By michael-leonard creditor / flexible fotography
Like many San Diegans, I came from elsewhere. Both other places I have lived are in colder climes, so when I first came here (on a short winter vacation that became permanent) I was fascinated with the way Christmas is celebrated in warm latitudes. Like flocking of Christmas trees to simulate snow. What? I never even heard of that until I got to SoCal.
But what I really like is not ways that cold-weather traditions are mutated, but rather the original ways that a holiday associated with winter and being indoors is celebrated in warm weather.
San Diego has some unique ways of celebrating Christmas that are dependent on the warm climate. Like the holiday parades in many San Diego neighborhoods, which would be misery in, say, New York City. (A Thanksgiving parade is one thing; a month later would be something else entirely.) Christmas trees as a community project, and Santa arriving on a surfboard — or a Class-A — instead of a sleigh, are others.
Now, these things may seem old hat today. But I got here a while ago: 1982, when not only was San Diego the only place I ever knew of with a Christmas boat parade, but there were two.
By the way, I call them all “Christmas” parades in the captions because back then all these holiday functions were called Christmas whatevers. The names have all become more inclusive except for the community of La Jolla, which refuses to expand their “Christmas” Parade to include other holidays.
So, here’s a photographic look at some of those unique, very San Diego, holiday celebrations.
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Rudolf, PB StyleAlong with Santa arriving atop a fire truck, this is one indelible warm-weather Christmas image for me. At the 1991 Pacific Beach Christmas Parade. -
I.B. HoneyAt the 1991 Pacific Beach Christmas Parade. -
Shriner-MobilesLined up before the start of one or another of these parades; Shriners have a contingent at just about all of them. This one is from 1998. -
Kids Contingent, La Jolla Christmas Parade, 1989.This group was from one of the local elementary schools. I don’t know where the clown came from. -
La Jolla Christmas Parade FloatI guess BofA was feeling flush that year. On the other hand, look at the “costumes” of the ladies on the float. -
Headline: Grinch Arrested!Fittingly enough, it happened in La Jolla at the 1995 Christmas Parade. -
Christmas Lights; A Nice HouseSome lighting displays are too sparse, some are too much; this one I thought was just right. I especially liked the use of luminarias around the central walkway. -
An Explosion of ChristmasThere’s a technique to making successful zoom shots – or, more accurately, several techniques. But there’s also some luck involved. This one turned out quite well. -
Christmas on the Prado; Reindeer in FlightI don’t go to the December Nights anymore. Way too crowded for me now. -
Christmas on the Prado; Elf ChorusI don’t go to the December Nights anymore. Way too crowded for me now. -
OB Tree, ’94The beautiful purple sky was courtesy of several volcanoes which erupted that year and made many photographers happy. -
San Diego Bay Boat Parade of Lights; Image 12018 is the 47th year running for this wonderful event, so perfect for a sea-faring and boating city. I got these shots in 1996. -
San Diego Bay Boat Parade of Lights; Image 22018 is the 47th year running for this wonderful event, so perfect for a sea-faring and boating city. I got these shots in 1996. -
San Diego Bay Boat Parade of Lights; Image 32018 is the 47th year running for this wonderful event, so perfect for a sea-faring and boating city. I got these shots in 1996. -
San Diego Bay Boat Parade of Lights; Image 42018 is the 47th year running for this wonderful event, so perfect for a sea-faring and boating city. I got these shots in 1996. -
Christmas RVs; LineupIn 1992 some folks who didn’t have boats but did own campers or RVs got the idea to have a boat parade on land. About 10 to a dozen gathered at Fiesta Island and motored around Mission Bay with Santa Claus on top of one and a caravan of cars trailing along behind them. I don’t know if it was ever done again after that, but it sure was a San Diego kind of holiday thing. -
Christmas RVs; A Mobile PortraitIn 1992 some folks who didn’t have boats but did own campers or RVs got the idea to have a boat parade on land. About 10 to a dozen gathered at Fiesta Island and motored around Mission Bay with Santa Claus on top of one and a caravan of cars trailing along behind them. I don’t know if it was ever done again after that, but it sure was a San Diego kind of holiday thing. -
Christmas RVs; Santa's Class-A SleighIn 1992 some folks who didn’t have boats but did own campers or RVs got the idea to have a boat parade on land. About 10 to a dozen gathered at Fiesta Island and motored around Mission Bay with Santa Claus on top of one and a caravan of cars trailing along behind them. I don’t know if it was ever done again after that, but it sure was a San Diego kind of holiday thing. -
Christmas RVs; Here Comes SantaIn 1992 some folks who didn’t have boats but did own campers or RVs got the idea to have a boat parade on land. About 10 to a dozen gathered at Fiesta Island and motored around Mission Bay with Santa Claus on top of one and a caravan of cars trailing along behind them. I don’t know if it was ever done again after that, but it sure was a San Diego kind of holiday thing. -
Christmas RVs; Mobile Good WishesIn 1992 some folks who didn’t have boats but did own campers or RVs got the idea to have a boat parade on land. About 10 to a dozen gathered at Fiesta Island and motored around Mission Bay with Santa Claus on top of one and a caravan of cars trailing along behind them. I don’t know if it was ever done again after that, but it sure was a San Diego kind of holiday thing. -
Holiday Lights; Good WishesBack in those heady days of the 80s and 90s, ostentatious neighborhood lighting displays were everywhere and some folks made it a regular holiday season thing to drive through them. They were so popular that some commercial lighting displays, with admission charges, were created. One such was, for several years, at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. The lighting displays were designed to be driven past and through; just like a Candy Cane Lane, but with an admission charge. -
Holiday Lights; X-Mas LightsBack in those heady days of the 80s and 90s, ostentatious neighborhood lighting displays were everywhere and some folks made it a regular holiday season thing to drive through them. They were so popular that some commercial lighting displays, with admission charges, were created. One such was, for several years, at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. The lighting displays were designed to be driven past and through; just like a Candy Cane Lane, but with an admission charge. -
Holiday Lights; Tunnel of LightsBack in those heady days of the 80s and 90s, ostentatious neighborhood lighting displays were everywhere and some folks made it a regular holiday season thing to drive through them. They were so popular that some commercial lighting displays, with admission charges, were created. One such was, for several years, at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. The lighting displays were designed to be driven past and through; just like a Candy Cane Lane, but with an admission charge. -
First Night; Teen RevelersWhile begun in colder climes, First Night New Years Eve celebrations are tailor made for warm-weather locales. And, because it’s totally non-alcoholic, First Night is great for “the younger set” to party. This was First Night in downtown San Diego, 1995. -
First Night; Midnight KissWhile begun in colder climes, First Night New Years Eve celebrations are tailor made for warm-weather locales. And, because it’s totally non-alcoholic, First Night is great for “the younger set” to party. This was First Night in downtown San Diego, 1995.
All photos © michael-leonard creditor / full-size images @ flexible fotography
Michael-Leonard Creditor
Born in Tucson AZ; reared in Brooklyn NY; lived in Portland OR; currently inhabiting Clairemont.
Three main professions: photographer, folklorist, radio program host.
Philosopher, Humanist, and life-long Liberal.
Latest posts by Michael-Leonard Creditor (see all)
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