North County and San Diego Events August 2019
North County and San Diego events in August bring the best of summer with the Del Mar racing season, concerts, music, beer and film festivals, great plays, surf contests, art, barbecue and even an event for your dog! Keep reading to find the best North County and San Diego events!
Del Mar Racing Season
July 17 – September 2
Location: Del Mar, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd
San Diego horse racing takes place where the “turf meets the surf” at the Del Mar Racetrack. Fans flock to the track each summer to wager on their favorite horses during the popular, annual Del Mar Thoroughbred Club racing season, mid-July through early-September. Be part of the magic and nostalgia of this long-time horse race tradition dating back to 1937 when Bing Crosby greeted the first guests, and Seabiscuit won by a nose in the infamous race in 1938. This season features the nation’s top race horses, trainers and jockeys, and plenty of fun in the sun.
Concert Series
Don’t miss the Del Mar Summer Concert Series. Concerts are free with racetrack admission purchased prior to the last race.
Edgar Degas: The Private Impressionist, Works on Paper by the Artist and his Circle
July 20 – September 15
Location: Escondido, California Center for the Arts, 340 N Escondido Blvd
Works on paper by French artist, Edgar Degas. Rare drawings, prints, and photographs illuminate a more intimate side of the admired artist.
Exhibition also includes work from Mary Cassatt, Paul Cézanne, Edouard Manet, Camille Pissarro, and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.
TGIF Concerts in the Parks
August 2, 9, 16
6 – 8 PM
Location: Carlsbad, various parks
For over 30 years, the City of Carlsbad Cultural Arts Office has presented live music events throughout the city. When summer rolls around in Carlsbad, everyone gears up for TGIF Concerts in the Parks! The 2019 season runs Friday nights through August 16, from 6 to 8 p.m. It features great music, food and a chance to dance the night away with friends and neighbors in a beautiful outdoor setting. All fields open at 4 p.m.
Music for Everyone
This year’s band lineup offers a music genre for everyone, and includes rock, funk, soul, pop, hip-hop, jazz-funk, Latin, ska, reggae, and 80s and 90s fun. Concerts are free. They are open to the public and will take place in four beautiful Carlsbad community parks. As onsite parking is limited, a free shuttle service is available at most concert locations.
The music at TGIF is just the beginning. A variety of food vendors are onsite at the events, or you can bring your own feast from home. Family Open Studios is back with free, hands-on art making activities for all ages.
Carlsbad Music Festival
August 2 – 4
Location: Carlsbad, St Michael’s by the Sea, 2775 Carlsbad Blvd, plus other locations
The Carlsbad Music Festival is an eclectic mix of creative music ranging from contemporary classical, to indie rock, to world music, to electronic; plus a beer garden, food trucks, artisan market and a playground steps from the beach.
Phenomenal
New for 2019 all concerts, both indoors and outdoors are free. VIP tickets can be purchased for those who want more from their Carlsbad Music Festival experience. KPBS said it is “one of the area’s most innovative music showcases,” and the San Diego Union-Tribune called it “phenomenal.”
Vista BBQ Classic
August 3
Location: Vista, Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum, 2040 N Santa Fe Ave
The Vista BBQ Classic is an official Kansas City BBQ Society sanctioned event now in its 10th year in Vista. Plus, it’s now two great events on one day! The Vista BBQ classic runs from 12 to 4:30 pm with 40+ teams competing for a total of $10,000. We’ll have award winning BBQ for you to taste. Plus we’ll have all the fixins like Mac n cheese, bbq beans, and more! Along with all that you’ll get a dessert contest, Miss Q beauty pageant, fun contests, entertainment and a saloon.
The second event, our all new Wild West BBQ Fest, starts at 5:30 and runs until 9:30 pm. It will include an afterparty for the adults, the saloon, a Chuckwagon foodie event, line dancing and live bands.
New Location
This year the BBQ Classic will be even better with its move to the Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum. There will be plenty of parking with wagon ride parking shuttles. There will also be a country music festival, Old West style entertainment, and a beer and spirits garden. And, of course, there will be plenty of barbeque, mac and cheese and chili.
Oceanside Yacht Club Charity Regatta
August 3 – 4
Location: Oceanside Harbor, 1950 Harbor Dr North
The Oceanside Yacht Club (OYC) is hosting the annual Charity Regatta to benefit The Elizabeth Hospice on Saturday, August 3 and Sunday August 4 at OYC located at 1950 Harbor Drive North, Oceanside. The two-day event commences with sailboat races Saturday and Sunday at noon. Daily post-race parties are open to the public free of charge beginning at 3:00 pm Saturday and 2:00 pm Sunday.
Auction, Raffle & Live Music
Food and drink are available for purchase both days along with a silent auction, raffle, awards and live music. The Grand Prize Raffle Drawing includes a 7-day Holland America Cruise for 2 to the Caribbean, Mexico or Canada/New England or Alaska. The cruise drawing is $20 per ticket. Enjoy live music by local bands.
Vista Rod Run
August 4
9 AM – 2 PM
Location: Vista, Downtown
This year is the 30th Annual Rod Run, and Vista is proud to once again host a collection of classic, hot rod and specialty vehicles along with their owners. The famous hot rod run bring over 5,000 fans to check out hundreds of classic and custom hot rods, street rods, muscle cars, and trucks.
The annual Rod Run features live music, a raffle, vendors, trophies, and a 50/50 drawing. Hosted by the Vista Village Business Association.
Sunday Summer Concerts by the Sea
August 4, 18
3 – 5 PM
Location: Encinitas, Moonlight Beach, 400 B St
This summer, Encinitas Parks and Recreation brings more fun to our beach concert experience. Summer Concerts are held right on the sand at beautiful Moonlight Beach. All you need to do is show up. How cool is that? There are two concert dates in August. August 4 features Smokin’ Cobras with funky 60s and 70s music. August 18 features The Mighty Untouchables playing top 40 hits.
Free Admission
Come enjoy fun at the beach. Admission is free! Remember that glass, alcohol, smoking and dogs are prohibited on our beaches.
Oceanside International Film Festival
August 7 – 11
Location: Oceanside, Sunshine Brooks Theater, 217 North Coast Hwy
Oceanside International Film Festival (OIFF) features, documentaries, shorts, animation, and student works along with workshops and after-parties. OIFF will screen amazing films from around the world and highlight local filmmakers. Cost is $15 to $35.
Annual Oceanside Longboard Surfing Club Contest and Beach Festival
August 10 – 11
Location: Oceanside, Junior Seau Pier Amphitheatre, 200 The Strand N
The 35th annual Oceanside Longboard Surf Contest and Beach Festival features coalition surf teams from all over California. This year it honors women in surfing and will include a Women’s Invitational with a $1000 purse. The event will include a beach festival in the amphitheater with merchandise vendors, music, food and a beer garden.
This two-day, family friendly event is free and will include activities and entertainment for all ages. There will be a luau dinner catered by Hunters Steakhouse, Polynesian dancers, and a special concert from the Surf Rockers.
Movies in the Park
August 10
8 PM
Location: Vista, Brengle Terrace Park, 1200 Vale Terrace Dr
The Movies series is the perfect chance to enjoy a fun FREE night with the family outdoors and under the stars. Come early, bring a blanket, a picnic and get a good seat! Bring jackets as the nights are cool. Free popcorn!
How to Train Your Dragon – The Hidden World
This month’s featured movie is How to Train Your Dragon – The Hidden World, rated PG. It will begin at 8:00 PM.
Snores ‘n S’mores Family Campout
August 10 – 11
5 PM – 9 AM
Location: Carlsbad, Aviara Community Park, 6435 Ambrosia Ln
This safe camping experience is fun for the first time camper as well as the seasoned pro. Set up your tent in the park for a fun overnight campout, and we’ll provide the rest. Enjoy fun games, activities, and crafts. Enjoy a BBQ dinner and end the evening with popcorn, s’mores and a movie under the stars. The morning includes a continental breakfast and a hike on one of Carlsbad’s many scenic trails.
Preregistration
Tickets are available by pre-sale only. Admission is $25 per person; children 3 years and younger are free, but must be registered. All activities and food are included with admission.
Cardiff Dog Days of Summer
August 11
10 AM – 5 PM
Location: Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Encinitas Community Park, 425 Santa Fe Dr
Cardiff-by-the-Sea is ready to celebrate man’s best friend! Set in this beautiful beach community, this FREE event features over 100 dog-related vendors, rescue groups, pet adoption agencies, live music, dog contests, kids’ activities, a beer garden, food trucks and more!
The event is hosted by Cardiff 101 Main Street and the City of Encinitas. Last year’s event drew over 5,000 attendees throughout the day.
Growing Wild Art Show
August 11 – September 27
9 AM – 5 PM
Location: Encinitas, San Diego Botanic Garden, 230 Quail Gardens Dr
San Diego Botanic Garden is pleased to host Growing Wild, a botanical-themed exhibition by Oceanside Museum of Art’s Artists Alliance. This show is juried by Kathi McCord and Peter Tobias.
Opening Reception
This exhibit featuring oil paintings, photography on metal, oil on copper and other mixed media will be on display in the Ecke Building from Sunday, August 11 – Friday, September 27, with an opening reception on Sunday, August 18. This exhibit (and opening reception) is free with paid admission or membership to the Garden.
Moonlight Presents West Side Story
August 14 – 31
8 PM
Location: Vista, 1200 Vale Terrace Dr
West Side Story is one of the most memorable musicals and greatest love stories of all time. Arthur Laurents’ book remains as powerful, poignant and timely as ever. The score by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim is widely regarded as one of the best ever written.
Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is transported to New York City as two young, idealistic lovers find themselves caught between warring street gangs. Their struggle to survive in a world of hate, violence and prejudice is one of the most innovative, heart-wrenching and relevant musical dramas of our time.
Stone Anniversary & International Beer Festival
August 16 – 18
Location: Multiple locations
We’ve been throwing anniversary celebrations for more than two decades now. And frankly, we’re pretty good at it, but it can be tough to improve on excellence. So we took a radical approach this year. We’re expanding the festivities to a three-day event featuring all our US locations. That means more beer for more of you. Cheers to that! Come visit us when you can, where you can, or combine all three days for the most epic craft beer weekend of 2019.
Friday – Tap Room Takeovers
Each of our US Tap Rooms will kick things off with special beers on tap, rare & vintage bottles, amazing food trucks, and live music. No tickets necessary, but seating and special release beers are first-come, first-served.
Saturday – Rare Beer Festival
We’re featuring the finest, most unique and hard-to-find beers from Stone as well as more than 50 of our favorite guest breweries in the beautiful Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens, Escondido. Included with admission are endless tasters of select beers, 20 3oz pours of rare beers, unlimited bites from our amazing kitchen, live music, cigar lounge and an exclusive taster glass to take home.
Sunday – Stone 23rd Anniversary Grand Celebration
The marquee event is happening just outside Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens, Liberty Station on the grassy North Promenade. We’ll have 50+ breweries joining us for an afternoon of craft beer camaraderie in the San Diego sunshine. You can expect pretty much everything that’s always made these events epic. This includes incredible beer, fantastic food, live music, cigar lounge, a commemorative taster glass and more surprises.
Kids in the Garden
August 17
10 Am – 12 PM
Location: Vista, Alta Vista Botanical Gardens, 1270 Vale Terrace Dr
This month at the Kids in the Garden class we will review water conservation and have fun with water: boats, paints, ice, bubbles, mud, rainbows, and popsicles. The Kids in the Garden class emphasizes hands-on discovery and fun for all!
Kids in the Garden Class features hands-on activities with Farmer Jones. Class fee is $5 per child, which supports the garden. Accompanying adults pay garden entry fee of $5 per person. Registration includes visit to the 14-acre Gardens.
World Bodysurfing Championships
August 17 – 18
Location: Oceanside, Oceanside Pier, 300 The Strand N
350-400 bodysurfers from around the world compete in their respective age divisions for trophies and prizes. The Men and Women’s Grand Champions will be crowned on Sunday afternoon, the final day.
Start Times
The contest is projected to start at 6:30 am each morning.
San Diego International Kids’ Film Festival
August 23 – 25
Location: Carlsbad, Oceanside, various locations
This year, the SDIKFF will screen over 150 films from 30+ countries. American filmmakers as well as film delegations from China, Korea, Taiwan, Canada, Mexico, Russia, Japan, India, France, UK, Germany and many more, will appear at the event.
In addition to the film screenings, as the regular program, the film festival will host an Opening Night Gala, Culture Forums, Industrial Panel Discussions, Screenplay showcase and Red Carpet Award Ceremony.
LeucadiART Walk
August 25
10 AM – 5 PM
Location: Encinitas, Leucadia, along N Coast Highway 101
Local juried artists displaying original art along Coast Highway. There’s lots of fun including live music, art and dance. We’ve got a beer garden and wood fired pizza along with a children’s art pavilion and art stations.
Do you have North County or San Diego events in July or any other month that you’d like included here? Just let me know, and I’ll add them for you.