17 Things to Do in San Diego This Weekend: June 16-21
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
Food & Drink Events in San Diego This Weekend
1-Year Anniversary Week at Cbar
Through June 20
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
Taste of Little Italy
June 16 & 17
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
Del Mar’s Summer Solstice at Powerhouse Park
June 18
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
The Freedom Table at TERI Campus of Life
June 19
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
Talladega Nights Father’s Day Brunch at ARLO
June 21
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
Concerts & Festivals in San Diego This Weekend
Summer Fun on the 101 at Leucadia Roadside Park
June 20
Spend a day along the North County coast at the free annual Summer Fun on the 101 this Saturday from noon to 8 p.m. at Leucadia Roadside Park. This year’s music festival is headlined by Jared Mattson and Chili Corder and will feature performances by antifolk pioneer Cindy Lee Berryhill, Gate 5, winners of Leucadia 101 Main Street’s Battle of the Bands, and many more. There will also be local vendors, an adult beverage garden, and a kids hula hoop contest, with the funds raised going towards music scholarships for graduating San Dieguito Academy students.
860 North Coast Highway 101, Encinitas
KSON NASCAR San Diego Weekend Countryfest at Gallagher Square
June 20
Over the years, the NASCAR circuit has been a reliable arena for country musicians, both ascendant and established, to reach new fans. Thus, this Saturday at 6 p.m., the night before NASCAR’s best drivers race around Coronado Naval Base, Gallagher Square will host the KSON NASCAR San Diego Weekend Countryfest. This mini-festival will feature performances by Stephen Wilson Jr. and rising stars Carter Faith, Lakelin Lemmings, and Tim Dugger. Ticket options include single tickets for $49, and a two tickets for $56 offer.
899 J Street, Downtown
Bob Dylan at The Rady Shell
June 21
The beauty of seeing a legend like Bob Dylan in concert is anticipating what songs they’ll deem worthy to play that night. During his show this Sunday (6:30 pm.) at The Rady Shell, he’ll most likely play a mix of covers, deep cuts, and tracks from recent projects, but, could he also shock the crowd and perform one of his mega-hits (e.g. “Like a Rolling Stone”)? Something that is for certain is Sunday’s concert will be opened by americana icon Lucinda Williams, joined by her backing band, as well as the magnetic John Doe Folk Trio. Tickets start at $88 for this concert.
222 Marina Park Way, Embarcadero
Alex Isley at The Observatory North Park
June 21
For those not already aware, Alex Isley’s standout album When the City Sleeps, released in March, makes it clear she has ushered her family’s musical talents into a new generation. But unlike the funk-laden footsteps (in the dark) taken by her father and uncles, Isley is adept at pairing tranquil forms of R&B and neo-soul, an enchanting blend made even more so by her soothing vocals. Hear Isley’s newest project live, and catch an opening set from R&B artist TA Thomas this Sunday (7 p.m.) at The Observatory North Park. Tickets are $42 for this concert.
2891 University Avenue, North Park
Theater & Art Exhibits in San Diego This Weekend
The Rise & Fall of Little Voice at Tenth Avenue Arts Center
Through July 3
Backyard Renaissance Theatre Co.’s newest production, an adaptation of Jim Cartwright’s The Rise & Fall of Little Voice, is grounded in a routine obstacle: finding the courage to speak up. In this play, set in a run-of-the-mill town in Northern England, a shy girl with a spectacular singing voice goes from harmonizing in her room with her late father’s records to the forced cusp of stardom once her talents are exploited. Tickets for previews are available this Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m. and are $50 for all successive shows at Tenth Avenue Arts Center, beginning with Saturday’s opening night performance at 7:30 p.m.
930 Tenth Avenue, East Village
Cat Gunn: if only by the light of a new moon at ICA Central
Through September 13
At the core of if only by the light of a new moon—Cat Gunn’s maiden solo museum show—is a feeling of isolation, a result of being disconnected from one’s ancestral heritage. Showcasing work crafted by Gunn during their time as ICA San Diego’s 2025 Artist-in-Residence, this exhibition embraces a subject that’s close to home for Gunn and many who’ve been separated from their homelands. ICA Central visitors can observe the depth of Gunn’s perspective, shown via fabric, ceramic, and cyanotype materials, and envision their own connections to home.
1439 El Prado, Balboa Park
America 250: San Diego 1776-2026 at San Diego History Center
June 18 – July 31
How can the long, complicated history of America be told properly? With the U.S.A. just three weeks away from its semiquincentennial, that’s the question the San Diego History Center is looking to answer. Its newest exhibition, America 250: San Diego 1776-2026 will open Thursday with 100 objects, a mix of archival pieces, on-loan items, and several artifacts chosen by UCSD and SDSU history students, which examine the country’s heritage through the eyes of San Diego’s inhabitants. Admission is donation-based, with a suggested minimum donation of $10.
1649 El Prado, Balboa Park
Ritual:Solstice at The Chapel
June 20
This Saturday, The Chapel at Liberty Station will present an immersive one-night experience during Ritual:Solstice. The evening will consist of specialty cocktails courtesy of Snake Oil Cocktail Co. and visual stimuli like live saxophone playing by RIVA—a regular fixture of Jazz Night at Future is Color Studio Sessions—along with alluring dance performances choreographed by Beth Guerrette and art installations by Ben Guerrette’s Ten Six Pines studio. Doors will open at 7:30 p.m. with performances starting at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 online and $45 at the door.
2881 Roosevelt Road, Point Loma
More Fun Things to Do in San Diego This Weekend
Kinfolk Fest Week
June 17-21
Explore art activations, games, over 100 Black-owned businesses, and all-day live entertainment during the annual 21-plus Kinfolk Fest this Saturday from 1-9 p.m. at Waterfront Park. Additionally, as part of Kinfolk Fest Week, SD Melanin will host a free entrepreneur workshop at San Diego Made Factory on Wednesday, an R&B party at The Rail on Friday ($13), and a free art exhibition opening at Broker’s Building Art Gallery Board on Sunday. Ticket options for Kinfolk Fest include general admission ($50) and the VIP experience ($141), which grants expedited entry, VIP lounge access, a welcome gift, and more.
Citywide
Cooper Family Juneteenth Celebration
June 20
Community empowerment is at the heart of the Cooper Family Foundation’s annual Juneteenth Celebration. This Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., check out food trucks, historical exhibits, live gospel and jazz performances, and over 100 vendors and community partners. This free festival at Memorial Community Park will also include a dominos tournament, local health resources, and a fun zone and magic foam experience for kids. Also, to promote a theme of unity, and pay homage to Frankie Beverly & Maze, attendees are encouraged to don all-white attire.
2975 Ocean View Boulevard, Logan Heights
NASCAR San Diego Weekend
June 19-21
This weekend, Naval Base Coronado will be the site of NASCAR’s most ambitious and patriotic street circuit yet, the Anduril 250, the stock car series’ first-ever event on an active military base. Drivers will speed their way around a 3.4 mile course, the longest on NASCAR’s 2026 calendar, with races in the Craftsman Truck Series (Friday), O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (Saturday), and the esteemed Cup Series (Sunday). General admission is sold out, but racing fans can still join the grandstand waitlist for Saturday and Sunday tickets or peruse premium suite options.
Naval Base Coronado
Make Music Day at Museum of Making Music
June 21
What originated in France as Fête de la Musique nearly half a century ago has since evolved into a global celebration of music at its most fundamental. In keeping with this tradition, beginners, experts, and everyone who resides in between is invited to partake in Make Music Day at Carlsbad’s Museum of Making Music. Attendees can enjoy complimentary admission this Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., witness a range of live performances throughout the museum and bring their own instrument for an impromptu concert on the outdoor lawn.
5790 Armada Drive, Carlsbad
The post 17 Things to Do in San Diego This Weekend: June 16-21 appeared first on San Diego Magazine.
Categories
Recent Posts
GET MORE INFORMATION
