Summer Events in San Diego
If you live anywhere south of Mission Bay, you already know what the summer means: fireworks. Whether it’s the one off the bay or the nightly fireworks at Sea World, you’re probably hearing them, and if you’re thinking “where can I go to see them?” This article will tell you just that! Plus, tons more about what’s happening in San Diego this Summer.
Fourth of July Celebrations
Fourth of July celebrations happen just about everywhere in San Diego, so this list won’t be every place you can head, but we wanted to shout out a few here.
The Big Bay Boom
I’d be remiss if I didn’t start with the Big Bay Boom, the largest fireworks show in Southern California (take that Disney!). The Big Bay Boom takes place in the San Diego port and is viewable from… well basically anywhere. But the best places to see it are Coronado and the bay (but you can also head to Shelter Island, Harbor Island, or North Embarcadero for great angles). The show itself is scheduled to run for about 20 minutes starting at 9pm. You can even watch this show from a boat, just make sure you’re following all the safety rules listed on San Diego’s site linked here.
As it says on San Diego’s website, unless you’re prepared to come early, you won’t have much luck with parking. The City’s public transportation is usually very crowded on 4th of July, so be sure you have a plan and you keep safety in mind!
El Cajon’s 4th of July Fireworks
If you’re looking for something a little less crowded, the Fireworks show at Kennedy park in El Cajon is a great place to head! It starts at 9pm on the 4th. This is a much smaller event and tends to be kid friendly. So skip this one if you’re looking for a party. But if you’re looking to picnic, this is one of the best places to go.
For more information check out El Cajon’s website.
Poway’s Old Fashioned Fourth of July Event
If you’re looking to have a full family fun experience, look no farther than Old Poway Park. This event will feature western reenactors, children craft stations, and old fashioned games. They also will be selling treats and tickets for train rides! The event starts at 10am and tickets cost $5 for everyone 11 and older.
Tip: Come early for parking! This event fills up fast.
There are fireworks in Poway too, but you’ll need to head to a designated parking area and watch it from your cars. This information is subject to change as more information becomes available, so be sure to check here for more information.
Ticketed Events
While you can easily enjoy free fireworks anywhere in San Diego, there are also events happening at some of San Diego’s premier attractions. The Padres will be playing the Angels at Petco park from the 3rd to the 5th, Legoland will be having a Red, White, and Boom! event, and Sea World will be doing their nightly firework show for the whole summer.
The San Diego County Fair
That’s right, it’s that time again, well… actually it’s been that time for a month. But this is your last chance to head to the fair as it closes on July 4th. You can book tickets for the Fireworks Spectacular at the fair’s grandstand stage. Or go see or Switchfoot on the 3rd!
Usually the last week or so of the fair is quite busy, so be sure to go early. For more information go to the SDFair site, by clicking here.
Comic-Con
It is certainly too late to get tickets, but Comic-Con is running from July 20th to July 23rd at the SD Convention Center. There are always a lot of cool booths and free events happening around Gaslamp and the building to check out if you didn’t get tickets. But really I’m putting it on this list as a reminder to those of us who value personal space and hate traffic to avoid Downtown for those 4 days.
Find more about Comic-Con by clicking here.
PRIDE
July is San Diego’s own Pride Month! There will be tons of festivals happening all throughout July, as San Diego is one of America’s largest participants in this event. Over 300,000 San Diegans showed up for PRIDE last year, and it’s expected to be even larger this year!
As a note, there are too many PRIDE themed events to list here, for an official schedule of all events, click here.
The PRIDE Festival
Tickets to this massive event are already selling out! This event takes place on July 15th and 16th and opens at 11am. Each day features massive exhibits, presentation, and has some great booths showcasing local resources. There is of course also tons of concerts. For a full list of who is performing click here.
If you want to buy a ticket, click here.
The PRIDE Parade
This is the definitive Pride event in San Diego, note that if you’re trying to join the parade you’ll need to head here (it might be too late). As for attending the parade, it starts at 10am and will run from University Avenue all the way down to Balboa Park. If you’re looking for the best place to watch the parade, the Park is one of the best spots, especially since you can walk from there to the festival if you plan to attend. But! Just know the area around the park fills up very quick, and since it is where the parade ends, it tends to be pretty crowded.
If you haven’t ever been, this is really something worth seeing! For more information check here: https://sdpride.org/parade/
Spirit of Stonewall Rally
The Spirit of Stonewall rally is an inspiring event that takes place at the Hillcrest Pride Flag. Come down and listen to some amazing speakers as awards are given out to local individuals who make a difference!
For more information, click here.
Art Walks
There are dozens of cool art walks around the San Diego area. If you want to see and support local artists this is a great place to do it! These events actually happen in different locations on the first Friday of every month, and the art is different every time! Talk about a hidden gem.
Each of these events will feature 16+ galleries and artists who are selling their work! Be sure to check one of these events out.
La Jolla - On July 7th from 4 to 7pm
Liberty Station – On August 5th and 6th from 10am to 5pm
Carlsbad – On September 9 and 10th 10am to 5pm (this one will have food trucks, interactive exhibits for kids, and more!).
Hillcrest City Street Fair
The famous Hillcrest City Street Fair takes place on August 13th and runs from 12pm to 11pm.
This event is an amazing collection of art, food, and music. While the Arts and Crafts Ramble is the center of the event, there is plenty to see and do here. If you haven’t attended this event, we highly recommend you check it out!
For more information click this link!