SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — It's not the holiday season without a brightly illuminated parade to kick it off in San Diego.
Not only does the party start at the top of December, but it runs almost completely through Christmas and Hanukah to the end of the month!
Our favorite annual parades return in North Park, Chula Vista, Coronado, Ocean Beach, and elsewhere. Plus, since it's San Diego, there's always a show on the water.
Parade of Lights events in Oceanside, Mission Bay, and San Diego Bay all return as well, for a uniquely SoCal celebration of the holidays.
Here's when and where to catch this year's holiday parades:
Dec. 1
55th annual North Park Toyland Parade (11 a.m. - 1 p.m.): Holiday magic comes alive in North Park as their annual parade marches down University Ave., between Utah and Iowa Streets.
Starlight Parade & Children's Faire (1 p.m. - 8 p.m.): Sit back and watch as bands play and dance and floats glide down Third Avenue.
Encinitas Holiday Parade (5 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.): Santa comes to town early as Encinitas' holiday parade brings the big guy to Coast Highway 101.
39th annual Ocean Beach Holiday Parade (5 p.m. - 7 p.m.): Head to Newport Ave. to catch a quaint ocean town turn into a winter wonderland for the holidays.
Dec. 2
La Jolla Christmas Parade & Holiday Festival (1:30 p.m. - 5 p.m.): Floats and bands spreading holiday cheer will roll down Girard Ave. and Prospect Street to usher in the season in La Jolla.
Dec. 7
43rd annual Coronado Holiday Parade & Open House (3:20 p.m. - 8 p.m.): Caroling, Santa, and a whole lot of lights await down Orange Ave.
Dec. 8
Oceanside Harbor Parade of Lights (7 p.m. - 9 p.m.): Oceanside Harbor will host its own unique holiday celebration on the water with colorfully decorated boats.
Mission Bay Christmas Boat Parade of Lights (6 p.m. - 9 p.m.): Boats dolled up in their best holiday gear will take to Mission Bay for a parade of lights.
Dec. 9
47th annual Port of San Diego Bay Parade of Lights (5 p.m. - 7 p.m.): San Diego Bay will host two weekends of its spectacular parade of lights that brings out more than 100,000 San Diegans for this year's theme of "Tropical Island Christmas."
Dec. 16
47th annual Port of San Diego Bay Parade of Lights (5 p.m. - 7 p.m.): San Diego Bay will host two weekends of its spectacular parade of lights that brings out more than 100,000 San Diegans for this year's theme of "Tropical Island Christmas."
The Vet + Pet West Gaslamp Holiday Pet Parade (1 p.m. - 5 p.m.): Pets will parade down Fifth Ave. from the iconic Gaslamp Quarter archway in the holiday's most unique.
Dec. 31
Port of San Diego Holiday Bowl Parade (10 a.m. - 12 p.m.): America's largest balloon parade is back in San Diego, where more than 100,000 will gather to the check out entertaining marching bands, floats, drill teams, and, of course, balloons!
