🍓 Vista Strawberry Festival, Julian Gem Show, Plus Memorial Day Ceremonies

The unofficial start of summer is here. This weekend: Memorial Day events, Annie’s Canyon, Vista’s Strawberry Festival, Julian gems (and pie), plus 300+ live music, karaoke, and trivia events across San Diego.

Let’s dive in.

 Steve DeLong
Publisher

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The Events

🇺🇸 Memorial Day Events Around San Diego

Honor Memorial Day with ceremonies, tributes, and moments of remembrance happening across the county this weekend. Notable observances include:

• Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery Memorial Day Ceremony: one of the region’s most meaningful Memorial Day ceremonies overlooking San Diego Bay
• Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial Memorial Day Ceremony: annual observance honoring veterans and fallen service members
• Miramar National Cemetery: Memorial Day observances honoring veterans with ceremonies
• Looking for the full list? We found a comprehensive roundup of Memorial Day ceremonies and observances happening around San Diego → List Here!

USS Midway Legacy Week (May 22–25)

The USS Midway’s annual Legacy Week is more than a single ceremony — expect military tributes, flyovers, remembrance events, live performances, and special programming throughout Memorial Day weekend. A strong pick if you want to combine honoring the holiday with exploring one of San Diego’s most iconic landmarks.

💎 Julian Rocks & Gem Show (May 23–25)
Gemstones, fossils, jewelry, demonstrations, and an excuse for pie in Julian afterward.

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🍓 Vista Strawberry Festival - Sun 5/24
North County’s biggest strawberry celebration returns with 500+ vendors, live music, contests, beer garden, rides, and an estimated 90,000 attendees. Free admission. 8am–6pm.

🌺 Plumeria Cutting Sale – May 24–25, Casa del Prado, Balboa Park
Thousands of plumeria cuttings, tropical plants, gifts, Hawaiian food, and gardening tips come together for this surprisingly niche (and very San Diego) annual event. Free admission, family-friendly, and a chance to bring home a future backyard bloom. 10am–4pm both days.

🥧 Food Pick: Julian Pie + A Day Trip Worth Making
Heading to the Julian Rocks & Gem Show this weekend? Make it a full mountain-town outing with a stop for pie. Julian Pie Company is the classic choice (apple pie à la mode if you know what’s good for you), while Julian Cafe & Bakery serves hearty breakfasts, comfort food, and its own famous pie. Because no trip to Julian is complete without dessert.

🏄 Switchfoot Bro-Am – June 11–14, Encinitas & Moonlight Beach
The annual Switchfoot Bro-Am returns with concerts, surf competitions, beach events, and community fundraisers supporting local youth programs. One of San Diego’s most uniquely local traditions blends music, surfing, and giving back — with the free Bro-Am Beach Fest happening June 14 at Moonlight Beach.

🎶 Summer Concert Season Is Almost Here
Free summer concerts in parks, plazas, and waterfront venues across San Diego County are starting to return. Expect everything from tribute bands to local favorites — we’ll have a more complete roundup soon

Looking for a hike with slot canyons, ocean breezes, and big views without a huge time commitment? Annie’s Canyon Trail packs a lot into a short loop through the San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve.

The highlight is the narrow sandstone slot canyon near the top — one of the only hikes like it in San Diego County — followed by panoramic views of the lagoon and coastline.

📍 Location: Solana Beach / San Elijo Lagoon
🥾 Distance: ~1.5 miles round trip (loop options vary)
📈 Difficulty: Easy–Moderate
⏱️ Time: 45–90 minutes
🐕 Dogs: Allowed on most trails, not permitted in the slot canyon section
💡 Good to know: The slot canyon includes ladders and tight passages. There’s a bypass route if you’d rather skip it.

Why go now? Late spring is ideal: cooler mornings, coastal breezes, and greener lagoon scenery before summer crowds and heat peak.

Local tip: Go near sunset for golden light over the lagoon — then grab dinner in Solana Beach afterward.

Dreaming about Summer!

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Fri 5/22
High 72° / Low 56° • ⛅ 22%

Sat 5/23
High 71° / Low 56° • ☀️ 6%

Sun 5/24
High 71° / Low 56° • ☀️ 5%

A classic late-May weekend in San Diego: partly cloudy Friday gives way to mostly sunny skies Saturday and Sunday, with mild temperatures, minimal rain chances, and steady coastal breezes.

Deano's Pub – Do Right Louie – La Mesa – 8-11pm
Fairmont Grand Del Mar – Shea Givens – Del Mar – 8-11pm
Humphreys Backstage Live – A Day in the 80's – Point Loma – 8-11pm
O'Sullivan's Irish Pub – Gino & the Lone Gunmen – Escondido – 8-11pm
The Roxy Encinitas – Fallout Shelter – Encinitas – 8:30-10:30pm
Full Circle Saloon – Summer Breeze – Santee – 8:30pm-11:59pm
Poway's Irish Pub – Grand Nova – Poway – 8:30pm-12:30am
Pour House – Mirage • Dolphins On Acid • Suntan – Oceanside – 9-11:59pm
Patrick's Gaslamp Pub – Celina Rescott & The Embers – Gaslamp Quarter – 9pm-12am
The Kraken – The Celebrities – Cardiff – 9pm-12am
Whistle Stop Bar – Madeline Goldstein & More Ephemerol – South Park – 9pm-12am
Renegade Bar – Big Sky Moon – El Cajon – 9pm-12:30am
Pala Casino Center Bar – The Dudes of SD – Pala – 9pm-1:15am
The Salty Frog – Soul Addiction – Imperial Beach – 9-11:59pm
Moonshine Flats – Nate Botsford – Gaslamp Quarter – 10pm-12am

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

🎤 Karaoke

710 Beach Club – Karaoke – Pacific Beach – 8pm-12am
Harry's Sports Bar & Grill – Harryoke Fridays – Fallbrook – 8pm-1am
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

🧠 Trivia

Dirty Birds - Ocean Beach – Sunset Trivia – Ocean Beach – 7-9pm

Full Circle Saloon – Bastard Sons – Santee – 8:30pm-11:59pm
Soda Bar – Swingin' Utters • UltraBomb • Big Attitude – Corridor – 8:30pm-11:30pm
The Casbah – Supersuckers & Scott H. Biram – Downtown – 8:30pm-11:30pm
The Roxy Encinitas – Jonathan Lee Band – Encinitas – 8:30-10:30pm
Poway's Irish Pub – Totally 80's Band – Poway – 8:30pm-12:30am
710 Beach Club – Mason Duke • The Knockout Boyz • The Dysfunktionals – Pacific Beach – 9pm-12am
Beaumont's Eatery – Half Shot – La Jolla – 9pm-12am
Patrick's Gaslamp Pub – Gallivant – Gaslamp Quarter – 9pm-12am
The Kraken – Projekt X – Cardiff – 9pm-12am
Winstons OB – Midnight North w/ Shakedown String Band – Ocean Beach – 9pm-12am
Pour House – The Undertaking • Guilty By Association (Vegas) • Corporate Citizen • Fear The Lions (Punk, Hardcore) • $10 – Oceanside – 9-11:59pm
The Salty Frog – Still Ill – Imperial Beach – 9-11:59pm
Renegade Bar – Trey Hill Band – El Cajon – 9pm-12:30am
Pala Casino Center Bar – Fresh Play – Pala – 9pm-1:15am
Moonshine Flats – Nate Botsford – Gaslamp Quarter – 10pm-12am

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

🎤 Karaoke

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

🧠 Trivia

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

Babcock & Story Hotel Del – Matt Heinecke – Coronado – 6-9pm
Coomber Craft Wines Oceanside – Open Mic With Raynaldo Martine – Oceanside – 6-9pm
Humphreys Backstage Live – Pro2Call – Point Loma – 6-9pm
O'Sullivan's Irish Pub – The Clachen Boys – Escondido – 6-9pm
The Cordova Bar – B Line formerly known as B Sections – Morena – 6-9pm
The Shout! House – Dueling Pianos: TBD – Gaslamp Quarter – 6-9pm
Coyote Bar & Grill – Platinum Vibe – Carlsbad – 6-10pm
Pala Casino Center Bar – Grand Sonic Theory – Pala – 6-10:30pm
Coronado Summer Concerts - Spreckels Park – Busted Spurs – Coronado – 6:30-8pm
Eddie V's V Lounge – Burt Brion Trio – Marina District – 6:30-10:30pm
Loews Coronado – The Heart – Coronado – 7-10pm
Aztec Brewing Company – Flow State – Vista – 8-10pm
Pour House – The Darts • Service • Doll Riot – Oceanside – 8-11pm
Kimball Bar & Eatery – Rising Star – National City – 8-11pm
Patrick's Gaslamp Pub – Trey Hill – Gaslamp Quarter – 9pm-12am

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

🎤 Karaoke

Steel 94 – Karaoke – Spring Valley – 2-5pm
American Legion Post 282 – Karaoke with Terryoke – La Mesa – 5-8pm
Casino Inn Bar and Grill – Karaoke with Jess & Toney – 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 – 8:30pm-11:59pm
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 - Ocean Beach – Sunset Trivia – Ocean Beach – 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) Dr. Seuss ✅

The library is the Theodore Geisel Library, named for Theodore Geisel — better known as Dr. Seuss. Geisel and his wife, Audrey, made significant contributions to UC San Diego and supported the university’s library programs. In recognition of their philanthropy and connection to literacy and education, the university renamed the library in their honor in 1995. Jack London also had a significant connection to San Diego.

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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.