Much to Do … In San Diego!

THROUGHOUT 2019, SAN DIEGO CELEBRATES ITS FOUNDING 250 YEARS AGO as the first settlement of Alta California. Old Town San Diego, which was the original location of the mission and the presidio that started it all, will be the site of various events, including a Founder’s Day Festival, September 14-15.

From the Editors

Fast forward 200 years from the city’s start, and you wind up in 1969, the year that MLB’s San Diego Padres first took the field. Petco Park, in the heart of downtown, will host games including special promotions all during July, August and September in the run-up to the Fall Classic.

Fans of comic books, movies, and other areas of pop culture will be drawn to the San Diego Convention Center July 18-21 for the 50th annual Comic-Con. What began as a gathering of a small group of collectors has grown over the years to become a major event for film studios to promote their projects, especially those in the fantasy and science fiction fields.

July also is the month for San Diego Pride Weekend (July 13-15), an event that includes everything from a Spirit of Stonewall Rally, to a Pride of Hillcrest Block Party, to a 5k race, as well as live performances from big-name musical groups and entertainers.

You would expect a community with such a vibrant cultural life to have an amazing Fourth of July celebration, and San Diego doesn’t disappoint, with several taking place in the immediate area. The Port of San Diego holds the largest fireworks show in the county, titled Big Bay Boom. If you want to get a water-level view of it, the Maritime Museum, Hornblower and Flagship all offer cruises that will afford spectacular views of the show. Coronado stages not only a parade that lasts a full two hours, but also a family concert in Spreckels Park and fireworks over Glorietta Bay. Up the road in Carlsbad, families can enjoy a variety of activities, including pyrotechnics during “Red, White and BOOM!”

For more information, go to www.sandiego.org.