Holidays on the Central Coast: Things to Do in Morro Bay in December 2025
🎶 It’s the holiday season 🎶
We’ve entered the last month of 2025, and we want to help you make the most of the holiday season! There’s so much to do in and around Morro Bay during the month of December, from enjoying time outdoors with mild weather to taking in the dazzling lights at various holiday events around town.
The Dos Osos in Morro Bay’s Lighted Boat Parade
Here’s some of our favorite things to do in and around Morro Bay this December:
Morro Bay's Lighted Boat Parade
One of the most unique and spectacular holiday festivities that Morro Bay has to offer is the annual Lighted Boat Parade. Watch local vessels, adorned with Christmas lights, cruise up and down the bay on Saturday, December 13th at 6:00 pm. If you’d like to be a part of the parade, sign up to ride on one of our boats!
Visit Santa on the Embarcadero
A visit to Santa is a must for many families - and you can stop by and see him on the Embarcadero! Santa’s house is open Saturdays and Sundays between December 5th and December 21st between 5:00 and 8:00 pm! Learn more about this event here.
Winter Whale Watching
Whale watching is a year-round activity here in Morro Bay, and December is when we expect to see gray whales showing up on the central coast as they make their way down the coast to the warmer waters of Mexico. Plus, you never know what other marine life we’ll see on our trips! Bundle up, and join us for an ocean adventure. Book your trip here.
Winter Bird Watching
Whales aren’t the only creatures we’re seeing this season - you can also join us for a Winter Bird Watching Harbor Cruises! On our November trip, we identified 37 bird species as we cruised the harbor and estuary. Our December trips are happening on Sunday, December 14th at 12:30pm and December 21st at 3:00pm. Spots fill up fast, so if you’re interested, book your spot now!
Belted Kingfisher flying past an Osprey on November 2025 Bird Watching Harbor Cruise. Photo by Amy McKellar
Morro Bay's Holiday Tree Lighting
Morro Bay’s annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony is taking place on Friday, December 5th at the Morro Bay City Park. Activities begin at 3:30 pm and the lighting of the tree will take place at 5:00 pm. This is a great, family-friendly way to kick off the month of December with the Morro Bay community! Details for the event can be found on the event page.
Shop, Sip & Stroll
Morro Bay Chamber of Commerce is hosting their winter Shop, Sip & Stroll on Friday, December 12th from 4:00-8:00pm. Spend time connecting with the community, shopping for the holidays, and enjoying wine and small bites from local businesses, all with a festive twist! Tickets and additional information on the event can be found at the Morro Bay Chamber of Commerce website.
Cambria Christmas Market
A few miles up the coast from Morro Bay is one of San Luis Obispo County’s favorite holiday traditions: The Cambria Christmas Market. This event, taking place all month long, includes an incredible light display and authentic German Christmas Market. Event details and ticket information can be found at the event website.
Kayak, Canoe, or Paddle Board
One of the best parts about the central coast is that temperatures stay warm enough to paddle the bay even in December! If you’d like to experience a winter kayaking, canoeing, or paddle boarding adventure, we’ve got you covered! Rentals are available from our dock at 699 Embarcadero on a first come, first serve basis daily.