Kids & familyGood for kidsOutdoors
20th Annual Tree Lighting
This holiday event features a tree lighting ceremony, entertainment, and activities for children. It is designed to be a festive outing for families.
Tips for going
When are San Diego's Christmas tree lightings and holiday markets in 2026?San Diego's main 2026 tree lightings are Liberty Station on Friday, November 27 (free, 5-9 p.m.), Coronado on December 4, Little Italy on Saturday, December 5 (free, tree lit at 6:30 p.m.), and Del Mar and El Cajon on Sunday, December 6. For markets, the San Diego Made Holiday Market is at Liberty Station on November 28-29 ($5 for adults), Little Italy's Christmas Village fills India Street on December 5, and the Holiday Market at Petco Park is listed for December 4-23.What are the best things to do in San Diego with kids, by age?Match the stop to the age: toddlers do best at the New Children's Museum ($20 per child) and free Balboa Park playgrounds, kids 5-10 at Birch Aquarium, the USS Midway and winter tide pools, and tweens and teens at Belmont Park's Giant Dipper and a La Jolla sea-cave kayak tour. Every age band has a free option, and kids 15 and under get into Cabrillo National Monument free.