December in North County means lit-up boats in Oceanside Harbor, a tree lighting in almost every downtown, and holiday markets on Main Street. Here is the 2026 list, city by city, with dates and times from each organizer.
Dates are current as of October 19, 2026. When an event hasn’t posted its 2026 details yet, I list last year’s date so you know roughly when to look. I’ll update this page as more dates come out.
Mark Saturday, December 5: it’s the busiest day of the season. Vista’s parade starts at 1:00 PM, Escondido’s Winter Wonderland runs 1 to 5 PM, Fallbrook’s parade starts at 5:00 PM, San Marcos lights its tree at 6:00 PM and KSON Country Christmas plays Frontwave Arena that night. Pick one and go early for parking.
| Parade | Date and Time | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Vista Christmas Parade | Sat, Dec 5, 1:00 PM | Downtown Vista |
| Fallbrook Christmas Parade | Sat, Dec 5, 5:00 PM | Main Ave, Fallbrook |
| Oceanside Harbor Parade of Lights | Sat, Dec 12, time not posted yet | Oceanside Harbor |
| Escondido Jaycees Christmas Parade | Not posted yet (last year Fri, Dec 5, 7 PM) | Grand Ave, Escondido |
| Encinitas Holiday Parade | Not posted yet (last year Sat, Dec 6, 5:30 PM) | Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas |
| San Marcos Holiday Parade | May not happen in 2026 | Not set |
Oceanside
- Oceanside Harbor Parade of Lights
Saturday, December 12, 2026 | Oceanside Harbor | Free to watch
Decorated boats loop the harbor after dark. The 2026 start time isn't posted yet; last year it ran 7 to 9 PM. - O'side Turkey Trot
Thursday, November 26, 2026 (Thanksgiving) | Starts at 330 N Coast Hwy
Early 5K at 7:00 AM, main 5K at 8:00 AM, 5K walk at 8:15 AM, 1 mile at 10:00 AM and 1/5 mile at 10:25 AM. Registration is $55.99 for the 5K and $34.99 for the shorter races. - KSON Country Christmas
Saturday, December 5, 2026 | Frontwave Arena, 3475 Hero Dr | Tickets required
Doors open at 5:30 PM and the show starts at 7:00 PM. - Oceanside Holiday Tree Lighting
2026 date not posted yet | Last year: Thursday, December 4, 5 to 9 PM | Free
Held at the Regal Cinema plaza, 401 Mission Ave, with Santa arriving on a vintage fire truck. - Christmas Concert at Mission San Luis Rey
2026 dates not posted yet | Last year: December 5 and 6 | Tickets required
A concert and sing-along at the mission, 4050 Mission Ave.
Camp Pendleton (Base Access Required)
These events are on base, so you need a DoD ID card or a sponsored visitor pass to get in. A sponsor with a CAC requests the pass from a .mil email at least 4 business days ahead (base access rules).
- MCCS Tree Lighting Celebration
2026 date not posted yet | Last year: Saturday, November 22 | Free
A 50-foot tree, snow sledding, Santa photos and carnival rides by the Pacific Views MCX. - Winter Fest Express
2026 date not posted yet | Last year: Saturday, December 6, 8 AM to noon
Free Christmas trees and Santa at the Pacific Views Event Center. Watch the MCCS calendar for the 2026 date.
Carlsbad
- Carlsbad Fall Village Faire
Sunday, November 1, 2026, 8 AM to 4 PM | Grand Ave and State St
A street fair with about 900 booths, and an early start on holiday shopping. - Holidays at LEGOLAND California
November 21 to 29, December 5 and 6, December 12 and 13, and December 19 to January 3 | Included with park admission
A 35-foot LEGO tree, Santa, and fireworks on December 5, December 12 and every night from December 19 to 31. Check LEGOLAND's calendar before you go. - Rotary Holiday Tree Lighting
2026 date not posted yet | Last year: Sunday, December 7, 2 to 4:30 PM | Free
At the Village Faire entrance, 300 Carlsbad Village Dr, with free Santa photos. - Holiday at the Rancho
2026 date not confirmed yet | 5 to 8 PM | About $15 per person
A tree lighting and an outdoor movie at Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park, 6200 Flying Leo Carrillo Ln.
Vista
- 68th Vista Christmas Parade
Saturday, December 5, 2026, 1:00 PM | Downtown Vista
This year's theme is "Candyland Dreams." - Jingle Terrace Nights
2026 dates not posted yet | Last year: Friday to Sunday nights from December 5, 5:30 to 8:30 PM | Free
Light and video shows, live entertainment and Santa photos at the Moonlight Amphitheatre, 1250 Vale Terrace Dr. - Vista Tree Lighting
2026 date not posted yet | Last year: Sunday, December 7, 1 to 6 PM
In Vista Village, 25 Main St. - Holiday Lights at the Antique Gas and Steam Engine Museum
2026 dates not posted yet | Last year: December 5 and 6, and 12 and 13, 11 AM to 4 PM
At the museum, 2040 N Santa Fe Ave. - Rancho Christmas at Rancho Guajome Adobe
2026 date not posted yet | Last year: Saturday, December 13, 10 AM to 2 PM
At the adobe, 2210 N Santa Fe Ave.
Escondido
- Winter Wonderland Festival
Saturday and Sunday, December 5 and 6, 2026, 1 to 5 PM | California Center for the Arts, 340 N Escondido Blvd | Free
Real snow, Santa photos, an artisan market and live performances. - Wild Holidays at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park
November 28 and 29, December 18 to 23, and December 26, 2026 to January 3, 2027 | Included with admission or membership
The park stays open until 8 PM on those nights. 15500 San Pasqual Valley Rd. - Escondido Jaycees Christmas Parade
2026 date not posted yet | Last year: Friday, December 5, 7 PM
On Grand Ave between Juniper and Orange. - Downtown Tree Lighting, Market on the Plaza and Roller Rink
2026 dates not posted yet | Last year: tree lighting Friday, December 5 at 5:30 PM
At Maple Street Plaza. Last year the market ran December 5 to 21 and the rink ran December 5 to January 3.
San Marcos
- Tree Lighting and Merry Market
Saturday, December 5, 2026, 1 to 7 PM | San Marcos Community Center, 3 Civic Center Dr
Free Santa photos from 1 to 5 PM and free crafts, with the tree lighting at 6 PM. - Holly Jolly Holiday Market at North City
2026 date not posted yet | Last year: Sunday, December 7, 10 AM to 4 PM | Free
More than 175 artisans at 251 North City Dr. - San Marcos Holiday Parade
May not happen in 2026
Its longtime host said in September it can no longer put it on, and the city said it can't take on another event this year.
Fallbrook
- Village Artisan Faire
Saturday, November 28, 2026, 9 AM to 3 PM | Main Ave
Local makers along downtown's Main Ave. - 45th Fallbrook Christmas Parade
Saturday, December 5, 2026, 5:00 PM, rain or shine | Main Ave
An evening parade through downtown Fallbrook. - Holiday Wine and A Bite Art Walk
Friday, December 11, 2026, 5 to 8 PM | Main Ave
Galleries and shops open late along Main Ave. - Community Christmas Tree Lighting
2026 date not posted yet | Last year: Friday, December 5, 5 to 7:30 PM
At the Fallbrook Community Center, 341 Heald Ln.
Worth the Drive: Encinitas and Del Mar
- Lightscape at the San Diego Botanic Garden
November 20, 2026 to January 3, 2027 | 300 Quail Gardens Dr, Encinitas | Adult tickets from $28, kids $18
A one-mile trail of light installations through the garden. - Coastal Christmas at the Del Mar Fairgrounds
Opens Friday, December 11, 2026, 4 to 9 PM, and runs through December 26 | 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd | Tickets required
Ice skating and lights by the ocean. - Encinitas Holiday Parade
2026 date not posted yet | Last year: Saturday, December 6, 5:30 PM | Free
Along Coast Hwy 101 from D St to J St.
Picturing a December Here?
Each city has its own page with homes for sale, drive times to base and the school districts by name: Oceanside, Camp Pendleton, Carlsbad, Vista, Escondido, Fallbrook and San Marcos. If you’re moving to North County, on PCS orders or not, I’ll show you homes near the events you liked most.
Book a Free Call or text me at (619) 485-8293.
Luis
