You think you know Thanksgiving — but you probably don’t know the San Diego version. The city may not get snow for the holidays, but it has its own distinct twists on Turkey Day that most people never hear about. From historic harvest feasts to surfing before the big meal, here are some surprising traditions and facts that make Thanksgiving in San Diego uniquely its own.
- Thanksgiving Proclamation of 1906
- After the catastrophic 1906 San Francisco earthquake, Thanksgiving took on deeper meaning across California. Gov. George C. Pardee designated Nov. 29, 1906, as a day of general thanksgiving, recognizing the state’s resilience after one of the deadliest disasters in U.S. history (California State Archives, Doc15344).
2. Old Town Harvest Feasts
Long before turkey took center stage, early settlers in Old Town gathered for harvest-style meals featuring corn, beans, squash, and wild game. These celebrations blended Mexican and Indigenous food traditions, creating one of the earliest regional expressions of Thanksgiving in California.
3. Mission Thanksgiving Celebrations
At Mission San Diego de Alcalá, Spanish missionaries and local Indigenous communities reportedly held annual harvest observances. These events combined religious rituals with communal feasting to mark the end of the growing season.
4. Balboa Park Public Festivities…