San Diego’s event calendar runs year-round because the weather rarely cancels anything. From Comic-Con’s 135,000 attendees to free holiday festivals in Balboa Park, this guide lists the major San Diego events and festivals by season with dates, locations, and what to expect. For the climate behind those dates, see the San Diego weather guide, and pair your dates with the best time to visit San Diego guide to avoid the busiest windows.
San Diego Events in Winter: December to February
December Nights
December Nights fills Balboa Park the first Friday and Saturday of December with free museum entry, food vendors, and a tree-lighting ceremony. Hours run roughly 3:00 pm to 11:00 pm, and 350,000 people attend over the two nights. Parking is the bottleneck; take the free shuttle from downtown or the trolley.
Farmers Insurance Open
The Farmers Insurance Open PGA Tour event runs the last week of January at Torrey Pines Golf Course, the public course overlooking the Pacific. Grounds tickets run about $45 to $65 per day, and the course is the same one that hosts the US Open. Book lodging early since the where to stay in San Diego hotels fill up.
San Diego Restaurant Week
San Diego Restaurant Week runs twice a year, in January and September, with prix-fixe lunches and dinners at 100-plus restaurants. Two-course lunches run about $20 to $30 and three-course dinners $40 to $60. Reservations open weeks ahead for the popular spots.
San Diego Events in Spring: March to May
ArtWalk San Diego
ArtWalk San Diego takes over the streets of Little Italy the last weekend of April with 300-plus artists, live music, and food. It’s free to attend and runs 11:00 am to 6:00 pm Saturday and Sunday. It’s a good pairing with the Little Italy restaurants in the San Diego neighborhoods guide.
San Diego Latino Film Festival
The San Diego Latino Film Festival runs 10 days in March at the AMC Mission Valley and the Digital Gym Cinema, screening 150-plus films. Individual tickets are about $15, with festival passes available. It’s one of the largest Latino film festivals in the US.
Fiesta Old Town Cinco de Mayo
Fiesta Old Town Cinco de Mayo brings mariachi, folklorico dancing, and food stalls to Old Town San Diego the first weekend of May. It’s free and runs 11:00 am to 10:00 pm. The historic park’s adobe buildings stay open late for the event.
San Diego Events in Summer: June to August
San Diego County Fair
The San Diego County Fair runs mid-June through July 4 at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, with rides, concerts, livestock, and food. Adult admission is about $15 to $20, and it’s closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Concerts by national acts cost extra. Summer days here run hot, so check the San Diego weather by month numbers before going.
Comic-Con International
Comic-Con International fills the San Diego Convention Center for four days in the third week of July, drawing about 135,000 people and flooding the Gaslamp Quarter with pop-culture events. Badges sell out within hours via a lottery months in advance. Even without a badge, the off-site activations around the convention center are free and worth a walk-through.
San Diego Pride
San Diego Pride runs mid-July with a parade along Hillcrest and a two-day festival in Balboa Park. The parade is free; the festival costs about $20 to $30. It’s one of the largest Pride events on the West Coast, and Hillcrest’s bars and restaurants host satellite parties all weekend.
Del Mar Racing Season
The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club races from mid-July through early September, with live racing Wednesday through Sunday. General admission is about $10, and the seaside track’s slogan is ‘where the turf meets the surf.’ Opening day draws a famous hat contest and sells out.
San Diego Events in Fall: September to November
MCAS Miramar Air Show
The Miramar Air Show runs the last weekend of September at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, with the Blue Angels and other military flight demonstrations. It’s free with grandstand upgrades available. Arrive early, and expect jet noise across the city all weekend.
San Diego Film Festival
The San Diego Film Festival runs five days in October across downtown venues, screening 100-plus independent films. Individual tickets are about $15, and it leans toward up-and-coming directors and documentary premieres.
San Diego Bay Wine and Food Festival
The San Diego Bay Wine and Food Festival runs the second week of November with tastings, chef dinners, and a grand tasting at Embarcadero Marina Park. Grand tasting tickets run about $150, and smaller seminars cost less. It’s the biggest food event of the year in the city.
For transport between events and practical logistics, see the San Diego travel tips and FAQ guide, and for the full sightseeing list, the things to do in San Diego guide.
