Just because the sun shines year-round in San Diego doesn’t mean you won’t find plenty of holiday cheer this December. San Diego’s most famous attractions go big for the holidays, offering visitors special shows, festive lights and the chance to frolic in some rare San Diego snow.

LEGOLAND® California’s Holiday Snow Days

Real snow is one of the few things not made out of LEGOS at LEGOLAND during Holiday Snow Days.

You don’t have to drive to the mountains to enjoy snow in San Diego County this winter; children can now enjoy a snow-tubing experience gliding down 7-foot-tall snow-covered “runs” at LEGOLAND California Resort. The park’s Holiday Snow Days and Winter Nights features more than 50 tons of real snow, festive treats and activities, and holiday entertainment. During Holiday Snow Days and Winter Nights, the Fun Town area transforms into a winter wonderland where families throw snowballs at LEGO themed targets and build snowmen using LEGO® accessories. Park guests can also sing along with holiday entertainment including live music featuring LEGO Friends Live, Jingle Jammers, the Big Test Holiday show and the Holiday Character Dance Party.  The Miniland U.S.A area of the park is decorated for the season with LEGO holiday scenes including Santa arriving on top of the White House in Washington, D.C. Fireworks spark each night Dec. 26-30 at 7 p.m. Holiday Snow Days feature a nightly lighting of the world’s largest LEGO Christmas tree and concludes with a Kids’ New Year’s Eve Party on Dec. 31.

Dates: November 29–-December 31, 2013

SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration

Even killer whales get excited about the holidays at SeaWorld Christmas Celebration.

Keep on your scarves and gloves and experience more snow, lights and holiday performances when you visit SeaWorld San Diego’s Christmas Celebration. Festivities include Shamu’s Christmas presentation with a live choir and musical soloists, and a new holiday-themed sea lion and otter comedy show along with a new Elmo’s Christmas Wish show. Guests can also enjoy festive décor throughout the park, Madagascar Live! Operation: Christmas Vacation, a live show performed at the Mission Bay Theater, The Pets Rule Christmas show, and a nightly lighting of SeaWorld’s 320-ft. Skytower Christmas Tree of Lights. Also returning in 2013 is SnowWorld, a winter wonderland of snowmen, snowballs and a snowball target area that the kids will flip over.

Dates: Weekends and select dates November 16, 2013 – January 4, 2014.

The San Diego Zoo’s Jungle Bells

The San Diego Zoo stays open late for fun holiday activities, shows and light displays during Jungle Bells.

Even if you’re lucky enough to be a member of the San Diego Zoo and get to go fairly regularly, there’s something special about visiting on a winter’s night for Jungle Bells, the zoo’s special holiday-themed evenings in which they stay open until 8 p.m. and offer festive activities and light displays throughout the park. “Light Up the Night” is the new music and light show in the front plaza, and guests can see the lights throughout the park on the Twinkle Light Trolley ($3 for adults, $2 for children), a tractor-pulled trolley decorated for Jungle Bells that gives guests a fun ride around part of the zoo. A holiday-themed animal show will take place at Wegeforth Bowl every night at 6:30., and a tree lighting ceremony occurs each night.

Dates: December 14, 2013 – January 5, 2014 (closed at 5:00 p.m. on Dec. 24).  Most Jungle Bells activities occur between 4-8 p.m.

Will you be visiting one of these fun, festive San Diego holiday attractions? Let us know in the comments below.