Cultural Events

Adams Avenue Street Fair & Free Fall Festival
This street fair occurs for one weekend in late September. There are 400 vendors selling food, jewelry, incense and other goodies, plus a beer garden and a pancake breakfast. There are also 70 bands on 6 stages playing tunes on both days of the fair. And the big treat – a carnival complete with a ferris wheel and small carousel sets up in Adams Park.

Cinco de Mayo Festival
This annual Old Town event celebrates one of the biggest holidays in Mexico. Festivities include folkloric music, dance, food, and historical reenactments.

Christmas in the Park
This is an annual Christmas event that occurs in Balboa Park. For a whole weekend in the middle of December all the museums in the park open their doors and let everyone in for free. The park is also filled with food booths bearing foods from all around the world. Some of the more popular places include the France and Italy booths where you are likely to wait in line for half an hour to get your food. Booths with food from smaller countries like Cuba are less popular and as a result you can get your food immediately. The festivities also include musical and dance performances. The whole event usually results in a mob scene in the Park, but it’s worth it.

Del Mar Fair
This is the annual county fair at the Del Mar Racetrack. There’s a lot to see, eat, and do. Obligatory midway carney barkers, veg-o-matic demonstrations, floral arrangements, barnyard animals and smells, lost kids, high cholesterol food, school exhibits, miracle mops, and local talent. They have concerts with big name bands every night. A bit pricey though - $8.00 for admission and another $5.00 to park. I recommend parking in La Jolla and taking the free shuttle. Annually from the end of June to early July.

GrunionRuns
Grunion are small, silvery fish that was ashore to lay their eggs three or four nights after a full moon, during the one to fours hours immediately after high tides. This annual event occurs March through September. April and May are prime times to watch these little fish. You must have a fishing license to catch grunion, and you can use only your hands. No holes may be dug in the beach to trap them. The most common spots are Silver Strand State Beach in Coronado, Torrey Pines State Beach, Mission Beach, and other unlighted, long, smooth beaches.

The International Comic Con
In late july every year thousands of comic book lovers, Trekkies, and fanboys descend on San Diego for this event at the Convention Center. During the three days of the con you can meet your favorite comic book artist, check out some cool Japanese Anime, attend workshops on drawing comics, enter some costume contests, and of course you can buy comics too. Check out www.comic-con.org for more details.

La Jolla Festival of Arts & Food
Award-winning art from throughout the US, plus culinary delights. The festival is on the campus of La Jolla Country Day School and is in the beginning of June. One drawback is that they charge for admission, but if you are resourceful there are ways of sneaking in.

Ocean Beach Street Fair and Chili Cookoff
This annual event occurs on a weekend at the end of June. As the name implies there is a professional chili cook-off one day and an amateur chili cook-off the other day. There is also art, food, games, and entertainment.

Pacific Beach Block Party
This block party usually occurs in the beginning of May. You’ll find live music, arts and crafts, children’s activities, and food booths, all on the beach. Admission is free and it runs 9 am to 5pm.

The RootsFestival
This Adams Avenue festival is very much like the Adams Avenue Street Fair, except it occurs in April, and it’s a bit smaller. There are 40 performers and 6 stages plus 200 vendors, a beergarden and of course a carnival. Music includes Blues, Gospel, Mexican, Jazz, Irish, Country, Folk and Zydego.

Street Scene
In early September California’s largest music and food festival occurs in Downtown San Diego. Notable international, national, and local artists come and play for 3 days. There are 11 stages set up in a 21-block area in the Gaslamp District. Music includes blues, zydego, world beat, reggae, funk/soul, rock, gospel, jazz, and acid jazz. Beer and food can be found here too.

ToylandParade
This annual Christmas parade is North Park’s way of kicking off the Holiday Season in early December. Complete with floats and marching bands, these merry revelers parade down University Avenue heralding the coming festivities.

U. S. Open Sandcastle Competition
This is an annual competition that occurs in the middle of August. There is a children’s competition one day and the main competition the next day. There is also a parade. Call 619-424-6663 for more details.

Places of Worship

Christian

Catholic Community at UCSD
4321 Eastgate Mall (858) 452-1957
Services Sunday 12:30pm, 5:30pm & 7:30pm
Lots of Scripps and UCSD people there
http://cathcom.ucsd.edu/

Buddhist Group

Hindu Temple

Baha'i Community