Rally is researching the season
Christmas with kids in Oceanside
In Oceanside, Christmas shows up on the water as well as downtown. Decorated boats glide through the harbor every December, and the city's tree lighting ends with a special guest arriving on a vintage fire truck.
2026 Christmas events are coming in late November
We are confirming this season's Christmas events in Oceanside with every host. Subscribe and we'll email you the day they are released.
Free. One email a week with new events in Oceanside. Unsubscribe anytime.
The story of Christmas in Oceanside
How Oceanside celebrates
Oceanside celebrates with an annual downtown tree lighting at Regal Cinema Plaza on Mission Avenue, paired with a Holiday Sunset Market. Out at the harbor, the Parade of Lights is usually held on the second Saturday in December, when yachts, fishing boats and kayaks wear lights and ornaments and some boats even carry Santa. Local reports from 2014 said thousands of people lined the harbor to watch, so the parade has been a community habit for many years. Downtown also hosts a December gift market on Thursday evenings, with lights strung between signs and shops.
Christmas last year in Oceanside
The 2025 tree lighting took place on Thursday, December 4, from 5 to 9 p.m. at Regal Cinema Plaza, and it was free for all ages. Families found live music, amusement rides, zip lines, bounce houses, games, holiday crafts and free cookies and milk for children. At 6 p.m., a special guest rolled in on a vintage Oceanside fire truck to help with the countdown, and Santa posed for photos after the lights came on. Free parking was offered in the Civic Center parking structure and at the Oceanside Transit Center.
Fun facts about Christmas in Oceanside
Oceanside's Parade of Lights is hosted by the Oceanside Yacht Club, and the 2023 edition sailed on Saturday, December 9, starting at 7 p.m. Because the boats pass by twice, you can see them again if you stay at the water's edge. The tree lighting's special guest arrives by fire truck rather than sleigh. In 2021 the harbor parade ran from 7 to 9 p.m. and was free, and a church in town hosted a Jingle Jam where kids built gingerbread houses and met Santa.
Trains and Christmas near Oceanside
Kids who love trains can find plenty to explore in San Diego County. The San Diego Model Railroad Museum in Balboa Park has huge indoor layouts and a Toy Train Gallery where children push a button to run a train. In Old Poway Park, the Poway-Midland Railroad runs short rides behind a 1907 Baldwin steam locomotive. Farther east, the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum in Campo has a 1916 depot and about 90 locomotives and cars.
- San Diego Model Railroad Museum: Big indoor layouts of California railroads and a Toy Train Gallery where little hands can run a train.
- Poway-Midland Railroad: A volunteer-run narrow gauge line in Old Poway Park with a steam locomotive and a small depot museum.
- Pacific Southwest Railway Museum: A 1916 depot and about 90 locomotives and cars, with vintage train rides from Campo.
Traditions today
- Oceanside Holiday Tree Lighting: A free evening at Regal Cinema Plaza with music, rides, crafts, cookies and milk, and a countdown joined by a special guest on a vintage fire truck.
- Holiday Sunset Market: A holiday shopping market held alongside the downtown tree lighting.
- Oceanside Harbor Parade of Lights: Decorated yachts, fishing boats and kayaks sail the harbor on a December evening, hosted by the Oceanside Yacht Club.
- Downtown Holiday Gift Market: Thursday evenings in December, with lights strung between downtown signs and businesses.
- Santa photos: Santa poses for pictures after the tree lighting, and some harbor parade boats carry him too.
- Nutcracker at the Star Theatre: California Pacific Ballet Academy staged The Nutcracker at the Star Theatre on North Coast Highway in November 2025.
A fact for kids
In Oceanside, Santa sometimes rides a boat. During the Parade of Lights, some of the decorated boats in the harbor carry him past the crowd.
Questions about Christmas in Oceanside
How does Oceanside celebrate Christmas?
Oceanside celebrates with a downtown tree lighting at Regal Cinema Plaza, a Holiday Sunset Market and a Parade of Lights in the harbor, where decorated boats sail after dark. Downtown also has a December gift market on Thursday evenings. Together they give families both a land tradition and a water tradition.
What is the Oceanside Parade of Lights?
It is a boat parade in Oceanside Harbor where local businesses and boat owners decorate yachts, fishing boats, kayaks and other vessels with lights and holiday trimmings. It is usually held on the second Saturday in December from 7 to 9 p.m., and some boats carry Santa.
Who hosts the Oceanside Parade of Lights?
The 2023 Parade of Lights was hosted by the Oceanside Yacht Club and sailed on Saturday, December 9, starting at 7 p.m. Reports from earlier years describe the same harbor tradition, so it has been a regular December tradition for families who like to watch boats from shore.
How old is the Oceanside harbor parade?
We could not confirm the first year. Local reports about the parade go back to at least 2014, when thousands of people were said to line the harbor, and later reports from 2021 and 2023 show it continuing in December. It is best described as a long-running community tradition.
Where is the Oceanside tree lighting held?
The tree lighting is held at Regal Cinema Plaza, 401 Mission Avenue, in downtown Oceanside. In 2025 it ran from 5 to 9 p.m. with the countdown at 6 p.m. Free parking was offered at the Civic Center parking structure and the Oceanside Transit Center. For this year's details, see our Oceanside Christmas events guide on this page.
What happened at the Oceanside tree lighting last year?
On December 4, 2025, families enjoyed live music, rides, zip lines, bounce houses, games and free holiday crafts. Children received free cookies and milk. A special guest arrived on a vintage fire truck at 6 p.m. to help with the countdown, and Santa posed for photos after the tree lit up.
Is the Oceanside tree lighting free?
Yes, the 2025 tree lighting was listed as free for all ages, with free cookies and milk for children and free holiday arts and crafts. Rides and some activities may vary from year to year, so check the current listing. See our Oceanside Christmas events guide on this page for this season's confirmed details.
Does Santa come to the Oceanside tree lighting?
Santa posed for photos after the tree lighting in 2025, following a special guest who arrived on a vintage Oceanside fire truck to help with the countdown. Santa also rides on some boats in the harbor Parade of Lights, so children can spot him on the water as well as on land.
What is the Holiday Sunset Market in Oceanside?
The Holiday Sunset Market is a holiday shopping market held in conjunction with the downtown tree lighting. It gives families a place to browse gifts and treats while the music, rides and crafts are going on nearby. Separate December gift markets also run in downtown Oceanside on Thursday evenings, from 5 to 9 p.m.
Where can kids see Christmas lights in Oceanside?
The harbor is the best-known spot, because decorated boats glow during the Parade of Lights, and the tree lighting plaza on Mission Avenue sparkles in the evening. Downtown has lights strung between signs and businesses during the December gift market, which is best visited after sunset. Our Oceanside Christmas events guide on this page has this season's dates.
Where is the best place to watch the harbor parade?
Watching from the harbor lets you see the boats pass twice, which is nice for younger children who miss something the first time. The parade usually starts at 7 p.m., so bring jackets, because evenings by the water can feel cool in December. Our Oceanside Christmas events guide on this page lists this year's date.
How can I explain the boat parade to a toddler?
Tell them that in Oceanside the boats get dressed up for Christmas just like houses do. Boat owners cover their boats in lights and ornaments, and some boats carry Santa. Kids can count the boats, name the colors of the lights and wave as each one sails by in the dark.
Is there a Nutcracker performance in Oceanside?
In 2025, California Pacific Ballet Academy presented The Nutcracker at the Star Theatre, 402 North Coast Highway, on November 22 and 23, with tickets at $30 plus fees. It is the sort of December outing many families choose for children who like music and dance. Check our Oceanside Christmas events guide on this page for this year's shows.
What did Oceanside families do in 2021?
In 2021 the Oceanside Harbor Light Parade ran on December 11 from 7 to 9 p.m. and was free. A local church hosted a Jingle Jam on December 4, where kids built gingerbread houses and met Santa, and another church held a Christmas market with a Kid Zone at $5 per child.
Does it snow in Oceanside at Christmas?
No, Oceanside is a coastal city and December days are mild, so Christmas is celebrated outdoors with lights, music and boats rather than snow. That is why the harbor parade and an evening tree lighting work so well. Bring a light jacket for the evening air off the water.
Are the Oceanside Christmas events good for toddlers?
Many are. The tree lighting offers crafts, cookies and milk, and bounce houses, and the boat parade is easy to watch from a stroller. Evenings can be busy, so plan for a nap, bring jackets and arrive early to find parking. For this season's confirmed events, see our Oceanside Christmas events guide on this page.
Where can kids see trains near Oceanside?
The San Diego Model Railroad Museum in Balboa Park has indoor layouts of California railroads and a Toy Train Gallery where kids push a button to run a train. The Poway-Midland Railroad runs short rides in Old Poway Park, and the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum in Campo has vintage train rides from a 1916 depot.
Which train museum near Oceanside has a steam engine?
The Poway-Midland Railroad in Old Poway Park runs three kinds of rides, including one behind a 1907 Baldwin steam locomotive. It is run by volunteers and operates mostly on weekends, with a depot that holds a small museum. Check its schedule before you drive, since service days can change.
Is the San Diego Model Railroad Museum open year round?
Our museum page says it is open Wednesday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with family days all year, including a Toy Train Gallery for small children. It is in Balboa Park, so pair it with other park museums for a full family day. Confirm hours before you go.
What makes Christmas in Oceanside different from other cities?
Oceanside mixes a classic downtown tree lighting with a harbor boat parade, so children can see Christmas on land and on the water. The tree lighting even brings its special guest on a vintage fire truck, and Santa sometimes rides a boat. All of it happens in mild coastal weather.
Sources
- Oceanside Holiday Tree Lighting, KPBS Events
- Parade of Lights, North Coast Current
- Where to see Christmas lights and displays in Oceanside, The Brick Hotel
- Your Oceanside, CA Holiday Guide, Macaroni KID Oceanside
- California Pacific Ballet Academy presents The Nutcracker, Visit Oceanside
- San Diego Model Railroad Museum, Rally Takes the Train
- Poway-Midland Railroad, Rally Takes the Train
- Pacific Southwest Railway Museum, Rally Takes the Train