Hey San Diego - This Presidents' Weekend is one of the more culturally rich ones we've had in a while. The big news is San Diego's Tết Festival making its debut at Liberty Station - bigger space and a waterfront setting. Over in Balboa Park, the Chinese New Year Fair welcomes the Year of the Fire Horse. Film lovers have a full day of global surf cinema in Oceanside Saturday, and Sunday the Harlem Globetrotters roll into Pechanga Arena for their centennial tour. Oh, and the weather? 70° and sunny by Sunday.

Let's get into it.

 Steve DeLong
Publisher

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🎊 San Diego Tết Festival – Feb 20–22, Liberty Station
SD's largest Vietnamese Lunar New Year celebration — lion dances, firecrackers, live performers, carnival rides, and the Miss Vietnam Pageant.

👑 Miss Vietnam of San Diego Pageant – Feb 21, Liberty Station
Cultural talent and community shine at this beloved evening pageant inside the Tết Festival.

🏄 OIFF Surf Night – Feb 21, Downtown Oceanside
The Oceanside International Film Festival kicks off with a full day of global surf films at the historic Sunshine Brooks Theater. Tickets $15–18.

🏮 Chinese New Year Fair – Feb 21–22, Balboa Park
Welcome the Year of the Fire Horse with lion dances, cultural performances, food, and crafts at the House of China. 11am–5pm.

🏀 Harlem Globetrotters 100 Year Tour – Feb 22, Pechanga Arena
The centennial tour hits San Diego — expect jaw-dropping tricks, crowd chaos, and a post-game autograph session. Tickets from $60.

🦒 Safari Park – Seniors Free Month! All February, Safari Park Escondido
Adults 65+ get free admission to the Safari Park all month long — just bring a valid photo ID. Open daily 9am–5pm.

🎨 San Diego Museum Month – All February, Countywide
Grab a free pass at any public library for half-price admission to 70+ museums, gardens, and aquariums across the county through Feb 28.

🍽️ Afro-Filipino Kamayan Dinner – Feb 22, Balboa Park
Chef Spencer Hunter of Lia's Lumpia serves a hands-on feast featuring dishes like mac and cheese lumpia and coconut cornbread with calamansi butter. $75–$85, includes beverages and after-hours museum access. 6–8pm.

🥯 PopUp Bagels – Open Daily, La Jolla
The cult East Coast bagel shop that took over La Jolla serves hot, whole bagels fresh from the oven — grip, rip, and dip into weekly rotating schmears. Pre-order online to skip the line. 7am–2pm daily.

🎬 OIFF Opening Night – Feb 25, Star Theatre, Oceanside
The 15th Oceanside International Film Festival opens with a red-carpet screening of the documentary Desert Angel. Tickets required.

This 5–6 mile urban loop starts near Balboa Park and links seven distinct bridges across Bankers Hill, Hillcrest, and University Heights.

The 7 Bridges:

Expect hills, staircases, historic homes, and skyline views — a perfect cool-morning, winter-in-SoCal walk that feels like you’ve discovered a different side of the city.

Distance: ~5–6 miles
Difficulty: Moderate (urban hills + stairs)

Batiquitos Lagoon, Carlsbad

Fri 2/20
High 59° / Low 39° • 🌥️ 14%

Sat 2/21
High 67° / Low 46° • ☀️ 3%

Sun 2/22
High 70° / Low 46° • ☀️ 2%

Cool mornings kick things off, but sunshine takes control by the weekend with classic winter-in-SoCal afternoons and light coastal breezes.

Duke's La Jolla – Orion Song – La Jolla – 3-6pm
Monarch Ocean Pub – Jehua – Del Mar – 3-6pm
Aquarius Bar & Grille – Ed [from Wall of Sound] – Mission Bay – 4-6pm
Mia Marie Vineyards – Ashley Norton – Escondido – 4-6pm
The Camp Store – Jack Groesbeck – Carlsbad – 4-6:30pm
Humphrey's Backstage Live – Boogie Down Band – Point Loma – 5-7pm
TERI Common Grounds Cafe – Summer Breeze w/Ali & Eddie – San Marcos – 5-7pm
Orfila Vineyards & Winery – Fercho – Escondido – 5-8pm
Panama 66 – Mara Kaye – Balboa Park – 5-6:45pm
Pour House – Taryn Donath – Oceanside – 5-8pm
The Roxy Encinitas – Amalgamation – Encinitas – 5-8pm
Amalfi Marina Bar – Sticky Sweets – San Marcos – 5:30-8:30pm
Uvas Winery – BB & Company – Poway – 5:30-8:30pm
Aquarius Bar & Grille – Santana Soul – Mission Bay – 6-9pm
Barefoot Bar & Grill – David Shyde – Mission Bay – 6-9pm
Bellamy's Restaurant – Dave Scott & Bobby Lanuza – Escondido – 6-9pm
Carruth Cellars - Oceanside – John Manley – Oceanside – 6-9pm
Deft Brewing | The Gärten – Linda Berry Band – Morena – 6-9pm
Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa – Nathan Welden – La Jolla – 6-9pm
Grand Ole BBQ – Lady Dottie & the Diamonds – El Cajon – 6-8pm
Havana Grill - Mission Valley – Charlie Chavez & La Perla Negra – Mission Valley – 6-9pm
Heroes Wood-Fired Pizza – Vince Mendoza – Santa Ysabel – 6-9pm
Junkyard Sports Bar & Grill – Jarred Matthew – Oceanside – 6-9pm
La Valencia Hotel – Russell Paihinui – La Jolla – 6-9pm
LandShark Bar & Grill – Mike Myrdal – Gaslamp Quarter – 6-9pm
Mainstream Bar & Grill - Carlsbad – Jim Allen – Carlsbad – 6-9pm
Shake Bar & Lounge – Rachel Jay – Core-Columbia – 6-9pm
Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina – Freddie Walton – Harbor Island – 6-9pm
Smoking Cannon Brewery – Open Mic with John Hasz – Ramona – 6-9pm
Solterra Winery & Kitchen – Richard Galiguis – Encinitas – 6-9pm
The Galley at the Marina – Sytr – Chula Vista – 6-10pm
The Shout! House – Dueling Pianos – Gaslamp Quarter – 6-9pm
Babcock & Story Hotel Del – Gonzo Solo – Coronado – 6-10pm
Golden Island Dim Sum & Asian Cuisine – Sue Palmer & her Motel Swing Orchestra – Mira Mesa – 6:30-8:30pm
Le Papagayo Carlsbad – John Bennett – Carlsbad – 6:30-9:30pm
Le Papagayo Leucadia – Rheanna Downey – Leucadia – 6:30-9:30pm
Négociant Winery – Fridays with Don L. – Uptown Hillcrest – 6:30-9:30pm
Eddie V's V Lounge – Craig Dawson Trio – Marina District – 6:30-10:30pm
American Legion Post 282 – Fire Brothers – La Mesa – 7-10pm
Aztec Brewing Company – Man Flesh & Sun Jelly – Vista – 7-10pm
Books & Records Bar – Danielle Angeloni – Banker's Hill – 7-10pm
Fast Times – Blue Rockit Band – Bay Park – 7-10pm
Kimball Bar & Eatery – Ma’shaka Norteña Band – National City – 7-10pm
L'Auberge Del Mar – Shea Givens – Del Mar – 7-10pm
Tio Leo's Mexican Restaurant & Lounge – The Wild$ide Band – Morena – 7-10pm
Union Kitchen & Tap Encinitas – Jason Graham – Encinitas – 7-10pm
Winstons OB – Arcadia – Ocean Beach – 7-10pm
Mainstream Bar & Grill - Poway – D Haala – Poway – 7-11pm
1st Street Bar – Jake Nielsen's Triple Threat – Encinitas – 7:30-9:30pm
Fairmont Grand Del Mar – Hank Easton – Del Mar – 8-11pm
Humphrey's Backstage Live – FM Era – Point Loma – 8-10pm
Lou Lou’s Club @ Lafayette Hotel – The Floyd Syndicate – University Heights – 8pm
McP's Irish Pub – Pat Ellis & Blue Frog – Coronado – 8pm-12am
Pal Joey's – Bonneville 7 – Allied Gardens – 8pm-12am
Prohibition SD – Jenny & the Tramps – Gaslamp Quarter – 8pm-1:30am
Whiskey Girl – Diana Ferrer Band – East Village – 8-10pm
Full Circle Saloon – Door 13 – Santee – 8:30-11:59pm
The Roxy Encinitas – Sonic Nectar – Encinitas – 8:30-11:30pm
Pour House – Mezzoa • Shield Of Snakes • Most Hated – Oceanside – 9pm-12am
Renegade Bar – Patrick Howard Trampus Band – El Cajon – 9pm-12:30am
The Kraken – Radio 80s – Cardiff – 9pm-1am
The Salty Frog – Down 2 Eleven – Imperial Beach – 9pm-12am
Lou Lou’s Club @ Lafayette Hotel – The Floyd Syndicate – University Heights – 10pm

710 Beach Club – Karaoke – Pacific Beach – 8pm-12am
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 Harvest – Rolando – 9pm-1am
Winstons OB – Karaoke w/Corey Glasper – Ocean Beach – 9:30pm-12:30am

Koi Zen Cellars – Trivia – Rancho Bernardo – 5-8pm
Dirty Birds - Ocean Beach – Sunset Trivia – Ocean Beach – 7-9pm

Bahia Resort Hotel – TJ Moss – Mission Bay – 10am-1pm
Farmer & The Seahorse – Sean McCole – Torrey Pines – 10am-1pm
California English – Danielle Angeloni – Sorrento Mesa – 10:30am-1:30pm
TERI Common Grounds Cafe – Nelly Ake – San Marcos – 10:30am-1:30pm
La Valencia Hotel – Brian Pierini – La Jolla – 11am-2pm
LandShark Bar & Grill – Kat Hall – Gaslamp Quarter – 11am-2pm
Aquarius Bar & Grille – Travel Agents – Mission Bay – 12-3pm
Fairmont Grand Del Mar – Ed Kornhauser – Del Mar – 12-3pm
Mia Marie Vineyards – Jackson Wagner – Escondido – 12-6pm
Grand Ole BBQ – Deke Dickerson Solo – El Cajon – 1-4pm
The Roxy Encinitas – John Lowery – Encinitas – 1-4pm
Winstons OB – Mayzie – Ocean Beach – 1-4pm
Aquarius Bar & Grille – Long View Family Band – Mission Bay – 3-6pm
Monarch Ocean Pub – Christian Taylor – Del Mar – 3-6pm
The Camp Store – CoverCraft – Carlsbad – 4-6:30pm
Orfila Vineyards & Winery – DJ Night – Escondido – 4-8pm
Humphrey's Backstage Live – Manzanita Blues – Point Loma – 5-7pm
Koi Zen Cellars – Dalton Gazette – Rancho Bernardo – 5-8pm
Pour House – The Tighten Ups – Oceanside – 5-8pm
TERI Common Grounds Cafe – Jungle Poppins – San Marcos – 5-7pm
The Roxy Encinitas – Tim Dierks – Encinitas – 5-8pm
Uvas Winery – The Resonators – Poway – 5-8pm
Amalfi Marina Bar – The Dysfunctionals – San Marcos – 5:30-8:30pm
Panama 66 – Zzymzzy Quartet – Balboa Park – 6-8pm
Smoking Cannon Brewery – The Mudchuckers – Ramona – 6-8pm
Aquarius Bar & Grille – Custard Pie – Mission Bay – 6-9pm
Barefoot Bar & Grill – Rachel Jay – Mission Bay – 6-9pm
Carruth Cellars - Oceanside – Sonic Tonic – Oceanside – 6-9pm
Deft Brewing | The Gärten – StarSign – Morena – 6-9pm
Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa – Richard Galiguis – La Jolla – 6-9pm
Havana Grill - Mission Valley – Charlie Chavez & La Perla Negra – Mission Valley – 6-9pm
Heroes Wood-Fired Pizza – Harmony Grove – Santa Ysabel – 6-9pm
La Valencia Hotel – Kevin James O'Brien – La Jolla – 6-9pm
LandShark Bar & Grill – Hank Easton – Gaslamp Quarter – 6-9pm
Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina – Jonny Tarr – Harbor Island – 6-9pm
Solterra Winery & Kitchen – Rob G – Encinitas – 6-9pm
The Shout! House – Dueling Pianos – Gaslamp Quarter – 6-9pm
Babcock & Story Hotel Del – Gonzo & Keven – Coronado – 6-10pm
The Galley at the Marina – Groove Therapy – Chula Vista – 6-10pm
Renegade Bar – Dawson Country Band – El Cajon – 6:30pm-12:30am
Le Papagayo Carlsbad – Fercho – Carlsbad – 6:30-9:30pm
Le Papagayo Leucadia – John Lee Band – Leucadia – 6:30-9:30pm
Négociant Winery – Harmonic Souls – Uptown Hillcrest – 6:30-9:30pm
Steel 94 – Side Traxx – Spring Valley – 6:30-9:30pm
Eddie V's V Lounge – Archie Thompson Trio – Marina District – 6:30-10:30pm
Aztec Brewing Company – Flow State Event – Vista – 7-10pm
Books & Records Bar – Cobby Brzeski – Banker's Hill – 7-10pm
Fast Times – Run for Cover – Bay Park – 7-10pm
Kimball Bar & Eatery – Sol Sacrifice – National City – 7-10pm
L'Auberge Del Mar – Jason Graham – Del Mar – 7-10pm
Tio Leo's Mexican Restaurant & Lounge – Platinum Vibe – Morena – 7-10pm
Union Kitchen & Tap Encinitas – Freddie Walton – Encinitas – 7-10pm
Mainstream Bar & Grill - Poway – Full Collins [Phil Collins Tribute] – Poway – 7-11pm
1st Street Bar – Ka-Chi – Encinitas – 7:30-9:30pm
Fairmont Grand Del Mar – Puro Feeling – Del Mar – 8-11pm
Humphrey's Backstage Live – 3 Car Garage – Point Loma – 8-10pm
McP's Irish Pub – Royer Destroyer – Coronado – 8pm-12am
The Roxy Encinitas – Classic Rock Band – Encinitas – 8:30-11:30pm
710 Beach Club – Propane Saints • EM Cable • Sundarri – Pacific Beach – 9pm-1am
Pal Joey's – Crimson Coil – Allied Gardens – 9pm-1am
The Kraken – Whiskey Heat – Cardiff – 9pm-1am
Pour House – Angler • Marble (SEA) • Promised Paradigm – Oceanside – 9pm-12am
The Salty Frog – The GoodGood – Imperial Beach – 9:30pm-12:30am
Winstons OB – Les Afriks and Nomsa – Ocean Beach – 9:30pm-12:30am

American Legion Post 282 – Karaoke w/Leslie – La Mesa – 6-9pm
Happy Does Bar – Karaoke – Gaslamp Quarter – 8:30pm-1:30am
Werewolf American Pub – Karaoke – East Village – 9pm-1am

Round Table Pizza - Poway – Trivia – Poway – 6-8pm
Dirty Birds - SDSU Area – Sunset Trivia – College Area – 8-9pm

Bahia Resort Hotel – Jehua Evans – Mission Bay – 10am-1pm
Farmer & The Seahorse – Kekoa – Torrey Pines – 10am-1pm
Seasons Restaurant – David Rosales – Carlsbad – 10am-1pm
TERI Common Grounds Cafe – Wood Wire & Bluegrass – San Marcos – 11am-1pm
L'Auberge Del Mar – Jarred Matthew – Del Mar – 11am-2pm
La Valencia Hotel – Javid & Naoko – La Jolla – 11am-2pm
LandShark Bar & Grill – DJ Sergio Gonzalez – Gaslamp Quarter – 11am-2pm
Fairmont Grand Del Mar – Megan Nguyen – Del Mar – 12-3pm
Heroes Wood-Fired Pizza – Soul Seekers – Santa Ysabel – 12-3pm
Orfila Vineyards & Winery – Matt Heinecke – Escondido – 12-3pm
The Shout! House – Dueling Piano Brunch w/ Bottomless Mimosas – Gaslamp Quarter – 12-3pm
Aquarius Bar & Grille – High Noon Dead Party – Mission Bay – 12-5pm
Coronado Ferry Landing – Pomerado – Coronado – 1-4pm
Duke's La Jolla – Jason Graham – La Jolla – 1-4pm
Grand Ole BBQ – Erika Davies – El Cajon – 1-4pm
The Roxy Encinitas – John Manley – Encinitas – 1-4pm
Mia Marie Vineyards – Danielle Angeloni – Escondido – 2-4pm
McP's Irish Pub Paddy-O – Ron's Garage – Coronado – 2-5pm
Carruth Cellars - Oceanside – Campfire Joe – Oceanside – 3-6pm
Monarch Ocean Pub – Lee Melton – Del Mar – 3-6pm
The Kraken – Celina Rescott & the Embers – Cardiff – 3-6pm
Winstons OB – The Tighten Ups & Tecolote Canyon Band – Ocean Beach – 3-6pm
The Galley at the Marina – Manzanita Blues – Chula Vista – 3-7pm
Deft Brewing | The Gärten – Quick Fix Jazz Funk Trio – Morena – 4-6:30pm
The Camp Store – Black Key Ohana – Carlsbad – 4-6:30pm
Carruth Cellars - Liberty Station – Al Barnes – Liberty Station – 4-7pm
Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa – David Rosales – La Jolla – 4-7pm
Mainstream Bar & Grill - Poway – D Haala – Poway – 4-7pm
Pour House – Neurodiversity Rocks! w/ Jungle Poppins – Oceanside – 4-7pm
Orfila Vineyards & Winery – Andrew Peña – Escondido – 4-8pm
Solterra Winery & Kitchen – Jay Cain – Encinitas – 4:30-7:30pm
Panama 66 – Whitney Shay – Balboa Park – 5-7pm
Tio Leo's Mexican Restaurant & Lounge – Danny Green with Justin Grinnell and Duncan Moore – Morena – 5-7pm
Kimball Bar & Eatery – George Villasenor's Band Colour – National City – 5-8pm
The Roxy Encinitas – Jack Attack – Encinitas – 5-8pm
Humphrey's Backstage Live – Patrick Lamb – Point Loma – 6-8pm
Eddie V's V Lounge – Craig Dawson Trio – Marina District – 6-9pm
The Cordova Bar – Bo & the Hobos – Morena – 6-9pm
Fast Times – Geoff Corey 5 Band – Bay Park – 7-10pm
Lou Lou’s Club @ Lafayette Hotel – Raquel Rodriguez – University Heights – 7pm
Prohibition SD – Karlos Paez of the B Side Players – Gaslamp Quarter – 8pm-1:30am

Steel 94 – Karaoke – Spring Valley – 2-5pm
American Legion Post 282 – Karaoke with TerryOke – La Mesa – 5-8pm
The Salty Frog – Karaoke – Imperial Beach – 7pm-2am
710 Beach Club – Karaoke – Pacific Beach – 8pm-12am
Winstons OB – OBoke Karaoke – Ocean Beach – 8-11pm
1st Street Bar – Karaoke – Encinitas – 9pm-1am
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

Eastbound Bar & Grill – Trivia – Lakeside – 6:30-8:30pm

*Some events may require tickets, reservations, cover charges, or be full/sold out, and typos or errors could happen but we try our best!! …

Answer: B) 1911

Naval flight training began at Naval Air Station North Island in 1911, when aviation pioneer Glenn Curtiss trained the Navy’s first pilots on the sandy flats of Coronado. That early experiment helped launch more than a century of naval air power.

While the original TOPGUN school was once based at Miramar, it later moved to Nevada. Today, Miramar is Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, which became a Marine Corps installation after replacing Marine Corps Air Station El Toro as the region’s primary Marine jet base.

From canvas-wing biplanes in 1911 to modern fighter squadrons overhead — San Diego’s aviation story is still very much in flight.

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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.