Some holiday seasons you want to take a break from reality and escape somewhere new. That place could be somewhere sunny with blue waves and sandy beaches. If this sounds ideal to you, plan a holiday trip to Oceanside! Oceanside is a top Southern California destination at any time of year, and it is a great place to form new family memories for the holiday season. You can do just that with the various Oceanside holiday events happening around town. Here are some of the top holiday events you can find in Oceanside this year:
Holiday Oceanside Art Walk
Many urban cities across the country host monthly or weekly art walks that showcase local artists and studios. Oceanside joins in on the fun with our weekly Oceanside Art Walk that takes place outside of The Seabird Resort. These art walks are weekly on Thursdays from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM for an evening of local shopping. The holiday season will also kick off with a Holiday First Friday Oceanside Art Walk that is a bigger event that will focus on holiday fun. Over 50 artists are typically on hand where you can purchase unique gifts and enjoy live music. Get your holiday shopping in during the weekly Oceanside Art Walk.
Snowside Winter Festival
While Oceanside never does get snow in the winter, you may be surprised at the winter fun you can have at the Snowside Winter Festival. This is a newer festival found here in Oceanside where you can have a weekend full of winter cheer. The Emerald Isle Golf Course hosts the event, and you will find real snow brought in to play in! You will be able to sled down the snow-covered hills for a wonderful experience. Additional activities to enjoy include a glow golf putting course, bounce houses, Christmas trees, live entertainment including music, a silent disco, and local vendors providing tasty food and drinks. This year’s Snowside Winter Festival will take place December 6th through the 8th from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM each day!
Annual Holiday Tree Lighting
Nothing pairs as well with the holiday season as a huge tree lighting ceremony for everyone to see. You can help kick off the holiday season this year by joining the Oceanside Annual Holiday Tree Lighting that takes place in conjunction with the Holiday Sunset Market. This event kicks off the rest of the market by featuring a huge celebration that starts with the lighting of the holiday tree. This is no small Christmas tree, either; it’s a huge tree that is covered in thousands of holiday lights. The festivities begin at 5:00 PM, where you will find live music and activities to enjoy. The activities at the Annual Holiday Tree Lighting provide tons of fun, including zip lines to ride down, amusement park rides, holiday decorations, bounce houses for the little ones, and live music. You will also be able to enjoy free milk and cookies for the kids. There will also be free holiday arts and crafts to enjoy.
The fun continues when Santa Claus arrives on a vintage Oceanside fire truck at 6:00 PM. This will kick off the official tree lighting where the tree will stand tall shining in the night sky. Santa will stick around afterwards to help out with photos. Make sure to hang around after the event to shop around the Sunset Market. The best spot for parking can be found over at the Civic Center parking structure. Don’t miss out on this annual event in Oceanside!
Parade of Lights
Another incredible annual holiday event that you will not want to miss is the Parade of Lights. This is a boat parade taking place at Oceanside Harbor. Local boats will be decked out in their best holiday swag and Christmas lights for all to see. A variety of boats can be seen, including yachts, kayaks, sailboats, and many more. Many of the boat owners will be in their best Santa outfits too! The best viewing areas for the Parade of Lights are over by the fishing dock and police station in Oceanside Harbor. Make sure to get to the viewing areas early so you do not miss out, as this is one of Oceanside’s most popular holiday events.
More Holiday Fun Here in Oceanside
Get ready for more holiday fun when you make your way to Oceanside this winter. You will find that the holidays right next to the beach simply cannot be beat. Contact us today to choose your favorite Oceanside vacation rental and come see for yourself!
