Tag: christmas

Winter solstice sand sculpture at Hotel del Coronado!

The winter solstice occurred early this morning. The days will now begin to grow longer. Christmas is nearly here.

On the beach by the Hotel del Coronado, Bill Pavlacka, The Sandcastle Man, created a unique sand sculpture today that pays tribute to the 2024 winter solstice!

His fun sand sculpture, and another that rises a few steps away, also celebrate the holiday season! Season’s Greetings!

This is the 17th year that The Sandcastle Man has been making sand sculptures in Coronado. Whenever I walk along the ocean side of the Del, I always look for his latest creation!

Some photographs…

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A dazzling indoor Christmas display in San Diego!

Jewels of the Season has returned to the Timken Museum of Art in Balboa Park. The elegant lobby of the museum is decorated with over a thousand of jewel-like ornaments, creating perhaps the finest, most dazzling indoor Christmas display in San Diego!

Take a look at these photos. I’ll let you judge for yourself.

These one-of-a-kind ornaments were hand crafted by artists Florence Hord and Elizabeth Schlappi over the course of decades. Many of these precious works of art include colorfully embroidered and sequined patches that feature the San Diego Zoo, the Padres, the Star of India and other local attractions.

Visitors might stand in the museum lobby and simply stare with astonishment at the richly decorated Christmas tree, or the ceiling from which many ornaments hang like glittering stars.

Jewels of the Season can be freely enjoyed during the Timken‘s open hours until December 29, 2024. If you love Christmas, it’s a can’t miss for the entire family!

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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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Photos of San Diego’s big holiday Pet Parade!

There’s a fun holiday parade in San Diego that seems to grow in popularity every year. The 2024 Gaslamp Quarter Pet Parade was held this afternoon, and thousands converged in downtown San Diego to enjoy the spectacle!

Excited dogs joined spectators lining the Fifth Avenue sidewalk. Costumed dog participants walked up the parade route or rode on small floats, while marching bands from several local high schools performed favorite Christmas music. Students from Eastlake High School, Castle Park High School, Chula Vista High School, and Montgomery High School contributed to the happy pageantry.

I joined the crowd smiling at the dog-gone merry parade! My camera got busy!

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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!

San Diego, all aboard the Holly Jolly Trolley!

The holiday season wouldn’t be the same without a new San Diego tradition: the Holly Jolly Trolley!

Excited people gathered this morning for a festive ride aboard the original, now vintage 1001 car of the San Diego Trolley.

Today only, the Holly Jolly Trolley travels in a loop through downtown San Diego. Before and after the trip, passengers meet Santa, enjoy hot cocoa, get a trolley Christmas tree ornament, take photographs at a special booth and more at the Gaslamp trolley station.

This year–the event’s Second Annual–seats were quickly sold out, but that didn’t prevent me from walking around the Gaslamp station and seeing the fun!

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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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More colorful and tasty holiday sights downtown!

Two walks through downtown San Diego. Yesterday, and early this morning before sunrise.

Another helping of colorful and tasty holiday photographs!

San Diego’s famous U.S. Grant Hotel is brightly lit Christmas green and red for the 2024 holiday season.

Advertisement on a downtown San Diego bus stop shelter promotes the Holiday Bowl, which is coming up on Friday, December 27.

The plaza in front of 550 West C Street has become a magical holiday wonderland.

A beautifully lit wreath in the same plaza.

Last year’s illuminated “Christmas crane” is back in the sky above downtown San Diego!

Santa has landed at a building under construction!

Someone from Italy also took photos of this Christmas spectacle while standing on the sidewalk beside me. She commented this is a sight you’d only see in America. I’ll take that as a good thing!

If you want to feel good, drop into the Donut Bar and say Hi to my friends.

Hungry for a super scrumptious chocolate yule log? Call the Donut Bar and they’ll make one for you!

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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!

Photos of 2024 La Jolla Christmas Parade!

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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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!

Smiles and fun at the La Jolla Holiday Festival!

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.

Thank you for sharing!

Little Italy gets ready to welcome Santa Claus!

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!

The Grinch invades San Diego at December Nights!

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.

Thank you for sharing!

San Diego history on a Christmas tree!

This holiday season, the San Diego History Center in Balboa Park features beautiful Christmas trees in its spacious atrium. Not only has the 15 feet high Christmas tree made of blooming red poinsettias returned, but several smaller green trees twinkle nearby.

The more traditional Christmas trees were decorated by the San Diego Floral Association and are an extension of their Festival of Trees, a favorite December Nights attraction inside Room 101 at the Casa del Prado.

One of these trees I really like. It’s filled with old images from San Diego history!

I took a few photographs…

Kate Sessions’ Christmas Tree of 1915.

Panama California Exposition San Diego, California 1915.

Streetscape in front of the Hotel Del Coronado.

Dearest Kate, Here is a picture of your “Blank Canvas.” Your plants are growing beautifully. Your friend, Anna Marston. (Photo of the Marston House.)

Botanical Building in Balboa Park.

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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!