Black Meetings & Tourism - 16 San Diego Events Not to Be Missed in 2016

Industry Briefs
16 San Diego Events Not to Be Missed in 2016
From music festivals with ocean views to celebrations of the avocado, San Diego is home to a number of events throughout the year that can't be found anywhere else in the U.S. Below are 16 uniquely San Diegan special events that visitors can experience in 2016. Jan. 28-31 Farmers Insurance Open The annual PGA Tour men's golf tournament is played at the Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla, home of the 2008 and 2021 U.S. Open. Feb. 1-28 *San Diego Museum Month* Throughout February, San Diego visitors can experience the region's rich cultural offerings at half-price. Guests can pick up a free San Diego Museum Month Pass at participating Macy's locations; with the pass, they can receive half-price admission for up to four guests per visit at 42 of San Diego's museums, ranging from exquisite art museums to historical sites and interactive science centers. Mar. 10-23 *San Diego Latino Film Festival* San Diego's proximity to Mexico makes it a natural venue for this prestigious film festival, focusing on acclaimed movies by Latinos or about the Latino experience. Held at the UltraStar Cinemas at Hazard Center in Mission Valley and at the Digital Gym Cinema in North Park, the festival includes parties, workshops, art exhibitions and the opportunity to mingle with international movie and television stars. Mar. (TBD) *CRSSD Festival* Held at downtown San Diego's recently opened Waterfront Park, CRSSD is a new music festival featuring the top names in electronic music, craft beer, gourmet food, impeccable daytime vibes and an unparalleled bayside setting. Apr. 17 *Fallbrook Avocado Festival* Since the 1960s, tens of thousands of avocado lovers converge in Fallbrook, California's avocado hub located in San Diego's North County, to sample avocados, check-out the crazy cooking contest entries, buy funky avocado-themed gifts and enjoy bands, live entertainment and friendly beer gardens. Apr. 23 *Chicano Park Day* In the early 1970s, the Latino community established Chicano Park, the world's largest collection of Chicano murals, beneath the San Diego-Coronado Bridge overpass. This free annual event celebrates the art and culture of San Diego's Latino residents with traditional music, dance, a lowrider car show, vendor booths, kids' arts workshops and more. May 15 *Amgen Tour of California* A Tour de France-style cycling road race, the Amgen Tour of California kicks off in San Diego, where the world's top professional cycling teams will depart for a race covering hundreds of miles along the state's coastline and highways. Jul. 15-17 *San Diego LGBT Pride Parade, Rally and Festival* One of the city's largest grassroots organizations, San Diego LGBT Pride sponsors a weekend of festivities including a headlining parade through Hillcrest and two-day music festival in Balboa Park. Jul. 21-24 *Comic-Con International* The largest comics and pop culture event in the United States attracts thousands of artists, celebrities and fans of comic books, movie memorabilia and all things related to pop culture to the San Diego Convention Center in downtown San Diego. Aug. TBD *Unleashed by Petco Surf Dog Competition* Dozens of dogs take to the waves near Imperial Beach pier to compete in small dog, large dog and tandem surfing heats. Aug. TBD *40th Annual World Body Surfing Championships* International and U.S. body surfers compete at the Oceanside pier and beach in San Diego's North County. Sept. 3-5 *Festival of Sail* The Maritime Museum hosts more than 20 tall ships and other marine vessels from around the world that sail into San Diego Bay for the event. Guests tour the tall ships, enjoy live entertainment, sample food and drink, enjoy a family activity area, and shop for one-of-a-kind items among more than 150 festival vendors. Sept. 16-18 KAABOO Del Mar An upscale music festival experience held at the seaside Del Mar Fairgrounds, KAABOO will feature seven stages and more than 100 musical acts plus a dedicated comedy stage and food and beverages from local and celebrity chefs, craft breweries and local wineries. Nov. 4-13 San Diego Beer Week With more than 100 breweries in the county, San Diego's Beer Week trumps all others. Hundreds of beer-centric events take place throughout the region during this 10-day festival that highlights San Diego's award-winning craft beer, breweries and pubs. Nov. 14-20 *San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival* Wine and food enthusiasts gather for this five-day event, the region's largest wine and culinary extravaganza, held at several venues throughout downtown San Diego. Dec. 2-3 *Balboa Park December Nights* This celebration of the holiday season is the largest free community festival in San Diego and features foods and crafts from around the world, music and events in Balboa Park's diverse museums.

Industry Briefs

16 San Diego Events Not to Be Missed in 2016

From music festivals with ocean views to celebrations of the avocado, San Diego is home to a number of events throughout the year that can't be found anywhere else in the U.S. Below are 16 uniquely San Diegan special events that visitors can experience in 2016.

Jan. 28-31
Farmers Insurance Open
The annual PGA Tour men's golf tournament is played at the Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla, home of the 2008 and 2021 U.S. Open.

Feb. 1-28
San Diego Museum Month
Throughout February, San Diego visitors can experience the region's rich cultural offerings at half-price. Guests can pick up a free San Diego Museum Month Pass at participating Macy's locations; with the pass, they can receive half-price admission for up to four guests per visit at 42 of San Diego's museums, ranging from exquisite art museums to historical sites and interactive science centers.

Mar. 10-23
San Diego Latino Film Festival
San Diego's proximity to Mexico makes it a natural venue for this prestigious film festival, focusing on acclaimed movies by Latinos or about the Latino experience. Held at the UltraStar Cinemas at Hazard Center in Mission Valley and at the Digital Gym Cinema in North Park, the festival includes parties, workshops, art exhibitions and the opportunity to mingle with international movie and television stars.

Mar. (TBD)
CRSSD Festival
Held at downtown San Diego's recently opened Waterfront Park, CRSSD is a new music festival featuring the top names in electronic music, craft beer, gourmet food, impeccable daytime vibes and an unparalleled bayside setting.

Apr. 17
Fallbrook Avocado Festival
Since the 1960s, tens of thousands of avocado lovers converge in Fallbrook, California's avocado hub located in San Diego's North County, to sample avocados, check-out the crazy cooking contest entries, buy funky avocado-themed gifts and enjoy bands, live entertainment and friendly beer gardens.

Apr. 23
Chicano Park Day
In the early 1970s, the Latino community established Chicano Park, the world's largest collection of Chicano murals, beneath the San Diego-Coronado Bridge overpass. This free annual event celebrates the art and culture of San Diego's Latino residents with traditional music, dance, a lowrider car show, vendor booths, kids' arts workshops and more.

May 15
Amgen Tour of California
A Tour de France-style cycling road race, the Amgen Tour of California kicks off in San Diego, where the world's top professional cycling teams will depart for a race covering hundreds of miles along the state's coastline and highways.

Jul. 15-17
San Diego LGBT Pride Parade, Rally and Festival
One of the city's largest grassroots organizations, San Diego LGBT Pride sponsors a weekend of festivities including a headlining parade through Hillcrest and two-day music festival in Balboa Park.

Jul. 21-24
Comic-Con International
The largest comics and pop culture event in the United States attracts thousands of artists, celebrities and fans of comic books, movie memorabilia and all things related to pop culture to the San Diego Convention Center in downtown San Diego.

Aug. TBD
Unleashed by Petco Surf Dog Competition
Dozens of dogs take to the waves near Imperial Beach pier to compete in small dog, large dog and tandem surfing heats.

Aug. TBD
40th Annual World Body Surfing Championships
International and U.S. body surfers compete at the Oceanside pier and beach in San Diego's North County.

Sept. 3-5
Festival of Sail
The Maritime Museum hosts more than 20 tall ships and other marine vessels from around the world that sail into San Diego Bay for the event. Guests tour the tall ships, enjoy live entertainment, sample food and drink, enjoy a family activity area, and shop for one-of-a-kind items among more than 150 festival vendors.

Sept. 16-18
KAABOO Del Mar
An upscale music festival experience held at the seaside Del Mar Fairgrounds, KAABOO will feature seven stages and more than 100 musical acts plus a dedicated comedy stage and food and beverages from local and celebrity chefs, craft breweries and local wineries.

Nov. 4-13
San Diego Beer Week
With more than 100 breweries in the county, San Diego's Beer Week trumps all others. Hundreds of beer-centric events take place throughout the region during this 10-day festival that highlights San Diego's award-winning craft beer, breweries and pubs.

Nov. 14-20
San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival
Wine and food enthusiasts gather for this five-day event, the region's largest wine and culinary extravaganza, held at several venues throughout downtown San Diego.

Dec. 2-3
Balboa Park December Nights
This celebration of the holiday season is the largest free community festival in San Diego and features foods and crafts from around the world, music and events in Balboa Park's diverse museums.