Things to do in May
Events in San Diego during May include Cinco de Mayo events, the San Diego Vintage Flea Market, Festival of Colors and Mother’s Day Celebration.
5.4-6: San Diego Tattoo Invitational
Showcasing the creative diversity of some of the world’s top tattooists, this indelible ink fest will include live demonstrations of the subculture’s trendy and traditional techniques.
Golden Hall, downtown, sandiegotattooinvitational.com
5.4-6: 35th Annual Fiesta Old Town Cinco de Mayo
The city’s signature Cinco celebration returns with live music, a Lowrider Lane, and lots of lucha libre matches alongside food and drink specials at scads of bars and restaurants.
Harney Street and San Diego Avenue, cincodemayooldtown.com
5.4-6: Beach Soccer Championship
Put your best foot forward at this fun festival kicking off SoCal’s soccer season and raising funds for local youth programs.
Harbor Beach, Oceanside, beachsoccerusa.org
5.5: 27th Annual May Pug Party Cinco de Mayo
Southern California’s largest pug-centric event returns with more than 400 of the scrunched-face canines competing in costume contests, a cupcake chomp, and a wet T-shirt showdown.
Del Mar Fairgrounds, Del Mar, pugsandiego.com
5.5: Father Joe’s Villages’ 34th Annual Children’s Charity Gala
Help children experiencing homelessness access the tools they need to build a better future by feasting on an exquisite three-course dinner paired with signature cocktails and world-renowned wines.
U.S. Grant Hotel, downtown, my.neighbor.org
5.5: Ninth Annual Asian Cultural Festival of San Diego 2018
Celebrating the diversity of Asian and Pacific Island cultures and ethnicities, this fun, free and family-friendly festival aims to unify San Diego’s Asian populations and educate others about their arts and traditions.
Mira Mesa Senior Center, Mira Mesa, asianculturalfestivalsd.com
5.5: Yoga on the Midway
Arrive early and bring your mat to this free, all-levels yoga class aboard San Diego’s legendary aircraft carrier.
USS Midway flight deck, downtown, downtownsandiego.org
5.5: Walk for Animals
Do your part to make our city safer for companion animals and wildlife of all types by walking in this event raising vital funds for San Diego Humane Society.
NTC Park at Liberty Station, Point Loma, sdhumane.org
5.5: Cinco by the Bay
Celebrating Mexico’s rich heritage and culture, this 21+ event includes tastes of the nation’s cuisine and sips of agave spirits set to a soundtrack of traditional Mexican music.
Embarcadero Marina Park South, downtown, cincobythebay.com
5.6: 10th Annual Miracle Babies 5K
Don a cape and cowl when heading to this costumed 5K followed by a day full of entertainment, art demonstrations and obstacle courses all benefiting the babies cared for in San Diego NICUs.
NTC Park at Liberty Station, Point Loma, miraclebabies.org
5.6: San Diego Vintage Flea Market
More than 100 unique merchants display their very best vintage wares at this free, rain-or-shine event.
The Observatory, North Park, sdvintagefleamarket.com
5.6: Spring Sprint Triathlon, Duathlon & Aquabike
Igniting San Diego’s triathlon season and marking the first event in the city’s annual Triple Crown Series, this serene swim, flat cycling course, and sea-level run is ideal for experienced athletes and first-timers alike.
South Shores Park, Mission Bay, kozevents.com
5.6: 44th Annual Carlsbad Village Faire
The one-day street fair returns to North County with 50 food booths, 800 merchants and an expected 100,000+ visitors from far and wide.
Grand Avenue from Carlsbad Boulevard to Jefferson Street, downtown Carlsbad, carlsbad.org
5.10-13: Gator by the Bay
It’s Mardi Gras all over again at this spirited 4-day festival featuring seven stages of Zydeco, blues and Cajun music along with free dance lessons and delicious creole cuisine including 10,000 pounds of live Louisiana crawfish.
Spanish Landing Park (Across from Lindbergh Field), gatorbythebay.com
5.10: PostSecret Live
Listen to others share their deepest, darkest secrets — or step up and tell your own — as Frank Warren, the founder of PostSecret, brings his viral art project to life with an interactive talk that complements an exhibit at the Museum of Man.
Price Center West Ballroom, UCSD, museumofman.org
5.11: 27th Annual Mama’s Day 2018
Sink your teeth into culinary offerings from 50-plus restaurants as chefs from across the city gather to support the org that delivers hot meals and love to those affected by HIV, cancer and other critical conditions.
Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine, La Jolla, mamaskitchen.org
5.11: Costume-Con 36
Look for cosplayers, historical re-enactors and hardcore fantasy fans to descend upon this international convention packed with panels, workshops and costume competitions.
DoubleTree by Hilton, Mission Valley, cc36sandiego.org
5.11-12: Vintage Marketplace
Immerse yourself in more than 80 boutique-style booths curated by scores of masterful merchants selling the finest vintage, antique and handmade merchandise.
The Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum, Vista, thevintagemarketplaceca.com
5.12: Festival of Colors
The transformational event returns to San Diego with live music, yogic mantras, international cuisine and colorful cornstarch.
Oceanside Pier Amphitheater, Oceanside Pier, festivalofcolorsusa.com
5.12: Reggae Splash Cruise
This reggae boat party invites you to get irie aboard a luxurious yacht during this 3-hour cruise including three floors of music, five fully stocked bars and more than 1,200 guests.
Aboard the Inspiration Hornblower, San Diego Bay, reggaesplashsd.com
5.12: 22nd Annual North Park Festival of Arts
Join more than 40,000 attendees as North Park’s yearly arts and music festival returns boasting even more cuisine, creations and craft beer than ever before.
University Avenue between 30th and 32nd streets, North Park, northparkmainstreet.com
5.12: Seventh Annual Wine, Women & Shoes
Enjoy an afternoon of fun, fashion and fine wine, then compete for “Best in Shoe” during this unique event focused on feet.
Del Mar Plaza, Del Mar, speakupnow.org
5.12-13: Balboa Park Pow Wow
Peruse through thousands of products from various vendors selling jewelry, pottery, basketry and other wares at this free cultural event celebrating American Indian heritage and traditions.
Park Boulevard at Presidents Way, Balboa Park, sdaihc.org
5.13: Mother’s Day Celebration
Treat Mom to a Mother’s Day she’ll never forget by transporting her to 50 acres of extraordinary color overlooking the ocean before the Flower Fields of Carlsbad closes for the season.
The Flower Fields, Carlsbad, theflowerfields.com
5.17: Bike to Work Day
Grab your helmet, pump up your tires and join the thousands of other San Diegans pedaling to their places of work on this day that aims to encourage more locals to consider biking as an affordable and environmentally friendly choice for commuting.
Throughout San Diego County, icommutesd.com
Bike to Work Day is a national event celebrated annually in the United States as part of National Bike Month.
5.17-20: 20th Annual Celebrity Championship 2018
Rub elbows with high-profile celebs, and forge new friendships with the rich and famous during this two-day, 36-hole golf tournament paired with nightly parties and free events throughout the week.
Morgan Run Club & Resort, Rancho Santa Fe, celebritychampionship.com
5.18: Interactive Day San Diego
Listen to marketing mavens, inspiring entrepreneurs and brilliant brand managers share their visions of the future of tech, then attend the enlightening after-party in East Village.
Venues in the Gaslamp Quarter and East Village, sandiegox.org
5.19: Armed Forces Appreciation Day
Express your admiration for active-duty military and their families during this daylong celebration chock full of music, food and family fun.
Oceanside Pier Amphitheater, Oceanside, visitoceanside.org
5.19: 2018 Chula Vista Community Fun Run
Runners, walkers and parents with strollers are invited to weave through several sport venues at Chula Vista’s premier training facility.
Elite Athlete Training Center, Chula Vista, chulavistaca.gov
5.19-20: 39th Annual Fiesta del Sol
This free, two-day music festival showcases an eclectic selection of live performances along with various vendors, oodles of art exhibits and gourmet food trucks galore.
Fletcher Cove, Solana Beach, fiestadelsol.net
5.19: Third Annual Horizon Music Festival
Seamlessly blending beats, booze and mouthwatering bites, this hedonistic haven will be headlined by Thievery Corporation with proceeds benefiting the Urban Angels foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to nourishing local homeless.
Embarcadero Marina Park North, downtown, intothehorizon.com
5.20: Grand Avenue Festival
Browse through handcrafted wares from hundreds of merchants, treat your taste buds to bites of international cuisine, and swing your hips to loads of live music at Escondido’s famed festival.
Grand Avenue from City Centre Parkway to Juniper, Escondido, visitescondido.com
5.20: 32nd Annual Bay Bridge Run Walk
Show your support for the half-a-million members of San Diego’s military family at this one-of-a-kind run/walk across the majestic Coronado Bay Bridge to idyllic Tidelands Park.
Coronado Bay Bridge, Coronado, navybaybridgerun.com
5.25-6.3: Fifth Annual San Diego Comedy Fest
Touring headliners and hilarious comedians from around the world showcase their talent and compete for cash prizes during this weeklong event where whoever laughs last, laughs best.
The Comedy Palace, Clairemont, sandiegocomedyfest.com
5.26 10th annual Santee Street Fair & Craft Beer Festival
This annual event, which features live music and entertainment along with 300 food and craft vendor booths, is topped off with a stellar craft beer area where a wristband will get you 10 four-ounce tasters and some grub.
Town Center Parkway at Riverview Parkway, Santee, santeestreetfair.com
5.26: 10 Year Anniversary All White Cruise
Experience the true “sabor” (flavor) of Latin culture at the largest Latin-inspired boat cruise in America touting salsa dancing on the top deck and a laser light show on the Hip Hop-Latin Urban level.
San Diego Bay, saboronthebay.com
5.26: Sing Dance Crawl 2018
Round up your most patriotic pals for this high-energy Americana-themed party taking place at three of downtown’s top venues and bringing locals together for a good time and a great cause.
Various locations around downtown, singdancecrawl.com
Padres Home Games
5.4-6 vs Los Angeles Dodgers (played in Monterrey, Mexico)
5.7-9 vs Washington Nationals
5.10-13 vs St. Louis Cardinals
5.14-15 vs Colorado Rockies
5.28-31 vs Miami Marlins
San Diego Padres Austin Hedges. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
SD Legion Home Games
5.4 vs Houston SaberCats
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