San Diego Holiday Events 2022 - Rady Shell, Grinch Stole Christmas, Holiday Concerts for the Family

The holiday season is officially upon us and this year, there’s no better way for San Diegans to embrace the holiday spirit than with special performances by the San Diego Symphony at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park and Holiday By the Bay activities at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront! 

Holiday Programming at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park 

• Dec. 9 - 11| Noel, Noel - The San Diego Symphony’s signature holiday show, this performance features the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, San Diego Master Chorale, San Diego Children’s Choir and an all-new story and script. 

• Holiday Movies In Concert 

  • Dec. 17 | How the Grinch Stole Christmas In Concert - Watch CindyLou grow the heart of the infamous Grinch in this classic Christmas tale, accompanied by the San Diego Symphony 

  • Dec. 21 | Love Actually In Concert - Enjoy this modern holiday classic following the holiday season through the eyes of an unforgettable cast of characters as the San Diego Symphony performs its unforgettable score. 

Holiday By the Bay at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront 

From Dec. 2 - Dec. 30, enjoy special holiday activations at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront. With adults-only options and fun for the whole family, it’s a great place to stop by before a show at The Rady Shell or book for a holiday staycation! 

• Life-Sized Gingerbread House (Opens Nov. 25) - Visit the hotel lobby to view a grand Grinch-themed house – honoring the anniversary of San Diego native, Dr. Seuss.  

• Fridays 4-6 p.m., Saturdays 4-7 p.m. | Naughty or Nice Happy at Odysea Lounge - Enjoy $2 off on seasonal spirits at the Odysea Lounge. 

• Fridays 7-9 p.m. | Holiday Movies (Promenade West) - Enjoy free showings of family-friendly holiday movies - a great way to end an evening after a dinner at Hudson & Nash! 

  • Saturday, Dec. 3 - Elf 

  • Saturday, Dec. 10 - The Santa Clause 

  • Saturday, Dec. 17 - A Christmas Story 

  • Saturday, Dec. 24 - How the Grinch Stole Christmas 

• Fridays 5-9 p.m., Saturdays 4-6 p.m. | Write a Letter to Santa (Promenade West) 

• Fridays + Saturdays 5-9 p.m. | Stocking and Ornament Decorating (Promenade West) 

• Saturdays, 6-7 p.m. | Storytime with Ms. Claus (Promenade West) 

• Sundays, 9-11 a.m. | Breakfast with Santa (Hudson & Nash) 

• Dec. 24 + 25 5 - 10 p.m. | Christmas Pre-Fixe Specials at Hudson & Nash

San Diego Symphony Announces 2022 HOLIDAY PROGRAMMING at THE RADY SHELL! Kick Off the Holidays San Diego Style!

San Diego Symphony Announces
2022 HOLIDAY PROGRAMMING at
THE RADY SHELL AT JACOBS PARK

 The San Diego Symphony will perform another year of its Noel, Noel holiday concerts at its bayfront home, and feature two holiday movies in concert
for audiences to enjoy 

  SAN DIEGO (September 12, 2022) – Today, the San Diego Symphony announced programming for its beloved holiday series, which begins November 19, 2022. The Symphony will return to its bayfront home, The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, for the majority of its holiday programming. This year's spectacular lineup includes the return of the Symphony's signature and adored Noel, Noel concerts, as well as performances of How the Grinch Stole Christmas: Movie in Concert and Love Actually: Movie in Concert, and the Symphony will present the Vienna Boys Choir in Concert at the Balboa Theatre.

 To kick off this year’s season of festive musical favorites, the Vienna Boys Choir make their return to San Diego in a San Diego Symphony presentation of Christmas in Vienna at the Balboa Theatre on November 19th at 7:30 PM. The illustrious group of young musicians has been delighting music lovers across the globe for six centuries with their purity of tone, distinctive charm and popular repertoire. Christmas in Vienna showcases these gifted musicians with voices of unforgettable beauty in an extraordinary program featuring Austrian folk songs, classical masterpieces, popular songs and, of course, holiday favorites. Tickets range from $20 to $75 at www.TheShell.org. 

 Additionally, this December the San Diego Symphony is thrilled to present three performances of its annual Noel, Noel concerts on the San Diego bay, following last year’s successful sold-out run at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park for the first time ever. The Symphony invites friends and families to Jacobs Park for three show-stopping performances, December 9-11, 2022 (December 9 & 10 begin at 7:30 PM and December 11 begins at 5:00 PM.) Conducted by Christopher Dragon, directed by Jonathan Gilmer, featuring the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, San Diego Master Chorale, and the San Diego Children’s Choir, audiences will experience an all-new story and script, full of cozy holiday moments, popular tunes, and jolly spirit.  All are invited to come early for holiday activations throughout the park, including themed food and beverage delights. Tickets range from $20 to $95 and are on sale today at www.TheShell.org. 

And to round out the December offerings this year, Holiday Movies in Concert are back for another year at The Rady Shell, conducted by Thiago Tiberio and with the San Diego Symphony Orchestra. On December 17th at 6:00 PM in a presentation of How The Grinch Stole Christmas: Movie in Concert, the San Diego Symphony Orchestra brings you on a wild ride back to Whoville where Cindy Lou Who takes matters into her own hands and turns the Grinch’s world upside down, inside out and funny side up in her search for the true meaning of Christmas.  Later in the month, on December 21st at 7:00 PM the beloved holiday classic, Love Actually: Movie in Concert comes to The Rady Shell stage for a one-night-only performance. Spend the evening with your favorite holiday “rom-com” characters and get swept up in the magic of one of the most iconic Christmas Movie soundtracks of all time, as the San Diego Symphony Orchestra performs Craig Armstrong's evocative score, with the film being projected onto the large screens at The Rady Shell. Tickets for both Movies in Concert range from $20 to $95 and are on sale today at www.TheShell.org. 

On a budget? Sit outside the venue at a free seat, but come early - super duper early as these areas are highly sought after.

Local Wally’s Pro Tips for Seeing a Show at The Rady Shell

1. While all the seats are pretty great, the tables in front allow you to pre-order food which will be delivered straight to your table.

2. If you do a table pay attention to which direction your seats face if you want to have the table in front of you, versus behind you. Tables seat four.

3. Come early and forget about trying to find cheap parking. Just park in the Convention Center parking lot - and park as close as you can to the exits as it can really back up when everyone tries to leave at the same time.

4. I’ve eaten there twice and both times the food was really good. The pizzas are single size even though the box looks like it’s sharable. The Korean Fried Chicken Sandwich was delicious but a bit of a messy eat so perhaps not the best choice for first date night.

5. No outside food allowed but you can bring in a blanket, highly recommended even if you think it’s going to be a warm night. You are on the bay, remember. You can bring in folding beach chairs if you opt for the lawn seats in the back. I saw both beach and camping height chairs, but I’d go with the lower chairs if you have then so you don’t block the view of people behind you.

6. If you go super cheap and sit outside the venue for a free seat you’ll still get great sound and the screens are large enough to enjoy the show - but get there super early as there are only a handful of really good viewing areas. Of course, the lawn area inside is pretty affordable so think twice about trying to nab a free seat. But even if you just come out on a show night to walk around and hear the music outside the venue it’s a fun vibe and that hot dog cart sure smelled great!

Plenty of food options at the Rady Shell - Come early to avoid parking hassles and relax with some great San Diego style bites like gourmet pizza or aKorean Fried Chicken sandwich by Top Chef Richard Blais.

 About the San Diego Symphony Orchestra

Founded in 1910, the San Diego Symphony is the oldest orchestra in California and one of the largest and most significant cultural organizations in San Diego. The Orchestra performs for more than 250,000 people each season, offering a wide variety of programming at its two much-loved venues, Copley Symphony Hall in downtown San Diego (now under renovation) and The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park on San Diego Bay. In early 2018, the San Diego Symphony announced the appointment of Rafael Payare as music director. Payare leads the orchestra’s 82 full-time musicians, graduates of the finest and most celebrated music schools in the United States and abroad. The San Diego Symphony also serves as the orchestra for the San Diego Opera each season, as well as performing at several regional performing arts and community centers. For more than 30 years, the San Diego Symphony has provided comprehensive learning and community engagement programs reaching more than 65,000 students annually and bringing innovative programming to San Diego’s diverse neighborhoods and schools. For more information, visit www.sandiegosymphony.org.

 About The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park

The centerpiece of the 3.7-acre public Jacobs Park developed and managed by the San Diego Symphony on the city’s scenic Embarcadero, The Rady Shell is the first permanent outdoor venue in the San Diego Symphony’s century-long history, designed to host more than 100 concerts and events year-round. The venue has been developed in partnership with the Unified Port of San Diego with 96% of the $85 million cost raised privately by the Symphony.

As innovative in design as it is spectacular in setting, offering 360 degrees of year-round music, sky and sea, The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park is an unprecedented resource for the Symphony’s expanded schedule of diverse outdoor concerts, including classical concerts and an exciting roster of commissioned works and premieres programmed by San Diego Symphony Music Director Rafael Payare as well as performances by international touring artists and free programs.  The venue will be available year-round for non-profit community groups, schools and individuals. Jacobs Park, owned and managed by the Symphony, surrounds the performance space with walkways, dining pavilions and recreational facilities in the heart of the Embarcadero and is accessible to the public for free on most days of the year.