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We rounded up the city’s best events, activities, and restaurants to celebrate Dad on June 21
Father’s Day is often the overlooked summer holiday that doesn’t quite get the extravagant brunch treatment or overflowing bouquets that Mother’s Day does. Sure, there’s the annual pair of socks, Padres hat you’re convinced he doesn’t already own, beer subscriptions, phone case doubling as a wallet, plus the classic “Best Dad” keepsakes. But this year, let’s flip the narrative with events, activities, and specials made with Dad in mind.
Whether he wants a quiet dinner, a big screen full of San Diego sports and wings, or a weekend that somehow includes NASCAR, a jazz festival, and a Broadway reimagining, there is something for every dad. Here’s your guide to a memorable Father’s Day in San Diego.
Jump To: Activities | Bars & Drinks | Dining Specials
Nothing says “Happy Father’s Day” like the sound of engines ripping across Naval Base Coronado. NASCAR is turning this into a historic race weekend that feels less like a casual outing and more like a full-scale San Diego moment people will be talking about long after June is over. This is the first time a NASCAR Cup Series race has ever taken place on an active military base, which instantly puts it in “you had to be there” territory.
It’s fast, loud, and very on-brand for a Father’s Day where Dad suddenly becomes an expert on tire strategy, pit stops, and track positions. The bar might be set unreasonably high for every Father’s Day that follows, but that’s a next-year problem, right?
Price: Tickets available on Ticketmaster
Dates: June 19–21 | Weekend Schedule
Address: Naval Base Coronado
At Humphreys, Father’s Day gets a little more sophisticated. Roger Friend and an all-star lineup of jazz musicians bring decades of international experience to the bay, where dads can lean into their musical side with head nods and shoe taps. It’s smooth, layered, and exactly the amount of jazz you didn’t realize your playlists were missing.
Price: Tickets available on Ticketmaster
Time: 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Address: 241 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego
Belmont Park is rolling out a Father’s Day lineup that basically turns Mission Beach into a living garage scene, with a free car show featuring everything from polished 1960s Camaros to classic Bel Airs and lowriders. If he has a ride of his own, vintage car owners can join the lineup for $35 per vehicle. After the chrome tour, it’s straight into a Mission Beach classic: boardwalk strolls, fish tacos on the sand, and rides at Belmont Park.
Price: Free to attend | Register vehicle here
Time: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Address: Belmont Park, 3146 Mission Boulevard, San Diego
I think it’s an unspoken rule that dads love Bob Dylan. Mine is already figuring out how he’s getting to San Diego for this. But this isn’t just a Father’s Day activity, it’s a cultural event that happens to land on Father’s Day weekend and immediately becomes the plan. Bob Dylan at The Rady Shell means you’ll be surrounded by city lights sparkling across the harbor, legacy music, and at least one moment where Dad leans over and whispers, “You know, this guy wrote everything.” And honestly? He’s not wrong.
Price: Tickets available on Ticketmaster
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Address: 222 Marina Park Way, San Diego
The San Diego County Fair returns with fried everything, questionable decisions, rides that definitely looked safer in the 2000s, and Dad’s very confident plan to “just walk around for an hour” that somehow turns into an entire day. It’s also the biggest, longest-running community event in San Diego County, running Wednesday, June 10 through Sunday, July 5, with a “Once Upon a Fair” theme. It basically becomes part of the Father’s Day season whether you planned it or not. So, consider this your annual reminder that “happily ever after” can, in fact, involve Cajun honey dogs, cinnamon rolls, a Ferris wheel you swore you wouldn’t go on, and Dad somehow knowing exactly which booth has the best Spam wonton tacos.
Price: Tickets available here: website
Date & Time: June 10 – July 5 (closed Mondays & Tuesdays) | 11 a.m.
Address: 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd, Del Mar
For the thespian Dad, the patron of the arts Dad, and the one who still refers to every stage as “the theater,” Diversionary’s reimagined RENT is intimate, raw, and guarantees Dad will be quietly humming on the drive home. This bold, stripped-down production leans fully into chosen family, resilience, and all the feelings that land a little deeper than expected in the best possible way. There is even an optional immersive moment, which is a polite way of saying yes, you may become part of the show now. Break a leg!
Price: Tickets available here
Time: 2 p.m.
Address: 4545 Park Blvd #101, San Diego
Girl dads, this one’s for you. For those who sing along during pop-playlist car rides, Madison Beer: The Locket Tour at Gallagher Square at Petco Park is the move. It’s a full-production night out with special guests Thủy and Lulu Simon, and the perfect excuse for matching concert shirts. A Father’s Day pick with a little more glitter than expected, and that’s exactly the point!
Price: Tickets available on Ticketmaster
Time: 7 p.m.
Address: 840 K St, San Diego
For the dad who already owns everything except a very well-planned afternoon, this Father’s Day calls for a “tasty adventure” on a San Diego Beer, Wine, and Spirits Tour, running throughout June. It’s basically an excuse to hand him a glass and a scenic view. Guests must be 18+ for the tour and 21+ for tastings, and yes, Dad does still need to show ID for this one. But that’s really all the planning required.
Price: $197.35 per guest 21+ (Guests 18-20 are permitted on tours)
Date & Time: Throughout summer | 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Address: Meeting & Dropoff: 805 W. Harbor Dr. Ste B, San Diego
Whether you’re celebrating Dad on Father’s Day or gifting him the “casino resort” experience for later, Harrah’s Resort Southern California is basically built for him. Ditch the Vegas flight and drive to Funner, CA, where it’s all high-energy action, from the expanded High Limit gaming floor with 100 slot machines and table games like Baccarat and Blackjack, to Easy Speak for barrel picks and rare spirits. Head over to Dive for swim-up bars, DJ sets, and a 400-foot lazy river that dares Dad to actually relax, all rounded out by Hell’s Kitchen, because of course it is.
Price: Book a night | Hell’s Kitchen OpenTable
Address: 777 S Resort Dr, Valley Center
Yes, this is Father’s Day. Yes, Dad is getting a massage. No, he will not admit he enjoyed it that much. Spa Pendry leans fully into restoration mode with deep tissue everything, HydraFacials, and a complimentary IPA at the end because dads also deserve a little pampering every once in a while.
Price: Offerings
Time: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Address: 550 J St, Gaslamp Quarter
Father’s Day at the Bay turns San Diego Mission Bay Resort into a full day, no-excuses celebration of Dad, where the agenda is “Dad’s ideal Sunday.” Start at Covewood with World Cup matches and NASCAR coverage paired with Shake and Bake Chicken Wings and cold beer specials, including the signature Noble Wolf Pilsner, then head bayfront for beach volleyball, remote-control boat races, cornhole, and every other resort activity that somehow turns Dad into an unexpected champion. It’s structured fun disguised as spontaneity.
Time: Brunch: 7 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Last bites: 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. | Dinner: 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Address: 1775 E Mission Bay Dr., San Diego
Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa leans into a quieter kind of Father’s Day, where families settle into a private cabana at The Palma and the resort’s reimagined poolside oasis. Each cabana includes shaded lounge seating, a stocked mini fridge, a fruit platter, Coola sun care products, and poolside food and drink service. It’s low-effort in the best way.
Price: Adults starting at $50 | Children starting at $28 | Cabanas starting at $448.
Time: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Address: 9700 N Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla
Father’s Day gets a slow ride through the Coronado Cays with a private 50-minute gondola cruise, drifting through canals and waterways. Along for the ride: a six-pack of Ballast Point beer or a bottle of house wine, mini sparkling apple ciders, a heart-shaped box of “#1 Dad’s Edition” Meathearts, honey roasted peanuts, and complimentary corkage if you want to bring your own bottle.
Price: Starting at $215
Time: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Address: 503 Grand Caribe Causeway Suite C, Coronado
Who says you can’t spend all of Father’s Day with buttery popcorn, fruity candies, an oversized soda, and even a cocktail or two (it is a movie marathon after all) at Rooftop Cinema Club in Little Italy? The city glow replaces the usual theater lights as the Father’s Day lineup rolls out: The Sandlot at 12:45 p.m., Raiders of the Lost Ark at 3:00 p.m., Interstellar at 6:30 p.m., and Big Daddy at 10:15 p.m.
Price: Starting at $19 for adults | $12 for children (12 and under)
Address: 1835 Columbia St., 5th Floor, San Diego
Just give Dad a golf course, beer, and absolutely no reason to leave. Opened just in time for Father’s Day, Harland Clubhouse brings smashburgers, breakfast burritos, tacos, and deli sandwiches to the fairway like it’s the most natural thing in the world. Harland beers—Hazy IPA, West Coast IPA, Japanese Lager—are made with care by dads, for dads. It’s a celebration intertwined with a beer vacation, which is really all anyone was aiming for anyway.
Time: Initial operating hours are 7 a.m. – 10 p.m
Address: 2702 N Mission Bay Dr, San Diego
Happy Does is all games, drinks, and childhood nostalgia, just with better lighting and significantly more tequila. Built for a Father’s Day that’s really about hanging out, this retro indoor-outdoor Gaslamp bar keeps things easy with free games all day and food that does exactly what it needs to do: the Smash San Diego Burger, Big Kenny Chicken Sandwich, plus jalapeño poppers, beef sliders, and chicken sliders for good measure. And once Dad gets a little too invested in foosball (it will happen), there’s always a reset button in liquid form.
Time: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Address: 340 5th Ave, San Diego, CA
Don’t sleep on East Village this Father’s Day. Far Corner is just steps from Petco Park, which means you can do the very responsible thing of over-ordering gourmet wings and seriously good pizza first, then casually “walk it off” in one of the best stadiums in the MLB. Start with a spinach ricotta calzone with garlic confit and marinara, play a round of pool, sip a “Raddy Daddy” (Paulaner Radler, campari, mezcal) out on the patio, then head straight into a sunset lap around Petco Park. Dad gets a meal, a stroll, and the illusion of balance, all within two blocks.
Time: 11 a.m. – 11 p.m
Address: 410 Tenth Ave, San Diego
Set along Harbor Island, this waterfront hangout delivers craft beer, live music, trivia nights, and an atmosphere where no one is really checking the time. It’s casual in the best way… like Father’s Day put on flip-flops, disappeared for the afternoon, and forgot to tell anyone where it went. Keep an eye on their website for seasonal specials and fun treats made just for Dad.
Time: 11 a.m. – 12 a.m
Address: Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina, 1380 Harbor Island Dr., San Diego
For the dad who insists grilling is the same as professional cooking, Solare is here to test that theory in real time. This Father’s Day Weekend cooking class drops him straight into a working kitchen with Executive Chef Denice Grande, where he’ll attempt (lovingly) to master Italian-style meat cookery. Expect La Fiorentina, Agnello Scottadito, and techniques that suddenly make Dad very confident about hosting Sunday dinner. Secure a spot on OpenTable or Tock.
Price: $118 per person (plus tax)
Date & Time: June 20 | 10:30 a.m.
Address: 2820 Roosevelt Rd, San Diego
Rancho Bernardo Inn keeps Father’s Day easy, with a relaxed afternoon built around a BBQ buffet stacked with bold flavors and timeless favorites, live music setting the pace, and classic lawn games turning the whole thing into a low-effort, high-reward kind of celebration that feels exactly right for Dad. Reserve now.
If you want to take it up a notch, gift him a Del Mar Racetrack ticket while they are on sale, then casually suggest a drive-by on the way home to really sell the vision.
Price: $75 per adult | $40 per child
Time: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Address: 17550 Bernardo Oaks Dr, San Diego
Lumi is what happens when sushi decides it deserves a skyline. In partnership with chef Akira Back, Lumi brings Japanese and Nikkei fare, a serious sake program, and Father’s Day specials. The Robatayaki Flight is stacked with skewers like yuzu kosho shrimp, miso eggplant, and Wagyu meatball. Pair it with something strong like the Ka “Fire” or Midori Yutaka, and somewhere along the way, this turns Dad from a sports bar loyalist into a rooftop patio regular. You’re welcome.
Price: À la carte
Time: 5:30 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Address: 366 Fifth Ave, San Diego
Every family has a Mastro’s dad. The one who orders steak like it’s their main personality trait and considers seafood towers a reasonable life decision. This year, their must-try is the Winter Frost Wagyu Ribeye topped with Lobster Oscar. Add old fashioneds, live music, and harbor views, and you’ve basically built a Father’s Day that will be referenced unprompted until next June.
Price: À la carte
Time: 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Address: 901 Bayfront Court, Suite 105, San Diego
Mister A’s turns Father’s Day into the kind of rooftop cookout that makes everyone sit up a little straighter. Between the city’s silhouette, cocktails, and a 3-course prix fixe brunch menu that’s significantly more polished than anything happening in your backyard, the whole day feels effortlessly impressive. Reserve your table now for a morning of Dad confidently identifying every building on the skyline.
Price: $95 per adult | $45 per child (12 and under)
Date & Time: June 20 & 21 | 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Address: 2550 Fifth Avenue, Ste 406, San Diego
Bonne Vie is for dads who think they have strong opinions about eggs benedict (they’re out there, trust me). This brasserie leans into polished French energy, with a chef-attended omelet station, an indulgent dessert display, a tableside Bloody Mary cart, and rotating draft beer specials. It’s the kind of brunch where Dad gives the nod of approval at least three separate times, each one more reassuring than the last. Time slots are still available.
Price: $59 per adult | $35 per child (12 and under)
Time: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Address: 1055 2nd Ave., San Diego
Finally, a brunch that understands Dad has seen Talladega Nights more than once and quotes it unprompted. ARLO’s themed Father’s Day brunch leans fully into racing energy, where whiskey is sipped and cigars are rolled from Glenfiddich. The real experience, however, is everyone pretending they’re not about to get competitive over the King Muffuletta Sandwich, the Big Daddy Brookie, or the Dad’s Day Steak and Fries. If you ain’t first, you’re last—so book your table now.
Price: À la carte
Time: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Address: 500 Hotel Cir N, San Diego
This is brunch, but with nowhere to escape—and somehow that’s the appeal. You board a boat, someone hands you elevated French-inspired bites like a wagyu slider, brûléed French toast, and Lyonnaise potatoes from Little Frenchie. Suddenly, Father’s Day becomes a slow-motion tour of the coastline where absolutely nobody wants to head back to shore. All of it unfolds on a 2.5-hour San Diego Bay cruise aboard the largest catamaran yacht in San Diego.
Price: $75 per adult | $40 per child (12 and under), not including fees
Time: 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Address: 2700 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego
If Dad’s looking for a wine country escape, Europa Village is the perfect setting. Set across 45 acres of vineyards in Temecula, it leans into the charm and character of an old-world Europe fantasy. For Father’s Day, the Sunset Sips family BBQ brings it all together with filet mignon arrosticini, chicken spiedini, grilled artichokes, and plenty of wine. Live music, gelato, and vineyard views do the rest. Reservations are encouraged.
Price: À la carte
Time: 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Address: 41150 Via Europa, Temecula
Garibaldi doesn’t do subtle. Perched on the third floor of the InterContinental San Diego, it pairs sweeping bay views with a Father’s Day spread that goes all in. The 32oz porcini-dusted Omaha tomahawk steak comes with prosciutto-wrapped asparagus, Lyonnaise potato, Comté cheese, maitake mushrooms, herb-parsley butter, and a rich shallot bordelaise. To match, there are bold Italian reds from Sicily and Sardinia poured at special pricing, made for slow sipping. Secure reservations via OpenTable.
Price: À la carte
Time: 4 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Address: 901 Bayfront Ct Suite 1, San Diego
For the dad who works all day and, if he’s being honest, would rather spend Father’s Day horizontal on the couch in pajamas, Morena Provisions totally understands. From the team behind Urban Kitchen Group, it’s a chef-prepared, fully to-go spread where “setup” basically means opening containers and claiming your spot on the couch. Think meatballs, shrimp, tri-tip, brisket, and desserts that keep him exactly where he wants to be: horizontal. It’s essentially a Father’s Day picnic, but strictly indoors, under fuzzy blankets, surrounded by pillows, and shared with the family.
Price: Family style à la carte
Time: Order online (48 hours notice required)
Address: Pickup from 1122 Morena Boulevard, San Diego
Kona Kai takes Father’s Day seriously in a very specific way: whiskey, chef bites, and bottle engraving. The resort is teaming up with Angel’s Envy for an early toast on Thursday, June 18 from 6–8 p.m., featuring pours of Angel’s Envy, Angel’s Envy Rye, and Angel’s Envy Triple Oak, paired with light bites from the culinary team. There’s also an on-site engraving station, so Dad leaves with a custom bottle and a very personal reason to bring it up at every future dinner.
Price: Starting at $81 per ticket
Date & Time: June 18 | 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Address: 1551 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego
Isabella Dallas is a freelance writer for San Diego Magazine and the Arts and Culture Editor at The Daily Aztec in her final year at San Diego State University. She previously worked as an editorial intern for SDM, but when she’s not writing, you can find her trying the best coffee spots in SD, devouring the latest rom-coms, and indulging in anything and everything pop culture.
See Rosalía in concert, stroll through Little Italy for Summer Sera, and dress up for Comic-Con
Summer has officially kicked off, and San Diego is celebrating the sunny season with a myriad of fun events. From San Diego Pride week and a fairytale performance at Civic Theatre to a Santigold concert and Comic-Con, there are dozens of opportunities to make memories worth adding to your scrapbook. Here are all the best things to do in San Diego this July:
Concerts & Festivals | Theater & Art Exhibits | More Fun Things to Do
Divine inspirations, operatic ballads, and symphonic pop production elevate Rosalía’s Lux to heavenly levels. Hear angelic vocals ascend—in up to 13 languages—during her performance at Pechanga Arena.
Enjoy a night of feel-good indie rock and sing-along anthems at the Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre courtesy of Young the Giant and special guest Cold War Kids.
Santigold collects genres like gold stars: musical accouterments that brighten her uniquely alternative sound. See her live in concert with dancehall producer Troy Baker Sound at Humphreys Concerts by the Bay.
Be the Civic Theatre’s guest for “Beauty and the Beast” and discover that a fairytale love sometimes lies beneath the surface.
Two male government workers pursue a secret romance amid the Lavender Scare in the San Diego Opera’s production of “Fellow Travelers” at the Balboa Theatre.
The deep blue sea is home to countless ecological treasures, including the remarkable marine organisms documented by Oriana Poindexter. Study her educational and experimental imagery at The Photographer’s Eye via Field Notes.
Audrey Hepburn. Marlon Brando. Salvador Dalí. What do these icons have in common? Each was the enigmatic focus of a Cecil Beaton portrait. Step inside Cecil Beaton’s Fashionable World, an alluring showcase of 20th-century style at San Diego Museum of Art.
The Little Italy Mercato will trade morning rays for golden-hour glow through its free Summer Sera, an expansion of the neighborhood’s farmers market with live music, artisanal finds, and a fetching amount of pet activities.
San Diego Pride week starts with a Dyke March and ends with the two-day “Pride Shines On” festival. The days in between? Run a 5K, march in the parade, visit the rainbow-lit St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral, and more.
Dress up for a Mediterranean-themed tea time at the Estancia La Jolla, a laid-back yet refined afternoon planned for the resort’s monthly Tea in the Garden series.
Nerd culture’s biggest gathering returns to the Convention Center. San Diego Comic-Con welcomes fans of everything from comic book cinema to ultra-rare collectibles for panels, exhibits, sneak peeks, and much more.
Ryan Hardison is a freelance arts and entertainment writer and recent graduate of San Diego State. When he's not staring at his laptop, he's likely eating an adobada burrito or getting sunburnt at the beach.
A complete guide to the festival, the parade, the lineup, and all the good stuff in between
There are two types of San Diegans in July: those who have their Pride Festival tickets, and those who wish they’d bought them sooner. Summer in San Diego already feels like a fever dream of sunshine and saltwater, and with Balboa Park turning it up to a level best described as joyfully unhinged, we wouldn’t have it any other way.
That’s right: San Diego Pride 2026 is bigger, louder, and more necessary than ever. From July 18–19, expect a full, unapologetic, flags-everywhere kind of weekend where the city opens its arms and means it. Here’s everything you need to know about San Diego Pride 2026.
The San Diego Pride Festival takes over Marston Point in Balboa Park (6th Ave. & Laurel St.) on Saturday, July 18 (12 p.m. to 10 p.m.) and Sunday, July 19 (12 p.m. to 9 p.m.).
Buy tickets early because prices go up closer to the weekend. Regular GA is priced at $45 for a single day or $75 for the full weekend. Once Pride Weekend pricing kicks in, that bumps to $48 for one day and $85 for two days. VIP Weekend starts at $269, and if you want a Meet & Greet with Hailie Sahar on July 18 at 2 p.m., tickets are $106.
Seniors 65 years and older can grab a ticket at the box office for $15, and high schoolers and younger get in free, though they still need to stop by the box office for a ticket before entering. Regular pricing is available through July 17, so don’t wait until the last minute.
The San Diego Pride Festival isn’t just a typical party. Expect Balboa Park at maximum capacity and maximum heart with five stages, hundreds of vendors, and more joy per square foot than anywhere else in the city that weekend.
At the heart of it all is the Stonewall Stage, the main event where legends and newcomers alike make their San Diego Pride debut. The Mundo Latino Stage brings Rock en Español, DJs, drag shows, and multicultural performers to the mix. The Movement Stage offers a full celebration of Black LGBTQIA+ arts, music, and culture through hip hop, urban contemporary, and local DJs, plus a Queer Locals Marketplace full of LGBTQ-owned small businesses selling handmade art, wellness goods, literature, community resources, and more.
For the people who came to actually dance, the Euphoria Stage delivers electronic music and groundbreaking talent. Prism For All is where art, libraries, and history collide, with workshops, performances, and a makerspace hosted by Art of Pride, the San Diego Public Library, and Lambda Archives. And the Youth Zone gives LGBTQIA+ young people their own dedicated area to meet, get creative, play, and find support.
The lineup includes:
Saturday, July 18
Sunday, July 19
The San Diego Pride Festival 2026 runs on the energy of over 2,000 volunteers every year. With more than 30 departments to choose from, whether you’re a people person, a behind-the-scenes organizer, or just someone who wants to do something good in a great outfit, there’s a spot with your name on it. Head to the San Diego Pride website to sign up.
San Diego’s Pride Parade calls the parade “the region’s largest single-day civic event,” drawing more than 250,000 attendees annually. This year it takes place on Saturday, July 18 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and starts at University Avenue and Normal Street. Then it travels west on University Avenue, south on Sixth Avenue, and ends near Balboa Park/Quince Drive.
The Pride 5K Run & Walk is one of the highlights of Pride Week, drawing as many as 1,700 runners and walkers from around the world and raising approximately $40,000 for charity partners San Diego Pride and The LGBT Center’s Youth Housing Project. This year it also takes place on July 18, just a bit earlier at 8 a.m., at the corner of Centre and University Ave in Hillcrest.
Of course, buying a ticket is a guaranteed good time, but it’s also funding something real. San Diego Pride is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and proceeds go toward supporting organizations that host community events, programs, and fundraisers advancing pride, equality, and respect for LGBTQ+ communities locally, nationally, and globally.
That includes virtual youth programming like Pride’s Youth Leadership Academy, which reaches more than 4,000 LGBTQ children and young adults, as well as coalitions like the QAPIMEDA Coalition, Black LGBTQ Coalition, and Latinx Coalition, and more than 30 LGBTQ programs and events throughout the year.
The prohibited items list is lengthy (no balloons, no selfie sticks, no bubble-making devices, trust us they’ll make up for it elsewhere), but the big ones to keep in mind: clear bags only (max 12″x6″x12″), no outside food, no alcoholic beverages, no glass, no large umbrellas, and no knives or weapons of any kind. Leave the drone at home too. For the full list, head to sdpride.org/entry-policies.
Check out San Diego Pride’s frequently asked questions page for more details.
Isabella Dallas is a freelance writer for San Diego Magazine and the Arts and Culture Editor at The Daily Aztec in her final year at San Diego State University. She previously worked as an editorial intern for SDM, but when she’s not writing, you can find her trying the best coffee spots in SD, devouring the latest rom-coms, and indulging in anything and everything pop culture.
Meeting new friends is a scary and sweaty venture—that’s where the city's social event planners come in
Walking into a room full of strangers isn’t high on the fun index for most. It’s inherently awkward: Everyone’s standing in closed-loop clusters, deep in conversation, and, depending on your social aptitude, the feeling is somewhere between light apprehension and burning alive from the inside out. The pull to retreat or reflexively look busy on your phone is stronger than the drink you now deeply crave. Having friends is nice, but making friends can be brutal.
There’s plenty of commentary on the loneliness epidemic. Last year, the American Psychiatric Association reported that one in three adults feel lonely at least once a week; those aged 18 to 34 are more likely to feel isolated and even more likely to turn to social media as a result. Dr. Vivek Murthy’s “My Parting Prescription for America” cautioned that “being socially disconnected increases our risk of heart disease, dementia, depression, anxiety, and premature death.” So it’s not just an emotional need; it’s nearly nutritional—chit-chat and the occasional wine-fueled, emotional deep-dive are just as important as Pilates and a reasonable amount of kale.
Finding social connections in any city is hard, but San Diego has very specific challenges. This is largely a transient population that acts as a temporary hotspot for many and a permanent home for few. Pick your reason: high rent, surreal gas prices, housing shortage, meh job opportunities (ranked 71st in the country in 2025), or the fact that active military is a sizable chunk of us (110,000-ish)—stationed here for a stretch, then gone. This constant flow of departees sucks out the potential for deeply established families and friend groups, leaving a good share of nomads, searchers, and plenty of people feeling socially awkward.
“There’s an underlying loneliness in all of us,” says Ramel Wallace, the host of monthly meetup CreativeMornings. “There are not a lot of San Diegans who are born and raised here, so [even those] San Diegans end up being just as lonely as the person who just got here.”
Every month, in local libraries, breweries, and small businesses, there are ambitious social architects who have made a career out of undoing social sads. Extroverted champions of the awkward and searching, they’ve struck gold on in-person connection.
The first moments in a social situation are crucial. Sets the tone and cools the nerves.
At Pitch-A-Friend, singles recruit their close friends to present a slideshow of their dating green flags. The entry points for connection at Pitch-A-Friend are simple, old tech: stickers. Each colored sticker indicates if the wearer is single or taken, queer or straight, or practicing ethical non-monogamy (in a partnership but open to others under a mutual understanding).
At the helm of each showcase is Arielle Fuller, aka Chief Wingwoman, who is making dating hopeful again. As Fuller explains, this takes some of the fear of rejection out of a first interaction. “Putting a sticker on immediately means, ‘I wanted to leave my house and talk to someone, and I am a safe space to come and speak to me,’” she says.
Of course, not all of San Diego’s events designed to make connections are romantic. On the last Friday of every month, hundreds gather at San Diego Central Library for the local chapter of CreativeMornings—an org formed to unite creatives in various cities across the world (designers, artists, writers, producers, performers, architects, etc.).
These aren’t your standard business card swaps, though. Coming from a hip-hop background, host Wallace uses call-and-response to break the fourth wall. “This is not my stage at all, this is our stage,” he says.
In your standard lecture-based meetup, the crowd silently faces the host and acknowledges nobody except those they came with. At CreativeMornings, everyone is encouraged to look around, pay attention to the strangers in the audience—not just the host. Wallace will pull volunteers to read the CM manifesto aloud, and he passes the mic to creatives, who make 30-second pitches to the community about projects they’re working on—and there’s always an invitation to connect and collaborate with the presenters whose ideas struck a chord.
The U.S. Chamber of Connection (yes it exists) says people experience life transitions nearly every year, and in these stretches are more open to forming new habits, relationships, and communities. In a revolving-door city like ours, the transition often comes when someone moves away. In 2023, the Census Bureau reported San Diego had the ninth-highest rates of domestic out-migration in the US.
This poses an issue for friendships that IRL SD addresses in monthly friend-making events called 619 Night.
“San Diego isn’t a place a lot of people stay forever,” says Alex Hunter, the creator of IRL SD. “They leave, and people [who stay] lose that community, so they’re hungry for community again.”
Their website describes the vibe as “backyard party meets college fair meets networking event meets happy hour.” Each follows a theme—wellness, sports, refresh and reset, etc.—with related community groups joining as well.
“The people I encounter are trying to get a fresh start in some capacity, so they’re more open, receptive, and ready to meet new friends,” Hunter says. “They need the circle.”
Another way adults can break out of this disconnection is to revert in unison, says artist Elisa Summiel-Bey. The 2015-ish adult coloring book moment in the US was based on some real science, with multiple studies finding coloring has a noticeable meditative and stress-release effect by taking the brain away from anxieties and mental inventories, and focusing it on a simple, easy art. Summiel-Bey’s company Illustrated Melanin throws “Color & Chill” events, turning that trend into a group exercise, along with live DJ sets, wellness experts doing sound baths, and food and drink from BIPOC-owned local businesses. “I tend to think of coloring as your way to tap back into your childlike play,” she says. “As adults, I think we’re almost scared to let loose and have that unabashed joy.”
All of these social meetups attract crowds of likeminded connection-seekers, but high attendance is not the only thing that matters. Metrics nuts can track RSVPs, but spreadsheets can’t capture intangible wins: friendships made, innovative ideas sparked, collaborations kicked off. At CreativeMornings, Wallace redefines ROI as Return On Imagination. Resounding success means thoughtful inquiries over coffee, curiosity about the monthly meeting themes, and requests to take the microphone.
A simple, observable ROI is an increased number of window shoppers to the experience—on the periphery, watching from afar, looking for the right way in. Hunter from IRL SD sees the anxiety in her DMs. “The scariest part for you right now is not meeting new friends: It’s the unknown,” she says. “It’s the gap between ‘I’m here’ and ‘That’s where I need to be.’ If I can help you understand, or get a little bit of a shape around that unknown, it’s much more approachable.”
Being able to bridge that gap, however, depends on your ability to step out of your own mind. “It’s not a connection crisis; it’s a courage and confidence crisis,” says Fuller. The first hello could be as easy as, “Hey, cool shirt.” These are the types of things she includes in her confidence lab reels on Instagram and weekly newsletters.
Ever left a social event and shot straight into a spiral? Was I being weird? Why did I tell that story? I hope that person moves to another state very soon.
The experts say that post-event self-interrogation is a standard-issue part of being alive.
“I love awkward people, and I love being awkward myself,” says Wallace. “It’s humbling to experience: ‘I’m not alone. Finally someone is not put together.’ So give yourself that grace.”
Jeannine Boisse (she/her) is a freelance writer and professional creative with a background in Radio & Television. Based in sunny San Diego, Jeannine spends her time exploring the city's vibrant brewery scene, cooking up new recipes in the kitchen, and connecting with new people.
Stake Chophouse & Bar brings contemporary classics and old-school service to the heart of Coronado
Stake Chophouse & Bar isn’t your average steakhouse. Blue Bridge Hospitality’s Coronado outpost is a modern interpretation of a big-city steakhouse nestled in the heart of the small coastal community. The team at Stake has reimagined the whole steakhouse experience. By prioritizing a seasonal farm-to-table sourcing philosophy, a personalized guest experience, and unique service touches, like a formal steak presentation and a bespoke knife selection process, Stake distinguishes itself in a sea of steakhouses.
Exceptional steaks, including Wagyu from Japan, Australia, and the U.S., and fresh seafood flown in daily form the core of Stake’s culinary identity. The menu features a five-course omakase-style steak experience highlighting house favorites, plus an array of cuts, and classic steakhouse staples—think a wedge salad, baked potato, or pasta carbonara—refined for a contemporary palate without losing their traditional appeal. Stake focuses on seasonal sourcing from the region’s best family farms and specialty purveyors, and incorporates intentionally unexpected touches to create something truly unique.
“I challenge our chefs and myself to take it a step further in sourcing,” says Chef Ronnie Schwandt. “It’s important to us to highlight different farms, unique one-off farms—whether it’s cattle, strawberries, a local fisherman or from anywhere in the United States, we’re always trying to find that niche.”
Beyond the menu, Stake emphasizes outstanding service, says Vinny Spatafore, Director of Hospitality Operations. Staff maintains detailed notes, allowing them to remember guests by name, recall previous orders such as a favorite martini (also memorable for the customer since it’s served in an extra tall, distinctly-shaped glass), and celebrate special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries.
“When you have those points of topic that you remember about a guest, they appreciate that,” he says. “Our servers are really good with that—we have a couple servers who have been here since the beginning and they’ll remember somebody from years ago, their name, their kids’ names, where they live. I’m really thankful to have a great front of house staff.”
Award-winning wines, rare whiskeys, special events, and a complementary black car service that provides transportation for guests throughout Coronado add to Stake’s appeal.
Schwandt stresses that Stake offers more than a meal; they aim to give patrons something unforgettable.
“It starts when you walk up the stairs and are greeted by the hostess—that sets the tone for the night. Then you’re greeted by a server, who may know you by name, and can guide you through the menu and curate as they get to know you,” says Schwandt. “Most people leave kind of blown away; they leave feeling like they just had an experience. That’s the goal, right? Whether you’re serving smash burgers or high-end steak, you want somebody to leave thinking, Wow, that was awesome.”
Dine at The Freedom Table, see Bob Dylan in concert, and explore local and national history through America 250
As summertime inches closer to the shores of San Diego, there are plenty of reasons to be ecstatic. For one thing, there’s the impending arrival of the summer solstice (Sunday), and three days before that, Del Mar’s own Summer Solstice will return for its yearly golden hour. There are also plenty of local Juneteenth events, such as Kinfolk Fest, the Cooper Family Foundation’s Juneteenth Celebration, and The Freedom Table, a new, food-centered event from the originators of Juneteenth San Marcos. We’re also less than three weeks away from America’s 250th anniversary, and the celebrations range from the San Diego History Center’s America 250: San Diego 1776-2026 to NASCAR’s weekend of racing at Naval Base Coronado.
Food & Drink | Concerts & Festivals | Theater & Art Exhibits | More Fun Things to Do
Cbar has planned a week’s worth of festivities to mark its first birthday, and everyone can get in on the fun. The 1-Year Anniversary Week celebrations continue with a special edition of the Sips & Shells craft series ($50) on Tuesday from 6-8:30 p.m., half-off pastries with any purchase of a barista drink (plus an anniversary summer wine flight) on Wednesday and a five-course winemaker dinner on Thursday from 6-9 p.m. ($130). Finally, the birthday bash will conclude with live music on Friday (Will Fedak) and Saturday (Cappo Kelley) from 6-9 p.m.
2917 State Street, Carlsbad
Little Italy’s annual food crawl has so many options that it warrants splitting into two evenings, each boasting a diverse lineup of 20 neighborhood vendors. During the Taste of Little Italy, taking place Tuesday and Wednesday from 4-8 p.m., attendees can make their way from the Piazza della Famiglia to nearby dining destinations for bites like esquites, sausage rolls, hot chicken tenders, and forkfuls of handmade pasta. Each night will also include live music and stops for drinks, desserts, and vegetarian items. Tickets are $71 per day.
Little Italy
As spring makes its golden transition into summer, welcome the new season with open arms and a big appetite during Del Mar Village’s marquee tasting event this Thursday from 5-8 p.m. With the Summer Solstice celebrating its 20th anniversary, this year’s iteration will include dozens of food and drink offerings from Del Mar Village vendors, soulful tunes from Christian Jules Taylor, live art by Sarah O’Connor, and wave-crashing views at Powerhouse Park. General admission (21+) is $157 and comes with unlimited tastings as well as a commemorative tasting glass, while VIP tickets are sold out; proceeds support the Del Mar Village Association.
1658 Coast Boulevard, Del Mar
After hosting the first-ever Juneteenth San Marcos festival in 2025, Lionel and Natalie Saulsberry have upped the ante with The Freedom Table, an elevated observance of community, culture, and the culinary arts. This Friday from 4-9 p.m. at TERI Campus of Life, guests can enjoy storytelling, art installations, live music, curated cocktails, and a chef-led dining experience, all in recognition of Juneteenth’s lasting importance. Ticket options include general admission ($261), plus two charitable ticket options: supporter ($313) and impact ($417), with a portion of sales going towards the youth nonprofit Achievement in Motion.
555 Deer Springs Road, San Marcos
In honor of NASCAR’s Coronado debut and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, ARLO is throwing a Father’s Day brunch for the dads who want to go fast. This Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., patrons can order from ARLO’s regular brunch menu, as well as a trio of holiday specials: the Dad’s Day Steak and Fries ($64), the Fit For a King Muffuletta Sandwich ($29), and the Big Daddy Brookie ($14). This shake and bake-approved meal will also include a DJ, cigar rollings, whiskey tastings and a Ricky Bobby costume contest. Reservations can be made online.
500 Hotel Circle North, Mission Valley
Ryan Hardison is a freelance arts and entertainment writer and recent graduate of San Diego State. When he's not staring at his laptop, he's likely eating an adobada burrito or getting sunburnt at the beach.
As NASCAR lands in San Diego this weekend, a recently burgled dad is irregularly excited
My 15-year-old daughter tried to steal our car this week, so I’m ready to become a NASCAR dad. It would be appropriate discipline. We just relocated to a nice suburb within walking distance of her high school. The suburbs are like living in a Tesla commercial. I am pretty far from the wealthiest dad in this neighborhood (I am the least wealthy dad in this neighborhood), more than a few engineering degrees short of being in the running.
I’m fairly certain watching NASCAR is a violation of our HOA and a violation of my daughter’s emotional HOA. But NASCAR hits San Diego this weekend and I have a fever I’ve never felt before. I want to watch 111 drivers do dangerous things in cars and trucks on an active military base in the ocean. Since my lifelong exposure to NASCAR is limited to Talladega Nights and every single iteration of the movie Cars, I can only base my plan of attack on oafish stereotypes.
So while other neighbor dads are sizing bubble jackets for their golf simulators, I’m gonna grow a Ricky Bobby, run the extension cord for the TV out into the carport we share with six other condos, fill a cooler with a proper 80-20 split of Hamm’s and Mountain Dew, treat a lawn chair like an ADU, and spend a few hours yelling ohsheeeit as if it’s a single, nine-syllable word.
The quality parents in our neighborhood seem highly attuned to the sound of any vehicle breaching the 6 MPH threshold, so I should gather a crowd pretty fast. They may come over with strongly worded emails in their hearts, but one glimpse of Shane van Gisbergen and hometown hero Jimmy Johnson guzzling the last remaining drops of gasoline on the planet in a dazzling display of carmanship—they’ll join my NASCAR pop-up party.
By the time my daughter brings her friends over, we’ll have a real welcoming committee.
Because, like I said, my daughter tried to steal my car.
She wasn’t going to Mexico. But while Claire and I were off doing businessy stuff to afford my teen’s skincare rituals, she and a friend decided to teach themselves stick shift. She’s never driven a stick before. I’m not saying she has, but if she has driven a vehicle at all—it would have been done in a remote, abandoned parking lot where the only possible thing she could destroy was the concept of driving itself.
But a couple TikTok videos later, she and her friend felt a certain level of mastery had been achieved, and they gave it a go. They backed our VW Bug out of the garage with a series of stalls and transmission seizures, and managed to get it into the carport, attempting to do “donuts.” That’s when I got a call from a resident, who had taken an active interest in this experiment.
Which got me wondering about the power and might of vehicles. Turns out, even at carport speeds there exists a bit of potential fireworks. A garage door could become not a garage door anymore. At 145 MPH on Naval Base Coronado this weekend (don’t worry, they slow down to 100 MPH for turns), NASCAR drivers are essentially doorbell ditching gods. I didn’t register the temperature after my daughter’s trial run, but the track at NASCAR races usually hits a cool 130-150 degrees, enough to lightly sear some Nikes (the tires themselves hover in the 200 degree range).
And that is at least part of our fascination with NASCAR (the other fascination is the legendary pit parties, which either set humanity back a few evolutionary links, or advance it by the same amount of links). These drivers do something all of us do every day in a very efficient, boring way—drive a car—and take it to its extreme impulse. Grace and precision at the thunderous edge of shit going terribly wrong. Most of us have looked at San Diego home prices and felt a burning desire to see how fast our Honda Pilot could make it to our new home in Vegas. So NASCAR drivers are acting on our own wildest impulse.
Troy Johnson is the magazine’s award-winning food writer and humorist, and a long-standing expert on Food Network. His work has been featured on NatGeo, Travel Channel, NPR, and in Food Matters, a textbook of the best American food writing.
SeaWorld dazzles with a drone show, big-name entertainers, new animal adventures and more
Nights are heating up at SeaWorld San Diego. The quintessential summertime staple on Mission Bay is transforming into a destination for unforgettable day-to-night adventures, bringing back some of its most popular Summer Nights programming and introducing exciting new experiences sure to delight both kids and adults alike.
The 2026 Summer Day to Night at SeaWorld San Diego is the park’s most ambitious season yet. SeaWorld has planned a highly anticipated entertainment lineup that features nine weeks of throwback concerts featuring R&B and hip‑hop favorites from the ‘90s and early 2000s, including Jordin Sparks, Too $hort and Warren G, Ashanti, and an array of boy band heartthrobs performing together as part of the Pop 2000 Tour.
New this season is perhaps the park’s most visible update: a nightly drone show, Ocean of Dreams, which illuminates the sky with hundreds of synchronized sparklers. Drones form sea otters, sharks, dolphins, and a majestic orca that tell a breathtaking 12-minute story of marine life and underwater ecosystems. The show culminates with a spectacular electric neon finale celebrating hope, wonder, and ocean stewardship.
Nighttime visitors are also in store for animal adventures that fuse education with high-energy fun and the dreamy ambiance of nighttime. The park has launched two all-new animal presentations: Shamu’s Celebration: Light Up the Night and Dolphins: Touch the Sky. Shamu’s Celebration: Light Up the Night features vibrant lighting, music, and dynamic choreography that celebrates the power and beauty of killer whales. Dolphins: Touch the Sky showcases playful bottlenose dolphins and the special connection between humans and the natural world. And back by popular demand is fan-favorite Sea Lions Tonite. See the charming pinnipeds splash, play, and parody pop culture in this refreshed crowd-pleaser.
More must-sees: a newly reimagined Shark Encounter, one of the country’s more immersive exhibits highlighting 11 different species up close, SeaWorld’s beloved BMX Blast! stunt show, and high-seas escapade, Pirates Ahoy! The Battle for Mermaid Cove. And don’t miss the park’s all-new Deep Sea Disco, which encourages guests to dance the night away under the glow of the SkyTower, and vibrant closing time laser light display Laser Reef Summer Spectacular.
Amp up the nighttime vibe with local craft beers, curated cocktails, and nostalgic theme park treats with $1 beer all summer long. SeaWorld is the place for day to night summer fun. When the sun goes down, SeaWorld lights up, and inspires guests of all ages to embrace their inner whimsy and see why generations of San Diegans head to SeaWorld to make memories they’ll never forget.
