From Padres baseball and San Diego Pride to Comic-Con and holiday traditions, we’ve got a lot to look forward to this year in America’s Finest City. Bust out the 2024 calendar and pencil in these 21 important local events.
San Diego Rodeo
Friday, Jan. 12-Sunday, Jan. 14 | Petco Park
This is, in fact, the ballpark’s first rodeo. For three days, the downtown venue will feature the world’s top cowboys competing for big prizes. Lasso your tickets — they’re galloping away fast.
SoCal native Max Homa won the 2023 Farmers Insurance Open in San Diego — who’ll take the title in 2024?
Photo via Farmers Insurance Open
Farmers Insurance Open
Wednesday, Jan. 24-Saturday, Jan. 27 | Torrey Pines Golf Course
The prestigious PGA Tour competition returns to one of the most scenic golf courses in San Diego with a range of ticket options depending on the experience you’re into. And locals know, this tourney is as much about the mingling as it is about the golf.
Tijuana, Mexico, has been San Diego’s Sister City since 1993.
Photo via BajaCalifornia.Travel
World Design Capital San Diego Tijuana 2024
All of 2024 | Locations vary
This prestigious WDC 2024 designation — and the first-ever binational recognition of its kind — will highlight our cross-border region’s innovative use of design to strengthen economic, social, cultural, and environmental development. The year-long program will feature design-related events focused on civic engagement and meant to boost local business and tourism. The World Design Street Festival is set for Wednesday, May 1-Sunday, May 5, and the showcase of the year’s highlights — the WDC 2024 Convocation Ceremony — is set for Saturday, Nov. 16.
The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch will help usher in spring in SD.
Photo via Sam Loera + The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch
The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch
Friday, March 1-Sunday, May 12 | 5704 Paseo del Norte
North County’s beloved springtime tradition — running 60+ years strong — features an annual burst of colorful Giant Tecolote Ranunculus blooms blanketing nearly 55 acres. It is truly a sight to behold. Start planning your trip.
San Diego Restaurant Week
Sunday, March 3-Sunday, March 10
The longtime foodie event returns for its 2024 edition with select restaurants across the county offering special, prix fixe menus for eight delicious days. No ticket required — getting in on this event is easy as pie.
We sure are ready for another epic San Diego Wave FC season.
Photo via San Diego Wave FC
San Diego Wave FC
Home Opener: Saturday, March 23 | Snapdragon Stadium
Alex Morgan. Naomi Girma. Jaedyn Shaw. Those are a few of the soccer superstars leading the NWSL team in its third season at Snapdragon Stadium. The NWSL said each of its teams will compete in 26 regular season matches — 13 at home and 13 on the road. Check out the 2024 season schedule.
Padres, it’s time to shine.
Photo via @boronadophotography
San Diego Padres Home Opener
Thursday, March 28 | Petco Park
Let’s go, San Diego (for real this time). After a not-so-stellar 2023 season and the high-profile trades of Juan Soto and Trent Grisham, we’re crossing our fingers for a great season for the Friar Faithful. The Padres open at home in a four-game series against the San Francisco Giants Thursday, March 28-Sunday, March 31.
Balboa Theatre’s 100th Anniversary
Thursday, March 28-Saturday, March 30 | Balboa Theatre
The historic downtown venue will celebrate its centennial in 2024 with a weekend of fun events including a red carpet gala and sing-along featuring Hershey Felder. Tickets are expected to go on sale in January 2024.
Gator by the Bay
Thursday, May 9-Sunday, May 12 | Spanish Landing Park
The lively, Louisiana-themed festival takes over the park at San Diego Bay with 100+ musical acts across seven stages. Bring your appetite — 10,000 pounds of crawfish will be trucked into SD from Louisiana and there will be vendors aplenty, too. Tickets went on sale yesterday.
San Diego Natural History Museum’s 150th Anniversary
All of 2024, with peak events in spring and summer | The Nat
The beloved museum will celebrate its sesquicentennial in 2024 with new art and spaces for the public to explore, plus the debut of a Nature Trail this spring and the “Action from the Archives” exhibition set to open on May 24. Keep an eye out for our upcoming story all about the milestone anniversary celebration.
Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego
Sunday, June 2 | Balboa Park
Lace up those sneakers and start training — the race that’s been around since 1998 returns to Balboa Park and downtown San Diego. Register for the marathon or half marathon, or run the 5K on June 1.
San Diego County Fair
Wednesday, June 12-Sunday, July 7 | Del Mar Fairgrounds
This summertime staple began as an agricultural fair in 1880 before moving to its current location in Del Mar in 1936. Today, the fair season features 2,000+ attractions, 1,700+ performers, and a highly-anticipated concert lineup. This year’s theme is “Let’s Go Retro,” so we’re anticipating some totally rad nostalgia. Tickets go on sale Friday, Feb. 16.
OTL is just so, so San Diego.
Photo via Duane Bazzel + @ombacsd
2024 Over-The-Line World Championships
Saturday, July 13-Sunday, July 14 + Saturday, July 20-Sunday, July 21 | Fiesta Island
OTL — the ball + bat sport invented on South Mission Beach in the 1950s — is synonymous with San Diego beach culture and returns each summer with a championship tournament on Fiesta Island. Sign-ups are scheduled for Saturday, May 4, at the Beachcomber on Mission Boulevard, so start scouting your squad and brainstorming wacky team names.
San Diego Pride
Saturday, July 13-Sunday, July 21 | Hillcrest
A major source of pride in San Diego, annual celebrations include The Spirit of Stonewall Rally and raising of the Pride flag, the Pride 5K, and the San Diego Pride Parade on Saturday, July 20, in the heart of Hillcrest. The Pride Festival at Marston Point in Balboa Park rounds out the festivities on Saturday, July 20, and Sunday, July 21.
And away they go... Del Mar summer racing returns on Friday, July 21.
Photo via Del Mar Thoroughbred Club
Del Mar Racing
Saturday, July 20-Sunday, Sept. 8 | Del Mar Fairgrounds
Cue the trumpets and fancy hats. The annual horse racing season returns to “where the turf meets the surf” at the peak of summer. Tickets go on sale Friday, May 10. Oh, and fall racing season — aka Bing Crosby Season — is set for Thursday, Oct. 31-Sunday, Dec. 1.
It’s all about the cosplay.
Photo via @sdconventionctr
San Diego Comic-Con International
Thursday, July 25-Sunday, July 28 | San Diego Convention Center
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s the biggest pop culture event of the year. The iconic Con descends on the streets of downtown San Diego — transforming both the convention center and the Gaslamp Quarter into a metropolis straight out of the pages of fantasy. See you there.
Beer Week 2023 is all about smaller events; Guild Fest returns in February 2024.
Photo via San Diego Brewers Guild
San Diego Beer Week
November 2024 | Locations vary
As the Capital of Craft, of course we have an entire 10 days dedicated to our local craft brewing industry. The fall celebration is organized by the San Diego Brewers Guild and includes the collaborative brewing and release of the Capital of Craft IPA, beer tasting events, release parties at local breweries, and possibly some iteration of Guild Fest.
The San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival returns this week.
Photo via San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival
San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival
Sunday, Nov. 3-Sunday, Nov. 10 | Locations vary
Dubbed the 2023 best wine festival in the US by USA Today’s 10Best, this beloved culinary event will return for its 20th anniversary in 2024. This year’s celebration will include 300+ chefs, wineries, farmers, artists, and brands partaking in special events throughout the week, including the main event — the renowned Grand Tasting set for Nov. 9, at Embarcadero Marina Park North.
December Nights signifies the start of the holiday season in San Diego.
Photo via Monica Garske + SDtoday
December Nights
Early December 2024 | Balboa Park
There’s nothing quite like this festive event to usher in the unofficial start of the holiday season in San Diego. The city’s biggest holiday celebration brings live performances, entertainment, twinkling lights, free admission to select museums, and food galore to the landmark.
The boat parade usually features about 80 vessels, trimmed to the nines.
Photo via Marv Sloben Photography
San Diego Bay Parade of Lights
Early to Mid-December 2024 | San Diego Bay
The holiday tradition — chugging along into its 54th year — is expected to return to our waterfront for two Sundays in December. You can count on us to share all the pro tips for navigating the event, and pretty videos, too.
DIRECTV Holiday Bowl
Late December 2024 | Petco Park
The annual college football game first touched down at Petco Park in December 2022, and it’ll go down at the venue for the next few years. Tickets for the 2024 game haven’t gone on sale yet, but keep an eye on the Holiday Bowl website for updates. The event also brings the Port of San Diego Holiday Bowl Parade to the streets of downtown — billed as America’s largest balloon parade — featuring floats and marching bands aplenty.