San Diego’s annual December Nights festival returns this weekend, bringing crowds, concerts, and holiday food to Balboa Park — along with free admission to several of the park’s most popular museums.
According to FOX 5 San Diego, thousands are expected to pack the park for the two-day celebration, which runs Friday and Saturday and features live music, holiday lights, and dozens of local food and drink vendors.
Several cultural institutions inside Balboa Park are joining the festivities by waiving admission during select hours:
Free Museum Admission
Friday, December 5 (3 p.m.–11 p.m.)
Saturday, December 6 (11 a.m.–11 p.m.)
Participating museums include:
- San Diego Automotive Museum: Free after 5 p.m.
- Comic-Con Museum: Exhibits closed, but free “Paint & Take” miniatures activity with supplies provided
- ICA San Diego: Free NextGen 2025 exhibition
- Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum: Upper garden free from 3–8 p.m.
- San Diego Museum of Art: Free from 5–9 p.m.
- Natural History Museum (“The Nat”): Free from 3–10 p.m.
- Fleet Science Center: Free from 3–9 p.m.
The festival also includes dozens of seasonal food vendors, family activities, and entertainment across the park.
Visitors can find full event details — including parking, shuttle information, and a complete vendor list — on the official December Nights website. Additional museum-specific offerings are listed on the Balboa Park website.
