Stacked holiday events season starts early in La Jolla

La Jolla residents, businesses and organizations are wasting no time getting into the holiday spirit, with festivities starting this weekend.

Here’s a look at many of the scheduled events.

Holiday Open House

The La Jolla Village Merchants Association gets the celebrations started early with a Holiday Open House from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23, at Village businesses.

The event will feature live entertainment, treats, prizes, holiday decor, children’s activities, in-store specials and demonstrations and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Free registration is available, including a link to $5 all-day parking and an advance digital copy of the festival map and program. For more information, visit lajollabythesea.com/vm-event/holiday-open-house.

Mr. Jingles Christmas Trees

Decorations galore will be available at Mr. Jingles Christmas Trees starting Friday, Nov. 28, at 8657 Villa La Jolla Drive.

Mr. Jingles delivers trees from farms in Oregon, Wisconsin, Washington, North Carolina and Canada. Customers also can browse in-store and online catalogs of garlands, wreaths and, at some locations, mistletoe.

Mr. Jingles will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Christmas Eve. To learn more or order online, visit mrjingleschristmastrees.com.

La Jolla Symphony & Chorus

A community sing-along of Handel’s “Messiah” will be led by La Jolla Symphony & Chorus music and chorus director Arian Khaefi at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, at San Dieguito United Methodist Church, 170 Calle Magdalena, Encinitas. $17-$22. ljsc.org

La Valencia Hotel

The La Valencia Hotel is set to continue in its annual tradition with a holiday tree lighting event from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, at 1132 Prospect St.

The lighting will take place at 5:45 p.m. The free event also will include live music, carolers, letters to Santa and more.

Other La Valencia holiday events include the “Holiday High Tea” on Fridays from Dec. 5 to 19, “Santa’s Storytime Brunch” on Saturdays and Sundays from Dec. 13 to 21 and the annual Hanukkah celebration at 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14.

The Holiday High Tea costs $95 per person, with 10% of proceeds going to Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego.

Santa’s Storytime Brunch will be in the hotel’s Mediterranean Room.

The Chabad of La Jolla Hanukkah menorah lighting ceremony will include live music, latkes, doughnuts, dreidels, holiday gifts and more. Admission is free.

Learn more at lavalencia.com/events/la-jolla.

Estancia Hotel

The Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa at 9700 N. Torrey Pines Road is slated to host several holiday events lasting through December.

Mustangs & Burros is transformed into a festive pop-up bar named The Frosty Saddle from 4 to 10 p.m., serving  holiday-inspired cocktails and seasonal bites.

The hotel also will present “Santa’s Suite” on Fridays and Saturdays from Dec. 5 to 20, with photos, cookie decorating, hot chocolate and more.

Throughout December, the Estancia will enable guests to drop off letters for Santa Claus and guess the number of gumdrops in the lobby for a chance to win a free stay at the hotel. The winner will be announced Christmas Eve.

See more details at estancialajolla.com/holiday-happenings.

Matt Wilson’s Christmas Tree-O

The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library’s Jazz Fall Series concludes Friday, Dec. 5, with a festive performance by jazz drummer Matt Wilson, saxophonist Jeff Lederer and bassist Paul Sikivie.

The concert, starting at 7:30 p.m. at the Athenaeum at 1008 Wall St., is described as both humorous and eccentric.

Tickets cost $50 for Athenaeum members and $55 for non-members. Learn more or purchase tickets at ljathenaeum.org/events.

Epstein Family Amphitheater

Two holiday-themed shows are set during December at UC San Diego’s Epstein Family Amphitheater, 9480 Innovation Lane.

• Ginger Minj’s Holiday Spectacular: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 5-6. A high-energy romp from Minj, winner of “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 10.” $30-$80.

• Campana Sobre Campana: Christmas in Mexico: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13. A celebration weaving Mexican traditions into the season. $20-$95.

For more information, visit artpower.ucsd.edu/events.

Art in the Garden

Holiday creations, handmade soaps, garden and home decor, homemade treats, seasonal gifts and custom jewelry are some of the many gifts from local artisans that will be highlighted at Art in the Garden.

The event, scheduled for 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, will be held at the Davis Garrity garden at the corner of Forward Street and Bellevue Avenue in Bird Rock. It is sponsored by the Bird Rock Artist Guild.

A portion of proceeds will go toward local nonprofit organizations.

Warwick’s Holiday Dog Party

Holiday festivities aren’t just for humans, as Warwick’s bookstore’s annual Holiday Dog Party will show from 11 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 6, at 7812 Girard Ave.

The event welcomes dogs and owners to meet Santa Claus and pick up treats and prizes. For additional details, visit warwicks.com.

La Jolla Garden Club

The club will offer handcrafted holiday centerpieces for sale at the La Jolla Open Aire Market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, at Girard Avenue and Genter Street.

Proceeds from the sale will support community projects funded by the club around La Jolla.

La Jolla Christmas Parade & Holiday Festival

La Jolla’s trademark celebration returns Sunday, Dec. 7, with a new theme — “There’s No Place Like Home (for the Holidays).”

The 69th annual event is free and open to everyone. The festival portion will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3:30 to 4 p.m. The parade, beginning at Kline Street and Girard Avenue, will begin at 1:30 p.m. and last for about 90 minutes.

Santa Claus visits, arts and crafts and educational exhibits will be in front of the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library at 1008 Wall St.

Games, music, pony rides, bounce houses, face painting and more will be available at the La Jolla Recreation Center, 615 Prospect St.

See additional details at ljparade.com.

Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center

• Holiday Open House at The Conrad: The center’s annual free open house returns from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, at 7600 Fay Ave.

The community event, hosted by the La Jolla Music Society, will include a musical instrument “petting zoo” encouraging children and adults to try instruments of all kinds, a holiday market, photo opportunities with Santa Claus, pet adoptions and arts and crafts.

Festive drinks such as apple cider and hot cocoa will be for sale, along with seasonal cocktails including spiced orange spritz and Irish coffee.

To find out more, visit theconrad.org/events/holiday-open-house-2025.

The center also will host several holiday shows in December in its Baker-Baum Concert Hall.

• Bach Collegium San Diego: Handel’s “Messiah”: 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6. Tickets are $38-$73.

• “The Holidays with Canadian Brass”: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11. The concert will featuring festive tunes such as “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year and” “Jingle Bell Rock.” $60-$80.

• “The Nutcracker”: 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13. This family-friendly performance is presented by the Ballet Institute of San Diego. $43-$48.

• “Charlie Brown Jingles & Jazz”: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 19-20. The ensemble Camarada presents its festive re-creation of the soundtrack from “A Charlie Brown Christmas” with songs such as “Linus and Lucy,” “Winter Wonderland” and “Christmastime is Here.” The annual concert features some of the San Diego area’s leading jazz and classical musicians. $28-$98.

Find out more at theconrad.org/event-calendar.

La Jolla Community Center Holiday Celebration

Festivities will continue Friday, Dec. 12, with live music, shopping, a silent auction and more at the La Jolla Community Center, 6811 La Jolla Blvd.

The event will run from 5 to 8 p.m. Reservations are required by Tuesday, Dec. 9, with tickets ranging from $10 for Community Center members to $25 for non-members. People with sustaining memberships, which start at $250 per year, can attend for free.

To register, call 858-459-0831 or visit ljcommunitycenter.org/holiday-celebration-2025.

Athenaeum Music & Arts Library Holiday Bookstore

Shoppers can browse a selection of potential holiday gifts from Saturday, Dec. 13, to Saturday, Dec. 27, at the Athenaeum, 1008 Wall St.

The store will feature gently used books, CDs, sheet music and LPs. For more information and the list of dates for the event, visit ljathenaeum.org.

Winter Mkt

A “vibrant fusion of music and merchandise” with a focus on Japanese culture is headed to the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego on Sunday, Dec. 14, at 700 Prospect St.

The Winter Mkt will offer an assortment of food, drinks and other goods with a live, all-vinyl DJ set in the background. Area artist Perry Vasquez will sign copies of the book “25 Palm Trees in Paradise.”

The market will run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and include a curated group of vendors from Southern California and the U.S.-Mexico border region. It also will bring back partnerships with Part Time Lover, In Sheep’s Clothing and We Share Records.

The event will be on the museum’s free second Sunday of each month, so guests can attend at no cost.

For more information, visit mcasd.org/events/winter-mkt-2025.