Explore San Diego's Major Events
San Diego is home to a diverse lineup of major events that draw visitors from around the world throughout the year. From seasonal celebrations and cultural festivals to premier entertainment and community gatherings, you can find something happening in every season. Explore some of the city's biggest events and discover even more things to do in the San Diego Calendar of Events.
Winter
San Diego Seals
When: December-April
The Seals, San Diego's representative in the National Lacrosse League, bring exciting, rapid-fire action to home games at Pechanga Arena San Diego.
Gray Whale Watching
When: December to April
There are few experiences more thrilling than the sight of a massive gray whale breaching the waters of the glittering Pacific off San Diego's coastline. Book a whale watch tour and get up close to these gentle giants as they migrate toward Baja California in early winter.
Farmers Insurance Open
When: January
The Sentry men's golf tournament, a major PGA Tour event, unfolds each February at the beautiful Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla, home to the prestigious U.S. Open in both 2008 and 2021.
San Diego Museum Month
When: February
The San Diego Museum Council invites you to enjoy more than 60 area museums at 50% off regular admission during the entire month of February. Just pick up your free passes for Museum Month at any one of 80-plus libraries around the county and start exploring San Diego's incredible wealth of historic sites, gardens, zoos/aquariums and much more!
Lunar New Year
When: January-February
With a vibrant Asian-American community and a wealth of community events, Lunar New Year is a festive time in San Diego each winter. Join in the multi-day celebrations all around town, from parties in the Convoy Asian Cultural District — one of the largest cultural zones of its kind in the nation — to special food offerings and fun at such world-class attractions as the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park.
Valentine's Day
When: Feb. 14
Find your smile in San Diego — and savor a romantic getaway with your sweetheart — as you spend Valentine's together here. From a wine-tasting adventure to a couples' spa treatment to an intimate dinner with spectacular waterfront views (and a whole lot more), your heart will beat quicker with all the Valentine's possibilities here.
San Diego Open
When: February-March
Part of the Women's Tennis Association 500 series of tournaments, the San Diego Open draws many of the top players on the planet to San Diego for a full week of rousing tennis action, and offers programming aimed to educate, inspire and empower girls and women.
St. Patrick's Day
When: March 17
You can't get much luckier than spending a fun-filled St. Patrick's Day in San Diego. With a boisterous parade and festival, a Leprechaun Run, lots of live music and of course plenty of beer (green and otherwise), St. Patrick's offers myriad ways to revel in San Diego's good-time vibes.
Mardi Gras
When: January-February
Mardi Gras means party time in San Diego, with multiple celebrations around the region — from bar crawls to samba shows to live music performances, plus plenty of Cajun and Creole cuisine. Revel in the good times all around the county, with special Mardi Gras events at SeaWorld San Diego, San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter and more.
San Diego Restaurant Week
When: January (as well as September)
Winter brings the year's first edition of the twice-annual Restaurant Week, a San Diego culinary celebration that spotlights delicious creations at more than 100 local restaurants.
San Diego FC
San Diego’s Major League Soccer team has given the city a potent international presence in the men's soccer world. The club, whose owners include San Diego Padres star Manny Machado and the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, plays at Snapdragon Stadium in Mission Valley from February to October.
Spring
San Diego Padres
When: Regular season March-September
The Padres, San Diego's Major League Baseball club since 1969, are a huge part of the city's history and identity. They also are a superstar-packed team with a beautiful home base: Petco Park, deemed the best MLB ballpark in the nation by USA Today.
San Diego Wave FC
When: Regular season March-October
An expansion team in the National Women's Soccer League, the San Diego Wave Futbol Club plays its home games at Snapdragon Stadium and is regularly among the league's most competitive sides.
The Flower Fields
When: March to May
Each spring, the rolling hills of North San Diego County transform into one of the most spectacular and coordinated displays of natural color and beauty anywhere in the world. The nearly 50 acres of Giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers that make up the Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch in Carlsbad are open to the public in-season, with wagon tours, a sweet-pea maze and much more.
San Diego Crew Classic
When: March/April
A San Diego tradition since 1973, the Crew Classic brings top rowing teams from universities, high schools and clubs to the waters of Mission Bay for one of the nation's most renowned regattas.
Easter
When: Early spring
San Diego gets hopping when Easter rolls round, with dozens of family-friendly activities throughout the county, including egg hunts, Easter brunches, dinner cruises and plenty of beautiful blooms and fun activities at area gardens.
La Jolla Concours d'Elegance
When: April
The art of exquisite automotive design gets a world-class showcase against the breathtaking setting of La Jolla Cove with the La Jolla Concours d'Elegance, featuring 170-plus classic vehicles on display.
Mission Fed ArtWalk San Diego
When: April
Creativity takes center stage with ArtWalk, a showcase for visual and performing arts that takes over the streets of Little Italy for a lively two-day happening.
Cinco de Mayo
When: May
There's no better place to be than San Diego for celebrating Cinco de Mayo, as the region embraces the holiday with cultural festivals, mariachi music, traditional folklorico dancing and some of the best Mexican food this side of the border.
Gator by the Bay
When: May
Step into Southwest Lousiana for a day (or four) with Gator by the Bay, a celebration of all things Cajun and Creole, from gumbo to beignets to zydeco tunes.
Mother's Day
When: May
Make it a memorable day for Mom with a San Diego-style Mother's Day. The options here are near-endless, from hotel packages to spa specials to myriad perfect opportunities for brunch with a stunning view.
Memorial Day
When: May
San Diego marks the unofficial start of summer — and honors those who gave their lives in service to our country — with a wide range of Memorial Day commemorations and inspirations. It's a great time for the whole family to explore San Diego's sparkling beaches and world-class attractions as well as its many moving tributes to the military and its history here.
Navy Bay Bridge Run/Walk
The 4-mile Navy Bay Bridge Run/Walk offers spectacular views of San Diego Bay and the city as participants make their way to Coronado over the San Diego-Coronado Bridge.
Summer
San Diego County Fair
When: June/July
San Diego's annual county fair is the largest in California, offering a huge range of food, entertainment, exhibits, rides and games throughout the beautiful Del Mar Fairgrounds in the oceanfront community of Del Mar.
Blue Whale Watching
When: June-September
Summer brings a breathtaking sight to San Diego’s offshore waters: Pods of blue whales — the world’s largest animal — passing through on their way to North Pacific feeding grounds.
San Diego Symphony Summer Season
When: June-October
Top names in pop music and more converge on the San Diego Symphony’s stunning Rady Shell at Jacobs Park come summertime for an exciting series of outdoor concerts alongside.
Father's Day
When: June
Dad gets his day in a big way here in San Diego, with awesome Father's Day options from offshore fishing trips to kayaking adventures to tours of top spots on San Diego's thriving craft-beer scene.
Independence Day
When: July 4
Celebrate the Fourth of July in style, with such San Diego favorites as the spectacular Big Bay Boom — the largest fireworks display in Southern California — or SeaWorld San Diego's epic pyrotechnics display. And those are just two among dozens of Independence day events happening all around San Diego County, from fun runs to patriotic parades.
Comic-Con International: San Diego
When: July
Comic-Con is the yearly epicenter of pop culture in the United States, attracting tens of thousands of artists, celebrities and fans to the San Diego Convention Center for an epic celebration of creativity.
San Diego Pride Parade and Festival
When: July
A joyous summer celebration, San Diego Pride takes in a popular parade, a vibrant festival, music and much more, all centered in the historic community of Hillcrest.
Del Mar Racetrack Summer Season
When: July-September
The famous track where "the turf meets the surf" hosts its renowned summer meet, featuring some of the top Thoroughbred racehorses in the nation.
Bazaar Del Mundo Latin American Festival
When: August
A vibrant mix of folk art, entertainment and more captivates visitors to Bazaar del Mundo in San Diego's historic Old Town during the annual Latin American Festival. Expect a bustling marketplace filled with traditional embroidered clothing, handcrafted jewelry, beautiful pottery and other one-of-a-kind items in the bazaar's charming courtyard.
Over the Line World Championships
When: July
A fun summer event and San Diego original, the Over the Line tournament has been a local classic since the 1950s. In this lively beach sports event, teams of three compete in a fast-paced softball game unique to the city. The tournament draws big crowds to Mission Bay's Fiesta Island every summer.
Bike the Bay
When: August
An amazing way to see San Diego's beautiful waterfront sights, Bike the Bay also offers the only opportunity to bicycle across the San Diego-Coronado Bridge. The noncompetitive community bike ride is open to people of all abilities and follows a scenic and mostly flat ride around San Diego Bay via the Bayshore Bikeway.
Fall
San Diego Bayfair
When: September
The thunderboats of the World Series of Powerboat Racing hit the waters of Mission Bay for Bayfair, a beloved fall classic.
CRSSD Festival
When: September
Waterfront Park along San Diego's sparkling Embarcadero hosts the CRSSD Festival, a two-day celebration of electronic music and more.
San Diego Restaurant Week
When: September
San Diego Restaurant Week is back to kick off your fall with food, fun and memories, showcasing scores of top local restaurants.
MCAS Miramar Air Show
When: September
Experience an amazing lineup of more than 100 military and civilian aeronautical performers, including the world-famous U.S. Navy Blue Angels, during this three-day event, the largest military air show in the United States.
Kids Free San Diego
When: October
San Diego is paradise for families in October, with free admission, meals and more for kids at dozens of great places around town all month long during Kids Free San Diego!
Halloween Happenings
When: October
Things get weirdly wonderful in San Diego when October rolls around, with ghostly tours, spooky happenings and lots of Halloween fun at the region's world-class attractions and more.
San Diego International Film Festival
When: October
Witness the power of film with the San Diego International Film Festival, a multi-day happening that includes screenings, parties, networking events and celebrity appearances.
San Diego Tijuana International Jazz Festival
When: October
Internationally acclaimed jazz artists perform in two countries across three days during this much-buzzed celebration of jazz music in its many forms.
Del Mar Wine + Food Festival
When: October
A nearly weeklong, culinary-fueled experience, the Del Mar Wine + Food Festival brings a wealth of beverages and bites to the beautiful Surf Sports Park in coastal North County.
Mission BayFest
When: October
Mission Bayfest transforms Mariner’s Point on Mission Bay into a three-day reggae music festival, with a lineup of top acts.
San Diego Beer Week
When: November
San Diego Beer Week is a 10-day celebration saluting local craft beer and promoting San Diego's thriving brewing culture, with multiple events happening across the county.
Dia de los Muertos
When: October/November
Fall in San Diego brings the distinctive and colorful traditions of Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, a multi-day commemoration of those who have passed on.
San Diego Food + Wine Festival
When: November
Sailboats and sandy beaches serve as backdrop to the San Diego Food + Wine Festival, which brings together hundreds of domestic and international wineries, craft brewers, culinary legends and more on the stunning Embarcadero.
Fleet Week San Diego
When: November
San Diego remains a major military town, and Fleet Week San Diego brings the community and military together through a wide range of activities and events, from ship tours to athletic competitions.
Veterans Day
When: November
In November, San Diego takes the time to honor and thank those who have served in the United States armed forces, with numerous Veterans Day events, parades, memorials and museums throughout the region.
Bill Walton Classic
When: November
Catch top college basketball action at Pechanga Arena with the National University Bill Walton Classic, featuring one women’s game and one men’s game.
Del Mar Racing Bing Crosby Season
When: November-December
When fall arrives, the Del Mar Racetrack offers four weeks of elite Thoroughbred racing, fun events and musical performances to keep the good times rolling during the track's Bing Crosby Season.
Holidays
Thanksgiving Holidays
When: November
The Thanksgiving season is a great time to be in San Diego, with typically sunny weather and plenty of ways to celebrate, from apple-picking in the local mountains to enjoying wide-open sandy beaches.
Rady Children's Invitational
When: November
Showcasing college basketball at its finest, the Rady Children's Invitational brings top squads to University of San Diego for two days of exciting hoops action.
San Diego for the Holidays
When: December
Activate holiday mode and turn up the good cheer with a winter trip to San Diego. Enjoy warm weather and good vibes at special San Diego-style holiday events, from beachside ice skating to an illuminated boat parade on San Diego Bay to the festive December Nights celebration in Balboa Park.
Holiday Bowl Parade
When: December
Take in the spectacular sight of massive, festive balloons during the Port of San Diego Holiday Bowl Parade, the country's largest balloon parade. Floats, balloons and marching bands are just some of the offerings in this colorful parade along San Diego Bay in Downtown San Diego.
Holiday Bowl
When: December
Don't miss America's Finest Bowl Experience! The Holiday Bowl annually showcases a thrilling matchup between some of college football's most competitive teams.
Poinsettia Bowl
When: December
One of San Diego's top holiday sports traditions returns, as the Poinsettia Bowl unfolds at Snapdragon Stadium in Mission Valley. The game will feature top teams from the college football powerhouses of the ACC, Big 12 or Big Ten.
New Year's Eve
When: December
From grand and glamorous to intimate and romantic to family-friendly, there is a New Year's Eve event in San Diego just for you!