Saturday, Dec. 12, 2026 has three events in a row. The San Diego Santa Run fills Garnet Avenue with runners in Santa suits from 8 a.m. The 46th annual Pacific Beach Holiday Parade steps off at 1 p.m. At 5:30 p.m. the Mission Bay boat parade begins on the water. The morning race exists partly to support the afternoon parade, so the race organizer's road plan decides when Garnet closes, which blocks lose parking and when the neighborhood gets its streets back.
If you live near Garnet, Bayard, Felspar, Haines or Cass, the parade's start time matters less than the race organizer's closure schedule.
A parade with a fundraiser attached
The Santa Run is in its 14th year. San Diego Running Co. says more than 45,000 Santas have taken part over the years, and that USA TODAY readers have voted it Best Fun Run four years running. The organizer says plainly why the run is held in Pacific Beach. The run's event page says:
"The event benefits the Pacific Beach Holiday Parade. The parade does not happen without the generous support of local businesses and residents. Now with San Diego Santa Run, we'll be helping to ensure this Pacific Beach staple will continue for future generations."
That changes how the day reads. The parade has run for 46 years. Discover PB organizes it, and this year's theme is "Holiday Magic." The parade is the reason for the day, but the race is part of how it gets paid for. Supporting the parade also means the race's road needs shape the whole day.
How the day runs, hour by hour
The race and the parade share a start area. The run begins at 912 Garnet Ave., and the parade travels Garnet from Haines Street to Bayard Street. Here is the posted schedule:
| Time | What's happening | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 5:00 a.m. | No-parking and closures begin on Garnet and Bayard | Garnet, Mission Blvd to Ingraham |
| 8:00 a.m. | First Santa Run 5K | Starts at 912 Garnet Ave. |
| 10:00 a.m. | Second 5K | Starts at 912 Garnet Ave. |
| 11:30 a.m. | Kids 1 Mile | Starts at 912 Garnet Ave. |
| 12:00 p.m. | Dog 1 Mile; Cass reopens to parking | Starts at 912 Garnet Ave. |
| 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. | 46th annual PB Holiday Parade | Garnet, Haines to Bayard |
| 4:00 p.m. | Posted street closures end | Garnet and side streets |
| 5:30 p.m. | Mission Bay boat parade begins | Mission Bay |
The parade covers a short stretch of Garnet in the early afternoon. The closure starts at 5 a.m., eight hours before the first float, because a 5 a.m. setup is what a Garnet start line needs for runners at 8.
Your car has to move before the street closes
On the side streets, the no-parking start and the street closure don't match. San Diego Running Co. posts two separate schedules, one for parking and one for traffic:
- Garnet Avenue, Mission Blvd to Ingraham St.: no parking and closed to traffic, 5 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Bayard St.: no parking from Hornblend to Felspar, 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed from Hornblend to the alley north of Garnet, 5 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Felspar St., Gresham to Ingraham: no parking from 5 a.m. Closed to traffic 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Haines St., Felspar to the alley south of Garnet: no parking from 5 a.m. Closed to traffic 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Cass St., alley south of Garnet to Turquoise: no parking 5 a.m. to noon. Closed to traffic 8 a.m. to noon.
On Felspar, Haines and Cass, the parking ban starts three hours before the street closes. A car left at the curb overnight on Felspar is in the no-parking zone well before any barricade goes up. Cass is the first street back to normal. Its posted windows end at noon, before the parade starts. Garnet, Bayard, Felspar and Haines stay posted until 4 p.m.
Bayard also has a quieter detail. The parade's end point and the Tuesday farmers market are on the same street. The market sets up on Bayard between Grand and Garnet. The Saturday closures don't overlap a market day. The Tuesdays on either side of the parade, Dec. 8 and Dec. 15, are both on the market calendar. That week, Bayard is a market street Tuesday, a parade finish line Saturday, and a market street again the next Tuesday.
These times come from the race organizer's own page, not a City notice. They can change before race day, so check them again in the week of Dec. 12.
Who's open while the street is closed
Because the race benefits the parade, local businesses are part of the morning. San Diego Running Co. lists Mavericks Beach Club, 710 Beach Club, Tavern at the Beach, Bar Ella and Filippi's Pizza Grotto as race-day drink partners. It also lists runner discounts at The Duck Dive, PB AleHouse, Molly's and Filippi's. For neighbors who aren't running, that list shows where the race crowd is likely to gather between the last finish and the parade.
When Garnet reopens, the day moves to the bay
The posted closures end at 4 p.m. That same hour, the boat parade's viewing parties start. Discover Mission Bay lists the 2026 Mission Bay boat parade for Dec. 12 at 5:30 p.m. It says Mission Bay Yacht Club has organized and hosted the parade of lights for decades, and that SeaWorld's fireworks open the evening. The organizer describes spectator viewing areas along the route with food and drinks, holiday music, bonfire seating, activities for kids and a visit from Santa.
The bay-side events Discover Mission Bay lists are hosted by individual properties, and each sets its own terms:
- The Dana on Mission Bay: a Winter Wonderland and parade viewing party from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Holiday characters, including Buddy the Elf and The Grinch, appear from 4 to 5:30 p.m., and a Falling Snow Party follows the parade. Paid VIP viewing adds heated seating for up to four guests, a cocktail table, and unlimited hot apple cider and cocoa.
- Catamaran Resort: a party on the North Lawn from 4 to 9 p.m.
- Tidal at Paradise Point: a dinner experience at $100 per person.
Discover Mission Bay also promotes a holiday market at Mission Bay Beach Club before the parade, with a Santa meet-and-greet, holiday drinks, decorations and live music. Check access, tickets and any fees directly with each venue. The listings mix ticketed packages with general hospitality.
The handoff is tight. Garnet's posted closures end at 4. The Dana's and Catamaran's events start at 4, and the boats move at 5:30. You can watch the parade on Garnet, drive or walk once the barricades come down, and be at the water for the fireworks.
The Saturday before is smaller
A week earlier, Dec. 5, Discover PB holds Christmas on Crystal Pier from 2 p.m. to sunset. Photos with Santa run from 2 to 4:30 p.m., and the pier's tree lighting is at 4:45 p.m. No race or street closures are posted for it, and the event is built around one spot, Crystal Pier. Discover PB's 2026 calendar lists it separately from the parade. The parade itself has no tree lighting of its own.
For anyone who wants the season without the Dec. 12 crowds, the order is simple. Dec. 5 has the pier and the tree. Dec. 12 has the run, the parade and the boats, all set by one closure schedule. The Tuesday markets on Bayard keep going through both weeks. The posted dates are Nov. 10, 17 and 24, then Dec. 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29.
The short version for Dec. 12
Move your car off Garnet, Bayard, Felspar, Haines and Cass between Garnet and Turquoise by 5 a.m. The run starts at 8 and the parade at 1. Expect Garnet back after 4, and fireworks over the bay before the 5:30 boat parade. The Santa Run benefits the parade and helps keep it going for another year, and the race organizer's schedule sets every one of those times.
If you're considering a home near Garnet or the bay and want to know how the neighborhood's calendar plays out on a particular street, Brigitte Adams and the B&B Team can walk you through it. Contact Us.
