San Diego College Bowl Games
Football fans in San Diego rejoice! Two college bowl games during holiday season are special gifts to you. The Poinsettia Bowl lets you celebrate before Christmas, while the Holiday Bowl after Christmas extends the seasonal joy. Both games come with lots of events that everyone in the family, even those who aren’t football fanatics, can enjoy.
Poinsettia Bowl
The Poinsettia Bowl will take place at Qualcomm Stadium on December 21, but the fun starts even sooner. College marching bands will face off in their own battle in the Gaslamp Quarter on December 19. You can join the teams for lunch on the USS Midway the day before the big game. And on game day, you don’t have to wait for the opening kickoff to head to the stadium. Join the VIP tailgate party or enjoy wintry fun like sledding at the Winterfest.
Holiday Bowl
The Holiday Bowl is also at Qualcomm Stadium, on December 27. Once again, you can start enjoying the fun before the teams take to the field. Meet with players and coaches at the kickoff luncheon, and watch their marching bands. If you want to burn off some calories before indulging in stadium food, join in the Bumble Bee 5K Run in the morning on game day. Follow it by viewing the Holiday Bowl Parade, the biggest balloon parade in the country. Head to the stadium for a VIP tailgate party or Fanzone, where you can test your own football skills.
Stay Near the Stadium
You can fill a whole week with bowl-related activities in San Diego, so you’ll want to stay at a hotel like Best Western Plus Island Palms. Our Shelter Island location lets you easily get to the stadium and all the rest of San Diego’s attractions. You can join in the action, celebrate your team’s victory in the Blue Wave Bar and Grill or retreat to our serene location to recover if your team loses.