🏴‍☠️ Pirates, Thunderboats & Street Fairs

Pirates are invading the waterfront, Thunderboats are roaring across Mission Bay, and Adams Avenue is filling up with live music this weekend.

There’s plenty more happening around San Diego. BirdStock takes over Bird Rock, artists head to Carlsbad for ArtWalk, Bunnyfest brings the floppy-eared crowd to Liberty Station, and thousands of volunteers will fan out across the county for Coastal Cleanup Day. Hungry? Taste your way through Bonita or sample local brews on Broadway Pier.

We also found a short hike with huge views in Spring Valley, dug into the surprising history behind Crystal Pier’s name, and rounded up more than 300 live music events happening around the county.

Let’s dive in.

 Steve DeLong
Publisher

PS - This weekly update goes out to folks who registered through our Facebook promotion for local events. If these messages are no longer a fit, there’s a simple opt-out link in the footer - one tap and delivery stops right away. Thanks for giving us a look!

The Events

🎶 BirdStock Music Festival - Sat., Sept. 19 • 10 AM–7 PM • Bird Rock
Bird Rock takes over La Jolla Boulevard with live music, local food, shopping and community fun stretching from the 5500 to 5700 blocks.

🎸 Adams Avenue Street Fair - Sat.–Sun., Sept. 19–20 • Normal Heights
San Diego’s big neighborhood music festival returns with multiple stages of live music, beer gardens, food, vendors and carnival rides along Adams Avenue.

🎨 ArtWalk Carlsbad - Sat.–Sun., Sept. 19–20 • Armada Drive, Carlsbad
Stroll through an outdoor gallery overlooking the ocean with artists from around the region, live music, food and interactive art experiences.

🚤 San Diego Bayfair - Fri.–Sun., Sept. 18–20 • Mission Bay
Thunderboats roar across Mission Bay all weekend with high-speed racing, including hydroplanes, tunnel boats and other classes competing on the water.

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🧹 Coastal Cleanup Day - Sat., Sept. 19 • Locations Countywide
Grab some gloves and help clean San Diego at dozens of coastal and inland sites during the county’s annual community cleanup.

🐰 Bunnyfest 2026 - Sun., Sept. 20 • 10 AM–3 PM • Liberty Station
Bunny lovers take over Liberty Station with 50+ vendors, crafts, games, educational talks, a photo booth, silent auction and plenty of rabbit-themed fun, benefiting the San Diego House Rabbit Society.

🏴‍☠️ Ahoy! Pirates Take the Waterfront - Sat.–Sun., Sept. 19–20 • Maritime Museum of San Diego
Dress like a pirate and invade the waterfront for pirate-themed activities, historic ships, Captain Jack appearances and adventures on San Diego Bay. Pirate attire also gets you 25% off walk-up general admission.

🍺 Capital of Craft Beer Fest - Sat., Sept. 19 • 12–4 PM • Broadway Pier
Sample 70+ local beers with unlimited 2-oz tastings, plus live music, food and vendors along the downtown waterfront. 21+.

🍴 Taste of Bonita - Sat., Sept. 19 • 5–9 PM • Bonita Museum & Cultural Center
Taste your way through local chefs and restaurants, with live entertainment, artisans, kids' activities and the museum's BonitaFest exhibit.

🍽️ San Diego Restaurant Week – Sun. Sept. 13–20, throughout San Diego County
Explore restaurants across the county offering special prix-fixe menus and dining experiences during this weeklong celebration of San Diego’s food scene.

🍷 Del Mar Wine + Food Festival - Oct. 3–4
The Del Mar Wine + Food Festival brings top chefs, restaurants, wineries and more to Surf Sports Park for its signature Grand Tasting weekend.

🏓 Celebrity Pickleball Tournament - Oct. 2
Drew Brees and celebrity guests take the courts at Barnes Tennis Center for a tournament benefiting Feeding San Diego.

Tucked into Spring Valley, Dictionary Hill County Preserve offers a surprisingly big payoff for a relatively short hike. The moderate 2.1-mile trail climbs about 565 feet to panoramic, 360-degree views across San Diego.

The 175-acre preserve protects coastal sage scrub and chaparral habitat and is home to wildlife including the threatened California gnatcatcher. Allow about 1–2 hours for the hike, and bring water and good shoes for the climb. Great views of Sweetwater Reservoir and all the way to the ocean on a clear day!

📍 Spring Valley
🥾 2.1 miles • Moderate • ~565 ft. elevation gain
⏱️ 1–2 hours

Dictionary Hill County Preserve - County of San Diego

La Jolla Sunset!

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Taste It Fresh

Fri 9/18
High 76° / Low 65° • ☀️ 9%

Sat 9/19
High 77° / Low 65° • ☀️ 7%

Sun 9/20
High 75° / Low 68° • ☁️ 19%

A pleasant, mostly dry weekend is ahead. Friday and Saturday bring plenty of sunshine with highs in the mid-to-upper 70s, while Sunday turns cloudier and a little cooler.

Amalfi Marina Bar – Back From Black – San Marcos – 6-9pm
Aquarius Bar & Grille – 3 Car Garage – Mission Bay – 6-9pm
Bellamy's Restaurant – Dave Scott & Bobby Lanuza – Escondido – 6-9pm
Carruth Cellars - Hangar 76 – The Reagan – Oceanside – 6-9pm
Cbar – Sodie – Carlsbad – 6-9pm
CoLab Public House – Trey Hill – Vista – 6-9pm
Coomber Craft Wines Oceanside – Greg Peake – Oceanside – 6-9pm
Coomber Craft Wines Vista – Urban Gypsys – Vista – 6-9pm
Culinary Dropout – Shay Skylar – Del Mar – 6-9pm
Havana Grill - Mission Valley – Charlie Chavez & La Perla Negra – Mission Valley – 6-9pm
Helix Brewing Co. – Bo & the Hobos – La Mesa – 6-9pm
Heroes Wood-Fired Pizza – Vince Mendoza – Santa Ysabel – 6-9pm
Mainstream Bar & Grill - Carlsbad – Jim Allen – Carlsbad – 6-9pm
Oceanside Elks Lodge 1561 – Rynaldo Martine – Oceanside – 6-9pm
Solterra Winery & Kitchen – Cassidy Paige – Encinitas – 6-9pm

The list has gotten too big! To see everything click the button…

🎤 Karaoke

Happy Does Bar – Karaoke – Gaslamp Quarter – 8:30pm-1:30am
Werewolf American Pub – Karaoke – East Village – 9pm-1am
Wong's Dragon Room – Karaoke with DJ Javier – Rolando – 9pm-1am
Winstons OB – Karaoke w/Corey Glasper – Ocean Beach – 9:30pm-12:30am

🧠 Trivia

Koi Zen Cellars – Trivia w/ Kevin Hay – Carmel Mountain Ranch – 5-8pm
Dirty Birds - Ocean Beach – Sunset Trivia – Ocean Beach – 7-9pm

Cheval Winery – Will Fedak – Escondido – 3-6pm
Camel's Bar & Grill – Triple Deez – Grantville – 4-7pm
LandShark Bar & Grill – Jackson Wagner – Gaslamp Quarter – 4-7pm
Uvas Winery – BB & Company – Poway – 4-8pm
Pala Casino Center Bar – Grand Sonic Theory – Pala – 4-8:30pm
The Camp Store – Blind Miles Blues – Carlsbad – 4:15-6:15pm
Del Mar Plaza – Wolff – Del Mar – 5-7pm
TERI Common Grounds Cafe – The Farrell Family Band – San Marcos – 5-7pm
The Roxy Encinitas – Boo Stubbs – Encinitas – 5-7pm
Grand Ole BBQ – That Beatles Cover Band – El Cajon – 5-8pm
Koi Zen Cellars – Shay Skylar – Carmel Mountain Ranch – 5-8pm
Pour House – The Tighten Ups – Oceanside – 5-8pm
Gaylord Pacific – Puro Feeling – Chula Vista – 5-8pm
Rancho Bernardo Inn – Kristi Krause – Rancho Bernardo – 5-9pm
North City – The Journeybirds – San Marcos – 5:30-7:30pm

The list has gotten too big! To see everything click the button…

🎤 Karaoke

American Legion Post 282 – Karaoke with Leslie – La Mesa – 6-9pm
Oceanside Elks Lodge 1561 – Karaoke w/ Roy Sutherland – Oceanside – 6-10pm
Junkyard Sports Bar & Grill – Karaoke – Oceanside – 7-9:30pm
Happy Does Bar – Karaoke – Gaslamp Quarter – 8:30pm-1:30am
Werewolf American Pub – Karaoke – East Village – 9pm-1am

🧠 Trivia

Communion / Paradis Cafe – Sunset Trivia – Mission Hills – 6-8pm
Dirty Birds - College Area – Sunset Trivia – College Area – 8-9pm

The Galley at the Marina – The New Catillacs – Chula Vista – 3-6pm
Carruth Cellars - Liberty Station – Jackson Wagner – Liberty Station – 4-7pm
Castelli & Pizzaro – Riptide – Penasquitos – 4-7pm
Domaine Artefact – Jam for the (Lake Hodges) Dam – Escondido – 4-7pm
Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa – David Rosales – La Jolla – 4-7pm
Mainstream Bar & Grill - Poway – Full Circle – Poway – 4-7pm
The Kraken – Seaside Ramblers – Cardiff – 4-7pm
The Camp Store – I-Koustic * Strong Heart Reggae – Carlsbad – 4:15-6:15pm
Bahia Resort Hotel – Kai Kalama – Mission Bay – 4:30-7:30pm
Chandler's Oceanfront Dining – Alex Elisabeth – Carlsbad – 5-7pm
Del Mar Plaza – Lee Melton – Del Mar – 5-7pm
JAI at the Conrad – Fred Hersch Trio – La Jolla – 5-7pm
Panama 66 – Sandpiper Ensemble – Balboa Park – 5-7pm
Tio Leo's Mexican Restaurant & Lounge – Chuck Redd Quartet – Morena – 5-7pm
Aquarius Bar & Grille – Jimmy Lewis – Mission Bay – 5-7:30pm

The list has gotten too big! To see everything click the button…

🎤 Karaoke

American Legion Post 282 – Karaoke with TerryOke – La Mesa – 5-8pm
Casino Inn Bar and Grill – Karaoke – Alpine – 5-10pm
The Salty Frog – Karaoke – Imperial Beach – 7pm-2am
710 Beach Club – Karaoke – Pacific Beach – 8pm-12am
Winstons OB – OBoke Karaoke – Ocean Beach – 8-11pm
Full Circle Saloon – Karaoke – Santee – 8:30-11:59pm
1st Street Bar – Karaoke Night – Encinitas – 9pm-12am
North Bar – Karaoke – Escondido – 9pm-1am
Pal Joey's – Karaoke with DJ Harvest – Allied Gardens – 9pm-1am
Werewolf American Pub – Karaoke – East Village – 9pm-1am

🧠 Trivia

Uvas Winery – Music Trivia – Poway – 5-7pm
Eastbound Bar & Grill – Trivia – Lakeside – 6:30-8:30pm
Dirty Birds - Liberty Station – Sunset Trivia – Liberty Station – 8-9pm

*Some events may require tickets, reservations, cover charges, or be full/sold out, and we sometimes estimate the end time if not provided by the venue plus typos or errors can happen but we try our best!! …

Answer: B. Pickering's Pleasure Pier

The pier opened in 1927 as Pickering's Pleasure Pier. The pier featured the grand Crystal Ballroom, where visitors danced over the Pacific, before its famous over-water cottages replaced it in 1930. The ballroom gave Crystal Pier the name it still carries today.

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San Diego Meteor is published every Friday morning by Steve DeLong. Steve is an Escondido High graduate and has lived in San Diego County since 1972.