Join us Dec. 6 and 7 in beautiful Balboa Park for the City of San Diego's largest free holiday festival. The family-friendly December Nights celebration brings visitors and locals together to enjoy the lights, the sounds, the attractions and, of course, the amazing food.

Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! is a wonderful, whimsical musical based upon the classic Dr. Seuss book. Back for another incredible year, the family favorite features the songs “Santa for a Day,” “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” and “Welcome, Christmas (Fah Who Doraze),” the delightful carol from the popular animated version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Celebrate the holidays as the Old Globe Theatre is once again transformed into the snow-covered Who-ville, right down to the last can of Who-hash.

This three-day event will be held Friday, December 6, Saturday, December 7, and Sunday, December 8. We are so excited to be a part of the Parade of Lights this year on Sunday evening, allowing an extra day of fun for our biggest fair of the year! Guests who come out Sunday evening will be able to shop the vendors and sip hot chocolate on the pier as the lit-up parade boats pass by.

Waterfront Playground Experience with Pirates. The perfect treat for out-of-town visitors and locals alike! These popular 90-minute performances are staged aboard the Maritime Museum of San Diego’s 16th-century Spanish galleon San Salvador. Guests will be fully engaged in pirate theatrics at the dock and underway on San Diego Bay. This hilarious interactive show puts visitors right in the middle of the pirate action. Participants will be sworn in as part of the ship crew, trained how to navigate, sword fight, bail water from a sinking ship, escape from the King’s Jail, swab the deck and other pirate skills. 

General admission included, making the experience an excellent value and opportunity to explore the waterfront museum fleet and exhibits before or after your Boarded experience. Choose from two shows at 10:30 a.m. or 12:45 p.m.