Things to do in November
Top events coming to San Diego in November include Light the Night, San Diego Asian Film Festival, SnowJam, and various Turkey Trots.
11.2-4: Old Town Dia de Los Muertos
Celebrate the history, culture and heritage of San Diego’s Mexican population, and pay homage to the memories of departed loved ones, during three days of festive art and entertainment featuring sugar skull face painting and more than 40 altars of remembrance.
Throughout Old Town, dayofthedeadsd.com
Old Town Dia de Los Muertos.
11.3: Second annual Quarry Crusher Run
Descend steep declines then make your way from the quarry floor back up to sea level during this unique race that offers a once-in-a-lifetime look inside a jagged landscape that’s typically off limits to the public.
Vulcan Materials Quarry, Chula Vista, quarrycrusherrun.com
11.3: Second annual Joshua Tree Half Marathon
Escape the city for a night and join hordes of other runners on this challenging, after-dark trek underneath an ocean of stars in the Mojave Desert.
Joshua Tree Lake RV & Campground, Joshua Tree National Park, vacationraces.com
11.3: SweatCon Rally
This one-day fitness event flips the script on your typical bar crawl and instead invites guests to work up a sweat during three, back-to-back, 30-minute workouts at boutique fitness studios in the neighborhood of your choice.
Fitness studios throughout San Diego, sweatconrally.com
11.3: Light the Night
Show your support for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s tremendous efforts during this annual nighttime walk along the waterfront that raises funds for cancer research and pays tribute to thousands of local patients and their families affected by these diseases.
Waterfront Park, Little Italy, lightthenight.org
11.3-4: 19th annual Escondido Renaissance Faire with a Pirate Flair
Step through a portal to the past when the fictitious Queen Gloriana returns to the Shire of Escondido for two days of vendors, variety shows and tons of entertainment inspired by the Elizabethan era.
Felicita County Park, Escondido, oldetymeproductions.com
Escondido Renaissance Faire with a Pirate Flair.
11.4: 44th annual Carlsbad Village Faire
Spanning 14 blocks, this one-day street fair returns with more than 50 food booths, 800 merchants and 100,000 attendees eager to engage in all the activities.
Carlsbad Village, Carlsbad, carlsbad.org
11.4: Komen Race for the Cure
A crucial provider of free breast cancer treatments, services and support hosts its annual race to raise money for continued care until doctors find a cure.
Balboa Park and downtown, komensandiego.org
11.4: Carrera de Los Muertos
Remember loved ones who have passed during this festive Day of the Dead-themed 5K and 10K set along the bayfront that includes mariachi bands, traditional dancing and authentic Mexican fare.
Embarcadero Marina Park South, downtown, losmuertos5k.com
11.4: San Diego Wedding Party Expo
San Diego’s biggest bridal show is back to help local couples plan their dream weddings without breaking their budgets.
The Prado, Balboa Park, sandiegoweddingparty.com
11.8-17: 19th annual San Diego Asian Film Festival
Showcasing more than 150 films, this competitive event honoring Asian-American cinema is dedicated to highlighting cultural diversity via visual media.
Enter for a chance to win a pair of festival passes or the grand prize package, including a pair of tickets to the Opening Night screening and after-party, here.
Venues throughout San Diego, sdaff.org
11.9-12.2: Fall Racing Festival
Place your bets and root for your favorite ponies in this year’s racing season redux (formerly known as Bing Crosby Season) featuring such events throughout the season as Uncorked: Derby Days Wine Fest, a Craft Beer Festival and Country Day featuring a concert from singer Easton Corbin.
Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Del Mar, dmtc.com
11.9-11: SnowJam
Just in time for winter, San Diego’s largest ski and snowboard expo arrives in Del Mar offering up to 70% off brand-new equipment along with a free lift ticket to Mountain High for the first 500 attendees to arrive each day.
Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Del Mar, snowjamshow.com
11.9-12: 2018 Coronado Island Film Festival
With categories including short films, narrative features and documentaries, this cinema-centric event asks viewers to vote for their favorite flicks before the winners are announced at the closing awards ceremony.
Venues throughout Coronado, coronadoislandfilmfestival.com
11.10: San Diego Veterans Day Parade
Show respect for local veterans and active-duty service members during this 1-mile parade past the USS Midway and concluding at the picturesque Embarcadero.
Harbor Drive at Grape Street, downtown, sandiego.gov
11.10: Sixth annual Ride the Point Jim Krause Memorial Ride
Experience a side of Point Loma few San Diegans get to see on one of four exciting cycling routes honoring the life of a beloved local who lost his life to pancreatic cancer in 2012.
Point Loma and surrounding area, ridethepoint.org
11.11: 19th annual Silver Strand Veterans Day Half Marathon, 10 Miler, & Veterans Day 5K
Run, walk or skate along the Silver Strand from Coronado to Imperial Beach, then let the good times roll at the finishers’ post-race beach party and beer garden.
Imperial Beach Pier Plaza, Imperial Beach, silverstrandhalf.com
11.11: 13th annual University Heights Arts Open
Once again coinciding with the Taste of University Heights food walk, this artsy event welcomes guests to stroll throughout the quaint neighborhood on a self-guided tour of the community’s rich culture.
Throughout University Heights, uharts.org
11.16-18: Susan G. Komen 3-Day
The 60-mile moving monument known as the “Parade of Pink” kicks off a 72-hour walk and glamping experience with a commitment to end breast cancer forever.
Throughout San Diego, the3day.org
11.17: Padres Pedal the Cause
Raise funds for cancer research by participating in this annual challenge that includes spin classes, four cycling courses and a 5K walk/run that all conclude in centerfield at Petco Park.
Petco Park, East Village, gopedal.org
11.17: Sweat for Service on the USS Midway
Climb aboard the deck of San Diego’s world-famous aircraft carrier for a dynamic yoga session raising awareness and funds for the families of fallen soldiers.
USS Midway Museum, downtown, tickettailor.com
11.17 through 1.6.19: Rady Children’s Ice Rink
Salute the season with an open-air skate benefitting the hospital’s Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders and also featuring Liberty Station’s Tree Lighting and Holiday Festivities on Nov. 30.
Liberty Station, Point Loma, libertystation.com
11.18: 2018 MG Walk
Do your part to help those living with myasthenia gravis by lacing up for this scenic 5K around Mission Bay.
De Anza Cove, Mission Bay, mgwalk.org
11.22: Father Joe’s Villages 17th annual Thanksgiving Day 5K
Join more than 7,500 runners and walkers for Father Joe’s family-friendly 5K featuring live music, games and a craft beer garden, all raising funds to prepare 1 million meals for many of the 9,000+ homeless people living in our city.
Balboa Park, downtown, fjv.convio.net
Tori Light (left) and Beki Turlay shoot a photo as they cross the finish line during the Father Joe’s Villages Thanksgiving Day 5k in San Diego.
11.22: Encinitas Turkey Trot
Starting and finishing under the iconic Encinitas sign, this early-morning 5K/10K Turkey Trot exclusively benefits active-duty military families and concludes with a costume-award ceremony following the race.
Coast Highway 101, Encinitas, encinitasturkeytrot.org
11.22: Fourth annual South Bay Turkey Trot & Food Drive
Run like a beast before you feast in the only area Turkey Trot offering three distances to choose from — 5K, 10K or 15K — paired with a community food drive to ensure no locals go hungry on Thanksgiving.
Rohr Park, Bonita, sdthanksgivingrun.com
11.22: 13th annual Oceanside Turkey Trot
North County’s favorite Thanksgiving Day tradition returns with a 5K/10K run/walk including a costume contest, team competition and live entertainment along the route.
Oceanside Civic Center, Oceanside, osideturkeytrot.com
11.22: Coronado 5K Turkey Trot
Support mental health initiatives at Rady Children’s Hospital by running in this fun 5K organized by the medical facility’s Coronado contingent.
Tidelands Park, Coronado, web.coronadochamber.com
11.22: Sixth annual San Diego Run for the Hungry
Exercise enthusiasts of all ages and abilities are invited to take part in this dog-friendly fun run benefiting members of our community confronted by hunger.
Outside Horton Plaza, Gaslamp Quarter, sdrunforthehungry.org
11.22 through 1.1.2019: Skating by the Sea
The city’s only beachfront rink opens for the season with a mission to raise funds for Make-A-Wish San Diego. Bonus: Take a spin around the rink with Olympic gold medalist Tara Lipinski when she stops by the rink on Dec. 15.
Hotel Del Coronado, Coronado, hoteldel.com
11.24: Little Italy Small Business Saturday
Skip Black Friday and instead snag stellar deals in Little Italy as many of the neighborhood’s independent retailers join forces to tap into the power of the Shop Small movement.
Throughout Little Italy, littleitalysd.com
11.24: 39th annual San Diego Jazz Festival & Swing Dance Extravaganza
The city’s annual jazz festival celebrates the local swing dance community by hosting a number of performers whose names are familiar to fans of that genre.
Town & Country Hotel & Convention Center, Mission Valley, sdjazzfest.org
11.24: Teddy Ball
Bring a stuffed teddy to this black-tie charity celebration organized by Cruise 4 Kids, a nonprofit organization that donates the bears to afflicted adolescents.
Town & Country Hotel, Mission Valley, theteddyball.com
11.30-12.2: P1440
Editor’s note: After this event was published in PACIFIC’s November magazine, we received news that the San Diego event was canceled. Instead there will be a combined three-day event from Nov. 30-Dec. 2 at Huntington State Beach in Orange County with plans to come to San Diego in 2019. See below website for info.
Ever wonder what it’d be like to train like an Olympic beach volleyball gold medalist? The p1440 festival, created by Kerri Walsh Jennings, is bringing top athletes, a health and wellness village, plus high-intensity training, yoga and meditation sessions as well as cooking demos to the waterfront.
Waterfront Park, downtown, p1440.com
San Diego Gulls home games
11.9-10: vs. Colorado Eagles
11.16: vs. Bakersfield Condors
11.21: vs. Ontario Reign
11.23: vs. Stockton Heat
11.28, 30: vs. Manitoba Moose
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