Looking for some holiday fun for your family in December? There are plenty of activities on tap, from parades to tree-lighting ceremonies, home tours and community festivals. Here’s a look:
San Marcos Holiday Parade: The Kiwanis Club of San Marcos hosts the annual “Christmas Dreams & Wishes” parade. 1 p.m. Dec. 1. Parade begins at Palomar College and travels on Mission Road, Comet Drive, Las Posas, Borden and Twin Oaks Valley Roads. Free.
Rancho Christmas: The 28-room Rancho Guajome Adobe is decorated for the holidays and celebrate an holiday party/open house with wagon rides, storytelling, ballet folklorico, live music, dancing and drinks. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 1 (also Nov. 30). 2210 N. Santa Fe Drive, Vista. $5. (760) 724-4082.
Santa’s Coming Arts & Crafts Fair: Bates Nut Farm hosts its annual Christmas artisan fair with more than 80 vendor booths, live music, children’s activities and a pancake breakfast. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 1 (also Nov. 30). 15954 Woods Valley Road, Valley Center.
batesnutfarm.biz. (800) 642-0348.
Winterfest in Vista 2013: The Vista Village Business Association hosts this community holiday festival with Santa Claus, carolers, a canned food drive, live music, vendor booths and tree-lighting ceremony at the Vista Main Street Farmers Market. 4 to 8 p.m. Dec. 4. 255 Main St., Vista. Free.
Holidays at West Village: West Inn & Suites hotel hosts its seventh annual holiday celebration and Toys for Tots drive, with live entertainment, free seasonal treats, cookie-decorating, face-painting, chestnut-roasting, Santa and Mrs. Claus and horse-drawn carriage rides. 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 5. 4970 Avenida Encinas, Carlsbad. Free, but an unwrapped toy donation is encouraged. (760) 448-4500.
Heritage Community Christmas tree Lighting: The city of Encinitas will light its 84-foot live holiday tree at Moonlight Beach. 5:30 p.m. Dec. 6. Fourth and C streets, Encinitas. Free.
Encinitas Holiday Parade: More than 100 entries will march in the annual parade, this year themed “Growing Holiday Cheer.” 5:30 p.m. Dec. 7. Coast Highway 101, downtown Encinitas. Free. (760) 633-2760.
Holiday Tree Lighting and Winter Wonderland: California Center for the Arts, Escondido, hosts its annual holiday festival with a tree-lighting, carolers, arts booths, Santa Claus and a snow play area. 3 to 8 p.m. Dec. 7. 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido. Free. (800) 988-4253,
Vista Christmas Parade: The Vista Chamber of Commerce’s 2013 parade theme is “May the (Christmas) Force Be With You”: 1 to 2:30 p.m. Dec. 7. Downtown Vista, Main Street, Vista. Free. (760) 726-1122,
Fallbrook Christmas Parade: The illuminated parade’s 2013 theme is “Christmas in the Village”: 5 p.m. Dec. 7. Main Street from Ammunition to Ivy streets. Free.
fallbrookchamberofcommerce.org.
Holiday at the Rancho: The City of Carlsbad host a rustic holiday celebration at Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park, with Santa Claus, crafts, pony rides, tree-lighting ceremony and outdoor screening of the movie “Elf.” 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 7. 6200 Flying LC Lane, Carlsbad. $8 ($5 if purchased by Dec. 6). (760) 434-2843.
Lavender Field Art Festival: Local artists will host a family-friendly holiday festival of the arts. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 7. 165 Avocado St., Leucadia. Free.
Garden of Lights: San Diego Botanic Garden kicks off its annual holiday exhibition, with 100,000 Christmas lights, live music and holiday crafts and treats for sale throughout the gardens. 5 to 9 p.m. nightly, Dec. 7-23 and Dec. 26-30. 230 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas. Free with admission, $14, adults. $10, seniors, students and active military. $8, children ages 3 to 12.
Winter Wonderland: Del Mar Village hosts its annual holiday celebration with strolling carolers, a snow hill for children, Santa and Mrs. Claus, children’s dance performances, a cake walk, seasonal treats for sale and shopping specials at Del Mar Plaza. At L’Auberge Del Mar amphitheater, there will be a tree-lighting ceremony at 5 p.m. followed by a free screening of the film “Elf.” 2 to 5 p.m. Dec. 7. Corner of Camino Del Mar at 15th Street, Del Mar.
Santa’s Magical Village: The city of San Marcos hosts its annual two-day holiday festival, with an indoor holiday boutique, free crafts for children, live entertainment, strolling carolers, food trucks and Santa Claus (who will light the city’s outdoor Christmas tree from a fire truck at 6:30 p.m. Saturday). Festival hours, 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 8. San Marcos Civic Center, 1 Civic Center Drive, San Marcos. Free. Pancake breakfast from 9-11:30 p.m. Dec. 8 is $4-5. (760) 744-9000.
Cardiff Kringle Mingle: Cardiff 101 MainStreet presents its sixth annual community holiday event with live music by four bands, hot food items and treats for sale, holiday décor and Santa Claus. 1 to 5 p.m. Dec. 8. Cardiff Town Center, 2087 San Elijo Ave., Cardiff. Free.
Great Train Expo: The national touring model train show will feature 200 to 500 tables of train dealers (HO, N, O, G, Z, S and other scales) as well as operating train layouts, workshops, children’s activities and more. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Dec. 8. Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. $9, adults. Children under 12 are free. $10 parking.
Vista Community Clinic 2013 Holiday Homes Tour: The 27th annual tour will feature four estate homes elaborately decorated for the holidays plus a tour of the Rancho Buena Vista Adobe. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 8. $20 in advance, $25 at door. (760) 631-5000, ext. 1139.
Julian Holiday Homes Tour: Julian Woman’s Club will host two tours of local homes and a Christmas quilt fair and bake sale. Tours leave promptly at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Dec. 13. First United Methodist Church, Julian. $20. (760) 765-3647.
Christmas in the Park: The city of Poway hosts its old-fashioned Christmas festival with a tree-lighting, train rides, children’s crafts, carolers, live entertainment, square dancing, gifts bazaar, petting zoo, food for sale, old-fashioned games and museum tours. 3:30 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 14. Old Poway Park, 14134 Midland Road, Poway (off-site parking and free shuttles from Poway Adult School and Community and Twin Peaks roads. Free.
Escondido Jaycees Christmas Parade: The 63rd annual parade, themed “Christmas Across the Galaxy,” will feature more than 100 entries. 9:30 a.m. Dec. 14. Parade travels down Broadway from Escondido High School to Grape Day Park, Escondido. Free.
Oceanside Harbor Parade of Lights: Oceanside Yacht Club hosts its annual moonlit sailing of local boats decorated with holiday lights in the harbor. 7 p.m. Dec. 14. Oceanside Harbor, Oceanside. Free.
Vista Christmas Tea: The Vista Historical Society hosts its annual Christmas tea with live entertainment by Encore Youth Choir and Theater. 2 to 4 p.m. Dec. 15. McClellan Senior Center, 1400 Vale Terrace Drive, Vista. Free. (760) 630-0444.
Brunch With Santa: Grad Tradition Estate and Gardens hosts its annual holiday buffet with Santa Claus, carolers, “Nutcracker” ballerinas and a Toys for Tots campaign. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 15. 220 Grand Tradition Way, Fallbrook. $37.50, adults. $20, children. $10, children under 5. (760) 728-6466.
Legoland Holiday Snow Days & Winter Nights: Legoland California theme park hosts its annual holiday celebration with a celebrity tree-lighting ceremony and a monthlong celebration with a real snow play area, holiday-themed entertainment. Runs daily through Dec. 25. Legoland California, 1 Legoland Drive, Carlsbad.
california.legoland.com. Holiday park-hopper tickets available online for $65. (760) 918-5346