Top Thanksgiving Weekend Activities in San Diego
If a Thanksgiving weekend with generally pleasant temperatures and an abundance of activities and events to enjoy appeals to you, you’ll absolutely love San Diego. From walking or running for a good cause in Balboa Park to absorbing yourself in festive family fun, there are many things to put on your Thanksgiving weekend to-do list while in San Diego. If you’re vacationing in our beautiful city and staying at one of our welcoming San Diego hotels over the holiday weekend, read on for suggestions.
Running or Walking the Thanksgiving Day 5K
Starting and ending in Balboa Park, this annual Thanksgiving Day event benefits the largest homeless charity in San Diego, St. Vincent de Paul Village. You’re welcome to sign up yourself in advance of your visit or cheer on participants while in Balboa Park.
Enjoying Other Balboa Park Attractions
Speaking of Balboa Park, you’re also welcome to spend some of your Thanksgiving weekend enjoying the many other things to do here. This list includes:
• Checking out more than a dozen on-site museums
• Visiting the San Diego Zoo
• Taking selfies by the Cabrillo Bridge, California Tower, and other picturesque park locations
Attending the San Diego Jazz Fest
Add some local music to your Thanksgiving weekend in San Diego with the city’s annual jazz celebration. This year’s San Diego Jazz Fest and Swing Extravaganza takes place from November 24th to 28th. It’s a virtual event again this year, so you can watch it online from any location during your visit.
Visiting Local Live Music Venues
If you prefer to sample live music and good eats during your Thanksgiving weekend visit to San Diego, there are plenty of local places to go. Some of the highly recommended ones include Humphreys Backstage Live, Music Box, and Brick by Brick, which mostly has live hard rock bands.
Going Ice Skating by the Sea
Don’t forget to pack your ice skates if you want to do some skating during your holiday weekend visit to SD. You’ll need to go across the bridge to Coronado over by the historic Hotel del Coronado to enjoy this activity. Ice skating happens here from November 22nd through January 2nd during the upcoming holiday season.
Visiting San Diego–Area Theme Parks
Many of the theme parks within the San Diego area are still open during Thanksgiving weekend. This means your visit here for holiday festivities and activities can include a visit to any of the following local family fun hubs:
• LEGOLAND California
• SeaWorld San Diego
• Birch Aquarium*
*Closed on Thanksgiving Day
Enjoying Early Christmas Fun
Thanksgiving weekend is when a lot of the local Christmas-related fun starts in the San Diego area. For example, Santa is often ready to see children at Seaport Village around this time of the year. Julian’s Pioneer Park also does an annual tree-lighting event, which takes place on November 27th this year.
Checking Out Local Beaches
Many of the beaches in the San Diego area are accessible year-round. As long as the weather is pleasant, you should be able to enjoy part of your Thanksgiving weekend at one of the local beaches. Mission Beach, La Jolla Cove, and Coronado Beach are among the more popular ones.
With so much to enjoy during the Thanksgiving weekend in San Diego, you’ll want to stay for a while, so reserve your room today at Sunrise Inn San Diego. When they’re looking for comfortable yet cheap hotels, San Diego visitors will be amazed by our unbeatable rates as well as our spacious rooms, stunning views of the harbor, and proximity to the most popular attractions in America’s Finest City. Call one of our friendly staff members today at (619) 223-5544 to make your reservation.