Awesome All Year: Major Events in San Diego
In San Diego, good vibes are always in season with a jam-packed calendar full of awesome events all year. Music and food festivals, horse races, air shows, sporting events, and more — all happening under the San Diego sun.
Explore San Diego’s list of annual events, organized below by season.
Winter
GRAY WHALE WATCHING
When: December - 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.
TRUST & WILL HOLIDAY BOWL
When: January
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.
SAN DIEGO RESTAURANT WEEK
When: January 25 - February 1
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. Participating restaurants this year include Huntress Steakhouse, Lionfish Modern Coastal Cuisine and Casa Guadalajara.
SAN DIEGO OPEN
When: January 26 - February 1
Many of the top tennis players on the planet return to San Diego’s Barnes Tennis Center for the San Diego Open, a full week of tournaments and programming aimed to educate, inspire and empower the next generation of athletes. This year’s tournament features both the ATP 100 Men’s Challenger and the W100 Women’s Event.
FARMERS INSURANCE OPEN
When: January 29 - February 1
A premier event on the PGA Tour, the annual Farmers Insurance Open returns to Torrey Pines Golf Course bringing the world’s top-ranked golfers to San Diego.
LUNAR NEW YEAR
When: January 31 - February 16
San Diego is home to vibrant and diverse Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, and a variety of Lunar New Year celebrations can be found throughout the county to welcome good fortune and luck for the Year of the Horse, from the fireworks and lion dances at the San Diego Chinese Historical Society and Museum in Downtown to the San Diego Tet Festival in Liberty Station and special events at the San Diego Zoo.
SAN DIEGO MOJO VOLLEYBALL
When: January - May
Excitement for women's professional volleyball is spiking in San Diego with the Mojo, a Major League Volleyball club owned by Olympian and beach-volleyball star Kerri Walsh Jennings. Home court is Viejas Arena on the San Diego State University campus, and this season the team welcomes a new coach, Olympic bronze medalist Alisha Glass Childress.
SAN DIEGO GULLS
When: Regular season January-April; following season commences October
The city’s American Hockey League team, the San Diego Gulls, just celebrated 10 years of exciting action on the ice and 2026 promises another high-energy season of home games at Pechanga Arena.
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. To receive discounted admission, just pick up your 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!
SAN DIEGO FC
When: Regular season February-November
San Diego’s first Major League Soccer team, San Diego FC, arrived in Spring 2025 after much anticipation and finished their record-breaking inaugural season first in the Western Conference. The club, partly owned by the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, kicks off the 2026 season in Round 1 of the Concacaf Champions Cup in Mexico City, then commences its first home game at Snapdragon Stadium against CF Montreal on February 21.
Spring
CRSSD FESTIVAL
When: March 14 - 15
CRSSD brings a weekend of electronic, house and techno music to Little Italy’s waterfront park every spring and fall — the spring fete’s lineup includes international artists Dom Dolla and Cirez D.
MARCH MADNESS
When: March 20 - 22
In college basketball, San Diego will host a major national tournament (better known as March Madness). The First and Second Rounds of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship will take place at Viejas Arena on the San Diego State University campus.
SAN DIEGO CREW CLASSIC
When: March 27 - 29
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.
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-November
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 already among the league's most competitive sides.
LA JOLLA CONCOURS D'ELEGANCE
When: April 24 - 26
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 25 - 26
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.
EARTHFEST
When: April 25
Go green at EarthFest, the city’s largest Earth Day celebration in Balboa Park, a festival with more than 100 sustainable vendors, an international food court, speakers and live music.
SAN DIEGO SEALS
When: Regular season through April
The San Diego Seals are a professional team in the National Lacrosse League (NLL) and their home games at Pechanga Area offer visitors themed parties and music like a country night tailgate and retro night.
HUMPHREYS CONCERTS BY THE BAY
When: April - August
Enjoying a bayside concert under the stars at Humphreys Half Moon Inn is a quintessential San Diego way to spend a summer evening. The landmark resort on Shelter Island is a retro tiki-themed property known for the Humphreys Concerts By the Bay series, where acclaimed artists perform in an intimate 1,400-seat garden setting. The concerts have been a summer tradition for more than 40 years, drawing both visitors and locals—including those who dock nearby on boats to enjoy the show from the water. This year’s lineup includes reggae and R&B artist Fia, Cheap Trick, and Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band. Guests can upgrade their experience with dinner or overnight room packages.
GATOR BY THE BAY
When: May 7 - 10
Step into Southwest Louisiana for a day (or four) with Gator by the Bay, a celebration of all things Cajun and Creole, from gumbo to beignets to zydeco music.
WONDERFRONT MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL
When: May 16 - 18
The sprawling Wonderfront fest unfolds along San Diego's sparkling Embarcadero with top musical headliners for three days of tunes, food and fun.
ROCK ‘N’ ROLL RUNNING SERIES
When: May 30 - 31
Nearly 30 years after the original Rock 'n' Roll Marathon debuted here, San Diego will once again welcome the Rock 'n' Roll Running Series. The races include a marathon, half-marathon and 5K.
Summer
SAN DIEGO COUNTY FAIR
When: June 10 - July 5
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. This year’s theme, “Once Upon a Fair,” celebrates the joy of reading and the power of storytelling.
WORLD CUP CELEBRATIONS
When: June 11 – July 19
While San Diego is not a host city for the FIFA World Cup 2026, soccer fans can cheer on their favorite team at official watch parties and events hosted by San Diego FC at Belmont Park from June 11 - July 19.
NASCAR REVS UP SAN DIEGO
When: June 19 - 21
The first-ever NASCAR San Diego Weekendwill be held in June 2026 at Naval Base Coronado, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Navy. NASCAR San Diego will be three days of races headlined by the stars of the NASCAR Cup Series, along with the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. In addition to being San Diego’s first NASCAR event, it will also be the first race to take place on a military base.
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 the Embarcadero.
SAN DIEGO BAY BIG BAY BOOM
When: July 4
Celebrate Independence Day in San Diego with the spectacular Big Bay Boom, the largest fireworks display in California with fireworks launching from four barges across the bay, or one of dozens of Fourth of July celebrations across the region. This year’s celebration coincides with America’s 250th birthday.
COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL: SAN DIEGO
When: July 22 - 26
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 LGBTQIA+ community of Hillcrest. San Diego Pride attracts more than 250,000 attendees and the parade is the largest civic event in the city.
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.
ARTWALK LIBERTY STATION
When: July - August
Nearly 200 artists across all mediums will gather for Artwalk Liberty Station in Point Loma, and the weekend kicks off with a preview party complete with live music.
Fall
SAN DIEGO BAYFAIR
When: September 12 - 14
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 27 - 28
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.
DEL MAR WINE + FOOD FESTIVAL
When: September 30 - October 4
A nearly weeklong, culinary-fueled experience, the Del Mar Wine + Food Festival brings a wealth of beverages, bites and celebrity chef sightings to the beautiful Surf Sports Park in coastal North County.
KIDS FREE SAN DIEGO
When: October 1 - 31
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. Every year, SeaWorld San Diego’s Howl-O-Scream event transforms the park into a spine-tingling evening carnival. HalGLOWeen at the San Diego Zoo is a family-friendly Halloween celebration that lights up every weekend night in October. The popular Haunted Hayride and maze at the Scream Zone returns to the Del Mar Fairgrounds this year, and Balboa Park’s famous Haunted Trail promises to be a walk through the park that you’ll never forget.
MISSION BAYFEST
When: October
Mariner’s Point in Mission Bay transforms into a three-day reggae music festival during the annual Mission Bayfest celebration.
SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
When: October
Witness the power of film with the San Diego International Film Festival, a multi-day showcase that includes screenings, parties, networking events and celebrity appearances.
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 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 at participating breweries and restaurants across the county.
SAN DIEGO FOOD + WINE FESTIVAL
When: November 6 - 8
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.
VETERANS DAY PARADE
When: November 11
San Diego County has one of the largest veteran populations in the country, and an annual parade along Harbor Drive ending at the USS Midway Museum honors those who served.
RADY CHILDREN’S INVITATIONAL
When: November 26 - 27
The Rady Children's Invitational returns Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26, 2026, at Jenny Craig Pavilion on the University of San Diego campus. The two-day college basketball tournament features UCLA, Georgetown, Texas and Saint Mary’s. $5 from every ticket sold benefits Rady Children’s Hospital–San Diego.
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.
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.
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!
For more events, see the San Diego Calendar of Events.
ABOUT SAN DIEGO TOURISM AUTHORITY
San Diego Tourism Authority is a private, non-profit, mutual benefit corporation composed of more than 1,000 member organizations, businesses, local governments, and individuals seeking a better community through the visitor industry. San Diego Tourism Authority members include tourism-related entities in such categories as lodging, dining, arts, attractions, shopping, and transportation, among others, as well as other companies indirectly involved in tourism. Visit sandiego.org to learn more. The majority of funding received by the San Diego Tourism Authority is derived from San Diego Tourism Marketing District Assessment Funds. Lodging business in the District raise these funds through self-assessments for the purpose of promoting tourism in the San Diego region.