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Christmas markets · San Diego, CA

Christmas markets in San Diego

San Diego's German Christmas market is a two-day Weihnachtsmarkt at the German American Societies' clubhouse in El Cajon, with glühwein, currywurst and an air-rifle range. The rest of the season is December Nights, the free two-evening festival that fills Balboa Park, and the big San Diego Made makers' market at Liberty Station.

3 markets · checked October 2026

🧒 With kids

✨ Date night

🎉 With friends

German market

  • Weihnachtsmarkt at the German American Societies, El CajonIllustration

    German market · El Cajon

    Weihnachtsmarkt at the German American Societies

    A traditional two-day German market at the club's clubhouse and biergarten: two dozen vendor booths, choir and dance, kids' crafts, Santa, a Schützen air-rifle range, glühwein, seasonal beer, currywurst and spätzle.

    🧒 With kids🎉 With friends

    What's there

    • Two dozen vendor booths
    • Glühwein, seasonal beer, currywurst, spätzle
    • Choir, dance and kids' crafts
    • Santa and a Schützen air-rifle range

    San Diego's only real German Christmas market — small, cheap and genuine.

    2026
    Dec 12–13, 2026
    Last season
    Two days in mid-December 2025
    Cost
    $5; youth and military free

    Getting there and parking

    • The club in El Cajon, off I-8 at Mollison Ave; parking at the clubhouse

    Worth knowing

    • Two days only, mid-December
    German American Societies of San Diego, 1017 S Mollison Ave, El Cajon, CA 92020Official site

Christmas village

  • Choir in front of the lit Christmas tree at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park during December Nights📷 Bengt Nyman from Vaxholm, Sweden · CC BY 2.0
    Balboa Park buildings lit with festive lights at night during December NightsLucia procession with candle crown in Balboa Park during December Nights

    📷 Roman Eugeniusz · CC BY-SA 3.0 · 📷 Bengt Nyman from Vaxholm, Sweden · CC BY 2.0

    Christmas village · Balboa Park

    December Nights

    San Diego's largest holiday festival: two evenings of lights, music and food across Balboa Park, with the International Cottages serving dishes from their cultures and many museums open free in the evening.

    🧒 With kids✨ Date night🎉 With friends

    What's there

    • Lights and music across Balboa Park
    • International Cottages food
    • Free evening museum entry
    • Live performances

    San Diego's big free Christmas party — very crowded, so go early.

    Dates
    Dec 5–6, 2025
    Cost
    Free

    Getting there and parking

    • Check the city's December Nights page for parking and shuttle options — park lots fill fast

    Worth knowing

    • Two evenings only, first weekend of December
    • Strollers are not allowed inside some museums
    Balboa Park, 1549 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101Official site

Weekend market

  • San Diego Made Holiday Market, Liberty StationIllustration

    Weekend market · Liberty Station

    San Diego Made Holiday Market

    An outdoor market of 130-plus curated local makers, food trucks, a bar, live music, photo booths and kids' activities on the lawn at Liberty Station.

    🧒 With kids🎉 With friends

    What's there

    • 130+ local makers
    • Food trucks, coffee and a bar
    • Kids' activities and photo booths
    • Free-gift scavenger hunt

    The best local-gift market in San Diego — a relaxed outdoor day at Liberty Station.

    2026
    Nov 28 (10 am–5 pm) & Nov 29 (10 am–4 pm), 2026
    Last season
    Thanksgiving weekend 2025
    Cost
    $5 donation; under 10 free

    Worth knowing

    • Leashed pets welcome
    • On grass — uneven ground for wheelchairs and strollers
    NTC Park, 2455 Cushing Rd, San Diego, CA 92106Official site

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