19 can’t-miss occasions in San Diego County this summer season

San Diego County’s summer season calendar is crammed with worldwide stars, annual occasions and actions for all ages.

Some of the longer-running annual occasions to anticipate in San Diego County embody San Diego Pride Festival, Comic-Con International and Chula Vista’s Lemon Festival.

But there are additionally some first-time, can’t-miss occasions, corresponding to NASCAR racing occasions and the North American premiere of the play “North by Northwest.”

Here is our lineup of high occasions this summer season, listed in chronological order.

June

San Diego County Fair: This yr’s truthful theme is “Once Upon A Fair,” and attendees can anticipate the standard traditional actions, corresponding to carnival video games, amusement park rides, livestock exhibits and numerous concert events. Some of the brand new meals objects embody a Korean churro, a cinnamon crunch cheesecake rice crispy cone and a crispy rooster shawarma wrap. There will even be quite a lot of cultural occasions, just like the truthful’s first Black and Brown Festival Showcase. Plus, Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias is scheduled to carry out a particular stand-up comedy present. June 10 by way of July 5. Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. sdfair.com

Balboa Park twilight live performance collection: The public can watch over 30 free concert events this summer season at Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park. This yr’s Twilight within the Park outside live performance collection will characteristic musical performances by the American Flyboys Band, the San Diego Jazz Orchestra, a Carlos Santana tribute band, Charlie Chavez y su Afrotruko, the Bayou Brothers and extra. 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. June 16 by way of Aug. 27. Spreckels Organ Pavilion, 2125 Pan American East Road, San Diego. Free. balboapark.org/twilight-concerts 

NASCAR San Diego weekend: Stock automobile auto racing lovers can witness historical past on the inaugural NASCAR San Diego race on Naval Base Coronado. The 3.4-mile, 16-turn circuit shall be NASCAR’s first competitors on an energetic army base. There will even be different occasions corresponding to a truck collection race, autograph classes and query and reply classes with drivers. 9 a.m. to five p.m. June 19-21. 300 Alameda Blvd., Coronado. Prices range. nascarsandiego.com/events/nascar-cup-series 

San Diego Scottish Highland Games: The Mission Valley River Park shall be dwelling to the San Diego Scottish Highland Games. The occasion consists of reside music, competitors occasions corresponding to highland dancing and sheepdog trials, meals distributors and academic lessons on what Scottish clans are. The musical lineup consists of Highland Way and Wicked Tinkers, each taking part in within the beer backyard on each days of the occasion. June 20-21. Mission Valley River Park, 2025 River Park Road, San Diego. $5-$20. sdhighlandgames.org 

Belmont Park automobile present: Belmont Park is internet hosting its annual Father’s Day automobile present. Guests can anticipate to see traditional automobiles and customized automobiles, bikes, vans and extra. There will even be reside music, family-friendly actions and meals obtainable on the market. 10 a.m. to three p.m. Belmont Park’s north car parking zone, June 21. 3146 Mission Blvd., San Diego. Free to attend. belmontpark.com 

July

“North by Northwest” premiere: The Old Globe is internet hosting the North American premiere of “North by Northwest.” The play is English director Emma Rice’s interpretation of Alfred Hitchcock’s movie “North by Northwest.” The story takes place within the Fifties and is about Roger Thornhill, who works within the promoting trade, and is mistaken for a Cold War spy. Rice’s model is a funnier, high-speed theatrical thriller with Fifties swing music and is proven through the Mount Rushmore backdrop, in accordance with The Old Globe. July 3 by way of Aug. 2. The Old Globe, 1363 Old Globe Way, San Diego. 619-234-5623, theoldglobe.org 

Escondido’s Independence Day Festival: The sixtieth version of Escondido’s Independence Day Festival takes place at Grape Park. The free occasion will host reside music on the primary stage, an artisan market with native distributors, free face portray and airbrush tattoos, meals vans and a beer backyard. The all-ages pageant will conclude with a fireworks show. 4 to 9:30 p.m. July 4. Grape Park, 321 North Broadway, Escondido. Free admission. artcenter.org/independence-day-festival 

Big Bay Boom: One of California’s largest fireworks exhibits takes place on the annual Big Bay Boom. This fireworks show takes place over the San Diego Bay and could be seen from Coronado, Harbor Island, North and South Embarcadero, Shelter Island and downtown San Diego. The public can convey garden chairs and boats to designated watch areas. 9:15 p.m. July 4. bigbayboom.com

Nate Bargatze: Comedian Nate Bargatze is bringing his Big Dumb Eyes World Tour to San Diego this summer season. He received a Grammy for his comedy album in 2026 and has been nominated for an Emmy Award for his Netflix particular “Your Friend, Nate Bargatze.” 7 p.m. July 16. Pechanga Arena, 3500 Sports Arena Blvd., San Diego. pechangaarenasd.com/event/nate-bargatze 

Del Mar opening day: Horse racing, over-the-top hats and classy blazers are all the thrill at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club’s opening day festivities. Besides the horse racing, there’s a hat contest, signature drinks and an after-party. For those that can’t make it to opening day, the summer season racing season goes till Labor Day. 11:30 a.m. July 17. Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. dmtc.com/racing

San Diego Pride week: This yr’s Pride week festivities kick off with the San Diego Pride Dyke March on July 11, beginning at Urban MO’s at 11 a.m. The annual Light Up the Cathedral occasion and LGBTQIA+ religion leaders’ service at at St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral occurs July 15 at 7 p.m. The Spirit of Stonewall Rally shall be held from 6 to 7 p.m. on July 17. On July 18, the Pride 5k Run & Walk fundraising occasion begins at 8 a.m. and leads into the Pride Parade at 10 a.m. Pride week culminates with the Pride Festival, a two-day occasion crammed with 4 phases of music and leisure, neighborhood assets and vendor cubicles on July 18 and 19. sdpride.org/pride 

Into the Horizon: Tiesto and Martin Garrix headline this yr’s Into the Horizon, an digital dance music pageant. Other DJs and music producers performing embody ZHU, James Hype, Lost Frequencies, Laszewo and Al Tamar. The live performance will even embody a paratrooper journey, a silent disco space, a pet petting zoo, activations, meals vans and water stations. The occasion is for these 21 years and older. 3 to 11 p.m. June 27. 3 to 10 p.m. June 28. Waterfront Park, 1600 Pacific Highway, San Diego. $119-$427. intothehorizon.com 

Comic-Con: Comics, superheroes, Japanese animation, classic toys and cosplay followers will assemble within the San Diego Convention Center and the Gaslamp Quarter for the 2026 Comic-Con International. The yearly conference consists of panel discussions, film and tv showings, an exhibitor corridor, outside activations, a masquerade ball and extra. July 22-26. San Diego Convention Center, 111 Harbor Drive, San Diego. comic-con.org

August

“Hell’s Kitchen:” The music of Alicia Keys comes alive within the musical “Hell’s Kitchen,” performing for one week on the San Diego Civic Center. The musical follows the 17-year-old Ali, who has a ardour for music however feels misplaced on the earth. She begins to seek out herself when her neighbor and new mentor introduces Ali to the piano. The coming-of-age story is about in New York’s Hell’s Kitchen, and the musical introduces new songs written by Keys. The performers additionally sing a number of the largest hits. “Hell’s Kitchen” is directed by Michael Grief and choreographed by Camille A. Brown, each by Tony Award nominees. Aug. 11-16. San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave., San Diego, 619-615-4000, sandiegotheatres.org 

Chula Vista Lemon Festival: The twenty ninth annual Lemon Festival in downtown Chula Vista carries extra than simply the oval-shaped yellow fruit. This road pageant is a mixture of reside leisure and music on two phases, together with meals distributors, artists showcasing and promoting their work, a lemon cook-off competitors, a kids’s space at Memorial Park and lemon-inspired meals, drinks and treats. 11 a.m. to six p.m. Aug. 15. Along Third Avenue in downtown Chula Vista. Free to attend. downtownchulavista.com/events/lemon-festival

The Nights Like This Tour: R&B singers, songwriters and music producers Ne-Yo and Akon are teaming up on a multi-city tour and touchdown in Chula Vista for one night time. Ne-Yo is a three-time Grammy Award winner and has launched eight studio albums and plenty of singles over the previous 20 years, corresponding to “So Sick” and “Miss Independent.” Akon has been nominated for a number of Grammy Awards and has collaborated with and procured songs for Snoop Dogg and Gwen Stefani.  8 p.m. Aug. 18. North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre, 2050 Entertainment Circle, Chula Vista. $54.50-$822. northislandcreditunionamp.com 

Harry Potter in live performance: The first Harry Potter film shall be proven throughout a particular live performance occasion at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park. The viewers could have two possibilities to see and listen to the San Diego Symphony Orchestra carry out John Williams’ rating of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” whereas the movie is taking part in. 7 p.m. Aug. 21 and 22. The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, 222 Marina Park Way, San Diego. $51-$173. theshell.org 

Taste of Encinitas: Sample a few of what Encinitas has to supply within the meals and beverage trade on the Taste of Encinitas. In earlier years, there have been meet-and-greets with cooks and restaurateurs, together with tastings from over 40 eating places and bars. 5:30 p.m. Aug. 26. encinitas101.com/events/taste-of-encinitas-2025 

September

Julian Grape Stomp Festa: The Julian Grape Stomp Festa returns for the twenty eighth time with an all-day occasion. Guests are invited to partake within the custom of stomping grapes with their naked ft to get the juice out for creating wine. Admission to the occasion consists of wine tasting and family-friendly actions. 11 a.m. to five p.m. Sept. 5. Menghini Winery, 1150 Julian Orchards Drive. $8-$25.  visitjulian.com/to-see-do/special-events/grape-stomp