Little Italy Tree Lighting & Christmas Village Is Celebrating Its 20th Anniversary

Little Italy is inviting all to the neighborhood for an evening filled with Christmas cheer and holiday décor! This year’s festivities include two Christmas trees, 10’ nutcrackers on street corners, a Christmas Village with seasonal vendors selling the perfect locally-made gifts, live music and entertainment, horse carriage rides, Christmas carolers, holiday treats, a tree lighting, a visit from Santa…and more!

Not One But Two Christmas Trees!

A 25-foot tower of more than 1,100 beautiful Poinsettias will be located in the center of Piazza Basilone and a permanent 20-foot tall live tree in the Piazza della Famiglia.

The community is invited to head to the Piazza della Famiglia to light the tree at 6:30 p.m. The Poinsettia tree at the Piazza Basilone will be lit-up the whole evening—sparkling like the Eiffel Tower.

Santa Is Coming To Town

You better not pout, you better not cry. Santa will make a visit from the North Pole to take photos with little ones starting at 4 p.m. Kids can stop by “Santa’s Living Room” on India Street to share their Christmas wishes with Santa until 6 p.m. They will also be able to participate in fun arts and crafts right next to “Santa’s Living Room.”

Stroll Around The Christmas Village

The community can stroll through the Christmas Village, located on India Street between W. Cedar and W. Grape Streets, to pick-up stocking stuffers and other holiday goodies from seasonal vendors. Christmas carolers will be singing throughout the event and a stage will host live entertainment and kid performances!

We love Little Italy during the holidays (and anytime for that matter!)!

See you there!

Share This Event
Event Details
The Latest
Mainly Mozart All-Star Orchestra Festival
Discover the magic of the Mainly Mozart All-Star Orchestra Festival San Diego 2026 with six unique performances and a talented team.
La Valencia Hotel celebrating 100 years in La Jolla
La Valencia Hotel – La Jolla’s beloved Pink Lady – is turning 100 in 2026, and the centennial celebration is already underway. A full calendar...
Weaving Nets installation arts district liberty station
Arts District Liberty Station is bringing one of the most visually striking public art moments of the year to the North Promenade. Tejiendo Redes –...
Stella Jean's Ice Cream x Summer Fridays Collaboration
Stella Jean’s Ice Cream is teaming up with Summer Fridays for a three-day collaboration that turns the beauty brand’s new Sweet Summer Minis collection into...
Families Enjoying Shark Summer at Birch Aquarium
Shark Summer is back at Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, running from early July through early August. The month-long program dives into the...
Moonshine Flats Cassie B
Check out the exciting moonshine flats moonshine beach summer lineup featuring diverse live music and entertainment throughout the season.
Event Details
Upcoming Events
Bird's Eye View of Mission Bayfest
October 16, 2026
3:00 pm
  • Mariners Point
Mission Bayfest is heading back to the waterfront this fall, bringing three days of reggae, rock, and SoCal vibes to Mariner’s Point Park along the...
Tori Amos San Diego
August 26, 2026
7:30 pm
  • San Diego Civic Theatre
There are artists who put on a show, and then there’s Tori Amos – a force of nature who turns every performance into something genuinely...
RESET Beach Wellness Event
August 2, 2026
8:00 am
  • Mission Beach Park
SSBD and Almost Nakey are joining forces for RESET, a brand-new beachside event happening at Fit Social Club. It’s a full day of movement, recovery,...
Taste of Eastlake
July 24, 2026
6:00 pm
If you’re looking for a summer night out that means something, this one’s worth circling. The EastLake Educational Foundation is hosting its annual Taste of...
Cinbarella Il-Tabarrosite
July 19, 2026
3:00 pm
  • California Center for the Arts
If you’ve never seen an opera and a ballet tell the same story back to back – in the same afternoon – this is your...
Event Search: