NORTH COUNTY AND SAN DIEGO EVENTS FOR AUGUST
Since we still need to control the spread of COVID-19 as much as possible, North County and San Diego events for August look quite different than they have in past years. Many are canceled or delayed, but others are now virtual.
Here are some fun North County and San Diego events in August for you, your family and friends. I’ve also included links to city and county websites with COVID-19 updates letting you know what’s open and what’s not along with ideas on how you can create your own North County and San Diego events this month.
Relay for Life of San Diego
August 1 – 2
9 AM – 9 AM
Location: Virtual
Relay for Life of San Diego is a community-based fundraising event for the American Cancer Society. Typically, we host a 24-hour, in-person, outdoor event where we celebrate survivors, remember loved ones we’ve lost, and fight back by fundraising. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, for the safety of all of our Relayers and staff, we have made the decision to host Relay for Life of San Diego virtually!
We want to live in a world with more birthdays and where the words “you have cancer” no longer exist. Let’s get there together!
2020 Virtual Summer Reading Adventure
August 1 9
Location: Virtual, Carlsbad City Library
Read your way through the summer and complete activities to earn rewards and unlock badges! Have fun watching virtual events and performances. Register for the Summer Reading Adventure at http://carlsbadlibrary.beanstack.org or use the Beanstack Tracker app for your phone. Read and complete activities. Then track your progress online. If you can’t get to a computer, you can download and print a reading tracker.
Rewards
You’ll earn rewards based on the program you enrolled in. Please contact your local Carlsbad City Library location for information on how to pick up your reading rewards.
Our Warming Ocean
August 10
6 PM
Location: Virtual, Scripps Institute of Oceanography
When we think about climate change, we often focus on the effects that we can directly observe such as extreme weather events and catastrophic wildfires. Yet most of our planet is covered by ocean where the impacts of climate change have been more difficult to measure. Join Scripps physical oceanography professor Sarah Gille as she describes how oceanographers are using innovative technology to study our warming ocean. See how much and where it is changing, the implications of that warming and where that heat is coming from.
How to Watch
The lecture will be simultaneously broadcast live on Birch Aquarium’s Facebook page and YouTube page. You are welcome to watch at either location using the links that will be posted one week ahead of the lecture. If you do not have Facebook, then we recommend viewing on YouTube as there is no required log-in. If you would like to submit questions, you will need to have a Facebook or YouTube account.
DUNK MS 2020
August 15
5 – 6 PM
Location: Virtual, YouTube Live
Created by former Mater Dei and UCLA Basketball player Blake Arnet, Dunk MS is an annual fundraiser that features a pro dunk showcase by the world’s top dunkers! The live event includes videos from our six pro-dunkers, dunk videos from around the world and celebrity shout outs. We’ll also have raffle prizes and MS experts answering questions.
This unique event brings the Multiple Sclerosis and Basketball Communities together for one common goal – finding a cure for Multiple Sclerosis. All donations support youth basketball and MS research at UCLA Health and Cedars-Sinai.
A Path Forward
August 20
7 – 8:15 PM
Location: Virtual, National Conflict Resolution Center
How do we talk about race in a way that unites and strengthens us as a community? Join the conversation with leading scholars and #1 Best Sellers, Robin DiAngelo (White Fragility) and Ibram X. Kendi (How to Be An Anti-Racist), facilitated by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Wesley Lowery, as we address this question.
Register
A Path Forward will deliver the training, skills and facilitation necessary to rise stronger through the current adversity. Register for this free event.
San Diego International Kids’ Film Festival
August 21 – 23
Location: Carlsbad, San Marcos, various locations
The San Diego International Kids’ Festival will screen over 150 films from 30+ countries. Aiming to promote positive educational impact on children and youth, the San Diego International Kids’ Film Festival actively supports innovative films made by filmmakers from around the globe.
The festival offers an excellent multi-cultural platform to engage aspiring filmmakers, students, and educators alike. It screens quality films, television series in short and feature length, as well as documentaries, animation, educational visual arts and mixed media.
LeucadiART Walk
August 30
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 free, collectible retro road map of Leucadia, old school shave ice, a Makers’ Market along with a children’s art pavilion and art stations.
Want to make your own North County and San Diego events? Read on for up-to-date information from North County cities, San Diego County and California State showing what’s open, what’s closed and what precautions you should take.
County Parks
County parks are continuing to relax restrictions with parking lots and staging areas opening up. Campgrounds are open at half capacity, and they’ve updated their online registration to show which sites are open. For more information and a list of which parks have opened and those that remain closed, go to County of San Diego Parks and Recreation.
Beaches
County beaches will open on June 2 for sunbathing and sitting as long as you’re with your own household. Parking lots and piers are still closed, and no activities such as football or volleyball are allowed. Please check with your community to make sure they have opened their beach. You can find a community list below.
State Parks
Some state parks are completely closed. Some are not, but all are closed to vehicular access. For more information on which parks you can visit and what you can and cannot do, go to the California Department of Parks and Recreation COVID-19 Resource Center.
North County City and County Regulations
Check with city websites to see what’s open and closed. Here are some quick links to North County cities’ COVID-19 Information:
Golfing and Recreational Boating
As of May 1, the county has relaxed restrictions on parks, golf courses and recreational boating. There are still some limitations though. For more details, go to the County News Center.
Things to Do with Your Kids
I feel for everyone with children at home right now. Luckily, things are starting to open up a little, but we’re not out of the woods yet. Here are some fun activities to keep the whole family busy.
Children’s Museums Online
The San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum has daily, online activities you can do from home.
The New Children’s Museum also has at home, hands-on activities and toddler time.
San Diego Zoo and Safari Park
Because the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park are outdoor destinations, they remain open. The zoo is currently operating at less than half of normal capacity, so try to go at less busy times to minimize your wait.
There are also virtual options available. There are wildlife cams, a virtual butterfly jungle, a family friendly website for kids and wildlife stories on YouTube along with many other fun and educational activities offered by the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park.
Start a Garden
Garden centers are still open. If you’re able to leave the house and safely visit your local nursery, you can buy seeds, soil, a planter, etc., for a potted plant or vegetables. The San Diego Botanic Garden has downloadable and printable garden games and activities.
Go Treasure Hunting
Similar to a scavenger hunt, give your children clues to follow to unearth a treasure right in their own home or garden. This can be as easy or as elaborate as you’d like – as long as there is a fun reward at the end of their quest.
Games and Activities
Pull out those dusty board games, decks of cards and checkers, chess or backgammon boards and start a tournament. Need more ideas? KidsOutAndAbout.com has a list of 79 games along with cooking, cleaning, planning and science experiments to keep the whole family busy.
Help Others
If you’re still looking for things to do while we are staying at home, CBS8 has 10 ways to help people during the pandemic:
- CHECK ON NEIGHBORS. Help elderly with groceries or walking pets.
- Volunteer. Find volunteering ideas at idealist.org
- Cut down on food waste.
- Give blood.
- Donate money if you can. Charitynavigator.org or charitywatch.org rate charities.
- Find and become part of a local mutual aid network. You can find these on Facebook, Nextdoor or Craigslist.
- Remember the frontline workers and see if they need support.
- Support local businesses by getting takeout and buying gift cards.
- Donate local good and unused medical supplies.
- Take care of yourself and stay healthy.
This is a challenging time. Please make the best of your North County and San Diego events in August, but protect yourself and others at the same time.
Do you have North County or San Diego events in August or any other month that you’d like included here once we open up again? Just let me know, and I’ll add them for you.