San Diego, CA
The best things to do Thanksgiving weekend in San Diego
Here are some of the best things to do this weekend in San Diego from Friday, Nov. 29 to Sunday, Dec. 1.
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Friday
Liberty Station tree lighting: A ceremonial lighting of Liberty Station’s 88-foot Norfolk pine tree is at 5 p.m. Nov. 29 along with entertainment, festive firetruck rides, photos with Santa and an outdoor holiday movie showing of “The Grinch.” San Diego Chevrolet Dealers are sponsoring the event, and the Chevy Silverado EV RST will be the power source for the Christmas tree lighting. Admission is free. Visit libertystation.com/events/salute-the-season/holiday-tree-lighting.
“Misery”: Backyard Renaissance Theatre presents William Goldman’s stage adaptation of the Stephen King novel about an obsessive and violent fan who kidnaps her favorite author. 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays; 3 p.m. Sundays. Through Dec. 7. Tenth Avenue Arts Center, 930 Tenth Ave., downtown. $18-$40. backyardrenaissance.com
Safari Park puts on ‘Wild Holidays’: The San Diego Zoo Safari Park celebrates the “Wild Holidays” with an expedition of light and travel through places that twinkle with holiday cheer and seasonal culinary delights from 4 to 8 p.m. on select nights Nov. 29 to Jan 5 at the park, 15500 San Pasqual Valley Road. The Safari Park will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the event, with “Wild Holidays” festivities beginning at 4 p.m. Entertainment includes the “Light Up the Holidays” choreographed lighted tree show with holiday soundtracks, Holiday Troubadour, fanciful characters, and visits with Santa along with lighted archway Bridge of Lights, Forest of Color, Baja Gardens and Nairobi Lantern Walk. “Wild Holidays” activities are free with Safari Park admission or membership. Visit sdzsafaripark.org/wild-holidays.
‘Winter Wonderettes’ opens Friday: San Diego Musical Theatre presents this holiday adaptation of Roger Bean’s all-female comedy “The Marvelous Wonderettes.” In this version, the women’s quartet are pressed into service to create a holiday show after Santa turns up missing. Opens Friday and runs through Dec. 29. 7 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays. 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. SDMT Stage, 4650 Mercury St., San Diego. $30 and up. 858-560-5740, sdmt.org
“A Christmas Carol”: Cygnet Theatre will present its annual production of Dickens’ redemptive holiday tale, once again starring Cygnet artistic director Sean Murray as the miserly Victorian money-lender Ebenezer Scrooge. The 2024 staging will feature an expanded storyline, fresh original music and a revitalized script. Opens Friday and runs through Dec. 24. 7 p.m. Wednesdays-Fridays; 2 and 7 p.m. Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Cygnet’s Old Town Theatre, 4040 Twiggs St., Old Town San Diego. $73. (619) 337-1525. cygnettheatre.com
BalletCenter Studios presents “The Nutcracker:” Director Michelle Noblejas-Bartolomei and former principal dancer Trystan Merrick created original choreography for “Clara and the Nutcracker Soldier.” The reimagined version of the classic tells the story of Clara, an orphan who looks for her parents with the help of the Snow Queen. 7 p.m. Friday; 1 and 5:30 p.m. Nov. 20.. Joan B. Kroc Theatre, 6611 University Ave., San Diego. $30-$60. 619-322-7328, balletcenterstudios.com
Saturday
Holiday Lights on Main: El Cajon is kicking off the holidays with an even featuring live music, food trucks, photos with Santa, carnival rides, ice skating, cookie decorating and other activities. A tree lighting will take place at 6 p.m. There will also be a new feature called Holiday Lights Art Walk, with art from 28 artists from San Diego. Art galleries on Main Street will be open for visiting. 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday. Main Street in El Cajon. Free. downtownelcajon.com
“Arthur Christmas”: Reading Cinemas Town Square will be re-screening a holiday classic, “Arthur Christmas.” The screening is billed as a “Pajama Party.” The theater will also show “Elf” on Dec. 4, 14, 15 “The Polar Express” on Dec. 7 and 8, and “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” on Dec. 21 and 22. 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Town Square, 4665 Clairemont Drive, San Diego. $11.19. readingcinemas.com/townsquare/signature-programming/pajama-party
Leslie Odom Jr. – ‘The Christmas Tour’: A versatile singer who earned a Tony Award for his electrifying portrayal of Aaron Burr in the smash musical “Hamilton,” Leslie Odom Jr. also portrayed vocal legend Sam Cooke in the film “One Night in Miami” and won a Grammy Award for his self-titled debut album. Wirth no fewer than three Christmas releases to his credit, he’ll have lots of songs to choose from for his orchestra-free concert here at the home of the San Diego Symphony. 7:30 p.m. Nov. 30. Jacobs Music Center, 750 B Street, downtown. $39-$147.619-235-0804, sandiegosymphony.org
Tree lighting at One Paseo: Lighting of a 30-foot Christmas tree begins at 6 p.m. Nov. 30 and festivities continue until 9 p.m. at One Paseo, 3725 Paseo Place. The center will be shimmering with firefly lights in the trees and festive decor. The evening will feature live music performances, some snow and Santa along with special guests. Visit onepaseo.com.
Light Up the Holidays: The Salvation Army hosts its red kettle kickoff, “Light Up the Holidays,” from 5 to 6 p.m. Nov. 30 at Grossmont Center, 5500 Grossmont Center Drive. The free family event includes a tree lighting, hot chocolate and coffee, Christmas music by The Salvation Army San Diego Brass Band and guest performance by Rat Pack Reborn and photos with Santa. Besides money donations, the Salvation Army is accepting new, unwrapped toys. Visit sandiego.salvationarmy.org/san_diego2/event-page—light-up-the-holiday-red-kettle-kickoff
East Village Tree lighting: The holiday event is from 4 to 8 p.m. Nov. 30 at Quartyard and 13th Street, featuring a curated holiday market by San Diego Markets, live entertainment, food and drinks and activities for kids. The traditional tree lighting ceremony is at 6:45 p.m. Visit eastvillagesandiego.com/events/east-village-tree-lighting-and-holiday-market
La Jolla Symphony and Chorus’ Joyful Traditions: On the eve of December, LJSC kicks things off with its annual community Messiah sing event. The ensemble will perform Handel’s full “Messiah” oratorio. The audience is invited to sing along with Part I and the Halellujah chorus. 2 p.m. Saturday. San Dieguito United Methodist Church, 170 Calle Magdalena, Encinitas. $10-$20 (plus $10 cash for vocal score rental). 760-753-6582, ljsc.org/joyful-traditions
Sunday
City tree lighting ceremony: The event starts at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 1 at Memorial Park on Third Avenue. The ceremony will feature remarks from city officials and community leaders to kick off the season. There will be carolers, holiday shopping and food. The Downtown Chula Vista Farmers Market will have extended hours from 3 to 6 p.m. Visit downtownchulavista.com
Snowfall & Light Show: The free holiday shows begin at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. each Friday, Saturday and Sunday from Dec. 1-22 near the Koi Pond at Village Walk at EastLake, at Eastlake Parkway and Miller Drive. Children will receive free magic glasses to view the light show in an array of colors. Entertainment on Dec. 1 includes a performance by the Discovery Charter School at 5:30 p.m. and between shows. Various community caroling groups will sing between shows on other days. Visit shopvillagewalk.com/special-events
Camp Christmas: Pine Valley Camp Christmas, a holiday festival for all ages, starts Nov. 15 and runs from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Friday through Sunday in November and Dec. 1, 6-8, 13-14, 18-22 at 8668 Pine Creek Road. Festivities include a Lights & Sounds of the Season show and dancing water show, hay rides, train rides, a nativity scene and a talking Christmas tree. There will be a game room, archery and bounce houses, among other attractions. Visit PineValleyCampChristmas.com.
Christmas concert: The Music Men Barbershop Chorus will perform a concert, Twas The Week Before Christmas at 3 p.m. Dec. 1 at San Marcos Lutheran Church, 3419 Grand Ave. The family-friendly event includes popular and classic holiday songs, sung in Barbershop harmony. The show will feature a guest chorus, The Pacific Belles and audience sing-a-longs. The suggested donation is $10. Visit musicmenchorus.org
Originally Published:
Beauty and wellness are a staple of American culture. Thousands of citizens visit our spas and salons throughout the United States for critical, everyday grooming services they rely on. However, if the U.S. Department of Education has its way, Americans could soon have trouble finding qualified professionals to perform these traditional self-care rituals.
The department is proposing a new rule that would end access to many professional beauty programs — an important and growing trade. The department also is mistakenly labeling professional beauty programs as “low-value programs,” even though these programs offer students almost immediate employment opportunities providing professionals a flexible work-life balance.
Driven by high demand for skincare and hair services, there are currently more than 1.4 million professionals throughout the U.S. who work in the professional beauty industry. The professional beauty and wellness industry’s economic trajectory tells a story of continued and sustained growth. Growing at an annual rate of 7% from 2022 to 2024, according to McKinsey & Co., the United States ranks among the 10 fastest-growing wellness markets worldwide.
But even a robust and resilient industry like ours cannot overcome bad policy decisions that threaten an entire industry. Congress never included an accountability metric for certificate programs like cosmetology or massage therapy programs in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act does contain an accountability metric called “Do No Harm,” which is designed to keep colleges and universities that offer degree programs or graduate-level certificates accountable to the American people.
The accountability metric for degree programs, when applied to certificate programs, will eliminate opportunities for Americans to receive federal student aid, including Pell Grants, to unlock a career in cosmetology or massage therapy. The Department of Education has acknowledged using the Do No Harm provision as an accountability metric will have a severe negative impact on the cosmetology and massage schools nationwide, and determined that 92% of accredited cosmetology and massage therapy schools eventually will lose access to all federal student aid, including Pell Grants, for their students and most likely will be forced to close in the near future.
The one saving grace is that the department has not finalized its proposed rule, and it is not too late for the public to tell the department that this rule does not fit the bill for professional beauty students and schools. Comments must be received on or by May 20. You can submit your comments on the Accountability in Higher Education and Access through Demand-driven Workforce Pell (AHEAD) rule through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at regulations.gov/commenton/ED-2026-OPE-0100-0001. The department will not accept comments submitted by fax or by email or comments submitted after the comment period closes.
Any new rule adopted by the agency needs to account for the overall demographic and work-life balance goals of students and the professional beauty industry. These students and future small business owners deserve the same opportunities as students pursuing careers in other disciplines and fields.
Lynch is the owner and chief executive officer of the Poway-based Bellus Academy and the founding chair of the nonprofit Beauty Changes Lives, which awards nearly $500,000 in scholarships annually.
San Diego, CA
San Diego health officials monitor hantavirus situation as cruise ship passengers return to U.S.
SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — American passengers from a cruise ship hit with a hantavirus outbreak are back in the United States.
San Diego County health officials say they are monitoring the situation and there is no need for panic.
“The risk to Californians is really low and especially here in San Diego. Since the year 2000, we’ve only had 4 cases of hantavirus and the majority of those were in travel related cases so not even acquired here locally,” Ankita Kadakia, deputy public health officer for the County of San Diego, said.
According to the CDC, hantavirus is spread through contact with infected rodents.
“The virus can be in their saliva, feces or droppings,” Kadakia said.
San Diego County does see cases of rodents infected with hantavirus, but the strain seen locally is not the same strain connected to the cruise ship outbreak.
“The vast majority of strains of hantavirus are mouse or animal to human transmission. Not human to human transmission. So the Andes strain, which is found in Argentina, there is evidence that there is human to human transmission,” Dr. Ahmed Salem, a pulmonologist at Sharp Memorial Hospital, said.
Salem treated hantavirus during the 2012 Yosemite National Park outbreak.
“One of the ways you die from hantavirus is you get a collapse of your cardiac system and your pulmonary system and you have to go on something called ECMO. It’s one of the most aggressive forms of life support that you can do. So I do remember that case, and unfortunately, that person passed away,” Salem said.
There is currently no cure or vaccine for hantavirus. Health officials stress that for those who were not on the cruise ship, the risk of contracting the virus remains low.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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