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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
Preparations have begun for San Diego’s free, epic December Nights event this weekend. Workers and volunteers were in various parts of Balboa Park, erecting structures, stringing holiday lights, and building the huge Christmas Story Tree that is a beloved tradition at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion.
I walked through Balboa Park a little before sunset and photographed some of the activity. Today is Monday. December Nights in 2024 runs this coming Friday, December 6 from 3 pm to 11pm, and Saturday, December 7 from 11 am to 11 pm. Over 300,000 visitors are expected!
As I crossed the Cabrillo Bridge, I noticed red ribbons on lamps now line El Prado…
Here’s one of the holiday decorations that will welcome thousands of pedestrians who cross the bridge into the park…
The Old Globe’s “Grinch tree” had its lighting ceremony last month. As usual, it will be a popular family destination during December Nights.
A cheerful candy cane striped structure went up today in the Plaza de Panama. Lights strung outward from its top will create a magical scene after dark.
At the Spreckels Organ Pavilion, the joyful hub of December Nights, volunteers and members of the Christmas Story Tree organization were putting together the towering tree,
Learn about the Christmas Story Tree by visiting its website here. A choir, that is made up of many local churches and community members, and an orchestra tell the story through familiar Christmas hymns and carols along with a narrator. They could use donations and more volunteers!
A spotlight structure goes up in the rear of the Spreckels Organ Pavilion.
When I walked through the International Cottages, I saw two of the cottages were busy getting ready for December Nights. I didn’t get a photo of boxes being carried into the House of Mexico, but the following photo was taken outside the House of Germany.
This Breakfast With Santa notice was posted outside the Municipal Gymnasium. Toys For Tots says: Come meet Santa and have breakfast on Saturday, December 14th at 9 am.
I learned the interior of the Municipal Gymnasium will become Santa’s magical North Pole home, much like last year. The building will close on Wednesday to begin its transformation!
Meanwhile, as I listened to the sound of bouncing basketballs, I found some fun stuff on the gym’s bulletin board…
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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.
Hey, San Diego, would you like to Light the World this holiday season? Head on down to Old Town San Diego this month and visit the Giving Machine!
The Giving Machine is located on Twiggs Street, near Old Town Trolley Tours, beside the parking lot opposite the Cygnet Theatre. The machine might be mistaken for a typical vending machine, but when you operate it, a charity of your choice benefits!
Charities that benefit when you use the Giving Machine include Save the Children, Catholic Charities, Corazon de Vida, Birthline of San Diego, Gently Hugged, and Mentors International. Struggling people, including the homeless, are helped locally and around the world.
Donations that you can make range from $5 to $120. I was told that donating $20 for a live chicken is a popular choice. There are places in this world where an egg-laying chicken would make a big difference to a seriously impoverished family.
I learned that the machine has been up for two days now, and has already had 209 transactions for a total of $16,000 in giving. The Giving Machine will be operating in Old Town through December, 2024.
I also learned that these Giving Machines can be found around the nation, including another in Irvine, California. It’s a project of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, so it’s no surprise the machine is located a short distance from the Mormon Battalion Historic Site in Old Town.
Whatever you might believe, certainly compassion is very important. The Golden Rule is universal.
This is one fun and easy way to help others! Take a photo by the nearby Christmas tree, too!
By the way–San Diego Padres ace pitcher Joe Musgrove and ex-Chargers superstar Eric Weddle will be at a big ribbon cutting ceremony at the Giving Machine this coming Tuesday at noon! It’s rumored Santa Claus will be present, too!
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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.
Cool San Diego Sights! 