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Thanksgiving Weekend Kicks Off Holiday Season in Downtown San Luis Obispo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA
Monday, November 24, 2025

Thanksgiving Weekend Kicks Off Holiday Season in Downtown San Luis Obispo

Santa’s House Opens, Lights in Mission Plaza Turn On, and Shop Local Promotions Begin on Friday, November 28

Downtown SLO, in partnership with the City of San Luis Obispo, is delighted to kick off the holiday season with a variety of free, family-friendly events. Garage parking is free in downtown SLO all weekend long! (Thursday–Sunday)

Santa’s House Opening Day Celebration

Friday, November 28, 2025

Families can watch Santa ride into Mission Plaza on a firetruck and enjoy a live performance from the SLO County Band, celebrating the opening of all the fun in the Plaza.

11:45 AM: SLO County Band performance begins

12:30 PM: Santa rides through downtown

1:00 PM: Santa’s House opens

Light up the Plaza!

Friday, November 28, 2025

The community is invited to join Downtown SLO, the City of SLO, sponsors, and community partners to "switch on" the lights in the Plaza, ushering in the start of the 2025 holiday season.

4:30 PM: Central Coast Gilbert & Sullivan Carolers performance begins

5:00 PM: Remarks from Downtown SLO, City of SLO, and Holiday Plaza sponsors

5:10 PM: Light switch flip

Thanksgiving Weekend: Black Friday & Small Business Saturday

Friday, November 28, 2025 & Saturday, November 29, 2025

Free Tote Bags & Pins

Downtown SLO is distributing free “Shop Local” tote bags and pins on Black Friday and Small Business Saturday! To receive these items, shoppers can stop by the Downtown SLO Office on November 28 or 29 from 10–2 PM. Every shopper who picks up free goodies will also receive a voucher for one hour of free garage parking on their next visit downtown. All items are available while supplies last.

Thanksgiving Weekend Map Challenge

Shoppers can join in on a one-weekend-only challenge for a chance to win a grand prize! Participation is free, and registration is open now!

For every three participating businesses marked “visited”, participants will be entered into a drawing for the following grand prize:

  • Complimentary one-night stay at Hotel Cerro
  • $100 gift certificate to Spa Cerro
  • $100 to spend downtown

Those who visit all participating businesses can receive the maximum number of entries. Information regarding registration and how it works can be found at DowntownSLO.com/ShopHolidays.

Thanksgiving Weekend Sales & Promotions

Dozens of downtown businesses are offering Black Friday and Small Business Saturday promotions or sales. The map of promotions can be found at DowntownSLO.com/ShopHolidays.

Buy Local Bonus

November 28, 2025 – December 24, 2025 (or until sold out)

Shoppers can get rewarded for buying local — those who spend $100 or more at locally-owned retailers can earn a $25 gift card to another local business. Those interested can learn more at SLOCity.org/BuyLocalBonus.

Buy Local Bonus is a program by the City of San Luis Obispo and the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce.

More Events Throughout the Season

49th Annual Holiday Parade: “Candy Cane Lane”

Friday, December 5, 2025 | 7–9 PM

Presented by Friday Night Lights Youth Flag Football
In Partnership with the City of San Luis Obispo

The community is invited to join Downtown SLO for the largest holiday parade on the Central Coast on Friday, December 5, 2025! The 2025 theme will be “Candy Cane Lane,” as voted on by Downtown SLO’s Instagram followers in July 2025. Parade participants are encouraged to decorate their floats with inspirations of gumdrops, lollipops, sugar, spice, and everything nice!

The Annual Downtown SLO Holiday Parade has drawn thousands to downtown San Luis Obispo since 1976. Held on the first Friday in December, the parade has become a much-loved holiday tradition along the Central Coast for locals and visitors alike. Nearly 90 decorated floats, marching bands, vehicles, dancers, and more will march in the parade. Information regarding the route, accommodations, and more can be found at DowntownSLO.com/Parade. The parade will occur rain or shine!

Downtown SLO is delighted to announce that Robin Covey and Shanny Covey will be honored as the Grand Marshals for the 49th Annual Holiday Parade. Longtime owners of downtown restaurants Luna Red and Novo, Robin and Shanny’s dedication to downtown has been instrumental in shaping San Luis Obispo’s vibrant culinary scene. Through their restaurant success, commitment to excellence, and passion for celebrating San Luis Obispo’s local agriculture, including the Downtown SLO Farmers’ Market, they have not only elevated the standard of hospitality but also served as cornerstones of downtown’s continued success.

Lights, Sights, & Family Fun in Mission Plaza

Opens Friday, November 28, 2025

In partnership with the City of San Luis Obispo
Presented by the San Luis Obispo Collection

Mission Plaza is the heart of downtown San Luis Obispo, and the centerpiece for all of the holiday magic throughout the district. Families and friends can visit Santa at Santa's House, ride the Classic Carousel, take photos in front of festive decorations, walk through animated, lighted displays, experience a nightly music-synced light and snow show, and explore brand-new light activations along the creek!

Classic Carousel

Children can ride the Classic Carousel in Mission Plaza beginning Friday, November 28, 2025. Hours of operation will run in tandem with Santa’s House hours. Guests can purchase one ride for $4, or three rides for $10.

Festive Photo Spots & Holiday Tree

The community is invited to experience larger-than-life lighted backdrops and displays that sparkle during the day and dazzle at night! The giant decorated tree, walk-through ornament, photo wreath, sit-in sleigh, giant SLO letters, and more offer the perfect backdrop for holiday photos with family and friends!

Dazzling Light & Snow Show

The Broad Street end of Mission Plaza will be home to the walk-through animated light tunnel — visitors can stop by in the evenings for a music-synced light and snow show that incorporates both the tunnel and other elements of the Plaza. The nightly show will happen every 30 minutes, subject to change based on special events at the Mission or in the Plaza.

Creekside Light Activations

This year, the San Luis Obispo Creek walk, adjacent to Mission Plaza, will also be sparkling with overhead pathway lights, focused fixtures to brighten and bring depth to the creek waterbed, and holiday pattern projection on the Warden Bridge.

Hanukkah Downtown

The SLO Jewish community is honored to continue its annual tradition of lighting the public menorah each night of Hanukkah in Mission Plaza. This beloved celebration unites friends, families, and neighbors from across the Central Coast to connect, rejoice, and share in the warmth of the holiday. 

On the first night of Hanukkah (Sunday, December 14, 2025), JCC SLO will kick off the festivities with a community celebration, featuring candle lighting, songs, dreidel games, family-friendly activities, and treats. More information about Hanukkah Downtown can be found at jccslo.com.

Santa’s House

Open Friday, November 28–Wednesday, December 24, 2025

Presented by Adventist Health

Santa will once again fly from the North Pole to his winter residence in Mission Plaza — families are invited to meet him, recite their wish list, and pose for photos. Guests can purchase one of three photo packages: take-your-own ($10), printed souvenir photo ($15), or a combination of both ($20).

Santa’s House schedule:

  • Thurs–Sun | 1–6:30 PM
  • *Monday, December 22, 2025 | 1–6:30 PM
  • *Tuesday, December 23, 2025 | 1–6:30 PM
  • *Wednesday, December 24, 2025 | 10 AM–1 PM

Santa’s House hours are subject to change due to rain or inclement weather conditions. Downtown SLO is actively recruiting volunteer elves to assist with Santa’s House operations throughout the season. Those interested can fill out the form at SLOHolidays.com. 

Letters to Santa

Children can find the mailbox outside of Santa’s House and mail their wishlist to the North Pole by Thursday, December 18, 2025, for a response back from Santa.

Free Parking Garage Days

The City of San Luis Obispo is offering free parking in all three downtown parking garages on the following days:

  • Thanksgiving Weekend: 11/27, 11/28, 11/29, 11/30
  • Every Sunday in December: 12/1, 12/8, 12/14, 12/22, 12/29
  • Christmas Eve/Day: 12/24, 12/25
  • New Year’s Eve/Day: 12/31, 1/1

More information about parking downtown can be found at SLOCity.org/Parking.

Holiday Trolley

This holiday season, the City of San Luis Obispo is encouraging the community to make taking a ride on the Trolley a new Holiday tradition. Folks can enjoy free rides all season long, thanks to sponsorship from Know How To Go, a program of the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG).

Sponsors & Partners

Downtown SLO wants to thank all the sponsors and partners who make this event possible.

For More Information

Press Kit | Website | Instagram | Facebook

Poster artwork for the 2025 holiday season was illustrated by Bijou Burns.

About Downtown SLO

Founded in 1975, Downtown SLO is a 501c6 nonprofit organization whose mission is to foster an economically vibrant downtown San Luis Obispo. Representing businesses within the city's Business Improvement Area, as well as voluntary members and community partners, Downtown SLO collaborates closely with the City of San Luis Obispo to support a thriving, vibrant city center. The organization is known for producing beloved community events like the weekly Thursday Night Farmers’ Market, the Annual Holiday Parade, and Concerts in the Plaza.

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