Summer San Diego Events You Can’t Miss
There’s no better place to be this time of year than right here in San Diego. The weather is perfect, the beaches are at their best, and the sun always seems to be shining. Plus, on top of all the natural charm, the summer San Diego events calendar always heats up right along with the season. If you’re looking for amazing things to do here this summer, you won’t have to look far! Check out our picks for can’t-miss events in and around town this summer.
Humphreys Concerts by the Bay (ongoing)
(Photo: @humphreysshows)
Our sister property Humphreys Half Moon Inn doesn’t just offer a just a lush tropical Shelter Island escape. It’s also home to one of the city’s most beloved waterfront concert venues! Humphreys Concerts By The Bay is a 1,400-seat open-air venue presenting a packed schedule of household-name artists every season. This year’s series includes shows from world-famous acts like Graham Nash, Indigo Girls, Tori Amos, REO Speedwagon, Air Supply, Ringo StarrJason Isbell, Diana Krall, Chris Isaak, Collective Soul, and Chicago. Get tickets here! And once you do, head to Blue Wave Bar & Grill to pregame before the show — we’ve got a delicious dinner special just for Humphreys ticket-holders just a short 5-minute walk away!
2241 Shelter Island Dr, San Diego, CA 92106
San Diego Padres Baseball (now through Sept.)
(Photo: @padres)
MLB’s the San Diego Padres have been the city’s hometown heroes to the city for more than 50 years. USA Today has also recognized the Padres’ home of Petco Park as one of the finest ballparks in the league, too — So much so that they recently named it the best stadium in baseball for the second year in a row. A Padres game day is always a fantastic one. So grab a seat, a craft beer and a bag of peanuts, and cheer our boys on to a win! It’s a great way to mingle with other San Diegans, and then head out to enjoy the downtown Gaslamp District after the game.
100 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101
San Diego County Fair (June 7 – July 4)
Amazing food, thrill rides and awesome entertainment are always in abundance at the San Diego County Fair. There’s no better way to spend a summer day experiencing all the best of San Diego. The theme of this year’s fair is “Get Out There”, encouraging everyone to enjoy the best of the great outdoors. And there aren’t many better reasons to get out than the outdoor concert schedule! This year’s mainstage lineup includes music from Train, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Switchfoot, Boyz II Men, Alabama, and comedy from Kevin Hart. In addition to our favorite fair rides and music lineup, we can’t forget to mention that the food is such a big deal at our fair, it has its own Food Map. From Krispy Kreme ice cream chicken sandwiches, to deep-fried turkey legs, some visitors come just for the creative culinary options. This year, there’s even a secret speakeasy on-site!
2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd, Del Mar, CA 92014
Big Bay Boom (July 4)
Independence Day is always a cause for celebration in San Diego, and 2023 is poised to be one of the biggest yet. The massive Big Bay Boom fireworks display will be taking place on July 4th, launching from four barges across San Diego Bay. This family-friendly celebration is always an outstanding event filled with food, music and fun. Our bay front location offers a front-row seat to this massive display, so bring a lawn chair, find a spot here on Shelter Island, and get ready to “ooh” and “aah” at the colorful “sky-rotechnics”.
San Diego Pride (July 8 – 16)
(Photo: @sandiegopride)
San Diego Pride is the city’s premier LGBTQIA+ cultural festival. The theme for 2023 is “Find Your Voice”, encouraging community participation and activism in the face of attacks on community rights. This year’s Pride will once again feature large-scale live events, such the Pride Power Summit, Queer Prom, North Park Music Fest, and — of course — the massive Pride Parade, the region’s largest and most colorful civic event.
Sixth Ave & Laurel St, San Diego, CA 92103
San Diego Comic-Con (July 19 – 23)
The world’s biggest celebration of comics culture returns to the San Diego Convention Center once again. The reputation of Comic-Con precedes it for fans of pop culture. For the uninitiated, Comic-Con is a massive event that draws thousands of attendees every year — every one there to honor the impact that all things superhero, sci-fi, fantasy, and magic have had on entertainment. Elaborate costumes, video games, panel discussions, meet-and-greets, and comics galore will greet visitors at this year’s con. There are also countless fun events in the dates surrounding the Con. We recommend heading downtown to the Gaslamp District, where you’ll find tons of fun pop-ups, drink specials and some spectacular people-watching.
111 W Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101
Del Mar Horse Racing Season (July 21 – Sept. 10)
(Photo: @delmarracing)
The famous horse races at Del Mar have been a crowd favorite for decades. Fans first flocked to cheer on their favorites beginning in 1937, when Bing Crosby welcomed spectators to the stands. The legendary Seabiscuit took the inaugural race by a nose only a year later. So equine enthusiasts should head to the park, bring binoculars, and place a bet on their pick of the ponies while enjoying a gorgeous day out at this legendary series.
2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd, Del Mar, CA 92014
San Diego Bayfair (Sept. 15 – 17)
(Photo: @sdbayfair)
Enjoy the thrill of powerboat racing during San Diego Bayfair — the world’s premier powered water sports event. This rip-roaring regatta is 40-plus years strong, and is an exciting and unique way to spend a late summer weekend. When you go, you’ll discover fantastic food, live entertainment, a classic car show, and shameless displays of aquatic mastery from the planet’s best speed boaters. It doesn’t get more exciting than this!
Island Palms is a Stellar Summer Stay
Ready to experience your #BestSummerEver in San Diego? Best Western Plus Island Palms is the place to stay. Quality comforts, a central location on Shelter Island and guest-first amenities make us a very easy choice. This summer you can enjoy the return of our Live Music series at Blue Wave Bar & Grill, plus poolside cocktail specials, our Polynesian Aloha Thursdays & more! When you’re ready to plan, take a look at our special offers, and reserve your summer stay today!