Christmas on the Promenade: A snow-covered Winter Wonderland is just one of the highlights of San Diego’s newest holiday celebration, which goes from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m. Christmas on the Promenade is a festival of food, music, shopping and holiday festivities at NTC Promenade, Liberty Station, Point Loma. This new holiday event promises fun for the whole family and a return to the true Christmas spirit, with all proceeds benefiting San Diego nonprofit organizations. Admission is free and plentiful parking will be available. NTC Promenade is located at Rosecrans Officers Quarters A. (858) 320-2050, www.christmasonthepromenade.org.

Cheek2Cheek: Cheek2Cheek Dance Studio will teach an all women’s salsa class at 7:00 p.m., Ballroom will be taught to an all men’s class. Cheek2Cheek offers group and private lessons in all genres of partner and non-partner dancing, including ballroom (smooth and standard), Latin, rhythm, salsa, swing, country and more. They also offer ballet, jazz, modern dance and more for children and adults. Dance shoes can be provided. Tickets are $10 each. Cheek2Cheek Dance Studio is located at 909 Grand Ave. (858) 270-7100, www.cheek2cheek.net.

Weirdo Art Gallery: The grand opening of Fish out of Water Gallery will take place from 6:00 p.m. to 12:00 midnight. Work by amazing artists such as Mitch O’Connell, Extremo the Clown, R.S. Connett, Marco Almera, Dark Vomit, David Russell Talbot, Poor Al and many more will be featured. See the famous “Alligator Boy,” sit in a gas chamber chair from Salem State Penitentiary’s death row and get your picture taken with a life-size Jesus dressed up as Santa Claus. Fish out of Water Gallery is located at 2925 Lincoln Ave. www.darkvomit.com.

“Don We Now”: The San Diego Men’s Chorus presents “Don We Now” at 8:00 p.m. The concert will feature music by John Rutter, Harry Connick Jr., Mariah Carey and many more. Tickets are $20 and will be available for purchase at www.e-ticketsnow.com. Birch North Park Theatre is located at 2891 University Ave. (619) 239-8836.

Parade of Lights: More than 80,000 people are expected to cluster around San Diego’s downtown waterfront for the 35th annual Parade of Lights. Kicking off with a fireworks extravaganza at 5:30 p.m., this free, distinctly California celebration features boats decorated for the holiday season that will sail from the east end of Shelter Island into the downtown waterfront area. The waterfront park is located behind Seaport Village. Those planning to view the Parade of Lights from Harbor Island should arrive early, as parking in the area is at a premium. (619) 549-0860, www.sdparadeoflights.org

“An American Christmas”: The Hotel del Coronado’s glorious Grand Ballroom will open its doors as 6:30 p.m. Presented with Lamb’s Players Theatre, “An American Christmas” whisks guests back 100 years to a time when men wore silk top hats, women wore bustles and everyone spoke proper English. Dress in your holiday finest, if you attend this three-hour evening. Jackets are suggested for men. As for the interactive part, who knows? During the dinner party, you might become part of the show. The Hotel del Coronado is located at 1500 Orange Ave. in Coronado. Tickets are $75 to $100. (619) 435-6611, www.lambsplayers.org.

Watergate then, NSA now: John Dean, former White House counsel to President Nixon, will present a lecture titled “Spying, Secrecy and Presidential Power” at 7:00 p.m. at the University of San Diego’s Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice. There will be ample time for questions and dialogue. Revelations about warrantless spying on Americans by the National Security Agency have sparked a nationwide controversy and sharp questions from lawmakers across the spectrum. With his Washington contacts and understanding of politics, Dean will present an analysis of the conservative movement’s inner circle of radical leaders to describe the mindset and relationship of authoritarian leaders like Bush, Cheney, Gingrich and others with their followers. The event is free. The University of San Diego is located at 5998 Alcala Park. (619) 232-2121 ext. 26, rrauber@aclusandiego.org.

Free exhibits: As a public service to San Diego, most of the Balboa Park’s museums and galleries offer free admission on Tuesdays every month. Not every venue is free at the same time; the park rotates them on each Tuesday of the month. Admission to the following museum will be free on Dec. 12: Museum of Photographic Arts, Museum of San Diego History, Veteran’s Museum and Memorial Center. Balboa Park is located at 1549 El Prado. (619) 239-0512, www.balboapark.org.

Jazz at Jsix: Jsix Restaurant will feature Tokeli at 7:00 p.m. Tokeli’s sultry voice has often been compared with that of jazz newcomer Nora Jones. Tokeli has real versatility, capable of expressing melancholy and joy with equal aplomb. Tokeli shows different sides here; not all of her singing sounds the same. Her greater range allows her to experiment quite successfully. Also performing are Nathan Jarrell on guitar and Mack Leighton on bass. Jsix Restaurant is located at the Hotel Solamar, 435 Sixth Ave. (619) 531-8744, www.hotelsolamar.com.

Gentlemen’s Alliance Toy Drive Party: Stingaree will host the 13th annual Gentlemen’s Alliance Toy Drive Party at 9:00 p.m. Hosted by prominent businessmen in San Diego, including Stingaree owner James Brennan, this amazing holiday event brings thousands of San Diegans together to donate toys for needy children, which allows them complimentary entrance into a spectacular holiday party at the San Diego nightclub. All toys donated that night will be delivered on Christmas Eve via fire trucks to families in impoverished neighborhoods around San Diego County, and proceeds from the evening’s party will be donated to Toys for Tots. Entrance is free with the donation of a gift for a child. Stingaree is located at 454 Sixth Ave. (619) 544-9500, www.stingsandiego.com.