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San Diego's favorite kick-off to the holiday season, will take place for the 31st consecutive year on Friday, December 5, 5:00-10:00 p.m. and Saturday, December 6, noon-10:00 p.m.

In the spirit of the holidays, participating Balboa Park museums open their doors free of charge from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. both evenings. The largest free community festival in San Diego, December Nights is expected to attract more than 300,000 visitors over two days.

Beautiful displays will light the gorgeous Spanish Revival architecture in the Plaza de Panama's expanded entertainment area-where the new Plaza de Panama stage features San Diego's own Bon Temps Social Club along with some of the best Cajun/Zydeco bands and dancers from across the country.

The SDG&E Holiday Light Canopy again covers the center of Plaza, welcoming visitors with dazzling holiday cheer. Exchange up to three (3) incandescent holiday light strands for multi-colored LED holiday light strands and exchange up to five (5) incandescent light bulbs for CFLs (while supplies last).Bring a valid California ID and/or your SDG&E bill to participate.

The Palisades Midway is now the ultimate family zone with new kid-friendly experiences and family entertainment. For the first time, families will get to enjoy Ice Skating in the Park on a full-size ice-skating rink -and a new kid-friendly Taste of December Nights is being re-located to the Palisades also enhancing the family atmosphere.

The Palisades Midway harkens back to the 1915-16 Panama-California Exposition and the 1935-36 California-Pacific International Exposition the celebrations to which Balboa Park owes its rich history- with carnival rides and games geared for younger children.
Christmas on the Prado

The long-standing traditions of Christmas on the Prado-including food from around the globe at the International Christmas Festival at the House of Pacific Relations Cottages; the Santa Lucia procession at the Museum of Man; unique gift shopping at the museum stores and with the artisans of Spanish Village; and musical and dance presentations from the San Diego Junior Theatre, San Diego Civic Youth Ballet, Del Cerro Baptist's Christmas Story Tree and more-fill the heart of Balboa Park.

Balboa Park's historic Moreton Bay Fig Tree is illuminated with a custom and artistic holiday design provided by The Old Globe. The tree will be awash with merry and colorful lights, and will join the Spreckels Organ Pavilion and the California Tower as Balboa Park December Night's holiday icons.

The Cascades Holiday Marketplace brings crafts, foods and entertainment from around the world and is located at Fountain Plaza, adjacent to the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center and the San Diego Natural History Museum

In the spirit of the holidays, participating Balboa Park museums open their doors free of charge from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. both evenings. Also enjoy musical and dance presentations from the San Diego Junior Theatre, San Diego Civic Youth Ballet, and San Diego Civic Dance; floral displays by the San Diego Floral Association and members; music and docent tours at The Old Globe; and puppet shows at Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theatre.
International Cottage Christmas Festival

The International Cottage Christmas Festival features authentic music, crafts, dance and other holiday traditions from more than 30 countries. Highlighting the Christmas Festival are food samplings from around the world, including Paella from Spain, hummus and falafel from Palestine, fried plantains from Panama, and bratwurst from Austria and Germany. Traditional holiday dance, music, and costumes can been seen on the half-hour at the Cottage Stage.

The Barona Band of Mission Indians will contribute a unique cultural element to the events with My Ancestors' Village, the re-creation of a traditional Native American village within the heart of Balboa Park. Produced by the Barona Cultural Center & Museum, this tribute will bring to life the food, culture, and lifestyle that is unique to Barona and the other Indians indigenous to the local region.

Entertainment and holiday cheer are all part of this classic San Diego celebration, and they have got the complete line up. The main-stage Spreckels Organ Pavilion highlights choral presentations from a variety of groups and the Del Cerro Baptist Church Christmas Story Tree is featured each night. The Palisades Stage presents holiday music and dance. Music, theatrical, and dance presentations in many of the museums and cultural organizations-including the San Diego Junior Theatre, San Diego Civic Youth Ballet, and the traditional Santa Lucia Procession at the Museum of Man-fill the heart of Balboa Park.

Entertainment runs from 5:00 - 9:00pm on Friday and from noon to 10:00pm on Saturday.

With more than 300,000 people attending December Nights and extremely limited parking at Balboa Park we encourage visitors to use the FREE off-site shuttles or take public transportation.

Believe it or not the best way to day to attend the Balboa events is by train The following lines have service's that connect to the free shuttle tat runs into Balboa Park.

From the Inland Empire, take either the OC Metrolink or the LA Union Station trains south to Oceanside and then switch lines to Downtown San Diego. There will be updated schedules once things get going.

Blue or Orange Line trolley to the City College Station in downtown San Diego and transfer to the #7 bus.

Blue Line trolley to the County Center/Little Italy Station and walk west to the County Administration's north lot and board the FREE SHUTTLE

Take any bus to University Avenue and Park Blvd and transfer to a special Route 7 shuttle heading to Park Blvd.

Gary Hall the ghostpainter

http://www.balboapark.org/decembernights/