EastLake Fall and Holiday Events, 2026

Updated October 2026 · Rudy Flores

Fall settles in slowly around EastLake, but the local calendar fills up fast. Here is what is coming from this weekend through the holidays, in date order, with the day, time, place and cost for each one and a link to the people running it.

October: festivals, wildlife and a sunset fundraiser

2nd Annual Larry Itliong Festival

When: Saturday, October 10, 11 a.m. · Where: Montevalle Park, 840 Duncan Ranch Rd, Chula Vista

The City of Chula Vista lists the second annual festival honoring Larry Itliong, the Filipino American labor leader. October is Filipino American History Month, and the city also has a celebration on its calendar for Tuesday, October 20 at 5:30 p.m. City of Chula Vista events.

National Wildlife Refuge Week at the Living Coast

When: Saturday and Sunday, October 10 and 11, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. · Where: Living Coast Discovery Center, 1000 Gunpowder Point Dr

The weekend celebrates the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge, where the center sits. The Saturday Sweetwater Safari Hike starts at 11:30 a.m. The center is open Wednesday through Sunday and closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Living Coast calendar.

Farm to Bay

When: Saturday, October 24, 3 to 6:30 p.m. · Where: Living Coast Discovery Center

The center’s big yearly fundraiser pairs food, bubbly drinks and animal ambassadors with sunset views over the bay. It is ticketed, and the center uses reusable or compostable serving ware. Farm to Bay details and tickets.

November: music on the bayfront and a night to remember loved ones

Navy Band Southwest at Bayfront Park

When: Sunday, November 1, 2 p.m. · Where: Chula Vista Bayfront Park

A free one-hour concert by the 40-member Navy Band Southwest opens San Diego Fleet Week, which runs November 1 to 15. Fleet Week schedule report.

Downtown Chula Vista Día de los Muertos

When: Monday, November 2, 3 p.m. · Where: Memorial Park Bowl, 373 Park Way, and Third Avenue

Free and open to everyone. Bring a photo of someone you miss to pin on the community ofrenda on Davidson Street, and look for the ofrenda competition and the Catrín and Catrina contest. Event listing.

Late November and December: lights, Santa and a parade

Dazzling Holiday Light Show and Snowfall

When: Opens Sunday, November 29, then every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through December 20, shows at 6 and 7 p.m. · Where: Village Walk at EastLake, 884 EastLake Pkwy

Two free 15-minute shows of falling snow and dancing lights, with carolers strolling between them and a musical performance before the first show. Children get free Magic Glasses. Village Walk 2026 events.

Santa arrives on the Holiday Express

When: Saturday, December 5, noon to 3 p.m. · Where: Village Walk at EastLake

Free train rides, free photos with Santa and a free craft for kids 12 and younger. On Sunday, December 6 from 4 to 6 p.m., Frosty and a life-size photo frame are there for free holiday-card photos. Village Walk 2026 events.

62nd Annual Starlight Parade and Festival

When: Saturday, December 5 · Where: Third Avenue, downtown Chula Vista

The South Bay’s classic holiday parade lights up Third Avenue with floats and festival activities for all ages. Check the parade site for the schedule as it is posted. Starlight Parade.

A short drive from EastLake

Two of San Diego’s biggest free holiday events fall on the same first weekend of December: Balboa Park December Nights (Friday, December 4, 4 to 10 p.m., and Saturday, December 5, noon to 10 p.m.) and, a little later, the San Diego Bay Parade of Lights on Sunday, December 13 and Sunday, December 20, starting at 5:30 p.m.

Tips for going

Look at the organizer’s page the day before. Times shift, and a few events sell out.
Evenings cool off quickly after sunset in December, so bring a layer for the light shows.
The December 5 weekend is busy. Starlight and the Village Walk Santa visit overlap, so pick one for the afternoon and the other for another weekend.

Thinking about making EastLake home? Rudy would be glad to talk it through. The four-question Home Strategy Quiz takes about a minute, and he will follow up personally.

Dates and times were checked on the organizers’ and cities’ own pages on October 3, 2026. Events can change or sell out, so open the linked page before you head out. This site is not affiliated with any event listed here.

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