North County and San Diego Events for August
North County and San Diego events in August bring lots fun for the whole family! This month is full of concerts and movies, Del Mar racing, family campouts, surfing and bodysufing contests, star gazing, wine tastings, an art walk, even a rodeo! Keep reading for more great San Diego and North County events!
Del Mar Racing
July 20-September 8
The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club (DMTC) hosts world-class thoroughbred horse racing, welcoming the industry’s top athletes to the Del Mar Racetrack.
2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd.
858-755-1141 / www.dmtc.com
Julian StarFest
August 2-4
Recognized as an International Dark Sky Community offering the best opportunity to view stars and other deep sky objects. There will be lectures on astronomy, telescopes to view the sky and other activities.
5-10pm / Menghini Winery
julianstarfest.com
TGIF Concerts in the Parks Carlsbad
August 2,9,16
The TGIF concert series has been a San Diego event since 1986, and was recognized as one of the top five outdoor concert series in the nation by USA TODAY’s 10Best’s 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards.
6-8pm
2nd: Polyester Express – 1970s / Calavera Hills Community Center & Park
9th: Back to the Garden – Laurel Canyon sound / Alga Norte Community Park
16th: Anthony Cullins – blues / Alga Norte Community Park
www.carlsbadca.gov
Rotary Club of Carlsbad Annual Wine & Vine Uncorked
August 3
Enjoy tastings of local wine, gourmet food, a silent auction, and live music. Proceeds will go to North County charities and non-profits dedicated to helping the most vulnerable in our community.
5-8pm / Viasat East Campus, 2446 Town Garden Rd, Carlsbad
www.carlsbadrotary.com
Lake Poway Family Campout
August 3-4
Enjoy outdoor fun in a family-friendly environment. Activities include guided evening hikes, campfire with s’mores, and Extreme Rahim returns with his family pleasing magic/comedy show. Remember to bring your own camping equipment, dinner supplies to barbeque, and grill/charcoal. Fishing and boating available for a fee.
Lake Poway, 14644 Lake Poway Rd, Poway
858-668-4772 / poway.org
San Marcos Family Campout
August 3-4
Families will enjoy a night of camping fun! The campout includes games, dinner, crafts, campfire songs, a flashlight hike and movie on the big screen!
Walnut Grove Park, 1950 Sycamore Dr, San Marcos
760-744-9000 / www.san-marcos.net
Oceanside Longboard Surfing Club Contest and Beach Festival
August 9-11
This is a three-day, family event featuring professional and amateur surfers from Hawaii and from California. This 39th annual contest will include a Pro/Am Invitational and offers live music and vendors with unique products.
Oceanside Pier and Junior Seau Pier Amphitheatre
oceansidelongboardsurfingclub.org
Vista Movie in the Park
August 10
Gather your family and friends and head out for a free movie under the stars. Relax on your blankets or lawn chairs, enjoy your picnic and snacks, and soak up the warm summer breeze as you watch Barbie rated PG-13.
8pm / Brengle Terrace Park, Vista
www.cityofvista.com
Poway Summer Movies In The Park
August 10
Bring a blanket and enjoy a family-friendly movie under the stars. Hook will be shown on a giant, cinema-quality screen. Bring your favorite snacks or a picnic dinner. Food will NOT be available for purchase. Movie begins 15 minutes after sunset.
6:30-9:45pm / Old Poway Park, Poway
858-668-4671 / poway.org
Beach Blanket Movie Night Solana Beach
August 10
This family-friendly event is free and open to the public. The evening begins with live music by Jackstraws Surf Band, followed by the feature presentation The Little Mermaid. BBMN offers pizza, popcorn, cookies, and brownies and a free giveaway with great prizes including a Firewire surfboard, beach cruiser bicycle, wetsuits, gift cards and much more. Refreshment tickets will be available inside the park.
6-10pm / Fletcher Cove Park, Solana Beach
858-720-4430 / www.cityofsolanabeach.org
Oceanside Dive-In Movie
August 10
Join us on a warm summer night for a movie under the stars! Enjoy recreational swimming from 6:30-7:45pm. The movie, The Little Mermaid, will begin around 7:40pm.
Tickets are $7 per person, and kids ages 3 and under are free.
6:30-10pm / Wagner Aquatic Center, 3306 Senior Center Dr, Oceanside
760-435-4500 / www.ci.oceanside.ca.us
Star Walk XXX
August 11
Learn about astronomy. Tonight’s features: Perseid Meteor Showers; Mercury, Venus and Saturn; Summer Constellations; the waxing moon. Recommended equipment: LED flashlight with red filter or lens cover, binoculars, warm clothes, and blanket and/or ground cover.
8-9:30pm / Double Peak Park, 900 Double Peak Dr, San Marcos
www.san-marcos.net
Summer Sunday Concerts by the Sea
August 11,25
Summer Concerts are held right on the sand at beautiful Moonlight Beach. All you need to do is show up. How cool is that? All bands are supported by a local youth band.
12:45pm: Opening Act/ 1:45pm Support Act / 3-5pm: Featured Band
August 11: School of Rock House Band / Kat Hall / Beeb’s and Her Money Makers
August 25: Shred or Alive / TRUEBLOOD / The Beat Farmers
12:45-5pm / Moonlight Beach, Encinitas
www.encinitasca.gov
Poway Summer Movies In The Park
August 12
Bring a blanket and enjoy a family-friendly movie under the stars. Alice in Wonderland (1951) will be shown on a giant, cinema-quality screen. Bring your favorite snacks or a picnic dinner; food will NOT be available for purchase. Movie begins 15 minutes after sunset.
6:30-9:45pm / Old Poway Park, Poway
858-668-4671 / poway.org
Carlsbad Lagoon Row In The Dark
August 16
Your $49 ticket grants you a three hour glow in the dark themed adventure on a paddleboard, kayak or aquacycle. Join us at the Carlsbad Lagoon and enjoy live music around the campfire, beach games and memories that will last a lifetime!
7-10pm / California Watersports, 4215 Harrison St, Carlsbad
carlsbadlagoon.com
Small Town Fair
August 17
Games, food, pie eating contest, and animals. Free entry.
11am-2pm / The Heritage Ranch, Encinitas
sdheritage.org
World Bodysurfing Championships
August 17-18
This is the 47th Annual World Bodysurfing Championships, a San Diego County event since 1977. Approximately 350–400 bodysurfers from around the world compete in their respective age divisions for trophies and prizes. The Grand Champions will be crowned on Sunday afternoon. The contest is projected to start at 6:30 am each morning. Prelims for all age divisions will be held on Saturday. All semifinals and finals will run on Sunday.
6:30am / Oceanside Pier
worldbodysurfing.org
America’s Finest City Half Marathon & 5k
August 18
Run from the Cabrillo National Monument atop the tip of Point Loma, along San Diego Bay, Harbor Island, Embarcadero, past the Star of India, through downtown San Diego to a rousing finish in historic Balboa Park. America’s Finest City Half Marathon and 5K has been a San Diego event since 1978.
6:15am / Balboa Park
inmotionevents.com
Ramona Rodeo
August 22-24
A Top Notch PRCA rodeo with some of the greatest cowboys around, boasting a professional attitude with the best hometown hospitality you will find at a rodeo.
See website for schedule. / Fred Grand Arena, Ramona
ramonarodeo.com
San Diego Kids’ International Film Festival
August 23-25
This year, the SDIKFF have selected 140+ projects from 30+ countries. This is our 20th edition milestone with an in-person, full program presenting high quality films for children and family audiences.
See website for schedule and locations. / Carlsbad and Oceanside
www.sdkidsfilms.org
Discovery Gala – Lagoon’s Eleven
August 24
Hosted by the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation. Step into the realm of high stakes and glitz, where the dice roll, the cards shuffle, and the chips fly! Get ready to kick off the evening with a Rat Pack-filled happy hour, followed by a heartwarming program featuring our esteemed honoree, Margie Newell. Indulge in a sumptuous dinner before closing the night out with an open casino offering a plethora of thrilling games to choose from, all set to the beats of our talented DJ.
5:30pm / The Westin Carlsbad Resort & Spa
760-804-7969 / www.aguahedionda.org
LeucadiART Walk
August 25
A fine arts event with no corporate vendors or imported goods. This free event brings 8,000 people to Leucadia for the day to enjoy and purchase fine art. This event features live art demos, live music, dancers, activities for kids, a makers market, a beer garden, and more!
10am-5pm / North Coast Highway 101
760-436-2320 / leucadia101.com
Enjoy August’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.