Things to do in May
May is filled with cool events including the 26th Annual Pug Party, San Diego Taco Fest, Gator By The Bay and the Hillcrest Craft Beer Crawl.
5.4 Eighth Annual Taste of Cardiff
Treat your taste buds, excite your eardrums and bask in the area’s beauty during this self-guided stroll to Cardiff’s most alluring eateries, featuring several in-between “sip stops” serving swigs of North County’s best beers and wines.
Throughout Cardiff, cardiff101.com
5.5-5.7 34th Annual Fiesta Old Town Cinco de Mayo
Libations, lowriders and lucha libre wrestlers are just a few reasons to attend this three-day Cinco de Mayo celebration that’s the largest of its kind this side of the border.
Throughout Old Town, cincodemayooldtown.com
5.6 26th Annual Pug Party
Prepare for the “Pug Apocalypse” as more than 400 of the county’s cutest and cuddliest canines descend upon the Del Mar Fairgrounds for this furry fundraiser hosted by Pug Rescue of San Diego County.
Del Mar Fairgrounds, Del Mar, pugsandiego.com
5.6 Festival of Colors
Celebrate the ancient Indian tradition of Holi by singing, dancing and throwing bags of colored cornstarch in what is billed as the “world’s happiest transformational event.”
Pier Amphitheater, Oceanside, festivalofcolorsusa.com
5.7 9th Annual Miracle Babies 5K 2017
Dress up as your favorite superhero as you walk or run around NTC Park in support of families with newborns in neonatal intensive care units.
NTC Park, Liberty Station, miraclebabies.org
5.7 Spring Sprint Triathlon & Duathlon
Virgin racers and tried-and-true triathletes kick-off the Triple Crown Series by swimming across the still waters of Mission Bay before biking and running along a relatively approachable route.
South Shores Park, Mission Bay, kozevents.com/Triathlons
5.7 43rd Annual Carlsbad Village Faire
Listen to live bands while perusing the wares of more than 800 merchants at the nation’s largest one-day street fair replete with a beer garden and 50-booth international food court.
Grand Avenue, Carlsbad, carlsbad.org
5.11-5.14 Gator by the Bay
Indulge your love for Louisiana at this annual four-day festival boasting more than 100 musical acts and an overwhelming amount of Cajun and creole cuisine.
Spanish Landing Park, downtown, gatorbythebay.com
5.12 Surfrider 17th Annual Art Gala & Auction
Gain an appreciation for ocean-inspired art, music and fashion, then bid on coveted original creations with all proceeds helping to protect San Diego’s waterways.
Paradise Point Resort, Mission Bay, sandiego.surfrider.org
5.12-5.13 Queen Bee Market
Shop till you drop at this craft bonanza showcasing the latest trends and styles in clothing, home decor, accessories and more.
Del Mar Fairgrounds, Del Mar, thequeenbeemarket.com
5.12 Mama’s Day 2017
A consortium of San Diego’s most celebrated chefs will prepare a bevy of unforgettable dishes at this event benefiting Mama’s Kitchen, a nonprofit that delivers food to locals affected by AIDS and cancer.
Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine, La Jolla, mamaskitchen.org
5.13 Chocolate Festival
Send your sweet tooth into the stratosphere at this chocoholic’s playground that includes dozens of decadent tastings, educational demonstrations and a deluge of desserts.
San Diego Botanic Gardens, Encinitas, sdbgarden.org
5.13 Hillcrest Craft Beer Crawl
Develop a deeper fondness for craft brews at this event that aims to engage more members of San Diego’s LGBT community with the city’s booming beer scene.
Hillcrest Brewing Company, Hillcrest, hillcrestcraftbeercrawl.com
5.14 Mother’s Day Celebration
What better way to show Mom you love her than by inviting her to feast her eyes on 50 acres of flowers at this colorful celebration in Carlsbad.
Flower Fields, Carlsbad, theflowerfields.com
5.18 Bike to Work Day
Promote biking as a better way to get around by pedaling to work, and swing by any of the 100 pit stops throughout the county to pick up a free shirt and some healthy snacks.
Countywide, icommutesd.com
5.18-5.21 19th Annual Celebrity Championship
Join NFL Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk as he hosts more than 50 celebrity golfers in a 36-hole, weekend-long competition benefiting both the Junior Seau Foundation and the Marshall Faulk Foundation.
Morgan Run Club & Resort, Rancho Santa Fe, celebritychampionship.com
5.20 Operation Appreciation for Armed Forces Day
Express your appreciation for Camp Pendleton’s active-duty military and check out some of the Armed Forces’ latest vehicles as thousands of service members and their families enjoy a day of free food and entertainment.
Oceanside Pier Amphitheatre, Oceanside, visitoceanside.org/oceanside-events-calendar
5.20 North Park Festival of Arts
With a karaoke stage, a cocktail garden and unlimited tasters from more than 30 local brewers, there’s no reason not to attend this free festival spotlighting some of the city’s most artistic individuals.
Throughout North Park, northparkmainstreet.com
5.20-21 Fiesta del Sol
From rock to reggae and funk to the blues, this eclectic musical extravaganza also welcomes a fleet of food trucks and oodles of arts and crafts vendors among other local exhibitors.
Fletcher Cove, Solana Beach, fiestadelsol.net
5.20 San Diego Taco Fest
Sink your teeth into tacos from 30 of the county’s finest Mexican restaurants while listening to live local music, then check out the Chihuahuas competing in a race challenge and beauty contest.
Waterfront Park, Little Italy, sdtacofest.com
5.21 Escondido Street Faire (aka Grand Avenue Festival)
California’s second-largest street fair is back and bigger than ever with 500-plus merchants, hours of live entertainment and even more all-age amusements.
Grand Avenue, downtown Escondido visitescondido.com
5.21 The Navy’s 31st Bay Bridge Run/Walk
Take in sweeping views of the bay and support San Diego’s service members while walking or running four miles from downtown to Tidelands Park via the Coronado Bridge.
Coronado Bay Bridge, downtown navylifesw.com
5.23 I Love Poke Festival
Sample seafood creations conjured up by the city’s top chefs at this eighth annual tasting event, then cast a vote for your favorite fish dish in the city’s signature poke competition.
Bali Hai Restaurant, Shelter Island, onoyum.com
5.27 9th Annual All White Cruise: A Tribute to Cuba
Pay tribute to Cuba while wearing your brightest whites aboard this lavish three-hour harbor cruise offering three floors of music, five fully stocked bars and a cigar lounge on the yacht’s sprawling outdoor deck.
San Diego Harbor, downtown, saboronthebay.com
5.28 Vista Strawberry Festival
Formerly hailed as the Strawberry Capital of the World, Vista’s affinity for the florid fruit lives on during this celebration chock full of live entertainment, local craft brews and a cornucopia of contests.
Main Street, Vista, vistastrawberryfest.com
PADRES HOME GAMES
5.2-5.4 vs. Colorado Rockies
5.5-5.7 vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
5.8-5.9 vs. Texas Rangers
5.15-5.18 vs. Milwaukee Brewers
5.19-5.21 vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
5.29-5.31 vs. Chicago Cubs
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