The 68th Annual La Jolla Christmas Parade was held today. In 2024, this community holiday parade was bigger and better than ever!
I positioned myself on Prospect Street with my camera and awaited the excitement. I admit I love parades, whatever the occasion. People come together and can’t help being happy. It’s life as it could be… No, it’s life as it should be.
I took almost 700 photographs. I’ve selected my favorite images–those that caught the occasion and the mood best.
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Natalie Miragliotta, 2024 California Cinderella Teen, smiles at the La Jolla Holiday Festival!
Before the 68th Annual La Jolla Christmas Parade kicked off today, a Holiday Festival beside the parade route got underway in the late morning. Fun-seekers and families gathered for the colorful event in front of the Athenaeum Music and Arts Library!
A variety of activities could be freely enjoyed, including robotics demonstrations by students, a kids entrepreneur exhibit, face painting, and, of course, the opportunity to take photographs with Santa Claus!
I arrived for the afternoon’s Christmas Parade much too early. To pass the time, I took a long walk around the Village of La Jolla, which included a visit to the Holiday Festival!
I found plenty of smiles and fun!
Look at all the Santa hats!Photos were snapping at the Kiwanis Santa’s Village. Was that dog naughty or nice?La Jolla Youth Robotics had a cool demonstration table.A sophisticated robot created by Overclocked, Team 2485, a FIRST Robotics Competition team from Francis Parker School in San Diego.Table featuring Young Entrepreneurs Club. I think those tubs contain slime!The Kumeyaay First Peoples exhibit featured native wildlife images that kids could color.Friendly guy from The Salvation Army with a red kettle.My Gym Children’s Fitness provided more fun at the La Jolla Holiday Festival.A nearby shooting star above the Village of La Jolla.La Jolla Christmas Parade participants smile for a photo near the Holiday Festival!
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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.
The public is invited to tour a working farm in Mission Valley. I did that today!
MAKE Farm at SDSU Mission Valley is located a short distance from Snapdragon Stadium. Perhaps you’ve seen the farm from the elevated Stadium trolley station, or the parking lot east of the stadium.
I first noticed the new half-acre urban farm early this year and posted this blog. Today, as I walked through the SDSU Mission Valley river park, I saw a sign indicating there was a tour today. It turned out today was the farm’s very first “trial” tour–the official tours will begin next January on Saturday mornings.
The MAKE farm is flourishing! Adam and a farming trainee (a friendly refugee) showed me rows upon rows of organically grown vegetables. They pointed out beets, radishes, peas, spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, bok choy, kale, parsley, carrots, strawberries, onions . . . and more! During the summer they also grew corn, beans and other warm weather crops.
After taking a look at the growing food, I learned how the farm has a special CSA Program. For a monthly subscription, you can receive a weekly bag full of farm-fresh healthy vegetables! You also receive an invitation to a fun seasonal gathering on the farm! Cool! Learn about the program by clicking here!
Students from San Diego State University are also visiting the farm to learn about sustainability. Once SDSU Mission Valley is fully developed, the farm will be ideally located!
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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.
Old Town San Diego will soon have its own landmark gateway sign! Two high columns that will support the sign were recently erected, and, according to a shopkeeper I spoke to today, the sign itself will be soon installed–he said next week!
Those who drive through different parts of San Diego know many neighborhoods have their own distinctive gateway sign. Soon Old Town will join them!
This new landmark archway will be located over San Diego Avenue at Twiggs Street, at the southeast end of Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, next to the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.
An article from earlier this year explains the project. It states: The sign’s design will reflect the unique architectural and cultural heritage of Old Town San Diego, incorporating elements that pay homage to its Kumeyaay, Mexican, and early American roots…
Very exciting! I’ll post an update when I finally photograph the new sign!
UPDATE!
The sign’s installation was completed four days later. I took photos. See them by clicking here!
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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.
I learned today that Dulce, the last donkey at Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, died yesterday. Her companion, Don, passed away earlier this year. The corral next to Seeley Stable is now empty.
Dulce was in her mid to late 30s–she lived a long life and was well loved. She was a rescue donkey, saved from a cull.
Over the years, I’ve enjoyed visiting Dulce and talking to park rangers watching over her. Dulce was saddened by Don’s death, but had seemingly recovered, eating well and enjoying her role in short easy parades around the State Park’s plaza during occasional special events.
Yesterday she lay down and didn’t get up. A wonderful chapter in Old Town has come to a close.
Countless students, families and children met Don and Dulce over the years. I know that I’ll remember both donkeys fondly. I spoke to a couple of California State Park folks, and it sounds unlikely that new donkeys or other animals will replace Don and Dulce.
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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.
San Diego’s downtown Little Italy neighborhood is ready to welcome Santa Claus this evening!
The Christmas tree lighting will take place after dark at 6:30 pm. The holiday festival on India Street begins at 4 pm. Nearly everything is ready!
I walked up India Street in the mid-afternoon and enjoyed the sights, sounds and smells of a community soon to celebrate Christmas.
Little Italy’s familiar Christmas trees are up. The big nutcrackers are standing. Shop and restaurant window graphics have been painted, attracting the attention of diners and those heading up the sidewalk.
I noticed that a stage was being set up in Piazza della Famiglia near the fountain and outdoor tables. And, of course, a special outdoor “room” for Santa was being prepared!
Santa’s Rules:
You better not pout. You better not cry…
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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.Thank you for sharing!
In 2024, the highlight of December Nights in Balboa Park is the opening of the restored Botanical Building, one of San Diego’s iconic landmarks!
After a two and a half year restoration project, which saw its steel skeleton repaired and new wood lath installed, the Botanical Building now more closely resembles how it originally appeared when it first opened during the 1915 Panama-California Exposition!
Enjoy these photographs, taken shortly after the historic structure reopened this afternoon.
WOW!!!
The interior of the Botanical Building now appears much more airy, light-filled and spacious. The amazing lath roof is more prominent, now that tall, leafy old trees have been trimmed down or removed.
Most of the new plants and trees still have much growing to do. Two beautiful new fountains greet visitors at either end of the garden. And, for the holiday season, many poinsettias are colorfully displayed!
Thank you Forever Balboa Park, the City of San Diego, and all those involved in restoring one of our city’s true treasures!
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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.
Can you believe it? All of these beautiful holiday crafts were hand made by blind and low vision creators!
I was stunned to see all the amazing work. The Blind Community Center of San Diego has a booth along El Prado in Balboa Park during December Nights. It features these amazing crafts, all of which are for sale. Make sure to swing by and be inspired, too! Perhaps make a purchase!
The Blind Community Center of San Diego, which has been enriching the lives of blind and low vision people for over 70 years, has a broken elevator. I was told that if you provide funds to repair the elevator, they’ll gladly name the elevator in your honor!
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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.
The grumpy, grouchy, grievous green Grinch has invaded San Diego this weekend during December Nights!
Happy people beware! I spotted the Grinch all over the place as I walked around Balboa Park during San Diego’s epic holiday event!
Several cynical Grinches view visitors to December Nights from a vendor’s booth.Once again, the Grinch is trying to steal Christmas at the Old Globe theatre! He seems very persistent.Oh, my! The Grinch is peering over the Old Globe’s gift shop!Thank goodness! That’s just a watercolor painting by Spanish Village artist Gabriel Stockton!Now a grinning green Grinch has invaded the Festival of Trees inside the Casa del Prado!The sneaky Grinch has managed to hide inside a Christmas tree!No Grinch hiding here that I can find.The Grinch wouldn’t dare hang out around this big, happy Santa bear at the Japanese Friendship Garden!Does the Grinch work for the City of San Diego? Once again, San Diego’s Community Christmas Tree in Balboa Park has been completely ignored or forgotten.There’s so much joy and happiness at December Nights, I can’t imagine the Grinch would linger here.Santa Claus at the International Cottages is working on expanding his jolly belly.These merry Santa helpers are ready to fend off the Grinch with their sticks.My heart skipped a beat when I thought this was a green Grinch. It’s actually a happy Christmas tree!Happy Holidays in Balboa Park!Don’t look so worried, Santa. I think you’re safe.Oh, no!
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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.
A big, very fun mural is now being painted on a long wall in Chula Vista! The artwork, which appears to be almost competed, can be seen by San Diego trolley Blue Line passengers along the tracks north of the E Street station.
The mural is part of the ongoing MTS Color the Corridor project. The design is by prolific Southern California artist Michelle Ruby (aka Mr B Baby). With a colorful Mexican flavor, the mural contains doll-like characters that one often finds in her artwork. You’ve likely seen her murals all over San Diego.
The painted wall is in the trolley right-of-way and cannot be approached on foot. I took these photos through the slightly dirty window of a moving trolley this morning. They show small but notable parts of the long mural. I had to enhance the images to make them less blurry…
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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.
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