San Diego Bay Sparkles with 2015 Events

Picturesque San Diego Bay excites year-round, offering a plethora of annual events for visitors to enjoy along its 34 miles of scenic waterfront. Throughout the year, visitors to the “Big Bay” can find an extraordinary range of colorful festivals, parades, boat shows, food and beer/wine/spirits fests, and much more.  

January

Jan. 18 35th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade One of the largest celebrations of its kind in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., this parade down Harbor Drive in downtown San Diego is filled with dazzling floats, high school bands, drill teams, community organizations and more.

Jan. 22-25 San Diego Sunroad Marina Boat Show This popular annual boat show on Harbor Island features more than 100 sailboats and yachts, dozens of marine vendors featuring the latest nautical products and services, delicious local food, live music and boat rides.

March

Mar. 5-8 19th Annual San Diego Bird Festival Visitors are invited to celebrate the bird habitats of San Diego County, including its coast and tidelands, as well as hone their birding skills on fieldtrips on San Diego Bay, including “Birding 100” (Mar. 5), “Birding by Kayak” (Mar. 7 or 8) and “Coastal Wildlife Refuges” (Mar. 5, 7 or 8).  

Mar. 14 3rd Annual Mariachi Festival & Competition Celebrate San Diego’s Mexican heritage through mariachi music, traditional ballet folklorico dancing and culinary delights at the bayfront Pepper Park in National City.

April

Apr. 19 Port of San Diego Day at the Docks Set against the vibrant backdrop of San Diego’s sportfishing fleet in America’s Cup Harbor, this cherished San Diego tradition is the world’s largest public celebration of its kind, signaling the official start of Southern California’s spring saltwater fishing season. Guests of all ages can enjoy free fishing, casting contests and rides on fishing boats. 

June

Jun. 18-21 San Diego International Boat Show Head to Harbor Island to view boats, yachts and superyachts over 80’ on display, as well as dozens of booths showcasing the newest nautical gear, gadgets and accessories. Other activities include Try It Cove for kayaking, standup paddle-boarding and other watersports, a sailing simulator, Kid’s Zone and popular Be a Diver Pool. 

July

July 4 Port of San Diego Big Bay Boom The Port celebrates Independence Day with a fireworks extravaganza over San Diego Bay set to music, the largest fireworks display in the county.

August

Aug. 8 6th Annual Farm to Bay: Food & Wine Classic Sample dozens of San Diego’s top local restaurants, wineries and craft breweries set against a beautiful backdrop of San Diego Bay and the bayfront Living Coast Discovery Center in Chula Vista. Guests can also enjoy live music and mingle with native wildlife.

Aug. date TBA Chula Vista Harborfest This free family-friendly celebration in Bayside Park at the Chula Vista Marina features four performance stages, interactive programs offered by the Living Coast Discovery Center, historic seafaring vessels, water activities, fishing, automobiles, art displays, a Youth Zone, SeafoodFest and Baja Wine & Spirits Garden.

Aug. 22-23 San Diego Spirits Festival Bartenders and chefs shake things up at the Port Pavilion on the Broadway Pier, featuring more than 60 high-profile liquor brands and over a dozen restaurants. 

Aug. 23 8th Annual Bike the Bay A rare opportunity to bicycle over the San Diego-Coronado Bridge, this popular, non-competitive 25-mile ride along the Bayshore Bikeway loops around San Diego Bay, passing through the cities of San Diego, Coronado, Imperial Beach, Chula Vista and National City.  

Aug. 28-31 U.S. Sand Sculpting Challenge and 3D Art Exposition Guests can watch more than 300 tons of sand be carved into astounding sculptures at the B Street Pier on San Diego Bay; the event also features live entertainment, food trucks and unique rides for kids including a zipline that flies over the show. 

September

Sept. 4-7 Festival of Sail The Maritime Museum of San Diego and Port of San Diego host more than 20 tall ships and other marine vessels from around the world during the largest tall ship festival on the West Coast. Highlights include tall ship tours, live entertainment, food vendors, a beer garden, petting zoo, arts and crafts vendors, photo ops with pirates and more.  

Sept. 12-13 Coronado Art Walk Coronado Island’s annual celebration of the arts features exhibits of paintings, hand-crafted jewelry, photography, ceramics and other media, as well as entertainment at the Coronado Ferry Landing. Free shuttle service carries guests along Orange Avenue, with a stop at Art-in-the-Park in Spreckels Park.

November

Nov. dates TBA 13th Annual San Diego Brewers Guild Fest Enjoy samples from more than 60 local breweries at the Port Pavilion on Broadway Pier during this official two-day kickoff of San Diego Beer Week.

Nov. dates TBA 12th San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival Wine and food enthusiasts gather at Embarcadero Marina Park North in downtown San Diego for this five-day event, the largest wine and culinary extravaganza on the West Coast, featuring 70 of San Diego’s finest restaurants and more than 200 wineries, breweries and spirit purveyors.  

December

Dec. date TBA Port of San Diego Big Bay Balloon Parade The bayside streets of downtown San Diego will come alive with a parade of world-class marching bands and drill teams, magnificent floats and a procession of enormous balloons during America’s largest balloon parade. More than 100,000 street-side spectators will enjoy the parade along with a nationwide television audience. 

Dec. 13 & 20 44th Annual San Diego Bay Parade of Lights This colorfully unique San Diego holiday tradition features more than 80 private boats decorated with holiday lights, sailing along the waters of San Diego Bay.

For up-to-the-minute event listings and changes, visit www.thebigbay.com/events.html. Happiness is calling in San Diego. For more information on San Diego Bay events and activities, visit the San Diego Tourism Authority's website at www.sandiego.org, the Port of San Diego’s website at www.thebigbay.com/events.html or call 619-236-1212. 

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