Summer in San Diego is where you want to be. With seventy miles of salty coastline, friendly locals, and a wealth of things to see and do – this California coastal city was made for summer. What’s more? This sensational season brings with it a nearly endless number of outdoor fairs, festivals, events, and cultural celebrations. San Diego’s calendar is full of memory-making opportunities. This can be both a blessing and a curse. On one hand you’ll never be at a loss for things to do, but on the other hand it’s easy to miss out on something you didn’t even know existed. So, to make your summer a little easier, we picked six of the top summer events in San Diego you won’t want to miss.
Three of San Diego’s Best June Events
San Diego County Fair
A month-long celebration, the San Diego County Fair is the perfect kick-off to a summer of fun in the sun. It caters to people of all ages with everything from special entertainment for kids to wine and beer gardens for adults. With a wide range of food, beverages, rides, music, contests, and an ever-changing lineup of intriguing entertainment throughout June it should come as no surprise that over one million people flock to the fair each year.
Date: June 1st – July 4th
Location: Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd, Del Mar, CA
San Diego Festival of the Arts
An annual event since 1986, the San Diego Festival of the Arts is one of the most prestigious art shows in the city. The works of more than 200 of the nation’s top artists are showcased. Visitors will find a wide range of media such as jewelry, oil, watercolor, and sculpture. In addition, the event includes several children’s activities, performances from local musicians, and an array of food and beverage vendors.
Date: June 9-10
Location: Waterfront Park, 1600 Pacific Highway, San Diego, CA
San Diego International Beer Festival
Celebrate all things water, wheat, hops, and barley at the annual San Diego International Beer Festival. It’s an outstanding two-day event catering to craft beer enthusiasts, beer nerds, home brewers, and hopheads. Located at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, the festival hosts more than 200 breweries from more than 15 countries serving over 400 different beers at five tasting sessions. Established and new breweries come together to showcase their most incredible brews while surrounded by the magic of the fair.
Date: June 15th-17th
Location: Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd, Del Mar, CA
Honorable Mention: June also kicks off Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay, El Cajon Dinner and a Concert, Balboa Park Twilight in the Park, and Carlsbad TGIF Jazz in the Parks. These four events are held at least once a week throughout the summer months. Check here to see their list of dates.
Three of San Diego’s Best July Events
Escondido Independence Day Celebration
While there are hundreds of festivities happening on July 4th in San Diego, including the annual Big Bay Boom celebration on San Diego Bay, here’s an option you may not have thought of – the annual Escondido Independence Day Celebration. If you’ve never spent the holiday at this event, make 2018 your year to try it out. Starting at 4 p.m., this free community festival features tons of food vendors, an array of kid’s activities, a variety of special performances, and rockin’ live music from Finnegan Blue, Moonlight Trio, and Casey Hensley. A dazzling firework display finishes off the fun in spectacular fashion.
Date: July 4th
Location: California Center for the Arts, Escondido, 340 North Escondido Blvd, Escondido, CA
San Diego Pride
There is no July without San Diego Pride. This annual four-day LGBT festival is one of city’s largest celebrations, attracting a massive and diverse crowd with one goal in mind – coming together in a celebration of life. The festivities can be easily broken down into three parts to better help you navigate the long weekend. First up is the block party, a kickoff to PRIDE which features DJs and dance stages. Next is the 1.1-mile wildly popular float-filled parade, which leads to a grand two-day concert that showcases more than 200 musicians, comedians, dancers, drag performers, and art exhibits in Balboa Park.
Date: July 13th-15th
Location: Several Locations in San Diego, San Diego, CA
Comic-Con International 2018
It goes without saying that Comic-Con International is one of the biggest annual events in San Diego. Its four days of immersion in comics, science fiction/fantasy literature, and film alongside creators, authors, directors, producers, and writers. Meet the industry’s biggest stars at this world renowned comic convention, all while exploring Downtown, San Diego. Most conventioneers show up in their favorite costumes, and the convention center is packed with events from film screenings and costume contests to celebrity interview panels and autograph signings. Comic-Con has it all.
Date: July 19th – 22nd
Location: San Diego Convention Center, 111 West Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA
GSD Tip: If you can’t get your hands on Comic-Con tickets, fear not. You can still enjoy a mini-Con at The Heroes Brew Craft Beer Fest. Put on your favorite superhero costume and take a beer break at Downtown’s, Waterfront Park. The festival features 40 breweries, a costume contest, and live music.
That wraps up our list of upcoming summer events to keep on your radar. We’d like to leave you with one final thought from author and naturalist, Hal Borland.
“Summer is a promissory note signed in June, its long days spent and gone before you know it, and due to be repaid next January.”
In other words, get out there and enjoy your summer, because all too soon, it will be winter once more.