San Diego Parade of Lights — Mission Bay 2026

“Anyone else going to San Diego Parade of Lights —…”

Mission Bay's annual parade of lights celebrates the holiday season on the water — decorated boats illuminate the calm protected waters of Mission Bay in a tradition that has run for decades and draws crowds from throughout San Diego County to the park's shoreline for the spectacle of the lighted fleet.

Mission Bay Park's extensive shoreline provides numerous free viewing positions for the boat parade — the Marine Park Way, Vacation Road, the various shoreline parks throughout the bay, and the resort-fronted stretches of beach all provide sightlines to the parade route. The parade runs through the calm bay waters, with vessels ranging from kayaks and small motorboats decorated with simple lights to large yachts with full holiday display installations.

The Mission Bay Parade of Lights runs in December and is free to observe from public shoreline positions throughout the park. The protected bay waters provide a stable platform for the participating vessels and create reflections of the lights on the water surface that significantly amplify the visual display.

Mission Bay Park is accessible from I-8 via Mission Bay Drive or I-5 via the Clairemont Drive/Balboa Avenue exchange. Multiple entry points to the park shoreline. Street and lot parking throughout the park. Arrive early to secure shoreline positions on the parade route. The parade start time is typically after sunset, with the spectacle fully visible in darkness.