Photograph by Kevin Mijares

Nick Perera (center) at the Southern California Beach Soccer Championship

May 27-28

North Park Music Festival

North Park

A music, food, and art festival as unique as North Park itself. The North Park Mini Park and surrounding streets will be transformed into a music venue, art gallery, and food festival all rolled into one. Call your friends, bring your kids, and come listen to some of Southern California’s raddest bands in the heart of San Diego’s most eclectic neighborhood. This year’s lineup includes El Ten Eleven, The Mattson 2, Kate Clover, Sure Fire Soul Ensemble, Wild Wild Wets, and many more.

Photograph by Matthew Suárez

June 2-4

Southern California Beach

Soccer Championship

Oceanside Harbor Park

If it was the ‘80s and you didn’t grow up in Southern California, at least you had films like Top Gun and The Karate Kid to teach you about what you were missing. Not just volleyball on the beach, but soccer on the beach. Now that you’re here, check out the real thing: 125 teams compete in this tournament featuring beach soccer teams of boys and girls under eight, open, co-ed, and military divisions. Uniforms are “come as you are” on the 30 x 45-yard field in the sand.

June 3-4

Rock ‘n Roll Marathon

The streets of San Diego

Bringing the fun to the run since 1998, Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series San Diego is a favorite among locals and tourists. Starting at Balboa Park and finishing in Downtown San Diego, you’ll explore up to eight well-known neighborhoods and experience an insider tour that even the locals rave about. This ultimate foot tour highlights all the iconic communities, their personalities.

June 7-July 4

San Diego County Fair

Del Mar Fairgrounds

Adventure awaits at the 2023 San Diego County Fair, so “Get Out There!” Explore the great outdoors and get s’more of what life has to offer. Scout out Best-of-Show winners in the Fair’s competitive exhibitions. Reach new heights as you spin upside-down in the FunZone. Hike around San Diego Grown to learn all about local agriculture, from food to fiber to flowers. Be prepared for a line-up of entertainment on the fair’s featured stages. Summer camp has never been so much fun. And of course, don’t forget the food. This is one of the best of the summer San Diego events! June is a great time to go — especially early June, before the crowds hit.

June 11-13

San Diego French Film Festival

The Lot, La Jolla

The Alliance Française San Diego is proud to present the city’s cinematic event of the year: the San Diego French Film Festival, gathering cinephiles and Francophiles to celebrate francophonie, culture, and gastronomy. The Festival begins with a glamorous opening ceremony on June 11 at the glamorous LOT theatre, with guests from the film industry, the arts, and diplomacy. One day is not enough to properly celebrate Francophone cinema, so we’re taking three. The selection includes movies depicting different aspects of the concept of travel. Features will include L’Astronaute (France), Le Plongeur (Canada), Mascarade (France), and Covid-19 Ground Zero (France-USA). Plus, the short film Cendres (Tunisia), and a selection of ten other short films.

June 16

An Evening with John Legend

Rady Shell at Jacobs Park

This special solo performance will feature songs and stories from the 12-time Grammy winner. Experience intimate re-imaginings of his greatest hits (“All of Me,” “Ordinary People,” “Tonight”), unexpected stories from Legend’s life and career, and selections from his most recent release, Legend (“Nervous,” “Wonder Woman”).

June 17

Switchfoot Bro-Am

Moonlight Beach

Join 17,000 people for the best day of the year. The Switchfoot Bro-Am Foundation is dedicated to giving back to the San Diego community by heightening the profile of, and providing grants to, nonprofit organizations that provide services to homeless, at-risk, and disadvantaged youth, with a special focus on programs related to music, art, and surfing. The Bro-Am’s surf contest and concert is the largest annual event at Moonlight Beach in Encinitas, and features huge bands and top pro surfers.

San Diego Street Nights Festival at Broadway Pier.

June 17

Toast of the Coast Wine Festival

Del Mar Fairgrounds

Produced by the San Diego County Fair, the Toast of the Coast Wine Festival celebrates award-winning wines from the wide variety of wineries participating in the Toast of the Coast Competition. A standard ticket gets you admission to the San Diego County Fair, 10 one-ounce pours, and a commemorative cup. Or purchase a VIP ticket to sample the Winemakers tasting menu, including bluefin crudo, duck confit, and artisan cheeses, among other delicacies.

June 23-24

California Wine Festival

Aviara Resort, Carlsbad

Calling all wine lovers. The California Wine Festival is hosting a two-day experience filled with wines and beautiful scenery. If you are a wine connoisseur, join the VIPs on day one for a champagne reception and tasting event of the rarest fine wines. The fun continues on day two, with the a California wine tasting experience: sun, sea, food, wine, and music all come together at this sun-splashed winefest overlooking lush, rolling hills. By 1 pm, the joint is jumping at this Camelot-like white-topped tent village. Oenophiles will find hundreds of wines, regional craft brews, and foods to sample. Artisanal cheeses, breads, olive oil, and shellfish, salads, chocolates, cakes. A live band keeps the beat for this all-day feast.

June 24

43rd Annual Ocean Beach Street Fair & Chili Cookoff

Newport Avenue, Ocean Beach

The 43rd Annual Ocean Beach Street Fair & Chili Cook-Off is a family-friendly event that features three stages of live music, a beachside beer garden, food, a fun zone, a community mural, and handmade crafts and goods in artists alley. And of course, there’s the OB Dirty Birds Wing Eating Contest. Additionally, chili enthusiasts can watch as local chefs compete for the coveted title of “Best Chili.” Entry to the Street Fair is free.

June 24

Summer Fun on the 101

Leucadia Roadside Park

Many folks celebrate the start of summer on Memorial Day, others, the last day of class or the solstice. For Leucadia’s music fans, summer really kicks off when Leucadia Main Street’s Summer Fun on the 101 rolls into town like a peaky southwest swell, turning Leucadia’s little Roadside Park into a big neighborhood celebration. The Leucadia 101 Mainstreet Association presents this year’s event, held along California Highway 101 and, as always, free and open to all ages. There will be live music and food vendors. Those 21 and older can rest and relax in the Craft Beer Garden.

June 24

San Diego Wave FC vs. OL Reign

Snapdragon Stadium

San Diego’s women’s soccer team is tearing through their the first full season at Snapdragon Stadium. Cheer on Wave FC all year long as the team competes to bring the title home to San Diego, and come to the stadium to watch them compete against Seattle’s OL Reign. Why yes, you will get a kick out of watching these women play!

June 24-25

San Diego Smooth Jazz Festival

Embarcadero Marina Park north

This three-day festival starts at 2 pm and unites music lovers from around the world. The lineup includes performances by artists in genres such as smooth, fusion, and blues. Hear Karen Briggs, Gerald Veasley, Rob Zinn, Willie Bradley, Eric Marienthal, Lao Tizer, and more, all while sampling cuisine and soaking in the atmosphere. Vendors from all over San Diego county bring food and drink, including beer and wine. Many people come to the concerts with blankets and chairs to sit back and relax in the park while listening to jazz. Note: some events are ticketed.

June 26

Taste of San Diego - East

Town & Country Hotel, Mission Valley

Eat your heart out with unlimited bites in a giant ballroom. The annual event’s popularity is such that the crowd has outgrown the La Mesa Community Center, where it was held for the first 10 years. Plenty of room to stroll among the food and business vendor tables. Food, free prizes from business sponsors/vendors, a silent auction, and raffles. Restaurants include Bella Bello by Shamrock, Brew Coffee Spot, Claim Jumper Steakhouse & Bar, Dream Dinners, Duke’s Old Fashioned Onion Burgers, Edible Arrangements, Gordito Tamalito, Hooleys Public House, Little Roma, Marie Callender’s, Mendocino Farms, Pick Up Stix, Shamrock Foods, and Steele 94 Restaurant & Bar. Early bird, general admission, and VIP tickets range from $40-$60.

San Diego International Beer Festival at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.

Photograph by Fred Greaves

June 29

Mick Adams and the Stones: The Ultimate Rolling Stones Tribute

Moonlight Amphitheatre, Vista

A rolling stone gathers no moss, but a lot of years have gone by since The Rolling Stones started themselves up. Not to worry: Mick Adams and the Stones bring you a complete authentic recreation of the band, featuring look-alike performers, custom made replica costumes and replica instruments, full choreography, and an incredible video show that accompanies each song. Check them out as they unleash a half-century of hooks. Mick Adams and the Stones were once named one of the Top 10 tribute bands in the world by Backstage Magazine.

July 1

The Beach Boys

Rady Shell at Jacobs Park

Quick: what San Diego surf spot gets name checked in “Surfin’ USA”? Trick question: there’s three. Del Mar, Swami’s, and La Jolla. As the band marks more than a half century of making music, the group continues to ride the crest of a wave unequalled in America’s musical history. The Beach Boys — who have become synonymous with the California lifestyle — are bringing their shows to fans around the world, and that includes San Diego, where they shot the cover for their masterpiece album, Pet Sounds.

July 1

San Diego International Beer Festival

Del Mar Fairgrounds

Breweries from around the world entered 1064 beers into this year’s San Diego International Beer Competition. Beer aficionados will enjoy hard-to-find craft brews alongside favorites from our local brewing scene. General admission ticket gets you admission to the San Diego County Fair, a souvenir tasting cup, and unlimited beer tastings plus five cocktail tastings, while the VIP ticket gets you access to the VIP Lounge menu, including a sausage station, house-made pickles, and the Cardiff Crack Slider, among other delicacies.

July 4

Port of San Diego Big Bay Boom

San Diego Bay

Oh, say can you see...yes, you can. The Big Bay Boom July 4th Fireworks Show promises a spectacular display over San Diego Bay. Fireworks will be discharged simultaneously at 9 pm from four barges placed strategically around the Bay off Shelter Island, Harbor Island, Embarcadero North, and the Coronado Ferry Landing. The display will run for about 18 minutes. Brush up on your patriotic songs, head to the Bay, and enjoy the biggest fireworks show in San Diego this Fourth of July.

Summer Fun on the 101 at Leucadia Roadside Park.

Photograph by Vanesa Mendoza

July 7-August 11

TGIF Concerts in the Parks

Various parks, Carlsbad

TGIF has grown into one of the city’s most highly anticipated summer series. The TGIF concert series began in 1986 and is San Diego County’s longest-running free outdoor concert series presented by a municipality. Every year, friends, families, and neighbors have come together to enjoy music in Carlsbad’s parks. The concerts, held at 6 pm each Friday, are free and open to the public.

July 8

San Diego Bayfest

Waterfront Park

San Diego Bayfest is a music festival that celebrates San Diego’s beach culture and lifestyle. Our focus is on these key event elements: music, location, food, and beverages. We have come to embrace the term “Beach Music,” as San Diego is a coastal city, with the beach lifestyle being one of our mainstays. Local restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and artists. The fest will offer craft beers and cocktails, specialty food and wines, and live entertainment for you to enjoy. You won’t want to miss this year’s lineup, which features Damian Marley and Koffee.

July 15

SD Pride

Hillcrest

Formed in 1974 as a sponsored program of The Center for Social Services, the first Lesbian and Gay Parade in San Diego celebrated the 1969 Stonewall Rebellion on New York’s Christopher Street. The annual San Diego Pride Parade is the largest single-day civic event in the region and is among the largest Prides in the United States, attracting over 300,000 people. The parade begins at the Hillcrest Pride Flag at University Ave. and Normal St. and ends at Quince Drive. Cheer on colorful floats & parade participants.

July 15-23

Over the Line Tournament

Fiesta Island

The Over the Line Tournament has evolved from a few friends playing ball in the sand to a two-weekend tournament. Join us on Fiesta Island for non-stop partying, playing OTL, and drinking ice-cold beer with your friends. Teams from all over the world come to compete for the title of OTL World Champions.

July 20-23

Comic-Con International

Convention Center

Remember when comic book characters were just a pop culture curiosity, and not the central engine of mass culture? Neither do we. The San Diego Comic-Con International is back for the weekend with thousands of attendees and hundreds of exhibitors. Dress up in your best cosplay and get ready to meet fellow comic book lovers. Odds are, you don’t have a ticket, and can’t get one. But there’s still lots of Comic-Con related stuff to see and do around the Gaslamp.

July 27

Chris Isaak at Humphreys

Humphreys by the Bay

He may not want to fall in love with us, but we fell in love with him. Over the course of his three-decade plus career, platinum-selling and Grammy-nominated singer & actor Chris Isaak has performed to sold-out crowds with his longtime band Silvertone. His credits include thirteen critically acclaimed studio albums, twelve chart-topping singles, and several motion pictures. His work has also taken him behind the scenes, creating music for multiple film soundtracks, including Eyes Wide Shut, True Romance, Wild at Heart, and Blue Velvet.

July 28-30

Ramona Country Fair

Community Center, Ramona

When it comes to Ramona, if you know, you know. As for this here particular shindig: known for its lively carnival rides, food vendors, and local musicians’ live performances, this yearly event also displays handmade crafts and art. Oh, and a cornhole competition, an off-road show, a medieval demonstration, Admission to the fair is free for all ages.

July 29

Street Nights Festival

Broadway Pier

The Street Nights Festival is coming to San Diego for a day of music, craft beer, and dozens of street food vendors. Guests will experience bottomless samples of craft beer, cider & other beverages from dozens of breweries/ beverage companies and access to food truck and restaurant vendors for purchase. Woot!

August 2-6

Tiki Oasis

Town & Country Resort, Mission Valley

According to ClassicSanDiego.com, The Tropic Cafe, arguably San Diego’s first pre-tiki nightclub, was helmed by ‘Skipper’ John S. Ewing (1893-1974), and originally opened at 11th & Market in 1935. Ewing, who also went by the names ‘James’ and ‘Baldy,’ was a career Navy man stationed in San Diego. He opened The Tropic Cafe to serve the transient military population of San Diego. Business was so good, two years after opening he moved to a larger space in the old Gates Hotel building, just across Third Avenue from the U.S. Grant Hotel Coffee Shop. Nearly 100 years later, Tiki Oasis is the original and largest Tiki event in the world. The event proudly brings to San Diego five nights and four days of live music, dancing, pool lounging, sunset dinners, disc jockeys, educational seminars, a Marketplace of over 150 artists and makers, tropical cocktails curated by top mixologists, an art exhibit, book signing.

August 7

RAIN: A Tribute to the Beatles

Humphreys by the Bay

When the rain comes... Rain - A Tribute to The Beatles performs songs from Abbey Road and the Rooftop Concert, in addition to all your favorite hits. This performance takes you back in time, with the foursome delivering a note-for-note theatrical event that is the next best thing to seeing the Beatles. Experience the worlds’ most iconic band and get back to where you once belonged.