Events & Festivals

A Thanksgiving morning tradition in Coronado, this 5K draws runners and walkers of all ages to a scenic route along San Diego Bay. The course at Tidelands Park makes for a festive way to start your holiday before the big meal. Registration tends to fill up quickly, with all proceeds...

Thousands of runners gather each Thanksgiving morning in Balboa Park for San Diego's original turkey trot, now in its 25th year. The 5K raises funds for Father Joe's Villages' meal program, which feeds homeless community members year-round. Lace up your sneakers and start the holiday by giving back before you...

For nearly three decades, this seasonal outdoor ice rink has been bringing holiday cheer to San Diego families while raising funds to support the Thriving After Cancer Program at Rady Children's Hospital. Skate rental and helmets are included in your admission price, and the rink sits in the Arts District...

Each year, the community gathers at Mount Soledad Memorial Park to honor those who have served in the nation's armed forces. The ceremony features notable speakers, honored veterans, marching bands, and special presentations that create a powerful atmosphere of gratitude. This long-standing tradition offers a meaningful way to spend Veterans...

The San Diego Asian Film Festival brings ten days of cinema to select theaters across San Diego County, showcasing films that center Asian and Asian American stories and perspectives. Now in its 27th year, the festival is presented by Pacific Arts Movement and has grown into a significant cultural event...

A Halloween party aboard the USS Midway lets families enjoy costume contests, a live DJ, and a scavenger hunt for Captain Jack Marrow's missing skeleton crew. As night falls, the deck transforms into an outdoor movie theater showing Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, with historic...

Experience a unique Halloween adventure at Spooky Campover, held at Lions, Tigers, and Bears, the renowned San Diego animal sanctuary. Spend the night camping under the stars alongside rescued big cats and wildlife, enjoying festive activities like pumpkin carving, a costume contest, and a haunted house suitable for all ages...

Since 1994, the Sherman Heights Community Center has celebrated Día de los Muertos, a tradition that began when a single Oaxacan resident asked for space to build an altar honoring his loved ones. Over the years, the celebration has grown into a month-long event featuring community altars, front-yard altars throughout...

Old Town San Diego transforms into a vibrant tribute to Día de los Muertos, with fanciful and visually striking décor filling the Fiesta de Reyes courtyard from September through early November. The main fiesta weekend brings free music, food, and cultural celebrations across two days at the end of October...

Families and friends gather in Balboa Park's Plaza de Panama for this free celebration honoring Día de los Muertos with live performances, art-making activities, and a community ofrenda created by visiting artist Betsabeé Romero alongside local San Diego students. You can contribute meaningful objects and creative responses to honor loved...