North County and San Diego Events September 2019
North County and San Diego events in September close out summer and welcome fall. We’ve got fun events from around the world. There’s an Oktoberfest, a grape stomp, a powwow, Greek and Viking festivals and Noche Mexicana. Plus you can see woodies, go to a brewfest, enjoy the harbor, see the air show or go to a rodeo. That’s not all. Keep reading to find the best North County and San Diego events!
48th Annual Barona Powwow
August 30 – September 1
Location: Lakeside, Barona Sports Park, 1095 Barona Rd
Join the Barona Band of Mission Indians for a weekend of dancing and dress contests, dry camping, hand drums and cultural immersion. Dancers will be competing for thousands in prize money! There’s plenty of parking, authentic Native American food, music, arts and crafts and handcrafted jewelry. This is the perfect family celebration!
Shuttle Service
The Barona Powwow will be held at the Barona Sports Complex on the Barona Indian Reservation just one mile north of the Barona Resort & Casino. There will be shuttle service from Barona Resort & Casino to the Powwow. Admission is free and the public is welcome!
Annual Labor Day Pier Swim
September 2
7 AM – 12 PM
Location: Oceanside, Oceanside Pier
The Labor Day Pier Swim began in 1929. It’s a one-mile swim around the Oceanside pier and includes swimmers from as young as 12 to seasoned swimmers in their 80s. Some of the most hardcore swimmers in the country, and even Canada, will be competing. The Pier Swim is the main fundraiser for the Oceanside Swim Club. The swim club is a non-profit organization and competitive swim team for children 5-18 years of age.
Julian Grape Stomp Festa
September 7
11 AM – 5 PM
Location: Julian, Menghini Winery, 1150 Julian Orchards Dr
This year we are celebrating our 23rd anniversary of the Julian Grape Stomp Festa. We are excited to be continuing the old-world tradition of kicking off your shoes, rolling up your pant legs and letting tons of blessed grapes squish beneath your feet!
Julian’s Grape Stomp is a great way to spend a Saturday, and this year’s is shaping up to be one of our best. Local wineries, breweries, and cideries will offer sips to sample. There’ll be a wide variety of food and shopping opportunities, great music and undoubtedly, a little extemporaneous dancing here and there. This will be a party to remember!
Tickets
Regular admission tickets are $15. Tastings are $1 each. Make it easy. Prepay online and bring small bills for tastings.
Carlsbad Brewfest
September 7
1 – 4:30 PM
Location: Carlsbad, Holiday Park, 3400 Pio Pico Dr
40+ craft breweries and cider houses with 80+ of the finest craft beers and ciders from San Diego County and beyond. Enjoy music, entertainment, games and food vendors.
Cost
Admission is $55 to $75. Designated driver is $15. This event is 21+ only and a valid ID is required to enter. No one under the age of 21 will be admitted, including infants and children.
100 percent of all proceeds from Carlsbad Brewfest are given to local and regional charities.
Surf for the Sea
September 7 – 8
Location: Oceanside, North Jetty – Oceanside Harbor
SURF FOR THE SEA is a memorial event benefitting and supporting the environment in honor of the local surfers and family of Surf for the Sea who have passed away. Proceeds go to the Surfrider Foundation, San Diego Chapter in their quest to protect our coast, ocean and beaches.
Cardiff Greek Festival
September 7 – 8
Location: Cardiff, 3459 Manchester Ave
Be Greek for the day! Bring the entire family to the Annual Greek Festival held at Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church. The church grounds are transformed into a quaint Greek village complete with Greek cuisine and heavenly pastries, live Greek music, folk dancing, a kid’s fun zone, a marketplace and church tours. Come dance, enjoy the wine and beer presentation, cooking demonstrations and musical performances. Free parking and fun for the whole family!
Admission
Admission is $3 and is free for children under 12, active military, police and firefighters (with ID).
KAABOO Del Mar Festival
September 13 – 15
Location: Del Mar, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd
KAABOO is three days of musical fun at the Del Mar Fairgrounds and Racetrack. This is a different kind of festival and features an eclectic, multi-generational line-up of over 60 bands. Plus there’s hilarious comedy, incredible cuisine, craft libations, inspiring contemporary art and personal indulgences. Instead of dirt, dust and mud, it has all of the makings of a comfortable event. This includes plenty of shade and seating, clean restrooms with flushable toilets (no porta-potties).
Tickets start at $139.
Family Movie Night
September 14
5:00 – 9:00 PM
Location: Carlsbad, Stagecoach Community Park, 3420 Camino de los Coches
Bring family and friends, a blanket and low-back chairs to Stagecoach Community Park. Enjoy a night of fun activities and an outdoor movie presentation of The Sandlot, rated PG. There will be a movie themed Fun Zone between 5 – 7 p.m. with bounce houses, obstacle course race, crafts, games and activities. Wristbands for the Fun Zone can be purchased for $5 at the event. Food and beverage sales available between 5 and 7 p.m. The movie will start at dusk.
Vista Historical Society’s Barbecue at the Museum
September 14
3 – 7 PM
Location: Vista, 2317 Old Foothill Dr
The Vista Historical Society is holding their annual barbecue at the museum featuring pit barbecue, live music and raffle prizes. There will even be a dessert contest with the winner taking home $100!
Cost
Cost is $25 for adults and $5 for kids under 10. Beer and wine will be served for $3 a glass.
Noche Mexicana
September 15
1:00 – 7:00 PM
Location: Oceanside, Civic Center, Pier View Way & North Ditmar St
This event is a cultural celebration by Oceanside’s Latino community. It commemorates Mexican Independence Day, and presents cultural activities that include food, music, arts, traditional dance and education.
The celebration will include performances by Ballet Folklorico Tapatio de Oceanside, Los Hijos de Beltrán, Mariachi Juvenil de San Diego, and other local Latino bands, singers and dancers. It will close with a representative from the Mexican Consulate with a re-enactment of the Grito de Dolores (“Cry for Independence”).
There will be a special exhibit of classic cars by Oceanside’s Por Siempre Car Club. We’ll also have free activities for children sponsored by the Oceanside Public Library, and food, artisan, retail and informational booths.
Wavecrest Woodies
September 19 – 22
Location: Encinitas, Moonlight Beach
Wavecrest is the granddaddy of all woodie meets. It’s the longest running and largest gathering of woodies in the world. There are woodies of every size, shape and description on display.
Schedule
- 19th – Kick off the weekend at Encinitas Classic Car Nights from 5 – 7 pm.
- 20th – Sundowner at Moonlight Beach at 5 pm.
- 21st – 40th Annual Wavecrest Woodie Meet at Moonlight Beach from 8 am to 6 pm with breakfast, concerts, sunset dinner, prizes and auction.
- 22nd – Woodies cruise Highway 101 at 8 am. Meet at Encinitas Civic Center.
Oceanside Harbor Days
September 21 – 22
Location: Oceanside, Oceanside Harbor, Beach Side
The Oceanside Chamber of Commerce along with Tri-City Medical Center and Genentech will present Oceanside Harbor Days at the Oceanside Harbor. The event will feature arts and craft exhibits great food and fun activities for the entire family.
We’ve got two event filled days of sun, sand, and surf! Residents and neighbors can enjoy fun activities including a costume party for kids 12 and under at Pirate Village. There will be arts, crafts and food booth areas, Nail ‘n’ Sail Competition, military, public safety displays, music, a beer garden, and more. Harbor Days is free to the public.
Vista Viking Festival
September 21 – 22
Location: Vista, 2006 E Vista Way
Bring the whole family to the Vista Viking Festival and step back in time to the Viking age. There’s games and competitions for kids. You can learn archery and ax throwing, go on a scavenger hunt and enjoy tasty Berzerker Dogs.
Enjoy a variety of entertainment all day long on two stages. In addition to the kids’ zone, there’s delicious ethnic food, fine spirits, competitions, ax throwing, archery, spear throwing, Viking villages and encampments. Join us for a day of fun!
Ticket Prices
Ticket prices are $15 for adults per day, $10 for ages 13-20, $3 for kids between 6 and 12. Children under 6 are free. Parking is $5 at Guajome Park Academy and Vista High School. It includes a free shuttle to and from the festival. Military with a valid ID may park for free.
NSSA Open Season Surfing Contest
September 21 – 22
Location: Oceanside, North of Oceanside Pier
The National Scholastic Surfing Association’s (NSSA) Open Season is a ten event schedule running from September to June. More than 80 NSSA events are run nationwide that culminate with the annual National Championship. This is regarded as the highest profile youth surfing event in America.
The NSSA is a nonprofit organization. Its mission is to encourage and assist its members in their interest to learn and develop the fundamentals and skills of surfing competition while competing in structured and quality events. It is one of the few national youth sports organizations that requires its participants to maintain academic standards in order to compete. Since 1978, the NSSA program philosophy has been that athletics and scholastics go hand in hand.
MCAS Miramar Air Show
September 27 – 29
Location: Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
Welcome to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, home of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, and the largest military air show in the nation. This year, we take the opportunity to recognize the contributions and sacrifices of our first responders. The air show is free to the public; however, upgraded seating options are on sale now.
Performing
We are also pleased to celebrate another year showcasing the U.S. Navy Blue Angels. Military performers also include the U.S. Army Golden Knights, U.S. Navy Leap Frogs, Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning, U.S. Air Force F-22A Raptor, Bell Boeing MV-22 Osprey, The Royal Air Force Red Arrows, Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Demo, and civilian performers.
While you are here, talk to the Marines, Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen and Coast Guardsmen who are here to support the show. Many of the young men and women you will meet have deployed numerous times to secure peace throughout the world. Their enthusiasm for what they do, and their passion for protecting our way of life, will impress you. Take a moment to thank these men and women who give so much to preserve the freedoms we enjoy every day. They are true American heroes.
MCAS Miramar has a long, rich history with the citizens of San Diego. We value this relationship and consider it an honor to serve and protect the citizens of the United States. On behalf of MCAS Miramar’s Marines and Sailors, we would like to thank San Diego for its unprecedented support of our young men and women in uniform. The air show is our way of thanking you for all you do for us. We are honored to share this incredible experience with you and truly hope you enjoy the 2019 MCAS Miramar Air Show.
Poway Rodeo
September 27 – 28
Location: Poway, 14336 Tierra Bonita Rd
Professional rodeo cowboys from around the country compete during the Annual Poway Rodeo.
Events
Guests can watch contestants compete in events such as Bareback and Saddle Bronc Riding, Barrel Racing, Tie-Down Roping, Steer Wrestling, Team Roping and Bull Riding. There’s even a “Mutton Bustin” event where kids under 50 pounds ride sheep. They try to hold on for 8 seconds, just like the cowboys. Don’t miss the free dance for everyone 21 and over after the rodeo Friday and Saturday nights.
The Scream Zone
September 27 – November 2
Location: Del Mar, Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd
Welcome to Your Nightmare!
This is San Diego County’s largest haunted experience. The Scream Zone is considered among the goriest, scariest, and screaming-est fright fests to be found in the dark corners of Southern California. We invite you to be our guests, that is, if you have the nerve!
Your Triple Haunt favorites are back. There’s the horrifying House of Horror, the dizzying Chamber, and the Haunted Hayride, each casting its evil spell on the Del Mar Fairgrounds.
Scaredy-cats are welcome to enter The Scream Zone compound at no charge. You want to wait for your children or hang with your friends if you’re too scared to enter the haunts. There are lots of things for you to do and see, including great food vendors, photo opportunities and our Spirit Lounge bar. Parking at The Scream Zone is free.
LEGOLAND Brick-or-Treat Party Nights
September 28, October 5, 12, 19, 26
Location: Carlsbad, LEGOLAND,
Awesome Awaits at the Park…after dark during Brick-Or-Treat Party Nights! The entire Park is open for Party Nights Saturday September 28, and every Saturday in October. The home of Halloween fun is filled with music, candy, decorations and your fishy friends at SEA LIFE® Aquarium!
Highlights
- Live entertainment + new shows!
- Character Meet and Greets
- Costume Contests: Group, LEGO® Heros and Villians
- Treat stations with more than 1 million pieces of candy
- The AstroBash Dance Party
- Brick-or-Treat Party Nights Pop Badge Challenge
Encinitas Oktoberfest
September 29
10 AM – 6 PM
Location: Encinitas, Mountain Vista Drive and El Camino Real
The Annual Encinitas Chamber of Commerce Oktoberfest is FREE and fun for the entire family!
We have authentic German music, the Gemütlichkeit Alpine Dancers, carnival rides, a street craft faire featuring over 200 vendors and more! The family food and refreshment tent along with the Keepin’ It Local Craft Beer Garden will be serving authentic German food and beers from German and local San Diego breweries. There’s even a ceremonial parade at noon.
FREE PARKING is available at the Flora Vista Elementary School (1690 Wandering Road) with FREE SHUTTLE SERVICE from the parking lot to the Oktoberfest site.
Enjoy North County and San Diego events in September! Do you have North County or San Diego events in September or any other month that you’d like included here? Just let me know, and I’ll add them for you.