Things to do in July

June 25, 2018 10:55 AM PT

Events in San Diego during July include O’fest Beach Festival, San Diego Pride, San Diego Comic-Con International and the fourth annual Chicano Con.

7.4: Big Bay Boom

Grab a lawn chair, and prepare for 18 minutes of eye-popping pyrotechnics launched from four barges in the Big Bay during one of the West Coast’s largest Fourth of July fireworks show.

Viewing areas from Point Loma to Coronado, bigbayboom.com

SAN DIEGO, July 4, 2016 | With the downtown San Diego skyline in the background, fireworks explode over San Diego Bay during the Port of San Diego 2016 Big Bay Boom fireworks show on Monday. | Photo by Hayne Palmour IV/San Diego Union-Tribune/ZUMA PRESS San Diego Union-Tribune

7.4: O’fest Beach Festival

Capping off Oceanside’s Star-Spangled Independence Week, this event will be chock full of food, activities and retail vendors in Pier Plaza and amphitheater parking lot.

The Strand from O’side Pier to Tyson Street Park, Oceanside, mainstreetoceanside.com

7.4: 44^th annual Crown City Classic

Celebrate your 7/4 with a 7.4-mile run through historic Coronado, or opt for a far-shorter 5K if that’s more your speed.

Orange Avenue, Coronado, crowncityrun.com

7.4: 60^th annual Rough Water Swim

Swimmers from their tweens to their 70s compete in a variety of distances to demonstrate their devotion to open-water racing.

Central Beach, Coronado, coronadoroughwaterswim.org

7.5: San Diego Surfrider Morning After Mess

Repent for your Independence Day sins by getting rid of filth on the fifth, as Surfrider hosts its annual cleanup to pick up the tons of trash left behind by irresponsible beachgoers.

Fiesta Island, Mission Bay, ilacsd.org

7.6-8: Second annual Impride Comedy Festival

Finest City Improv again partners with SD Pride for three days of LGBT-related comedy, classes and celebrations benefiting local youth arts programs.

The Lafayette Hotel, North Park, finestcityimprov.com

7.7: SheFest

Committed to strengthening the bond between San Diego’s LGBT community and the city as a whole, this woman-centric event celebrates and supports the contributions of the fairer sex while fostering authentic connections among attendees.

North Park Community Park, North Park, sdpride.org

7.8: Sixth annual Walk for Sobriety

Delivering help and hope to thousands of locals affected by addiction, this well-intentioned walk benefits the McAlister Institute, one of the city’s leading resources for substance abuse treatment and recovery.

NTC Park in Liberty Station, Point Loma, mcalisterinc.org

7.13-15: San Diego Pride

The Rally: Kick off Pride weekend on July 13 by tuning into talks from inspiring speakers and recognizing local LGBTQ leaders who continue to unite our city’s diverse communities.
Pride 5K Run: On July 14, don your rainbow regalia for this fast, flat 5K that follows the same route as the parade it precedes.
Pride Parade: Join more than 200,000 other cheerful attendees on July 14 for this year’s 1.5-mile Persist with Pride parade, which starts on University Avenue near Normal Street and turns down Sixth Avenue before concluding in Balboa Park at Upas Street.
The Festival: Celebrating diversity and inclusion through cultural presentations and exhibits, San Diego’s biggest summer bash, July 14-15, returns to the west side of Balboa Park with merchant booths, community resources and four stages of live, local entertainment. JoJo and TLC headline.

Click here for a chance to win tickets to San Diego Pride.

Hillcrest and surrounding area, sdpride.org

SAN DIEGO, CA: July 15, 2017 | Fonzi Figueroa, left, of Hillcrest, and Cassidy Richards, Miss Gay Pride SD 2017, right, of North Park take a selfie photo before the 2017 San Diego Pride parade began. | Photo by Howard Lipin/San Diego Union-Tribune/ZUMA PRESS

7.14-15, 21-22: Over the Line

Three-player teams with off-color names battle it out to see who can bat balls the farthest as Mission Bay’s long-runningBYOB bonanza returns to Fiesta Island.

Fiesta Island, Mission Bay, ombac.org

SAN DIEGO, July 16th, 2017 | Championship Sunday at the 64th annual Over The Line tournament on Fiesta Island. Savannah Johnson hits a pitch from Kelsey McGowan during a 2 out rally. Chadd Cady for The San Diego Union-Tribune

7.14: Sun & Sea Festival

Following a Superheroes in the Sand theme, I.B.’s annual beach bash boasts a pancake breakfast, a community parade, and world-class sandcastle sculptors amid live music, a farmers market and activities for youngsters.

Portwood Pier Plaza, Imperial Beach, sunandseafestival.com

IMPERIAL BEACH, July 16th, 2016 | 2016 Imperial Beach Sun and Sea Festival sand castle competition. Team San Diego Sand Castle's finished display, Interstellar Ape. Chadd Cady for the San Diego Union-Tribune

7.14: Vigilucci’s Beach Bocce Tournament

Scores of teams compete to “kiss” balls as one of San Diego’s most reputable restaurant groups hosts its annual lawn bowling tournament benefiting the Boys & Girls Club of Carlsbad.

Dog Beach, Del Mar, beachbocce.com

7.15: FIFA Championship Viewing Party

Take to the streets of North Park bright and early in celebration of the World Cup championship game, which will be shown on two jumbotrons along 30^th Street, followed by a Sunday Funday Fan Zone After-Party.

30^th Street at University Avenue, North Park, explorenorthpark.com

7.15: Sixth annual PAWmicon

Play dress up with your doggy for this free, costume-centric pet event featuring music, games and more, all benefiting the Helen Woodward Animal Center.

Hazard Center, Mission Valley, animalcenter.org

7.18: Opening Day at Del Mar Racetrack

Join more than 40,000 race fans at one of California’s most fun and fashionable festivities, including the famous Hats Contest, in which guests compete for cash prizes based on style and creativity.

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Del Mar, dmtc.com

SAN DIEGO, CA July 19th, 2017 | Horses and riders leave the starting gate for the 1st race on Wednesday for the first day of racing at Del Mar, California. | (Eduardo Contreras / San Diego Union-Tribune)

7.19-22: San Diego Comic-Con International

Aquamen and Wonder Women again descend upon the Convention Center as pop-culture’s quintessential celebration returns for its 49th year. Find up-to-date news and events on the Comic-Con section of our website.

Convention Center, downtown, comic-con.org

Robert Meyers of Tampa dressed as a Storm Trooper at Comic-Con in San Diego on July 21, 2017. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune)

7.19-22: Fourth annual Chicano Con

Comics and Chicano culture collide at this geeky event highlighting the work of Latino artists and featuring tacos, live music and a superhero piñata smash.

Border X Brewing, Barrio Logan, facebook.com/borderxbrewinglogan

7.21: Cabrillo Sunset 5K Fun Run & Walk

Pay your respects to Point Loma’s signature sandstone statue at this fundraising fun run that includes a 200-foot incline and a trip past the picturesque tidepools.

Cabrillo National Monument, Point Loma, active.com

7.27-29: Supergirl Surf Pro

The world’s leading female surfers return to Oceanside for this three-day competition and festival featuring fashion, fitness and more than 50 merchants, among many other attractions.

Oceanside Pier, Oceanside, supergirlpro.com

7.28: Oceanside Museum of Art Ball

Elevating elegance to new heights, this highly anticipated ball returns with a Beneath the Sea theme and includes drinks, dancing and an al fresco dinner set to a soundtrack of lively, local music.

Oceanside Civic Center, Oceanside, oma-online.org

7.28: Imperial Beach Surf Dog Competition

Sixty-plus splash-happy canines carve waves along the coast in the original surf dog competition, which also includes a beer garden, awards ceremony, and SurFUR Expo raising funds for the San Diego Humane Society.

Imperial Beach Pier, Imperial Beach, surfdogevents.com

Surf Gidget the Pug wears a shark costume as she and other dogs and owners gather for Barknado, the attempt to break the Guinness world record of the most dogs wearing shark fins on a beach, which they did at 61, during the 2017 Imperial Beach Surf Dog competition at Imperial Beach on Saturday. | Photo by Hayne Palmour IV/San Diego Union-Tribune

7.29: Solana Beach Triathlon & Duathlon

This USAT-sanctioned event also includes bike and run courses along picturesque Pacific Coast Highway, where an expo, beer lounge and high-five tunnel await you at the finish line.

Pacific Coast Highway, Solana Beach, kozevents.com