FESTIVALS
1. Mardi Gras
Gaslamp Quarter • Feb/Mar
Be quick to grab the strings of beads thrown off the floats at the Masquerade Parade. The parade begins in the afternoon at Fifth Avenue, and the music and revelry carry on until the early morning. The food booths serve up New Orleans-style Cajun food.
2. St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Mar
A grand parade of marching bands, bagpipes, community organizations, horses, and school groups begins at Sixth and Juniper. Afterward, an Irish festival takes place at Balboa Park with Irish dancers, lots to eat, green beer, and fun for the entire family.
St. Patrick’s Day Parade
3. Cinco de Mayo
May
North of the Mexican border, commemorating the French defeat by Mexican troops is a serious business. Restaurants overflow, the Old Town State Historic Park sponsors folkloric ballet performances and mariachi bands, and the historic Gaslamp Quarter hosts a musical street fair.
Dancer at Cinco de Mayo celebrations
4. Fourth of July Fireworks and Parades
Jul
Nearly every San Diego community has its own July 4th festivities, such as fireworks, surfing contests, parades, and street festivals. Since the ban of home fireworks, commercial firework shows are the way to go. The biggest show in the county is held over San Diego Harbor.
Fireworks marking the Fourth of July
5. Comic-Con International
Convention Center • Late Jul
Comic-Con draws more than 150,000 devotees over several days and literally bursts out of the huge San Diego Convention Center. Tickets sell out super-fast for this wildly popular all-things-comic-and-then-some gathering. Celebrity guests, panels, retailers, games, anime, film screenings, and fringe events line the program.
6. Lesbian and Gay Parade and Festival
End Jul
San Diego’s gay community hits the streets in celebration of diversity. The iconic parade begins at Fifth Avenue and Laurel in Hillcrest and moves to Balboa Park, where live bands, food booths, and a party atmosphere prevail. Outrageous costumes are the rule of the day.
7. Halloween Festivals & Haunted Houses
Gaslamp Quarter & Balboa Park • Oct • Adm
Your worst nightmares may come true at the historic 1889 Haunted Hotel, which features ghouls, a clown asylum, and a haunted subway station. The Chamber and Haunted Trails of Balboa Park will terrify you.
8. Mother Goose Parade
El Cajon • Sun before Thanksgiving
Floats, equestrian units, and marching bands make up part of the 200 entries in the largest single-day event in San Diego County, attended by about 400,000 people. A tradition since 1947, the parade revolves around a celebration of children.
Mother Goose Parade
9. Christmas on the Prado
Balboa Pk • First Fri & Sat of Dec
Balboa Park launches the Christmas season by opening its doors to the community. Museums are free after 5pm, carolers sing, and food booths are set up. The park is closed to traffic, but shuttles reach the outer parking lots. Dress warmly.
10. Boat Parades of Lights
Dec
Yachts and sailboats vie for the title of best decorated in Mission Bay and the San Diego Harbor. The best viewing areas for the Mission Bay parade are at Crown Point and Fiesta Island; for the San Diego Harbor Parade, head to the Embarcadero.
TOP 10 FAIRS AND GATHERINGS
1. Ocean Beach Kite Festival
Ocean Beach • Mar
A kite competition with prizes and demonstrations on the beach.
2. Avocado Festival
Fallbrook • Apr
Special tours, 50 food booths, and awards for best dishes draw big crowds.
3. Mainly Mozart Festival
Apr–Jun • Adm
Concerts at San Diego and Tijuana feature works by the wunderkind and his contemporaries.
4. San Diego County Fair
Del Mar • Jun • Adm
Animals, rides, food, and music.
San Diego County Fair performers
5. A Taste of Gaslamp
Gaslamp Quarter • Jun • Adm
A self-guided tour passes restaurants displaying their kitchen samplings.
6. US Open Sand Castle Competition
Imperial Beach • Aug
Competitors build the most complex and imaginative sand castles.
7. Summerfest
Aug
Classical music and modern compositions in La Jolla, with artists and ensembles from around the world.
8. Julian Fall Apple Harvest
Mid-Sep–mid-Oct
Music, apple cider, and apple pies in a charming mountain town.
9. Cabrillo Festival
Cabrillo National Monument • End Sep • Adm
Soldiers re-enact the Cabrillo landing, and performers showcase Native American, Aztec, and Mayan dances.
10. Fleet Week
Sep/Oct
Navy ship tours and air and sea parades honor the military.
