It’s “Giving Tuesday” and you’ve probably seen a lot of email and social media calls for support from San Diego non-profits today. Here at the Mom’s Guide, we want to give something to YOU!
Each week this month we will profile one of our favorite San Diego non-profits and give you the chance to enter to win a membership, admission or event ticket in support of that organization. We start today with the San Diego Botanic Garden.
What we love: Get out of the house and enjoy nature as a family with wonderful weekly mommy & me programs, Family Thursday Night events all summer long and amazing special events including the Fairy Festival, the Lady Bug Festival and the upcoming Garden of Lights.
Enjoy the garden’s 37 acres of year-round blooms and special children’s gardens like Seeds of Wonder, designed for pre-school age children, and the Hamilton Children’s Garden, with its multi-level tree house and rope ladders.
What we’re offering: Enter for your chance to win a 2018 family membership to the San Diego Botanic Garden by leaving a comment below. If you become our winner, all year long you’ll have free access to the gardens, most special events, complimentary guest passes and complimentary parking.
When we’re going: December is our favorite month to visit for the Garden of Lights event with Christmas carolers, snow sledding, marshmallow roasting and horse drawn carriage rides. The event kicks off this weekend and continues through the month from 5 – 9 p.m. (closed on 12/24 and 12/25).
photo credits: San Diego Botanic Garden Facebook Page
Tickets are $10 for members, $5 for children ages 3-12 and $15-$20 for non member adults, depending on the day.
Use this chart to help you plan your visit. The snow forecast is a “Best Guess” prediction based on information available at the time of posting. All snow activity days are dependent upon weather conditions and subject to change.
2017 Garden of Lights Activities Calendar
| DATE | % Chance of Snow* |
Mulled Wine** |
Entertainment | Horse & Wagon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Sat, Dec 2 |
100% |
YES |
Stage 4 Jazz wishing you a musical Holiday Season |
NO |
| Sun, Dec 3 |
75% |
YES | Peace on Earth Carolers – A Victorian Christmas |
NO |
| Mon, Dec 4 |
100% |
YES | The guitar & vocal sounds of ‘JJ’ Jenkins | NO |
| Tue, Dec 5 |
75% |
YES | Stage 4 Jazz wishing you a musical Holiday Season | NO |
| Wed, Dec 6 |
50% |
YES | Ecke YMCA dance group | NO |
| Thur, Dec 7 |
100% |
YES | Carlsbad Community Theatre | NO |
| Fri, Dec 8 |
75% |
YES | Latin Holidays with The Ray Briz Trio | NO |
| Sat, Dec 9 |
100% |
YES | Glen Fisher Trio wishing you Happy Holidays | YES |
| Sun, Dec 10 |
75% |
YES | Retro Holiday Celebration-The Jolly Holidays | YES |
| Mon, Dec 11 |
50% |
YES | Retro Holiday Celebration-The Jolly Holidays | YES |
| Tue, Dec 12 |
25% |
YES | Moonlight Youth Holiday Stars |
YES |
| Wed, Dec 13 |
25% |
YES | The guitar & vocal sounds of ‘JJ’ Jenkins | YES |
| Thur, Dec 14 |
N/A |
YES | Sacha Boutros singing in the Holiday Season | YES |
| Fri, Dec 15 |
N/A |
YES | Latin Rhythms with Tommy Aros |
YES |
| Sat, Dec 16 |
N/A |
YES | Tripp Sprague wishing you a Jazzy season | YES |
| Sun, Dec 17 |
N/A |
YES | Mariachi holiday celebration | YES |
| Mon, Dec 18 |
N/A |
YES | Retro Holiday Celebration with The Jolly Holidays | YES |
| Tue, Dec 19 |
N/A |
YES | Janet Hammer’s ‘Sweathearts’ trio | YES |
| Wed, Dec 20 |
N/A |
YES | Stage 4 Jazz wishing you a musical Holiday Season | YES |
| Thur, Dec 21 |
N/A |
YES | Highland Way X-Mas Show | YES |
| Fri, Dec 22 |
N/A |
YES | Jimmer Bolden Quartet wishing you Jazzy Holidays | YES |
| Sat, Dec 23 |
N/A |
YES | Leonard Patton singing in the Holidays | YES |
| Tue, Dec 26 |
100% |
YES | Janet Hammer celebrating with Double Take | YES |
| Wed, Dec 27 |
75% |
YES | Joe Rathburn- An Eclectic Accoustic Holiday | YES |
| Thur, Dec 28 |
100% |
YES |
Latin Holidays with the Glen Fisher Trio |
YES |
| Fri, Dec 29 |
75% |
YES | Leonard Patton wishing you Happy Holidays | YES |
| Sat, Dec 30 |
50% |
YES | Len Rainey & the Midnight Players- Bluesy Holidays | YES |
Fine print: The winner of our giving Tuesday/December contest will be announced on December 23rd. Each week a different non-profit will be highlighted, and readers are invited to enter for a chance to win a membership or admission. All entries will be collected and entered. One entry will be randomly selected to win and awarded the prize of their choice. Readers may enter every week during the month of December. Only one name and prize will be selected.
I am planning to take my preschooler to the Fairy event this year, and would love to check out thr other events with her! It’s so nice to take a break from all the busyness and enjoy nature!
This looks fun! Thank you and Good luck everyone.
Throwing our hat in the ring! San Diego is such a kids wonderland. Thanks for reminding us of all the amazing adventures to be had. 😉
We love this place!
We had a blast at the Garden of Lights last Christmas. We would love to go back :).
I’ve never seen the lights here!
My family loves the outdoors and would love to be considered for this.
We really enjoy going here.
My family loves the Birch Aquarium. It would be great to visit again!
We’ve yet to explore this place much. We would love to be considered!
The Garden of Lights sounds so pretty!
We have never been to the botanical gardens as a family. Would love a membership to check it out.
One of our favorite places ! Would love to win ! Thanks Moms Guide
We would love to win passes!
Haven’t been in so long and would love to go back!
Sign me up! Loved the times I been there, but I have never been to any of their events. Thanks.
This place sounds amazing! We would love to win the membership.
Incredible natural garden escape from our busy world. Would love to have a membership!
Such a fantastic place!!! A true gem.
Such a wonderful place!
I have never been to the gardens. I have always wanted to go and take my family. This would be so great!
Now that my son is 2 1/2 years old we would love to check out the gardens never been!
What an amazing opportunity ! We love exploring San Diego County and have not had the opportunity
of going to the botanical garden. From looking at the website it seems like such an Amazon place !
What a cool opportunity! My family would really enjoy annual passes to the SDBG, there is so much to see and do there!
This is amazing! You rock Moms Guide!
Camden would love this!
Thanks for giving on GIVING TUESDAY! 😊
Oh how fun, we love this place! Thank you so much fir this opportunity.
I’d love a membership so I could explore the botanical garden with my little guy!
We have heard so many amazing thing about the botanical gardens and all the events. We would love to be able to go all the time! We would
Love the membership! Thank you!
My kids and I love outdoor activities
I’ve never been. I would love to take my family!
We love the botanical garden! And would love a membership:)