-game entertainment, and Clippers cowboy hats for the first 1,000 fans. Tickets start at $15 for Saturday<\/a> and Sunday<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

3475 Hero Drive, Oceanside<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Though it seems a rain-filled Christmas is in the cards, there are still plenty of ways to enjoy…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":468730,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5134],"tags":[5229,9971,1582,276,975,3549,7264,1148,1072,67,586,132,5230,68,2969],"class_list":{"0":"post-468729","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-san-diego","8":"tag-america","9":"tag-arts-culture","10":"tag-ca","11":"tag-california","12":"tag-music","13":"tag-san-diego","14":"tag-sandiego","15":"tag-theater","16":"tag-things-to-do","17":"tag-united-states","18":"tag-united-states-of-america","19":"tag-unitedstates","20":"tag-unitedstatesofamerica","21":"tag-us","22":"tag-usa"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115774206837324038","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/468729","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=468729"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/468729\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/468730"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=468729"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=468729"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=468729"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}