San Diego’s holiday season arrives in full glow this weekend — from the massive crowds and twinkling lights of Balboa Park December Nights, to neighborhood celebrations like Light Up Logan, South Park’s Winter Walkabout, and the always-quirky Ocean Beach Holiday Parade. We’ve also got a feel-good local hero rescue story, a new café worth checking out, a riverside hike that feels miles from the city, and plenty of sunshine ahead. Dive in and plan your weekend around the best of San Diego — all free, all local, all in one place.

Let’s dive in.

 Steve DeLong
Publisher

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📍 Location: Ocean Beach / South Mission Beach coast
📄 Details: A black Labrador‑mix named Sadie escaped her house during a football game last month and was swept out to sea by a rip current. Her owners tracked her with an Airtag on her collar and Lifeguards San Diego Fire‑Rescue Department — with the help of the U.S. Coast Guard — searched for over an hour on watercraft before spotting her about a half‑mile offshore and rescuing her!

Daffodil Cafe
📍 La Jolla - A new café for breakfast and lunch, started in late 2025. The spot is brought to life by a chef, Lauren Passero-Brookes, who’s worked at high‑end kitchens (including Nobu in Gaslamp) and who owns Haven Pizzeria and Kensington Cafef. Good for a quality morning or midday bite. Located in La Jolla Commons.

Escape into one of San Diego County’s last free-flowing rivers on this peaceful 5-mile loop through oaks, sycamores, and boulder gardens. The trail follows the river almost the entire way, offering shaded stretches, gentle elevation, and plenty of spots to dip your feet or stop for photos. It feels surprisingly wild — more like the Sierra foothills than North County — making it a perfect cool-weather hike.

🅿️ Parking: Free parking at the Santa Margarita River Trail Preserve lot (via South Stage Coach Lane).
👉 More info: wildlandsconservancy.org/preserves/santamargaritarivertrail

Super Moon over San Diego - beautiful!

Friday: 69° / 45° ☀️
Saturday: 70° / 47° ☀️
Sunday: 70° / 47° ☀️

Duke's La Jolla – Slack Key 'Ohana – La Jolla – 3-6pm
Aquarius Bar & Grille – First Friday Jazz Jam on the Jetty – Mission Bay – 4-6pm
Mia Marie – Dustin Jake – Escondido – 4-6pm
Gaylord Pacific – Tyler F. Simmons – Chula Vista – 5-8pm
La Valle Coastal Club – Alex Elisabeth – Rancho Santa Fe – 5-8pm
Monarch Ocean Pub – Jehua – Del Mar – 5-8pm
Orfila Winery – Freddie Walton – Escondido – 5-8pm
Seasons Restaurant – Richard Galiguis – Carlsbad – 5-8pm
Uvas Winery – John Lowery – Poway – 5-8pm
Amalfi Marina Bar – Sticky Sweets – San Marcos – 5:30-8:30pm
Galpão Gaucho – Geoff Nigl – Marina District – 5:30-8:30pm
Grand Ole BBQ – Rey Wolf – El Cajon – 6-8pm
Humphrey's Backstage Live – Trade Winds – Point Loma – 6-8pm
Aquarius Bar & Grille – The 90's Band – Mission Bay – 6-9pm
Barefoot Bar & Grill – Christian Taylor – Mission Bay – 6-9pm
Bellamy's Restaurant – Dave Scott & Bobby Lanuza – Escondido – 6-9pm
Carruth Cellars - Oceanside – Tim Dierkes – Oceanside – 6-9pm
Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa – David Shyde – La Jolla – 6-9pm
Havana Grill - Mission Valley – Perla Negra Cuban Trio – Mission Valley – 6-9pm
Heroes Wood-Fired Pizza – Wah-Sabi – Santa Ysabel – 6-9pm
La Valencia Hotel – Keni Yarbro – La Jolla – 6-9pm
LandShark Bar & Grill – Puro Feeling – Gaslamp Quarter – 6-9pm
Mainstream Bar & Grill - Carlsbad – D Haala – Carlsbad – 6-9pm
Plaza Del Sol – Jesse Johnson – Mission Bay – 6-9pm
Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina – Shea Givens – Harbor Island – 6-9pm
The Shout! House – Dueling Pianos w/ Jeff, Martha, Courtney & James • Guest Performance by Guitar Artist Ricky G – Gaslamp Quarter – 6-9pm
Babcock & Story Hotel Del – Gonzo Solo – Coronado – 6-10pm
The Galley at the Marina – Colour – Chula Vista – 6-10pm
Golden Island Dim Sum & Asian Cuisine – Adam Wollf with Phinea Leevy – Mira Mesa – 6:30-8:30pm
American Legion Post 282 – Live Music: Upfront – La Mesa – 6:30-9:30pm
Eddie V's V Lounge – Craig Dawson Trio – Marina District – 6:30-10:30pm
The Gärten – Linda Berry Band – Morena – 7-9pm
Winstons OB – The Cometeers – Ocean Beach – 7-9pm
Books & Records Bar – Sue Palmer Duo – Banker’s Hill – 7-10pm
Fast Times – Serious Guise – Bay Park – 7-10pm
Kimball Bar & Eatery – Rikacha – National City – 7-10pm
L'Auberge Del Mar – Shay Skylar – Del Mar – 7-10pm
Le Papagayo Carlsbad – Rheanna Downey – Carlsbad – 7-10pm
Le Papagayo Leucadia – ZB Savoy – Leucadia – 7-10pm
Steel 94 – Bo & the Hobos – Spring Valley – 7-10pm
Tio Leo's Mexican Restaurant & Lounge – 3 Car Garage – Morena – 7-10pm
Union Kitchen & Tap Encinitas – Jason Graham – Encinitas – 7-10pm
Mainstream Bar & Grill - Poway – Crossroads – Poway – 7-11pm
Good Bar – LeRev – Point Loma – 7:30pm-12am
1st Street Bar – Maka Roots – Encinitas – 7:30-9:30pm
The Holding Company - 1st Floor – Metalach – Ocean Beach – 7:30-11:30pm
McP's Irish Pub – Mystique – Coronado – 8pm-12am
Renegade Bar – Big Sky Moon – El Cajon – 8pm-12:30am
Prohibition SD – Jenny & the Tramps – Gaslamp Quarter – 8pm-1:30am
Humphrey's Backstage Live – Maria About Face – Point Loma – 8-10pm
Fairmont Grand Del Mar – TJ Moss – Del Mar – 8-11pm
Pour House – Navidad Fiesta con Los Paisanos • Bachata Surf • Control Defect! – Oceanside – 8pm-11:59pm
Full Circle Saloon – Groove is in the Heart – Santee – 8:30pm-11:59pm
The Salty Frog – The Three Threes – Imperial Beach – 9pm-12am
The Kraken – Rockgarden – Cardiff – 9pm-1am

710 Beach Club – Karaoke – Pacific Beach – 8pm-12am
Harry's Sports Bar & Grill – Harryaoke Fridays – Fallbrook – 8pm-1am
Winstons OB – Karaoke w/ Corey Glasper – Ocean Beach – 9pm-12am
Happy Does Bar – Karaoke – Gaslamp Quarter – 8:30pm-1:30am
Werewolf American Pub – Karaoke – East Village – 9pm-1am
Wong's Dragon Room – Karaoke with DJ Harvest – Rolando – 9pm-1am

White Labs Brewing Co - San Diego – Trivia – Downtown – 6:30-8:30pm
Night Parade Brewing Company – Sunset Trivia – Scripps Ranch – 6-8pm
Dirty Birds - Ocean Beach – Sunset Trivia – Ocean Beach – 7-9pm

Bahia Resort Hotel – TJ Moss – Mission Bay – 10am-1pm
Farmer & The Seahorse – Mike Myrdal – Torrey Pines – 10am-1pm
Covewood Restaurant – David Rosales – Mission Bay – 11am-2pm
La Valencia Hotel – Gabe's Music – La Jolla – 11am-2pm
LandShark Bar & Grill – Slack Key 'Ohana – Gaslamp Quarter – 11am-2pm
Aquarius Bar & Grille – Mama Frieda – Mission Bay – 12-3pm
Fairmont Grand Del Mar – Petra Persolja – Del Mar – 12-3pm
Winstons OB – Authentic Sellout's Rock n Roll Xmas Toy Drive Presented by Tim Pyles – Ocean Beach – 1-3pm
The Roxy Encinitas – Miss Valery Lopez – Encinitas – 1-4pm
Grand Ole BBQ – The Amandas • Dave Gleason Trio • Hadley Rentz • The Sidelong Glances • Trevor McSpadden • Trio Los Elotes • The Nashville Ramblers • Bart Davenport – El Cajon – 1-5pm
Mia Marie Vineyards – Julian Jaime – Escondido – 3-5pm
Aquarius Bar & Grille – Classic Rock Band (CRB) – Mission Bay – 3-6pm
Monarch Ocean Pub – Christian Taylor – Del Mar – 3-6pm
Humphrey's Backstage Live – Bill Magee – Point Loma – 5-7pm
Gaylord Pacific – Marelle – Chula Vista – 5-8pm
Plaza Del Sol – David Shyde – Mission Bay – 5-8pm
Amalfi Marina Bar – Clay Colton – San Marcos – 5:30-8:30pm
Lucrezia – SoulRaye – La Jolla – 5:30-8:30pm
Good Bar – The Double Wides – Point Loma – 6-8:30pm
5 o’Clock Somewhere Rooftop Bar – Hank Easton – East Village – 6-9pm
Aquarius Bar & Grille – Santana Soul! – Mission Bay – 6-9pm
Barefoot Bar & Grill – David Rosales – Mission Bay – 6-9pm
Carruth Cellars - Oceanside – Smoking Ocotillo – Oceanside – 6-9pm
Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa – Helena Holleran – La Jolla – 6-9pm
Galpão Gaucho – Geoff Nigl – Marina District – 6-9pm
Havana Grill - Mission Valley – Perla Negra Cuban Trio – Mission Valley – 6-9pm
Heroes Wood-Fired Pizza – Harmony Grove – Santa Ysabel – 6-9pm
La Valencia Hotel – Kevin James O'Brien – La Jolla – 6-9pm
LandShark Bar & Grill – Kristi Krause – Gaslamp Quarter – 6-9pm
Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina – Israel Maldonado – Harbor Island – 6-9pm
The Shout! House – Dueling Pianos w/ Jon, Eric, Courtney, Dave & Martha – Gaslamp Quarter – 6-9pm
Babcock & Story Hotel Del – Gonzo Solo – Coronado – 6-10pm
The Galley at the Marina – Cool Rush – Chula Vista – 6-10pm
Eddie V's V Lounge – Craig Dawson Trio – Marina District – 6:30-10:30pm
Aztec Brewing Company – Semisi & Fula Bula – Vista – 7-10pm
Books & Records Bar – Jenny & the Tramps – Banker's Hill – 7-10pm
Fast Times – The Exit – Bay Park – 7-10pm
Kimball Bar & Eatery – George Villasenor's Band Colour – National City – 7-10pm
L'Auberge Del Mar – Gabe's Music – Del Mar – 7-10pm
Le Papagayo Carlsbad – Keefer and Rob – Carlsbad – 7-10pm
Le Papagayo Leucadia – Fercho – Leucadia – 7-10pm
Steel 94 – Jinna & Friends – Spring Valley – 7-10pm
Tio Leo's Mexican Restaurant & Lounge – Full Strength Funk Band – Morena – 7-10pm
Union Kitchen & Tap Encinitas – Jonny Tarr – Encinitas – 7-10pm
Mainstream Bar & Grill - Poway – Run for Cover – Poway – 7-11pm
1st Street Bar – Mojo Strut – Encinitas – 7:30-9:30pm
The Roxy Encinitas – Mockingbird Jam – Encinitas – 7:30-10:30pm
The Holding Company - 1st Floor – A Nightmare on 80s Street – Ocean Beach – 7:30-11:30pm
McP's Irish Pub – Northstar – Coronado – 8pm-12am
Prohibition Liquor Bar – Gypsy Sally Band – Gaslamp Quarter – 8pm-1:30am
Humphrey's Backstage Live – Groove Therapy – Point Loma – 8-10pm
Fairmont Grand Del Mar – Jason Graham – Del Mar – 8-11pm
Reds, Whites & Brews – Bottom Line Trio – Ramona – 8-11pm
Pour House – Blindfold Monks • One Zero Street – Oceanside – 8pm-11:59pm
Full Circle Saloon – Copy Kat Killers • Woke up the Dead – Santee – 8:30pm-11:59pm
The Salty Frog – The Propane Saints – Imperial Beach – 9pm-12am
Renegade Bar – 33 Thunder – El Cajon – 9pm-12:30am
710 Beach Club – The Cabriolets + Sonafire – Pacific Beach – 9pm-1am
The Kraken – Projekt X – Cardiff – 9pm-1am
Winstons OB – Myka9 freestyle fellowship Main flow Atlantis Rizing Dj Unite and more – Ocean Beach – 9-11pm
Mission Ave Bar & Grill – Kimmi Bitter – Oceanside – 9:30-11:30pm

American Legion Post 282 – Karaoke w/Leslie – La Mesa – 6-9pm
Happy Does Bar – Karaoke – Gaslamp Quarter – 8:30pm-1:30am
Werewolf American Pub – Karaoke – East Village – 9pm-1am

Round Table Pizza - Poway – Trivia – Poway – 6-8pm
Dirty Birds - College Area – Sunset Trivia – College Area – 8-9pm

Bahia Resort Hotel – Helena Holleran – Mission Bay – 10am-1pm
Farmer & The Seahorse – Matt Heinecke – Torrey Pines – 10am-1pm
Seasons Restaurant – Orion Song – Carlsbad – 10am-1pm
Covewood Restaurant – Rachel Jay – Mission Bay – 11am-2pm
L'Auberge Del Mar – Keni Yarbro – Del Mar – 11am-2pm
La Valencia Hotel – Tyler F. Simmons – La Jolla – 11am-2pm
LandShark Bar & Grill – Dominic Blas – Gaslamp Quarter – 11am-2pm
Fairmont Grand Del Mar – Ed Kornhauser – Del Mar – 12-3pm
Heroes Wood-Fired Pizza – Friends & Enablers – Santa Ysabel – 12-3pm
Orfila Winery – Andrew Peña – Escondido – 12-3pm
Aquarius Bar & Grille – FSW High Noon Dead Party – Mission Bay – 12-5pm
Coronado Ferry Landing – Coronado Big Band – Coronado – 1-4pm
Duke's La Jolla – Jolene Cruz – La Jolla – 1-4pm
Grand Ole BBQ – JP Mcdermott And Western Bop – El Cajon – 1-4pm
The Shout! House – Family Night/ Holiday Special (All Ages) w/ Jon, Eric & James – Gaslamp Quarter – 1-6pm
Mia Marie Vineyards – Victor Santana – Escondido – 2-4pm
Sky Valley Cellars – Ashley E Norton – Ramona – 2-4pm
McP's Irish Pub Paddy-O – Busted Spurs Band – Coronado – 2-5pm
Carruth Cellars - Oceanside – Rick Harcol – Oceanside – 3-6pm
The Kraken – Thunder Mountain Band – Cardiff – 3-6pm
The Galley at the Marina – Geoff Corey 5 – Chula Vista – 3-7pm
Carruth Cellars - Liberty Station – Todd Wees – Liberty Station – 4-7pm
Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa – TJ Moss – La Jolla – 4-7pm
Mainstream Bar & Grill - Poway – Laub Music – Poway – 4-7pm
Orfila Winery – Olivia Rohde – Escondido – 4-7pm
The Camp Store – Campfire Joe – Carlsbad – 4:15-6:15pm
Solterra Winery & Kitchen – O.M Band - Albert Lopez – Encinitas – 4:30-7:30pm
Tio Leo's Mexican Restaurant & Lounge – The Jonathan Cohen Band – Morena – 5-7pm
Winstons OB – Kim Wilson's Blues All-Stars – Ocean Beach – 5-7pm
Kimball Bar & Eatery – BB & Company – National City – 5-8pm
The Roxy Encinitas – Allie & Eddie – Encinitas – 5-8pm
Galpão Gaucho – Shea Givens – Marina District – 5:30-8:30pm
Humphrey's Backstage Live – Erisa Nicole – Point Loma – 6-8pm
Aztec Brewing Company – Aztec Jazz Jam with Dylan Soto – Vista – 6-9pm
Eddie V's V Lounge – Burt Brion Trio – Marina District – 6-9pm
Le Papagayo Carlsbad – Michael Richardson Duo – Carlsbad – 6-9pm
Le Papagayo Leucadia – Tim Atkins – Leucadia – 6-9pm
Mr. Peabody's Bar & Grill – Jazz Jam – Encinitas – 6-9pm
The Cordova Bar – Dolly's Revenge – Morena – 6-9pm
The Gärten – San Diego Jazz All-stars – Morena – 7-9pm
The Holding Company - 1st Floor – Twista – Ocean Beach – 7:30-11:30pm
Prohibition SD – Karlos Paez & the B Side Players – Gaslamp Quarter – 8pm-1:30am
Lou Lou’s Club @ Lafayette Hotel – Vienna Teng – University Heights – 9pm–

American Legion Post 282 – Karaoke with TerryOke – La Mesa – 5-8pm
The Salty Frog – Karaoke – Imperial Beach – 7pm-2am
710 Beach Club – Karaoke – Pacific Beach – 8pm-12am
Winstons OB – OBoke Karaoke – Ocean Beach – 8-11pm
1st Street Bar – Karaoke – Encinitas – 9pm-1am
North Bar – Karaoke – Escondido – 9pm-1am
Pal Joey's – Karaoke with DJ Harvest – Allied Gardens – 9pm-1am
Werewolf American Pub – Karaoke – East Village – 9pm-1am

Eastbound Bar & Grill – Trivia – Lakeside – 6:30-8:30pm

*Some events may require tickets, reservations, cover charges, or be full/sold out, and typos or errors could happen but we try our best!! …

Answer: Pala — The Pala and Mesa Grande districts were once world-famous for their pink tourmaline. Massive shipments were exported to China for the imperial court, and when the Empress died in 1908, demand (and the mining boom) collapsed almost overnight. But San Diego gems including Tourmaline, Kunzite, Aquamarine, and Garnet are still mined and collected to this day!

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San Diego Meteor is published every Friday morning by Steve DeLong. Steve is an Escondido High Graduate and has lived in San Diego County since 1972.