Things to do in November
Events to look out for this month include San Diego Beer Week, Small Business Saturday in Little Italy, Adams Avenue Spirits Stroll and more.
11.1-10: San Diego Beer Week
Spearheaded by the San Diego Brewers Guild, this 10-day celebration of suds involves more than 130 of the county’s craft breweries, bars and restaurants. Here are a few of Beer Week’s signature events. Events throughout San Diego, sdbw.sdbeer.com
● 11.1: Virtual Kick-Off Toast
Grab a stool at your local brewery by 7 p.m. and cheers to the beginning of Beer Week by partaking in this synchronized expression of camaraderie taking place across the county. Breweries around the county
● 11.2: Guild Fest
More than 60 of San Diego’s independent breweries offer unlimited samples of craft beverages following a casual pre-party harbor cruise. Embarcadero Marina Park North, Marina District
● 11.10: Beer Garden
Featuring unlimited sips and bites, Beer Week’s official closing event brings together 28 breweries and 14 chefs to celebrate the craft beer movement with a unique pairing event. The Lodge at Torrey Pines, Torrey Pines
11.2: Escondido Tamale Festival
Treat yourself to North County’s best tamales during this annual event that includes live entertainment, a beer and wine garden and a Chihuahua fashion show, among other attractions.
Grape Day Park, Escondido, escondidotamalefestival.org
11.2-3: Escondido Renaissance Faire
Step through a portal to the past during two days of jousting, pageantry and tons of entertainment inspired by the Elizabethan era.
Felicita Park, Escondido, oldetymeproductions.com
11.3: 45th annual Carlsbad Village Fall Street Faire
Spanning 14 blocks and featuring a community stage showcasing local talent, the event billed as the country’s largest one-day street fair returns with more than 50 food booths, 800 merchants and 100,000 attendees eager to partake in the festivities.
Carlsbad Village, Carlsbad, carlsbad.org
11.7: 25th Anniversary Gaslamp Gala
Nosh on tray-passed apps from 10 of downtown’s best restaurants, then raise a glass to the Gaslamp Quarter during a decadent three-course dinner that evolves into an outdoor bash on Fifth Avenue.
Hilton San Diego, Gaslamp Quarter, gaslamp.org
11.8: Opening Day of Bing Crosby Season
Place your bets and root for your favorite ponies in this racing season redux that harkens back to the Track’s 1930s heyday with a variety of vintage Hollywood fashion contests.
Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Del Mar, dmtc.com
11.8-10: Blue Man Group
The bald and blue trio brings its Speechless tour to town, featuring fresh compositions, improvised instruments and irreverent comedy alongside social commentary.
San Diego Civic Theatre, downtown, broadwaysd.com
11.8-10: San Diego Snow Jam
Gear up for the slopes as San Diego’s largest snow-centric expo returns to Del Mar, offering up to 70% off brand-new clothing and equipment along with a free lift ticket for attendees.
Del Mar Fairgrounds, Del Mar, snowjamshow.com
11.8-11: Fourth annual Coronado Film Festival
This four-day cinema-by-the-sea experience includes more than 80 films in addition to parties, industry panels and live entertainment.
Various venues in Coronado, coronadoislandfilmfestival.com
11.9: Epic Series San Diego
Combining elements of cross-training, Strongman contests and traditional obstacle courses, this approachable challenge offers tiers for novice, intermediate and advanced athletes, along with an elite course featuring exercises often seen on TV.
Fiesta Island, Mission Bay, epicseriesocr.com
11.9-10: Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live
See the iconic inspirations for Hot Wheels monster trucks toys — including Bigfoot, the original monster truck itself — following a 2 ½ hour pre-party that grants fans access to the competition floor.
Pechanga Arena, Midway District, hotwheelsmonstertruckslive.com
11.9-17: 16th annual San Diego Bay Food + Wine Festival
This weeklong festival of food, wine and culture features dozens of events and hundreds of wineries from around the world. Here are some highlights. Events throughout the County, sandiegowineclassic.com
● 11.9: StageCraft Beer Fest
Esteemed chefs from award-winning restaurants join forces with folks from new and established breweries to conjure flavorful food and beer pairings designed to tickle your taste buds. Viejas Casino and Resort, Alpine
● 11.16: Grand Tasting
Sip samples from hundreds of domestic and international wine, beer and spirits purveyors, and taste offerings from 60-plus chefs and restaurants all putting their best bites forward to be crowned the winner of the event. Embarcadero Marina Park North, Marina District
● 11.16: Nightcap: An After Party
Toast to the festival’s 16 years of deliciousness at this official after-party overflowing with late-night libations, award-winning whiskey, international comfort food and picture-perfect desserts. Intercontinental San Diego, downtown
● 11.17: Taco TKO
Cast a vote for the city’s top taco at this winner-take-all chef showdown complemented by live music, tequila tastings and plenty of beer to go around. Lane Field Park, downtown
11.10: 20th annual Silver Strand Veterans Day Half Marathon, 10 Miler, & Veterans Day 5K
Race 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.
Silver Strand, Coronado, silverstrandhalf.com
11.10: 14th annual University Heights Arts Open and Taste of University Heights
Explore Uni Heights’ rich culture and simultaneously sample its finest foods during this self-guided, two-in-one tour of the community’s many art galleries and restaurants.
Park Boulevard, University Heights, uharts.org
11.11: 33rd annual San Diego Veterans Day Parade
Show your respect for local veterans and active-duty service members during this one-mile parade past the USS Midway and concluding at the picturesque Embarcadero.
North Harbor Drive, downtown, sdvetparade.org
11.13-15: SommCon San Diego
Featuring 50 sessions, 50 presenters and 500 vintages, this conference and expo for wine workers (and serious enthusiasts) focuses on sommelier-level education about the business of wine.
Intercontinental San Diego, downtown, sommconusa.com
11.14: Fourth annual San Diego Ramen Festival
The city’s largest ramen festival returns with 10 vendors offering 12-ounce servings, in addition to a ramen-eating contest, ramen-inspired art, live entertainment and a beer garden.
Port Pavilion at Broadway Pier, downtown, sdramenfest.com
11.15-17: Susan G. Komen 3-Day
The 60-mile “Parade of Pink” kicks off a 72-hour walk and glamping experience with a commitment to remembering those they have lost, honoring those fighting for their lives and ultimately ending breast cancer forever.
From Del Mar to downtown, the3day.org
11.16: Inaugural San Diego Craft Distillers Guild Fest
Cocktail connoisseurs from far and wide pay homage to the city’s craft distilling scene with an upscale experience highlighting 20 local distilleries and including a variety of appetizers from nearby eateries.
Building 177, Liberty Station, sddistillersguildfest.com
11.16: Seventh annual Padres Pedal the Cause
Raise funds for cancer research by participating in this annual, weekend-long challenge that includes spin classes, four cycling courses and a 5K walk/run that concludes centerfield at Petco Park.
Petco Park, East Village, gopedal.org
11.20-21: Astana Ballet
Welcome dancers from The Republic of Kazakhstan on their first-ever tour of the West Coast. Astana Ballet presents a night of classic and modern repertoire, plus an expressive Kazakh folk dance. (Nina Garin)
Spreckels Theatre and California Center for the Arts, astanaballet.com/en
11.27-12.1: 40th annual San Diego Jazz Fest & Swing Extravaganza
The city’s annual jazz festival celebrates the local swing scene by hosting a number of acts whose names are familiar to fans of the genre.
Town & Country Convention Center, Mission Valley, sdjazzfest.org
11.28: 17th annual San Diego Run for the Hungry
Before tearing into some turkey, take part in this dog-friendly fun run benefiting members of our community confronted by hunger.
Horton Plaza, downtown, sdrunforthehungry.org
11.30: Small Business Saturday in Little Italy
Skip Black Friday and instead to snag stellar deals in Little Italy as many of the neighborhood’s independent retailers tap into the power of the Shop Small movement.
Throughout Little Italy, littleitalysd.com
11.30: Fifth annual Adams Avenue Spirits Stroll
Sip while you shop as 21 of Adams Avenue’s trendiest stores serve holiday-themed cocktails concocted by talented bartenders from the area’s top watering holes.
Adams Avenue, Normal Heights to Kensington, adamsavenuebusiness.com
11.30: Wizards Beer Fest
This wild and wacky wizard-centric event includes themed drinks, a costume competition and live performances from the Slytherin Sisters, Professor Sape-e-nem and DJ Dumbledore among other acts.
Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Del Mar, dmtc.com
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