12/08/2025
A delightfully kitschy San Diego tradition returns next weekend. The 55th annual San Diego Bay Parade of Lights is set for December 14 and 21. Boats of all sizes, from tiny sailboats to flashy yachts to puttering fishing boats, sport their finest holiday decor and make a slow, glittering tour along the curve of the shore.
Nearly 80 boats are in for this year’s processional, each decked out to fit the 2025 theme: An Out of This World Christmas. (It’s a slightly ambiguous theme, which makes for creative interpretations. Santas galore, of course. Buddy the elf. Rudolph. The usual suspects. But there could also be extraterrestrials with a tinselly twist. Maybe even an ode to Katy Perry in space. Your guess is as good as ours.)
This year, the parade will again proceed to the pier at Cesar Chavez Park before making the turn to Coronado, giving spectators another viewing area.
The Parade of Lights is one of the most-loved holiday events in town. Which means—to be frank—it’s a mob scene. So wherever you’re planning to watch, arrive early with blankets or chairs to find a space to sit. And plan to park and walk—driving down Shelter Island at 5:15 would be an exercise in patience for Mother Teresa herself.
The approximate arrival time of the parade at each location:
*Shelter Island (start of parade): 5:30 p.m.
*Harbor Island: 5:45 – 6:15 p.m.
*Seaport Village: 6:20 – 6:45 p.m.
*The Embarcadero: 6:50 – 7:15 p.m.
*The Pier at Cesar Chavez Park: 7:20 – 7:30 p.m.
*Ferry Landing on Coronado: 7:40 p.m.
More details at sdparadeoflights.org. Link in our bio.
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