Balboa Park December Nights

Balboa Park December Nights, San Diego’s favorite kick-off to the holiday season, will take place for the 31st 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 beloved San Diego event features sparkling lights, theatrical and musical entertainment, and food, food and more food throughout the Park. The largest free community festival in San Diego, December Nights is expected to attract more than 300,000 visitors.

 

Entertainment, wonderful food and holiday cheer are all part of this classic San Diego celebration. Long-standing traditions—including food from around the globe at the International Christmas Festival at the House of Pacific Relations Cottages; the charming Santa Lucia Procession at the San Diego 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. In addition, the varied museums open for free from 5:00-9:00pm both evenings, feature a wide variety of exhibitions including the Reuben H. Fleet’s family-friendly Animal Grossology, the Timken Museum’s annual Christmas Tree displaying the exquisite Schlappi Collection of Hord and Schlappi Christmas ornaments, and the San Diego Museum of Art’s Illuminated Sculptures with more than 20 light-emitting luminous figures.

 

 

New this year:

·       Balboa Park December Nights is all about lights this year as the 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 Palisades Midway is now the ultimate family zone with new kid-friendly experiences and family entertainment. Televisa brings a full-size ice-skating rink–inviting fun and laughter for kids and adults–and a new kid-friendly Taste of December Nights is being re-located to the Palisades also enhancing the family atmosphere.

·       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 showcases some of San Diego’s best groups from the local music scene.

 

 

The Barona Band of Mission Indians contributes 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. The Village will bring to life the food, culture, and lifestyle that is unique to Barona and the other Indians indigenous to the local region.

San Diego Gas and Electric, A Sempra Energy Utility, again covers the center of the Plaza de Panama with an even larger dazzling–and energy efficient–canopy of holiday lights. Bring up to three strands of traditional holiday lights, per family, to the SDG&E booth in the Plaza de Panama beneath the light canopy and exchange them for more energy efficient and safer LED holiday lights (while supplies last).

 

Visitors to December Nights can help keep Balboa Park “green” by taking the free shuttles from County Administration Building North Lot and City College Lots. Parking is free. Shuttle drops off at Park Blvd. and President's Way. Or use PETCO Park and Lots around Park Blvd. and Imperial Ave. - Parking is only $3.00/vehicle and there are more than 2,000 parking spaces in this area. The free Shuttle drops off at 6th and Laurel Streets.

Take public transportation for an easy ride to Balboa Park December Nights. To create your personal trip plan visit www.sdmts.com or call 511 to speak to one of the Transit Information Operators.

 

 

Balboa Park December Nights 2008 is co-produced by: The City of San Diego–the Office of Special Events and other City departments provide festival management expertise and the Business Improvement District (BID) Council, a non-profit business association of 17 BIDs throughout San Diego, whose members manage civic special events for more than 1 million guests annually

 

Balboa Park December Nights is co-hosted by:

The Balboa Park Cultural Partnership, a coalition of the non-profit cultural institutions in the Park serving over 6 million visitors annually; House of Hospitality Association and the City of San Diego Park and Recreation Department

In addition:

Del Cerro Baptist Church provides staging and lighting for the Organ Pavilion and the Community (more than 2,500 performers provide their gift of music, dance, and drama. Hundreds of volunteers from Balboa Park cultural institutions, and from the community, provide their time and talents.)