From December Nights -- featuring "Santa One," the most famous aircraft of all time, which Santa has personally flown around the world every Christmas Eve delivering toys to children -- to a guest appearance by the Mission Control mobile classroom in the annual Holiday Bowl Parade, the holiday season is a busy time at the San Diego Air & Space Museum!

The fun kicks off with December Nights on Friday Dec. 6 and Saturday Dec. 7 at Museum in Balboa Park, where we will have festive holiday-themed activities both inside and outside the Museum. The highlight of December Nights at the San Diego Air & Space Museum is “Santa One” which has been lovingly restored in the Museum’s world-famous restoration shop and includes bright red paint and gold trim and lettering. “Santa One’s” placement in the Museum's Golden Age of Flight perfectly fits its historic aircraft collection.  "Santa One" will remain on display throughout the holidays, including during December Nights, when the Museum will be open from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday Dec. 6-7 during the annual holiday-themed celebration in Balboa Park.

In addition to "Santa One," December Nights at the San Diego Air & Space Museum's features fun crafts and activities for kids, a DJ spinning holiday tunes, decorations, and festive drinks and food for purchase.

On Friday Dec. 27, the Museum’s "Mission Control" mobile classroom will once again take center stage at this year’s Port of San Diego Holiday Bowl parade in downtown San Diego, one the most festive and anticipated local events of the holiday season. Known as “America’s Largest Balloon Parade,” this year’s Holiday Bowl parade begins at 10 a.m., rain or shine!

Throughout the holidays, the Museum’s Gift Shop is a great place to find a special and unique present for all of the aviation enthusiasts in your life. Our gift shop offers hundreds of gift ideas, including airplane models, books, t-shirts, jackets, backpacks, posters, coffee and beer mugs, collectables, gliders, movies and DVDs, water bottles, telescopes, hats, educational toys and games, patriotic patches, stickers and pins, robotic kits, parachute launchers, jigsaw puzzles, jewelry, plaques autographed by astronauts, space food, and much, much more. The Gift Shop is opening during normal business hours, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. seven-days-a-week except Christmas Day.