By Kai Oliver-Kurtin | SDUN Reporter

The 35th annual Balboa Park December Nights is expected to draw over 300,000 people for a festive, multicultural celebration Friday and Saturday, Dec. 7 – 8. As San Diego’s largest free community festival, December Nights brings music, food and entertainment to the park in honor of the holidays.

The public is invited to roam the park’s 15 major museums, which will be offering free admission from 5 to 9 p.m. both nights.

“December Nights is … held as a goodwill gesture to the community,” said Debbie Petruzzelli, the Balboa Park’s public relations manager. “We give away about $700,000 worth of free admissions that weekend, so the event is really a gift to the people of San Diego.”

Just one event over the two-day weekend, on the Organ Pavilion stage members of Del Cerro Baptist Church will perform their 26th annual musical production of “The Christmas Story,” while gathered around a 30-foot tree.

“Their performance is always a highlight event,” Petruzzelli said. “It takes an entire week just to build the tree.”

Not far from the brightly lit tree, the House of Pacific Relations International Cottages will have eclectic food and drinks from around the world, and various performances representing their nation’s culture.

“December Nights gives people an opportunity to walk through San Diego’s cultural treasures,” Petruzzelli said. “It lets the cultural organizations really shine.”

Also in the spotlight, the San Diego Junior Theatre, San Diego Civic Youth Ballet and San Diego Civic Dance Arts will each hold performances at various park locations, while The Old Globe Theatre will offer music and docent-led tours, and the Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater will present puppet shows.

December Nights kicks off Friday at 5 p.m. and begins at noon on Saturday, with both nights wrapping up at 10 p.m. For more information, visit balboapark.org/decembernights.