The best time of year to visit Balboa Park must surely be during the City's celebration of December Nights. The Park is aglow with seasonal festivities and all the International Cottages are putting forth the effort known and loved by all – the International Christmas Festival!

Join the throngs of San Diegans and visitors who come to our Cottage to see, hear and SMELL Christmas as it is celebrated in our land. The House of Finland takes great pride in putting on a show for the Season, with the cottage decked out in winter finery and frippery, complete with straw goats (yes goats) and Santa Claus and his merry elves. See pictures of Finland in the wintertime, covered in clean, bright snow and lit by candles throughout the long winter months.

Above all, and surely the reason we all love this time of year, is the delicious taste of Finnish Christmas treats. The cuisine is wholesome, hearty, nourishing and always homemade by our own many Mrs. Clauses, ably assisted by the beautiful daughters of our House families. There is a dish to tempt everyone who relishes the thought of solid winter cuisine from the Old World.

After that – or perhaps before, who knows – do come and enjoy the Spirits of Finland. Our tent is always open in the International Spirits Garden. There you will find heavy-proof alcoholic libations to warm the cockles of your heart on a cold December evening. We thrill our guests with the vodka, gloegg, and punches of this cold but civilized tipplers' country in the far North of Europe. All are homemade and the Finnish Gloegg has received awards over the years, and is still made from the original recipe of an old member of the House of Finland!