San Diego’s not-to-miss holiday parades from Chula Vista to Escondido

Holiday parades are taking off in communities across San Diego County. Many are at night with thousands of lights. Some of the floating spectacles are on the bay. Here’s the rundown on 17 parades that are free for spectators.

ALPINE

Parade of Lights: Alpine’s Parade of Lights with illuminated floats starts at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 13 at Alpine Boulevard and West Victoria Drive and will be on the main stretch of Alpine Boulevard. The annual tree lighting is from 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 5 in the parking lot of Bethel Christian Assembly at 1929 Arnold Way. The event will include an artisan marketplace, food trucks, snow area for kids, inflatables, an ugly sweater contest and visit from Santa to light the tree. Visit https://www.alpinebethel.org/

CHULA VISTA

Starlight Parade: The parade and festival are from 3 to 9 p.m. Dec. 6 in Memorial Park and Park Way, with parade, holiday market, children’s holiday train ride, tree lighting, live entertainment and photos with Santa. The lighting of a 25-foot tree takes place at 5:45 p.m. on the plaza at the northeast corner of Memorial Park, 373 Park Way. The parade starts at 6 p.m. and goes from H Street to E Street, featuring marching bands, decorated floats, automobiles and dance teams, among other entries. Free admission. starlightparade.com.

CORONADO

Coronado Holiday: The Holiday Parade takes off at 6 p.m. Dec. 5 featuring local organizations, clubs and businesses with lights and costumes from 8th Street down Orange Avenue to Adella Avenue. The tree-lighting ceremony is after the parade and festivities continue to 9 p.m. with live music and holiday sing-alongs. coronadochamber.com

ENCINITAS

“Peace by the Pacific” Parade: Encinitas’ annual holiday parade, themed “Peace by the Pacific,” is from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6. It will feature floats, marching bands and decorated cars along Coast Highway from D to J streets. The event kicks off with a tree lighting and brief appearance from Santa at 5 p.m. in The Lumberyard shops courtyard, between H and I streets, followed by the parade at 5:30 p.m. https://www.encinitasca.gov

ESCONDIDO

Merry Christmas parade: The parade, themed, “A Merry Citrus Christmas.” takes off at 7 p.m. Dec. 5, from Juniper and Grand Avenue to Orange and Grand Avenue.  https://escondidojaycees.org/christmas-parade-info

FALLBROOK

Candy Cane Lane: Fallbrook’s 44th annual Christmas parade, themed “Candy Cane Lane,” starts at 5 p.m. Dec. 6 on Main Street in downtown Fallbrook, hosted by the Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce. The parade features Santa, lighted floats, music, marching bands and dancers along with classic cars. fallbrookchamberofcommerce.org.

LA JOLLA

Christmas Parade: La Jolla holds its 69th annual Christmas Parade and Holiday Festival with the theme “There’s No Place Like Home (for the Holidays)” on Dec. 7. Santa’s Workshop is open from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the La Jolla Recreation Center, 615 Prospect St. The parade starts at 1:30 p.m. at Kline Street and Girard Avenue. Santa’s Village runs from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. ljparade.com.

MISSION BAY

Mission Bay Parade of Lights: The holiday boat parade takes off at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 13  at SeaWorld with a fireworks kickoff, then heads west, north and east, ending at The Mission Bay Beach Club. The parade will be set up near Mission Bay hotels and resorts, including Bahia Resort Hotel, Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa, The Dana on Mission Bay, Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa, Marina and Paradise Point Resort. Free for spectators. Viewing areas will offer special festive food and beverage menus and family-friendly holiday festivities, such as bonfires and s’mores, live music, holiday games and Santa.  https://discovermissionbay.org/boat-parade/

OCEAN BEACH

Holiday Parade: Ocean Beach holds its annual holiday parade at 5 p.m. Dec. 6 along Newport Avenue. The event is hosted and organized by the Ocean Beach Community Foundation and Love Thy Neighborhood and supported by the Ocean Beach Mainstreet Association. https://oceanbeachsandiego.com/resources/local-news/ob-holiday-parade

OCEANSIDE

Oceanside Harbor Parade of Lights: The annual parade of boats decorated for the holidays with lights and ornaments, is from 7 to 9 p.m. Dec. 13 in the Oceanside Harbor. Many of the captains and boat crews dress up in their holiday best, with Santa joining the parade. The best decorated powerboat, sailboat and small-craft boats will be awarded prizes. https://visitoceanside.org/events/parade-of-lights/

PACIFIC BEACH

Santa Run & parade: Pacific Beach holds its annual San Diego Santa Run on Dec. 13. The starting line is 912 Garnet Ave. The 5K Santa Run takes off at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. The Kid’s 1-mile run is 11:30 a.m. and 1-mile dog run is noon. The holiday parade follows at 1 p.m. Fees for the run are $35-$55. Register at sandiegorunningco.com/sdrc_events/san-diego-santa-run

SAN DIEGO

San Diego Bay Parade of Lights: Beginning at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 14 and Dec. 21, the procession of decorated boats will be arriving off the shore of the San Diego Bay. This year’s theme is “An Out of this World Christmas.” The parade takes a little over an hour to pass any given point along the parade route, including Shelter Island (start of parade) at 5:30 p.m. The 55th annual parade will pass Harbor Island from 5:45 to  6:15 p.m.,  Seaport Village at 6:20 to 6:45 p.m., The Embarcadero at 6:50 to 7:15 p.m.,The Pier at Cesar Chavez Park at 7:20 to 7:30 p.m. and Ferry Landing on Coronado at 7:40 p.m. (Times are approximate). sdparadeoflights.org

Holiday Pet Parade: The 17th Annual Gaslamp Pet Parade & Pups in the Pub Party is from 1 to 4 p.m. Dec. 13. The parade of dogs, cats and other pets will take off under the iconic Gaslamp Quarter Archway at the intersection of 5th Avenue and L Street at 1 p.m. and walk through the streets of Gaslamp alongside four local marching bands. Pets will be judged in categories such as Best Holiday Spirit, Best Matching Costumes, and the coveted Best in Show. A pre-party is at 11 a.m. at the Pendry Hotel. The Pups in the Pub Party is from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter with live music, craft beer, games for pets and people, boutique shopping, and photos. Registration is $30 per pet.  https://www.gaslamp.org

Holiday Bowl and parade: The 30th annual Port of San Diego Game Day 5K Run/Walk is slated to start at 9:45 a.m. on Jan. 2, taking place along the bayfront, beginning at Harbor Drive and Ash St. The 5K kicks off the 46th annual Port of San Diego Holiday Bowl Parade, featuring marching bands, floats, drill teams, and a procession of huge themed-balloons at 10 a.m. Jan. 2 on North Harbor Drive along downtown San Diego’s waterfront.  Street-side viewing of the parade is free. Grandstand tickets are $30. The Holiday Bowl game kicks off at Snapdragon Stadium at 5 p.m. Jan. 2. holidaybowl.com

“Light Up The Holidays” parade: The 28th annual Kiwanis San Marcos Holiday Parade starts at 1 p.m. Dec. 7, themed “Light Up The Holidays.” There will be bands, floats, marching groups and Santa. The parade route is Comet Drive at Palomar College, east on Mission Road to the San Marcos Civic Center. lsmkiwanis.org

SOLANA BEACH

Santa’s Sleigh Ride Parade: Back by popular demand, the city of Solana Beach and the Solana Beach Parks and Recreation Commission host Santa’s Sleigh Ride Parade from 2:30 to 5 p.m. Dec. 12. Santa will be riding along with fire, sheriff’s and Marine safety personnel. The sleigh ride will start and end at the Solana Beach Fire Station, 500 Lomas Santa Fe Drive. A map is at cityofsolanabeach.org

VISTA

Parade of Holiday Hits:  The Vista Chamber of Commerce’s 67th annual Christmas parade is set for 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 6 in downtown Vista. This year’s theme is “Rockin’ Around Vista–A Parade of Holiday Hits.” The grand marshal is Eric Weirather, longtime band director at Rancho Buena Vista HIgh School. There will be floats, music and marching bands, along with Santa. To see the parade route, visit https://www.vistachamber.org/christmas/

To submit a community holiday parade, email linda.mcintosh@sduniontribune.com.