COVER IMAGE COURTESY DMTC
July 31–August 2 — Heiva San Diego | Valley Center
Southern California’s Tahitian cultural dance festival returns to Harrah’s Resort Southern California for its 16th year, bringing together dancers, musicians, artisans, and vendors for three days of competition and celebration centered around ori Tahiti and the living culture of French Polynesia.
August 1 + 2 — Watermelon & Lavender Festival | Oceanside
Mellano Farm Stand wraps up its four-weekend Watermelon & Lavender Festival with two final days celebrating peak summer on the farm, with watermelon, blooming lavender, and family-friendly farm festivities.
August 1 — Uncorked Wine Festival | Del Mar
Sip and swirl your way through more than 100 wines and bubblies from around the world at Del Mar’s trackside wine festival, complete with local food trucks, music, and an afternoon of live racing.
August 5 — Modest Mouse | Del Mar
Indie rock mainstay Modest Mouse takes the stage at The Sound at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, joined by Portland psych-rock band Sun Atoms.
August 7–9 — Oceanside Longboard Surfing Club Contest & Beach Festival | Oceanside
The 41st annual Oceanside Longboard Surfing Club Contest & Beach Festival brings three days of surf competition and beachside festivities to the Oceanside Pier, drawing professional and amateur longboarders from across California and beyond.
August 8 — Turf & Surf Festival | Del Mar
The inaugural Turf & Surf Festival comes to Del Mar with fresh Maine lobster, Brandt Beef steak, specialty cocktails, wine and craft beer — all served trackside alongside an afternoon of live racing.
August 9 — The Fabulous Thunderbirds | Solana Beach
Blues-rock mainstays The Fabulous Thunderbirds take the stage at Belly Up, led by longtime frontman Kim Wilson and a catalog spanning decades of blues, rock, and R&B.
August 11 — Ani DiFranco | Solana Beach
Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Ani DiFranco brings her expansive catalog and unmistakable blend of folk, rock, punk, and soul to Belly Up, joined by Wryn.
August 12 — Quicksand + Bane | Solana Beach
Influential post-hardcore band Quicksand joins forces with hardcore veterans Bane for a night at Belly Up, with Soul Blind opening the show.
August 15 — Art Night Encinitas | Encinitas
Art Night returns for a free evening of exhibitions, live music, artist talks, demonstrations, and hands-on workshops across four Encinitas cultural destinations, with complimentary shuttles connecting the venues and participating galleries.
August 15 — Taste of New Orleans | Del Mar
The South meets the West at Del Mar’s Taste of New Orleans, pairing live racing with Cajun cuisine, specialty drinks, live music, a mini parade, and plenty of Big Easy-inspired festivities.
August 21–23 — Super Girl Surf Festival | Oceanside
The Super Girl Surf Festival celebrates its 20th year with a massive weekend of women’s surfing, sports, music, wellness, and entertainment at the Oceanside Pier, featuring 150+ top female surfers, hundreds of athletes across 10 sports, and free live music.
August 22 — Pacific Classic | Del Mar
One of the biggest days of Del Mar’s summer racing season returns with the $1 million Grade I Pacific Classic, the track’s richest and most prestigious race.
August 22 + 23 — The Gothic Market | Escondido
The Gothic Market takes over the California Center for the Arts, Escondido for a weekend inspired by gothic, Halloween, horror, folklore, and supernatural culture, with vendors offering handmade goods, art, fragrances, crystals, and plenty of dark and fantastical finds.
August 25 — Taste of Encinitas | Encinitas
Eat and sip your way through downtown Encinitas as more than 35 local restaurants and 35+ Sip Stops take over Coast Highway 101, with food and drink samples accompanied by live music throughout the district.
August 28 — Channel Tres (DJ Set) | Del Mar
Channel Tres brings his signature “Compton House” sound — a groove-heavy meeting point of house, funk, R&B, and hip-hop — to the Del Mar Fairgrounds for a late-summer DJ set.
August 29 — Frontwave Arena Collectibles Expo | Oceanside
Collectors, vendors, and fans converge at Frontwave Arena for a free one-day expo featuring up to 160 vendor tables with sports cards, Pokémon, trading card games, memorabilia, autograph sessions, raffles, and interactive experiences.
