We’re excited to offer you our first-ever seasonal and monthly guide to annual activities and events in San Diego! This list includes some San Diego traditions, as well as a few unique gems you may never have heard of – even though they happen every year! So, if you like to plan your family’s outings ahead of time or when you’re planning to have out-of-town company and want to know what’s going on around the county, check our guide! Please note that we have only listed the month in which these events take place – you’ll have to call or visit the Websites to get specific dates and information. This is, of course, just a partial list of fun things to do in our great city! Be sure to pick up the monthly issue of San Diego Family Magazine for even more great ideas in our comprehensive calendar!

SPRING
March
See the March issue of SDFM for Easter Egg Hunts and more!

Carlsbad Flower Fields
www.theflowerfields.com
760-431-0352
50 acres of horticultural beauty and aromatic delights. Tractor rides, sweet pea maze and children’s playground.

Junior Carlsbad
www.eliteracing.com
858-450-6510
Southern California’s largest running event just for kids 12 and under.

San Diego Crew Classic
www.crewclassic.org
619-225-0300

St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival
Balboa Park
www.stpatsparade.org
858-268-9111.

April
Adams Avenue Roots & Folk Festival
Normal Heights
www.adamsaveonline.com
619-282-7329
Free two-day festival featuring performances by local and nationally touring musical acts.

ArtWalk
Little Italy
www.artwalkinfo.com
619-615-1090
Hundreds of artists, musicians, and dancers fill the streets for two days of fun!

Cajon Classic Cruise (April-Sept)
El Cajon
www.downtownelcajon.com
The largest classic car show in Southern California! Wednesday evenings.

Cruisin’ Grand (April-Sept)
Escondido
www.downtownescondido.com
760-745-8877
Step back in time as vintage automobiles cruise Grand Ave. Friday evenings.

Day at the Docks
Point Loma
www.sportfishing.org
619-234-8793
The West Coast’s largest public celebration of sportfishing.

EarthFair
Balboa Park
www.earthdayweb.org
858-272-7370
19th annual environmental fair with 200 exhibitors, kids activities, Children’s Earth Parade and Alternative Fuel Vehicle Parade.

Fallbrook Avocado Festival
www.fallbrookca.org
760-728-5845

Lakeside Rodeo
www.lakesiderodeo.com
619-561-4331
44th annual event!

Strawberry Picking
Carlsbad
www.carlsbadstrawberrycompany.com
760-438-5071

May
Explore Mission Trails Day
Cowles Mountain
www.mtrp.org/EMTday.asp
619-668-3281

Gator by the Bay
Harbor Island
www.gatorbythebay.com
858-492-8748
Zydeco, Cajun, blues, country and 8,000 lbs of crawfish!

Knott’s Soak City Waterpark (April-Sept)
www.knotts.com/soakcity/sd
619-661-7373
Fun for all ages: water slides, thrill rides, child’s splash and play area, wave pool and more!

North Park Festival of the Arts
www.northparkmainstreet.com
619-294-2501
A unique blend of arts, culture and entertainment.

Old Town Cinco de Mayo Festival
www.fiestacincodemayo.com
619-296-3236

Spirit West Coast
Del Mar Fairgrounds
www.spiritwestcoast.org
Three-day Christian Music Festival.

SUMMER
June
Free Summer Concerts, multiple locations throughough San Diego County. Visit our website at www.sandiegofamily.com for more information.

La Jolla Festival of the Art,
www.lajollaartfestival.org
858-456-1268

National Trails Day
Rancho Penasquitos
www.co.san-diego.ca.us/parks
858-484-7504

Ocean Beach Street Fair & Chili Cook-off Festival
www.obstreetfair.com
619-224-4906

San Diego County Fair
Del Mar
www.sdfair.com
858-793-5555

The Wave Waterpark
Vista
www.thewavewaterpark.com
760-940-WAVE
Rides, slides and pools for all ages!

July
See the July issue of SDFM for Independence Day fireworks and parades!

Comic-Con International
Downtown
www.comicon.com
619-491-2475
The nation’s largest comic book festival.

Del Mar Horse Races (July-Sept)
www.delmarracing.com
858-755-1141

Festival of the Bells
Mission Valley
www.missionsandiego.com
Mission San Diego de Alcala commemorates its founding with music, dance, games and food.

Ofest
Oceanside
www.msoceanside.com
760-754-4512
Seaside street fair, carnival, concerts and parade!

Summer Pops (July-Sept)
www.sandiegosymphony.org/summerpops
619-235-0804
Outdoor entertainment for the whole family! Take a picnic and enjoy!

U.S. Open Sandcastle Competition
Imperial Beach
www.usopensandcastle.com
619-424-666.

August
Celebrate Dance Festival
Balboa Park
www.eveoke.org
Over 75 regional dance groups perform a wide range of dance styles–free to the public.

Grape Stomp
Escondido
www.orfilia.com
760-738-6500
Orifilia Winery hosts its annual grape stomp on the last Saturday of the month!

Midnight Catfish Craze
Lake Poway
www.ci.poway.ca.us/lake_poway
858-668-4771
Nighttime catfish tournament featuring big fish and great prizes!

Movies Before the Mast Family Nights
Downtown
www.sdmaritime.org
619-234-9153
Watch a family-friendly movie while sitting on the deck of the Star of India.

San Diego Renaissance Faire
Balboa Park
www.sdrf.com

AUTUMN
September
Cabrillo Festival
Point Loma
www.nps.gov/cabr
619-557-5450
Celebrate Cabrillo National Monument with a living history encampment, demonstrations and children’s activities.

Fleet Week
www.fleetweeksandiego.org
619-858-1545
Air shows, ship tours and other activities to honor our military.

Grape Day Parade & Festival
Escondido
www.ci.escondido.ca.us
760-743-8207
Entertainment, international food court, petting zoo, blacksmithing and more!

Kidsfaire
www.thekidsfaire.com
866-283-8600
Family entertainment, attractions and activities.

Poway Rodeo Days
www.powayrodeo.com
760-736-0594

October
See the October issue of SDFM for Halloween Happenings!

Apple Harvest Days in Julian
www.julianca.com/events
760-765-1857
Apple picking, shopping, entertainment and apple pie!

Miramar Air Show
www.miramarairshow.com
858-577-6265
World-famous Blue Angels, aircraft displays and twilight air show.

Pacific BeachFest
www.pacificbeachfest.com
858-273-3303
Beach volleyball tournament, sandcastle contest, live music, kite flying and more!

November
Fallback Festival
Downtown
www.gaslampquarter.org
Children’s Historic Street Faire: Activities, entertainment and fun!

Mother Goose Parade
El Cajon
www.mothergooseparade.com
619-444-8712

San Diego Thanksgiving Dixieland Jazz Festival
Mission Valley,
www.dixielandjazzfestival.org
619-297-5277

Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure
Balboa Park
www.komensandiego.org
760-692-2900
Help raise awareness and funds for breast cancer in this 5k walk/run.

WINTER
December
See the December issue of SDFM for Holiday Happenings!

First Night Escondido
www.firstnightescondido.com
800-988-4253

Holiday Bowl & Big Bay Balloon Parade
www.holidaybowl.com
619-283-5808

Holiday Jazz & Blues Festival
Downtown
www.holidaybluesandjazz.com
619-685-7215
Music, cultural activities, food and fun sponsored by the Black Historical Society of San Diego.

San Diego International Auto Show
Downtown
www.sdautoshow.com
858-550-0080

January
Multicultural Festival
Downtown
www.ccdc.com
619-235-2222

San Diego Boat Show
Downtown
www.sandiegoboatshow.com
858-274-9924

San Diego Restaurant Week (also in June)
www.sandiegorestaurantweek.com
More than 130 fine restaurants around the county offer special three-course menus at a discounted rate.

February
Heritage Day Parade & Festival
Southeast San Diego
www.heritagedayparade.org
619-262-0334

Little Italy Carnevale
www.littleitalysd.com
619-233-3898
Venetian mask and costume competitions and entertainment.

Whale Watching (Jan-Mar)
www.hornblower.com/whales
888-467-6256