Various retailers have been displaying their holiday merchandise since Labor Day, so it’s no surprise that city Christmas parades are taking place earlier and earlier each year. Yesterday, I discovered that our town’s annual holiday parade is heading down Main Street on November 17th this year.
A Christmas parade less than three weeks after Halloween?
Apparently, this early-bird trend is sweeping the nation and it’s not just parades, but a slew of other holiday-related events as well.
On the bright side, many of these festive experiences are free and open to the public, allowing cash-strapped families a chance to get into the holiday spirit well before Santa visits on Christmas Eve. Leading the charge with a bevy of free, festive fun is San Diego County. The popular Southern California vacation destination is hosting a slew of holiday events for frugal visitors this winter including:
Mother Goose Parade: Touted as the largest parade in San Diego County, the event features floats, clowns, Santa Claus, marching bands, equestrian teams and celebrity appearances. The parade takes place on November 18th in the city of El Cajon.
Surfing Santa at Seaport Village: On November 24th, you and your kids can “Hang Ten” with Santa and enjoy a lively parade down the Seaport Village boardwalk. In addition to getting your picture taken with Saint Nick, you can enjoy live music, stilt walkers, and tons of kids’ crafts.
Balboa Park December Nights: This uber-popular two-day holiday celebration of food, entertainment and fun takes place on December 7-8. During the event, numerous museums and cultural institutions in Balboa Park, the nation’s largest urban cultural park, open their doors free of charge from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Festivities in the park include live music, holiday light displays, theater and dance performances, plus, delicious food samples from around the world. Also, don’t miss the free “Whoville” display in the plaza outside of The Old Globe theatre. The elaborate decorations are up from November 17th-December 29th, and coincide with the theatre’s annual holiday production of Dr. Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!”
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