Shop & Celebrate the Holidays in Style

Celebrate the holidays in style with great deals and festive fun! Nov 21-25 Westfield UTC La Jolla This November, get shopping at the luxury retail resort Westfield UTC in upscale La Jolla. Not only is there a huge selection of stores and retailers, there are plenty of outdoor plazas, beautifully landscaped gardens and alfresco dining for those who need a respite. On Black Friday (November 25th), Westfield UTC will have four Merry Makers roaming the center, offering their services to guests. They’ll carry bags, give away retailer gift cards and samples; and can even purchase gifts for unsuspecting customers — and don’t miss their special holiday song and dance performances in Palm Plaza throughout the day! There will also be several local musical artists performing throughout the shopping holiday, including Mike Officer a semi-finalist for a national songwriting contest; Raelee Nikole, an up-and-coming Southern California songwriter; and Mike Myrdal, an accomplished singer and guitarist. Additionally, throughout the week leading up to Black Friday, Westfield UTC will be hosting their Big Shopping Week where exclusive gifts will be offered to shoppers that come early in the day. The first 50 families to visit Santa each day will get:Monday, November 21st  —  A limited edition Coca-Cola Polar BarTuesday, November 22nd — St. Jude plush bearsWednesday, November 23rd — Fisher Price Blaze monster machinesFriday, November 25th — The Pentatonix Holiday album  Winter Weekend Dec 10 & 11 – Flower Hill Promenade | Del Mar The holidays are here. Head to Flower Hill Promenade on Saturday, Dec. 10 & Sunday, Dec. 11 to shop and celebrate with two days of festivities during their “Winter Weekend” event, which will feature: ·         Breakfast with Santa @ Flower Child, 9am: Children can delight in sitting on Santa’s lap, followed by a healthy kid’s meal for just $5. Call 858.314.6818 to make a reservation. ·         Snow Days in the Lower Courtyard, 10am-2pm: Need a break from the sun? With real snow, a petting zoo and carolers, kids will be transported to the North Pole. Activities includes:o    Real snowo    Carolerso    Complimentary photos with Santao    Face painting and a balloon artisto    Raffle and giveawayso    Snowboard simulatoro    Crafts and snacks Small Business Saturday Nov 26 – North ParkNorth Park has been on the rise for its hot boutiques and up and coming entrepreneurs. That’s why on November 26, North Park  is hosting their community Small Business Saturday event. This family-friendly weekend experience celebrates the locally-owned “mom and pop” shops that offer eclectic shopping as unique and diverse as the neighborhood itself. Shoppers will be rewarded with treats, discounts and pop-up live music while checking out trend-setting boutiques such as Mimi & Red, Geographie Shop and more.  Looking for that perfect gift for the holidays? Receive a free Pigment gift card with qualifying purchases (visit store for details). The Studio Door will have sidewall sales featuring local artists and will get your feet tapping to lively musicians. Not to mention, both Councilman Todd Gloria and Mayor Kevin Faulconer will be speaking to show their support for this thriving North Park community of businesses. The fun doesn’t stop there! North Park will be holding a Scavenger Hunt, starting on November 19th, open to all with prizes and the chance to win $200 cash and gift cards to various North park hotspots. Check it out here. Scavenger hunt clue cards are $5 and can be purchased at the North Park Thursday Market (North Park Main Street Booth) or Torque Moto Café.So head to North Park and support local, all while having some fun!  Winter Nights Dec. 3, 10, 17; 5 – 8pm – Westfield UTC Westfield UTC is celebrating the holiday season in style with Winter Nights – a series of festive evenings hosted in the Palm Plaza with live musical performances from the Merry Makers, snow cascading from the rooftops, family photo fun with live Toy Soldiers on stilts, meet & greets with Santa and delicious bites & sips. Guests can come early for a holiday classic matinee at ArcLight Cinemas or open skate at UTC Ice. Musical acts will include: o    12/3 – Music by Gillispie School Elementary Choir and San Diego children’s favorite Hullabaloo. o    12/10 – Live performances and meet & greets by American Panto, A Snow White Christmas. Music by La Jolla Country Day Pine Tones and Lower School Orchestra. o    12/17 – Music by Martin Luther King Jr. Community Choir followed by local singer/songwriter ·         Pictures with Santa (Nov. 11-Dec. 24): Shoppers can pose with Santa and enjoy his special visits at the gilded ornament tree. ·         Menorah Lighting (Dec. 27; 6-7:30pm): Westfield UTC will host a menorah lighting (in front of Forever21) complete with light bites and entertainment.  ·         #HowDoYouHoliday: Throughout the holiday season, Westfield is inviting customers to share their holiday traditions and celebrations with the #HowDoYouHoliday hashtag on social media channels. By sharing photos, videos, and posts to Facebook, Instagram and Twitter—customers have the chance to win a $1,000 shopping spree at Westfield.  The Queen Bee Market in Vista – December 2nd & 3rd 
The Queen Bee Market, San Diego’s urban-style handmade market, will be hosting its largest event of the holiday season on Friday, December 2nd from 4-9pm and Saturday, December 3rd from 9am- 4pm. Taking place at an industrial warehouse in Vista, the event will feature over 85 local and national vendors selling a carefully curated selection of the best vintage and homemade goods, accompanied with live music, food, and drinks. The entrance fee is $5/person, while children 12 and younger and military personnel are free.  Surfin’ Santa’s Arrival November 26 at Seaport Village On Saturday, November 26, Santa will ditch the traditional red suit and arrive to the San Diego Harbor SoCal style. Donning his favorite board shorts and Hawaiian tee, Santa will arrive via Xplore Offshore  speedboat, greeting guests while putting on a show full of sharp turns and donuts on the water. The free event will also include a festive parade down the boardwalk, free photos with Santa on his six-foot wave and surfboard, eco-friendly ornament making for kids and holiday shopping at the more than 50 locally owned shops (the event also falls on Small Business Saturday) at Seaport Village and its sister property, the Headquarters. There will also be live musical performances by the Holiday Hipsters, an eclectic caroling group, and additional crafting at the Headquarters from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. ​

• The USO Giving Tree: Every Saturday leading up to Christmas Eve, the Headquarters will provide free holiday entertainment in the outdoor courtyard while USO of San Diego will be collecting gifts and donations to support military families in need this holiday season. The performance schedule is as follows: 
  • 12/3 from noon to 2 p.m. Valhalla High School band 
  • 12/3 from 3 to 4 p.m. – 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Jazz Combo band – Comprised of Marines, sailors and civilians 
  • 12/10 from noon to 1 p.m. Navy Band Southwest’s 32nd Street Brass Band – Led by Musician First Class Adam Stuble, the 32nd Street Brass Band performs upbeat jazz, funk, Dixieland and R&B
  • 12/17 from noon to 4 p.m. Valhalla High School band    ​