From Las Posadas in Old Town to ziplining in Wrightwood

Pauseworthy gift paper

Fashion Valley, Westfield UTC, Del Mar Highlands Town Center

The wrapping paper is your gift’s equivalent of a first impression, its chance to dress up for the party. It doesn’t need to be fancy, but what means need? Papyrus offers pauseworthy paper that runs the gamut from festive to elegant, whether it’s embossed, embroidered, glittered, holographic, highlighted with foil, hand-dipped for a marbled effect, or just printed with gorgeous vintage holiday images. Rolls run $5.95–$9.95; individual sheets, $3.95–$10.95. Ribbon provides the finishing touch: metallic, organdy, wired, double-faced satin, or glitter. Lots of glitter. Ten-foot spools are $4.95–$6.95, or buy by the yard at $2.95–$5.95.

Lovely wreaths

Old Town

A region-friendly seed store (fragrant wildflower mix, $4; green zebra heirloom tomatoes, $3.50) that is also an expertly curated curio shop. It’s hard to imagine a lovelier wreath selection (magnolia and oak leaves, $65; manzanita twigs, $45, rose hips, $45; bay leaves, $45; lichen, $55), or another place to buy wrapping paper decorated with vegetables ($9.50), or Burpee’s seed catalog illustrations ($8.99). Plus, stationery, books, and decorations.

Breakfast with Santa

Seaport Village

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day when you’re getting ready to spend eight straight hours listening to kids ask for an iPhone 6 Plus. It’s also important if you’re getting ready to stand in line for eight hours to ask for an iPhone 6 Plus. So yes, Santa eats breakfast, and on December 13th and 14th from 9:00–10:30 a.m., you and the kids can join him at the Harbor House restaurant. After you eat, stick around for pictures with the jolly old man in red, face-painting, balloon artists, a show, and a little something for the kids. Reservations required; call early for your spot.

Winter ziplining

Wrightwood

Yes, it’s out of town — 140 miles out of town. But Navitat Ziplining Canopy Adventures offers the highest and fastest ziplines in Southern California: up to 55 miles per hour over the (possibly snow-covered) treetops of the San Gabriel Mountains. Two winter tours are available: the Canopy tour, which runs three and a half hours and involves eight ziplines, four bridges, and a rappel; and the Quest tour, which runs 90 minutes and includes four ziplines and a “free-fall” rappel. Participants must be at least 10 years old and between 90 and 250 pounds. Safety training is included!

Las Posadas

Old Town

Midway through its journey from Chinese agricultural totem to American birthday stable, the piñata became a symbol of the faithful Christian’s struggle against temptation. (We swing by faith and not by sight....) In Mexico, piñatas got broken at the end of Las Posadas, a re-enactment of Mary and Joseph’s journey through Bethlehem in search of lodging. The Old Town State Historic Park will hold its 63rd annual Posadas on Sunday, December 14, beginning at 2:30 p.m. with carolers and a children’s choir in the park. The re-enactment procession begins at 5:00 p.m. with a piñata party to follow at 6:00.

Santa on a fire engine = awesome squared

North Park

Question for our resident Hipster DJ Stevens: is it possible to attend a parade ironically? No matter: “San Diego’s most joyful parade” was around long before North Park’s hipsterfication. It runs down University between Utah and Iowa, and carrying with it Santa Claus on a fire engine, antique cars, beauty queens, marching bands, dancers, floats, performers, and all the rest of it. (Why should the July 4 get all the fun?) The parade runs from 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m., but it’s sandwiched by the neighborhood’s Toyland Festival, which starts at 10:00 a.m. and ends at 4:30 p.m. All-day parking is available at the North Park parking garage for $1.