There’s no place like La Jolla for a holiday parade

LA JOLLA – There’s a plethora of holiday events happening in La Jolla this year.

Visitors and residents will find delights from the annual La Jolla Christmas Parade and Holiday Festival to tree and menorah lightings, high teas, art in the garden — and even a holiday party for dogs at a bookstore.

Christmas Parade

Starts at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 7, at Girard Avenue and Kline Street, filling La Jolla Village with music, performance, and holiday spirit. The parade will feature marching bands, themed floats, equestrian units, vintage vehicles, canine units, schools, scouts, youth groups, community service organizations, and nonprofits.

This cherished community tradition’s theme is “There’s No Place Like Home (for the Holidays),” highlighting belonging, togetherness, and the joy of gathering with loved ones. Daylong attractions include Holiday Festival activities taking place throughout the afternoon before and after the parade. Featured are Santa’s Workshop, the 90-minute parade, Santa’s Village, Sounds by the Sea, and family activities throughout La Jolla.

Santa’s Workshop

The day begins on Sunday, Dec. 7, with Santa’s Workshop from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. featuring visits with Santa (pre-parade) with reservations available at ljparade.com; arts and crafts, face painting, musical storybooks reading area, educational robotics and engineering exhibit with Legos, hands-on STEM stations, a ping-pong ball robot demonstration, and a parade robot with a spinning snowman handing out candy canes; and the Young Entrepreneurs Club offering real-world creative business learning experiences for students.

Santa’s Village

After the parade, festivities continue at Santa’s Village at the La Jolla Recreation Center, 615 Prospect St., from 1:30-4:30 p.m. Highlights include games and family activities such as Jenga, inflatable giant kick darts, corn hole, pony rides, bouncy houses, and face painting; Santa visits (post-parade), with reservations available at ljparade.com. New this year are Sounds by the Sea: Celebrating Music and Movement, featuring live student performances and DJ sets.

Hotel Holidays

The historic La Valencia Hotel at 1132 Prospect St. will hold a Holiday High Tea on Fridays from Dec. 5 to 19 and Santa’s Storytime Brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from Dec. 13 to 21. The Holiday High Tea costs $95 per person, with 10% of proceeds going to Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego.

Hanukkah

Chabad of La Jolla presents its annual Hanukkah celebration and menorah lighting ceremony from 5-9 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, at La Valencia. The event will include live music, latkes, doughnuts, dreidels, holiday gifts, and more. Free admission. lavalencia.com/events/la-jolla/channakuh-celebration.

Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa at 9700 N. Torrey Pines Road holds its Santa’s Suite on Fridays and Saturdays from Dec. 5 to 20, with photos, cookie decorating, hot chocolate, and more. Also, throughout December, Estancia will enable guests to drop off letters for Santa Claus and guess the number of gumdrops in the lobby for a chance to win a free stay at the hotel. The winner will be announced on Christmas Eve. estancialajolla.com/holiday-happenings.

Warwick’s Holiday Dog Party

Warwick’s Bookstore at 7812 Girard Ave. welcomes dogs and their owners to meet Santa Claus and pick up treats and prizes from 11 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Dec. 6. Dogs and humans alike are invited to shop up in their finest holiday attire.

Holiday in the Garden

Art in the Garden presents holiday creations, handmade soaps, garden and home decor, homemade treats, seasonal gifts, custom jewelry, and more from local artisans from 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Davis Garrity garden at the corner of Forward Street and Bellevue Avenue in Bird Rock. The event, sponsored by the Bird Rock Artist Guild, will give a portion of the proceeds to local nonprofit organizations.

La Jolla Garden Club offers handcrafted holiday centerpieces for sale at the La Jolla Open Aire Market from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, at Girard Avenue and Genter Street. Proceeds from the sale will support community projects funded by the club around La Jolla.

Holiday Open House

Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center’s annual Holiday Open House is set for 4-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 11, at 7600 Fay Ave. The event will include a musical instrument “petting zoo,” a holiday market, photo opportunities with Santa Claus, pet adoptions, arts and crafts, seasonal drinks, and more. Free admission. theconrad.org/events/holiday-open-house-2025.

Community Center Holiday

La Jolla Community Center’s Holiday Celebration offers live music, shopping, a silent auction, and more from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 12, at 6811 La Jolla Blvd. Reservations are required by Tuesday, Dec. 9. $10 for Community Center members, $25 for non-members. ljcommunitycenter.org/holiday-celebration-2025.

Parade marshals

Grand Marshals are Stephen W. Cope, chairman, San Pasqual Band of Kumeyaay, and Victoria Diaz, vice chairwoman, San Pasqual Band of Kumeyaay; Navy Military Marshal, Rear Admiral Rich Jarrett, commander, Navy Region Southwest; Marine Military Marshal, Brigadier Gen. David C. Hyman, commanding general, MCRD San Diego/Western Recruiting Region; Heritage Marshal, Kim Avant, general manager, The Grand Colonial Hotel; Founders’ Circle Marshal, the Manchester family; Entrepreneur Marshal, Craig Sewall, Promiscuous Fork; and Civic Marshal, Cody Petterson, board president, San Diego Unified School District, District C.

Sponsorship and donations

The event is supported by sponsors, donors, volunteers, and community partners. Contributions help provide staging, safety services, sound production, youth programming, and free festival activities. Donations of any amount play a vital role in sustaining this tradition. To donate or become a sponsor, visit ljparade.com.