Holiday Wonderland at Petco Park: Is It Worth It?
Holiday Wonderland is a December fixture downtown now, and plenty of people have gone and shared their take. Below are the best written reviews, first-hand accounts and video walk-throughs of the Holiday Market at Petco Park, all in one place, so you can size it up before you buy tickets.Holiday Wonderland Reviews: Where to Read Them
“Worth it” depends on who you ask. A kid meeting Santa and a couple hunting for mulled wine are going to walk out with very different opinions. The best way to know if it fits your crew is to hear from people who’ve already been. The reviews, write-ups and videos below take the guesswork out of what you’re getting for your money. For the specifics, see what to expect inside Gallagher Square.One tip: give recent reviews more weight. The event changes a little every season, so last year’s take counts for more than a video from 2021.
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Written Reviews & First-Hand Accounts
YelpThe Holiday Market has a page on Yelp. Worth a skim before you go, and worth adding to after.
Reddit never runs short on opinions. True to form, one Redditor on r/SanDiegan asks it flat out: Holiday Market at Petco Park – worth it? The replies are a good read on what locals actually think.
San Diego Explorer
“Honest Review” (2023)
Written by someone who grew up with German Christmas markets, so the comparison comes built in. It’s a balanced take: the good (photo ops, free kids’ activities) and the not-so-good (pricey drinks, a commercial feel).
The Falconer
Student Perspective (2024)
A Torrey Pines student journalist’s take on the 2024 market, with vendor interviews (Twylla’s Spices, for one), a look at the $20 million Gallagher Square renovation and reactions from first-time visitors. Good for seeing how the market has grown.
There San Diego
Event Preview (December 2024)
A promotional but useful preview of the 2024 market: the 40-foot tree, nightly snowfall and a rundown of specific activities and vendors.
Le Travel Style
The Holiday Market makes the cut in their Ultimate San Diego Christmas Activities roundup.
FOX 5 San Diego
Local TV coverage of the market’s return. A quick read if you just want the headlines.
Video Reviews
Video is the next best thing to going. You see it for yourself and make your own call, and the comments pile on even more opinions.TikTok has a TON of content. On YouTube, Big Red Journeys does a merry, very thorough walk-through: 20 minutes of artisan vendors, food, holiday characters and lights. Chris Gault shares his visit to Gallagher Square: “It was a lot of fun!” The San Diego Union-Tribune’s Annie Heilbrunn strolled through in 2021. And Jaycation, who visited in 2022, disagrees with the carnival crowd: “Brings me back to the traditional christmas markets in Germany!”
Keep Planning
Seen enough reviews? Here’s the rest of what you need:- Complete guide to the Holiday Market at Petco Park
- Tickets and pricing
- What to expect inside
- Holiday Market map
- Vendor info
- Coupons and promo codes
Still on the fence? The San Diego Christmas Guide’s verdict has the full scorecard, pros & cons and an FAQ, broken down by who’s going: families, couples, shoppers and Christmas-market purists.
In from out of town? Find more things to do downtown and a hotel near Petco Park.
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