For the 30th consecutive year, Balboa Park will host its December Nights festival, the largest free community festival in San Diego, on Friday, Dec. 7 and Saturday, Dec. 8.
The event is presented by Barona Resort and Casino.
This year’s festival will follow the traditions of December Nights with a few additional treats, including an expanded SDG&E-sponsored “Holiday Light Canopy,” which will double in size from last year. This year it will extend across the Cabrillo Bridge.
“We have a lot of improvements from last year,” said Diana Spyridonidis, executive director of the Business Improvement District (BID) Council.
The light canopy will provide sparkling coverage for the “Holiday Taste of San Diego,” which will double in size from last year because of its increasing popularity.
“The restaurant taste area was so full last year that we had to stop ticket sales a couple of times just to let the people who were in there get their food and come out,” Spyridonidis said. The change was made thanks to observations and suggestions from December Nights’ volunteers and guests.
Prices for the Holiday Taste of San Diego are $20 for 20 tickets or $10 for 8 tickets. Tickets can be exchanged for menu items, which vary in cost from 1 to 3 tickets, depending on the item. Restaurants participating in this year’s Taste include House of Blues, Aladdin Mediterranean Café, Ghirardelli, Heaven Sent Desserts and Pampas Argentine Grill, among others.
Another change inspired by guest feedback is the expanded beer and wine garden that previously included tasting only in the Plaza.
“We heard from people last year that they wanted to have a full-pour experience,” Spyridonidis said.
Those looking for a taste and not a pour can visit the beer- and wine-tasting location in the art and sculpture garden.
While still steeped in the holiday traditions of Christmas on the Prado, even old-time traditions will receive new life this year.
The carnival, with rides and games geared for younger children at Palisades Midway becomes the “Ultimate Family Zone,” with even more treats for the whole family, thanks to new sponsors Kodak and others.
The “Kodak Inspiration Tour” makes a stop at December Nights with its 4,000-square-foot interactive exhibit area that gives visitors that chance to touch and use the latest cameras, printers, digital frames and more. Guest also have the opportunity to print and post pictures for the first Balboa Park December Nights Community Photo Contest, according to Spyridonidis.
Children can also learn about how modern movies are made using computer-generated imagery (CGI) at The “Spiderwick Chronicles” Experience, a touring mobile interactive exhibit. The exhibit includes a creature photo station, a character morph station, “The Spiderwick Chronicles” video game station and more.

Other continuing traditions include the Santa Lucia Procession at the San Diego Museum of Man, unique gift shopping at the museum stores and with the artisans of Spanish Village and musical and dance presentations from the San Diego Junior Theatre, San Diego Civic Youth Ballet and Del Cerro Baptist’s Christmas Story Tree.
Presenting sponsor, Barona, will once again have “My Ancestor’s Village,” an exhibit of a traditional Native American village, including children’s rock painting and newly added Native American fishing boats made of tulle reeds on display in the park’s Lily Pond. This year, a lifesize boat will also be on display.

Another special addition this year is performances by Cirque du Soleil of its show “Corteo.” Cirque du Soleil will be performing every hour starting at 5 p.m. both days.
“It’s a sneak peek of the performance that they’re doing, so we’re really lucky,” Spyridonidis said.
This year the entire event is going “green” by eliminating paper waste from handout maps and posters. Instead, Spyridonidis said, the information booths will house big blown-up maps of the venue and events and full-screen TVs will be placed throughout the venue acting as maps, flipping through various images explaining where different events or activities are located.
“We’ve done recycling in the past and now we’re just kicking it up a notch and going green,” Spyridonidis said.
SDGE&E is doing its part as well by using LED strands of lights in its light canopy as well as hosting a booth where guests can exchange their non-LED holiday light strands for LED strands and fluorescent bulbs for energy efficient bulbs.
“SDG&E has really been driving the green aspect from the start,” Spyridonidis said.
Last year the event attracted 300,000 visitors and Spyridonidis is expecting that number to grow this year.
“We’ve been working hard all year to think of ways to improve getting to the park, the route there and where to park,” Spyridonidis said.
Last year’s shuttles that ran from San Diego City College and the County Administration Building will continue this year with an added shuttle running from Petco Park. Parking at Petco is $3 and free at City College and the administration building. The shuttle runs free of charge.
Students In Free Enterprise from City College will offer food and drinks for sale in the college parking lot for those waiting for shuttle service. The service will be available from 5 to 9 p.m. on Dec. 7 and from noon to 9 p.m. at 1313 Park Blvd.
Shuttles will run every 15 or 20 minutes.
Guests can also find the best route to the venue by keeping an eye on the electronic signs that give alerts on the freeway.
Once again participating Balboa Park museums will open their doors free of charge from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. both evenings.
The free event runs Friday, Dec. 7 from 5 to 10 p.m. and continues Saturday, Dec. 8 from noon until 10 p.m.
For more information, visit www.balboapark.org/decembernights.
Guest can also give feedback and suggestions for next year’s event by going to the “Contact Us” link on the website.