Is this the busiest weekend in San Diego?

Part of my Monday morning grind is pulling together all of the upcoming events for the weekend to make sure we have our photographers shooting the coolest-looking crowds and you have all the info that you need to walk confidently into your weekend with rad plans in your pocket.

Well readers, this weekend is a doozy.

Packed weekends in San Diego are certainly not rare, but something about this one is screaming pure madness to me. Let’s hold hands and get through this together.

Nightlife: It’s almost hard to believe that OMNIA San Diego is celebrating their one-year anniversary this weekend, but even crazier that Side Bar Nightclub is turning lucky number seven on Saturday. With an ever-changing nightlife landscape downtown, the real champs here are the ones who stay around and keep party people on the dance floor year after year.

Food: Despite the fact that swimsuit season is around the corner, San Diego isn’t leaving us very much time to get bikini-body ready with food-centric fests around every corner. You can make the difficult decision between bacon or tacos on Saturday; Bacon and Barrels takes place at Embarcadero Marina Park South and Taco Fest takes over Waterfront Park. There’s also the Encinitas Foodie Fest going down on the same day, if you’re up in North County or just down to follow your nose up the 101.

A personal fave and staple in my diet, Harney Sushi, will celebrate a big 15th anniversary this weekend with insane discounts on sushi rolls, hot DJ beats and of course, endless sake bombs. The specials last from May 17 through May 23.

Save some room because the I Love Poke Festival returns to Bali Hai next Tuesday with island-inspired chunks of tuna marinated in soy and sesame or served in creative styles by chefs trying to win the competition.

Everyone’s favorite “f” word, free: Explore the neighborhood of North Park at the 20th annual SDCCU Festival of Arts this Saturday, a walkable afternoon filled with local art, live music and dance performances. The 37th annual Fiesta del Sol will rock Fletcher Cove in Solana Beach on both Saturday and Sunday, featuring a slew of performances at no cost, including headliners Ozomatli and Pato Banton.

Adventure: You can see magical hot-air balloons dance in the sky at the Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival taking place Friday through Sunday. Head up early for the 6:30 a.m. sunrise spectacle, or stay late for the evening glow of balloon lanterns.

Film: The San Diego Surf Film Festival has just kicked off on May 18 and runs until May 28. Over 40 international films are slated to play as filmmakers, producers, surf legends and fans rub shoulders in three different venues: Misfit Pictures HQ, Museum of Contemporary Art La Jolla and Price Center Theater at UC San Diego.

I’m exhausted just writing this list. Pick your plans and enjoy the weekend of a zillion events, San Diego.

Source: DiscoverSD