North County and San Diego Events for May
There are lots of fun North County and San Diego events in May! Don’t miss the many festivals and fairs. We’ve got street fairs, food and flowers, cornhole, wine and beer, even a strawberry festival. Plus there’s a wildflower show, cat cuddling, golf tournaments, armed forces appreciation and a half marathon. Keep reading for more great San Diego and North County events!
Cat Cuddle Hour
Saturdays and Sundays
Enjoy a whole hour cuddling and playing with up to 30 cats and kittens for a small donation that goes toward LYFF’s mission of continuing to rescue cats and animal welfare education.
LYFF Adoption Center, 1929 W. Vista Way, Space C, Vista
loveyourferalfelines.com
Taste of Cardiff
May 2
Restaurants in Cardiff will be crafting decadent tastes to win your vote for the 2024 Morgan Mallory Golden Fork Award, while local businesses host Sip Stops stationed with local libations. There will be local favorites and performing artists.
5:30-8:30pm / Downtown Cardiff
www.cardiff101.com
Swing Into HOPE Golf Tournament
May 3
Join Operation HOPE-North County to support families with children and single women experiencing homelessness.
8:30am-1:30pm / Lakehouse Resort, 1025 La Bonita Dr, San Marcos
760-295-9448 / operationhopeshelter.org
Wildflower Show
May 3-4
A San Diego event for over 90 years, the Wildflower Show is meant to educate club members, local residents, out-of-town visitors and children about the botanical wealth of Julian and its vicinity.
10am-4pm / 2607 C St. Julian
www.julianwomansclub.org
Foodieland Night Market
May 3-5
A foodie inspired multi-cultural food and entertainment event with more than 200 vendors offering amazing foods, games, and entertainment for the whole family.
Fri 3-10pm, Sat-Sun 1-10pm / Del Mar Fairgrounds
foodielandnm.com
Come to a Garden Party
May 4-5
We always have attractive horticulture, dazzling floral designs, impressive botanical arts photography, and informational education exhibits. We’ll also have a plant sale featuring member grown specimens and a creative garden art boutique. The flower show will open to the public on Saturday at 2 pm.
Sat 12-5pm, Sun 10am-5pm / Jim Porter Recreation Center, Brengle Terrace Park, Vista
www.californiagardenclubs.com/vistagardenclub
Carlsbad Village Street Faire
May 5
Features over 750 unique vendors with a little of everything: arts and crafts, antiques, unique clothing, items from around the world, and more. Children’s rides, an international food center, and an old-fashioned pancake breakfast!
8am-5pm / Carlsbad Village
carlsbad.org
Mental Health & Wellness Festival
May 11
Change Your Mind is a free, one-day event that focuses on creating and sustaining mental wellness through workshops, demonstrations, presentations, and hands-on experiences led by experts from Interfaith Community Services and the San Diego mental health community.
12-4pm / Oceanside Pier Amphitheater & Beach Center
760-489-6380 / www.interfaithservices.org/change
Spring Flower Faire Extraordinaire
May 11
Flowers, plants, and vegetables. Unique plant containers and decorative garden art.
9am-2pm / Fallbrook Historical Society, 1730 S. Hill Ave.
fallbrookgardenclub.org
Bags N’ Brews
May 11
The event will incorporate a cornhole tournament while also offering local craft brews, a DJ, food trucks and children’s activities.
11am-4pm / Hollandia Park, San Marcos
760-744-1050 / www.san-marcos.net
The Flower Fields
May 12
For over sixty years, Mother Nature has transformed the rolling hills of north San Diego County into one of the most spectacular and coordinated displays of natural color and beauty anywhere in the world. Join us on the final day of our season to celebrate all the special moms in your life. We will have performances throughout the day with the colorful dancing of the Rancho Buena Vista High School’s Ballet Folklorico.
9am-6pm / The Flower Fields, 5704 Paseo del Norte, Carlsbad
www.theflowerfields.com
Discover Fallbrook Community Expo
May 17
Enjoy live music, beverages, and food available for purchase from the Firehouse Que & Brew food truck. Discover Fallbrook’s businesses and nonprofits!
3-6pm / The Vineyard 1924, 1924 E. Mission Rd., Fallbrook
https://www.fallbrookchamberofcommerce.org/
La Jolla Half Marathon & Shores 5K
May 18
The course follows a scenic coastal route before reaching the challenging climb to the summit of Torrey Pines State Park. The course then rolls atop Torrey Pines mesa, continues down through residential La Jolla Shores, and finishes at La Jolla Cove. For those interested in a shorter option, the La Jolla Shores 5K offers a mostly downhill course.br />6:30-10am / Del Mar Fairgrounds
lajollahalfmarathon.com
Endangered Species Day
May 18
Come celebrate Endangered Species Day at the Buena Vista Audubon Society Nature Center. This free event has many activities for all ages! Learn what you can do to protect your local endangered species through fun activities for the entire family. Dip into the lagoon and discover a whole new world of aquatic creatures under our high-powered microscope!
10am-2pm / Buena Vista Audubon Nature Center, 2202 S. Coast Hwy, Oceanside
https://bvaudubon.org/
Armed Forces Day Operation Appreciation
May 18
Thousands of active-duty military, their family and dependents are treated to a day of free food, entertainment and a fun zone for kids. This event is open to the public.
11am-4pm / Oceanside Pier Amphitheater
760-722-1534 / www.oceansidechamber.com
Community Band Festival
May 18
Musical groups from near and far will entertain you with a range of genres from blue grass ensembles to full concert bands.
10am-7pm / Old Poway Park
858-668-4576 / poway.org
Fiesta Del Sol
May 18-19
A San Diego event for 43 years, this beachside music festival includes a beer and wine garden, an international food court, live music, an arts and crafts fair and children’s activities. Solana Beach Fireman’s Pancake Breakfast on Sunday.
Sat 9am-10pm, Sun 9am-8pm / Fletcher Cove Park, Solana Beach
858-755-4775 / fiestadelsol.net
Cyclovia Encinitas
May 19
Encinitas’ car-free, open street event where you can explore downtown Encinitas on bike, foot or anything you power yourself. Check out the great shops and dining, plus enjoy a bike skills course, prizes and giveaways, fun and educational booths and more.
10am-2pm / Coast Highway from D St. to J St.
www.encinitasca.gov
Project Cornerstone Golf Tournament
May 20
18 holes, golf cart, and lunch included. This is a charity golf tournament to support Project Cornerstone’s education and workforce development programs.
6:30am-3pm / The Welk Resort Fountains Course, Escondido
619-787-8482 / project-cornerstone.org
Vista Strawberry Festival
May 26
Wear your most festive Strawberry attire and bring your berry happy grin. We can’t wait to see you! There’s something for everyone, contests, kids’ play zone, entertainment, art, film festival, vendors and, of course, strawberry deliciousness!
8am-6pm / Downtown Vista
760-726-1122 / vistastrawberryfest.com
Keep Del Mar Green
May 29
Join the Del Mar Village Association for the next “Keep Del Mar Green” community cleanup! We will spread out throughout the downtown and beach areas to pick up trash that would otherwise end up in our precious waterways.
3:30-5pm / Del Mar Village Association
858-735-3650 / www.visitdelmarvillage.com
Enjoy May’s North County and San Diego events! Do you have North County or San Diego events that you’d like included here? Just let me know, and I’ll add them for you.
Please excuse any errors or omissions and let me know if there’s anything that needs fixing. Check with the organizations holding these events for costs, tickets, availability, changes, limitations and important details.