When are San Diego's holiday parades in 2026?

San Diego's street parades all land in the first weekend of December, so you'll need to pick one or two. Every date below is from a 2026 listing unless we label it 2025. Start times for 2026 are still posting, so we give last year's time where that's all there is. For lighted boat parades (San Diego Bay, Mission Bay, Oceanside), see San Diego holiday events in December 2026. We don't repeat them here.

Is the Mother Goose Parade back in 2026?

Saturday, December 5: three parades on one night

Three parades run on the evening of Saturday, Dec. 5, so pick one. Chula Vista's Starlight is the most family-friendly: free festival from 3 p.m. with free Santa photos, tree lighting at 5:30 and the parade at 6 on Third Avenue. Ocean Beach runs down Newport Avenue. In 2025 it drew a record 106 entries, and it started at Newport and Sunset Cliffs just after 5 p.m. Encinitas closed Coast Highway 101 at 4 p.m. in 2025, lit its tree at the Lumberyard courtyard at 5 and stepped off at 5:30. All three are evening parades, so bring a layer (see winter sunset times).

La Jolla and Coronado: parking

La Jolla's Traffic & Transportation Board approved street closures for Sunday, Dec. 6, 2026, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Towing starts at 8:30 a.m. in the parade staging no-parking zones and at 11:30 a.m. along the route, so don't park on the route that morning. Use a garage or a spot outside the closures, or see parking near La Jolla Cove. In Coronado, downtown streets close for the parade, and the Coronado Times advised arriving at least 30 minutes early to get a spot on Orange Avenue. Taking the Coronado ferry from downtown means you don't have to park on the island at all.

Holiday Bowl Parade: the Holiday Bowl's site lists the 47th Holiday Bowl on December 28, 2026, at Snapdragon Stadium, and the Tourism Authority lists the parade on the same date. Watching from the street is free. The last edition, on Jan. 2, 2026, started at 10 a.m. on Harbor Drive across from the County Administration Building, after a 5K. The 2026 start time, route and bleacher prices weren't posted when we checked. Plan on transit or a downtown garage (see do you need a car).

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Leaflet | © OpenStreetMap contributors

Fri Dec 4

1. 1Coronado Holiday Parade — Tree lighting at Rotary Park

Sat Dec 5

1. 2Chula Vista Starlight Parade — Festival 3 p.m., parade 6 p.m.
2. 3OB Holiday Parade — 5 p.m. listed
3. 4Encinitas Holiday Parade — Southbound to J St. (2025 route)

Sun Dec 6

1. 5La Jolla Christmas Parade — Ends at La Jolla Rec Center

Date TBA

1. 6PB Holiday Parade — Santa Run listed Dec. 12

Mon Dec 28

1. 7Holiday Bowl Parade — Free street-side viewing

Start points as listed; routes may shift slightly. Check each organizer before you go.

See these on the full San Diego map