San Diego is the perfect city to visit 365 days a year. For a getaway filled with fun and sun, look no further than California’s southernmost gem.
As a SoCal native and having lived here my whole life, I’m a bit biased towards San Diego, but I also know it’s a place like no other, with a climate like no other! Feeling inspired?
Check out the best time to go to San Diego!
January
Enjoy New Year’s Eve all over again at the Lunar New Year Tết Festival. San Diego’s Chinese New Year is one of the top food and cultural fairs of the year.
For a laugh, head to the San Diego Comedy Festival to see some of the greatest comedians from every corner of the earth.
Once you have worked up a thirst, get to the San Diego Brew Fest for a selection of craft beers from indie producers in San Diego and beyond. More than just a place to drink, the Brew Fest has amazing food trucks and great live music.
Weather: While the weather stays around sixty degrees during the winter, you will want to pack an umbrella for the unpredictable January rain showers.
February
One of my favorite celebrations of the year, the Gaslamp Quarter Mardi Gras Parade and Celebration is an impressive block party featuring live music, an insane parade, circus performers, graffiti artists, fire dancers, stilt walkers, and more!
Get your heart racing at the San Diego Color Fun Fest 5K, and then explore the local culture during the San Diego Museum month when more than forty museums around the city offer half-price admission.
Weather: Similar to January, you will find temps somewhere in the fifties or sixties with pretty regular rainfall, so come prepared.
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March
The yearly Seaport Village Spring Busker Festival is a must-see celebration of street performers. You’ll find sword swallowers, fire breathers, contortionists, musicians, and everything else under the sun at this seriously impressive festival.
Of course, you have got to see the San Diego St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival. As the largest St. Patty’s Day celebration west of the Mississippi, this festival features a massive parade, live music, and more green beer than you could ever drink.
Another one of the best events is the San Diego IndieFest. With more than fifty up-and-coming bands and countless visual artists, this is the perfect spot to find your new favorite band.
Weather: With the weather finally starting to dry out a bit and afternoon highs reaching closer to seventy degrees, March is a great time to get outside.
April
Come hungry to the San Diego BBQ FEST! The event takes place annually in the Makers Quarter, and you can grab BBQ chicken, brisket, ribs, and countless other barbeque treats.
Not a BBQ lover? You can still indulge your foodie side at the Mission Valley Craft Beer & Food Festivals. With an endless array of local brews and world-class food, this is the perfect place to grab a savory bite.
The small, friendly town of Fallbrook also hosts their annual Avocado Festival every April. Join the 100,000 other festival goers and check out the hundreds of craft and food booths on Main Street. There are tons of activities for the kiddies and don’t miss the Guacamole Contest!
With the winter rainy season officially over, now is the time to get to Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay to check out some of the best musicians and comedians from all over the world.
Weather: April starts off the sunny season in San Diego (but, let’s be honest, you’ll find sun year-round.) The high temps will hit seventies and you’ll find some beautiful beach weather.
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May
The largest festival of its kind in Southern California, the Fiesta Old Town Cinco de Mayo is an absolute must for every Latino culture lover! From food to music to dance to cars, you can see it all on Cinco de Mayo.
For a juicy, colorful day out, get to the Vista Strawberry Festival. This is the place to be for the freshest fruits and baked treats alongside some great live entertainment.
Weather: With endless sunshine and temps in the sixties and seventies, the San Diego weather in May is perfect for long days out.
My favorite San Diego-inspired styles!
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June
While the weather is often foggy along the coast, you will see lovely temps in the mid-sixties to the mid-seventies in June. To go out and enjoy the lovely weather, get to San Diego’s Little Italy neighborhood. With world-class Italian cuisine and live musical performances, the Taste of Little Italy food festival is the perfect way to find some Italian flavor in California.
Treat your artistic side to the San Diego Festival of the Arts where more than 200 local artists bring out their most impressive works.
The biggest draw to San Diego in June, besides the beach, is the San Diego County Fair in Del Mar! Come for traditional fair foods, events, rides and more!
Weather: Summer has hit! You’ll find temps from the seventies to eighties on any given day, with some foggy mornings on the coast.
July
For an awesome Fourth of July celebration, you have to go to the Annual Big Bay Boom July 4 fireworks show. See the incredibly impressive fireworks displays from Shelter Island, Harbor Island, the Embarcadero area, and Seaport Village.
Indulge your inner hungry girl at the Del Mar Gourmet Food Truck Festival. For the best street treats from around the planet, this is the place for the best grub in San Diego.
Talk about iconic San Diego, the Hotel Del Coronado hosts outdoor movie nights on their lawn every Friday in July and August. Come for a cocktail and spectacular sunset!
Weather: While July can be foggy in San Diego (we have that “July gloom”), the daily temps will stick somewhere between sixty-five and seventy-five degrees, so it is the perfect time to explore.
August
The weather is at is prime in August in San Diego. With temperatures ranging from the upper sixties to eighty degrees, this is the ideal time to lounge in the sun.
A summer classic, be sure to check out Summer Fest Under the Stars. The La Jolla Music Society puts on a truly awesome performance that you won’t want to miss.
Weather: August is the hottest month in San Diego. Be prepared for dry heat, but epic beach weather county-wide.
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September
The amazing weather continues in September and there’s no better way to enjoy it than at the US Sand Sculpting Challenge and Dimensional Art Exposition or at the Festival of Sail.
If you can tear yourself away from the beach, head to the San Diego International Film Festival for the world’s premier films and some red carpet glam.
Weather: The temps stay pretty consistent to August’s weather, however there will be random hotter days, and random colder days. Come prepared with lots of light layers!
October
With a few warm days still remaining, you can still enjoy the great outdoors in October in San Diego. Soak in the sunny days of fall at the Pacific Beachfest while you watch surf competitions, play beach volleyball, and sample local breweries. Swing by Shore Club for a redbull vodka slushie and some rooftop views.
Of course, autumn is a prime time for foodies. Between the La Jolla Art and Wine Festival and the Harvest Festival, you can find top notch grub here.
Weather: Daily temps will be between seventy and seventy-five degrees. Light layers for the win!
November
While the weather isn’t great in November, the temps rarely fall below fifty degrees. Plan to forgo the beach and check out the Art San Diego Contemporary Art Show or The San Diego Asian Film Festival to take in the local culture.
November is the time to find your new favorite craft beer at the San Diego Beer Week, which takes place all over the city for one week every November.
Weather: San Diego starts cooling off in November most rapidly. Plan for temps around sixty degrees!
December
Forget about having a white Christmas! Come to San Diego for fifty-plus-degree weather and a dazzling array of lights.
Visit the San Diego Bay Parade of Lights to see a gorgeous light display from the beach, and then join the nearly 100,000 other visitors at America’s largest balloon parade, the Port of San Diego Big Bay Balloon Parade.
If you are lucky enough to be in San Diego for New Year’s Eve, the Gaslamp Quarter is the place to see and be seen in San Diego!
Weather: Most years, it is sunny and cool in December. But the weather is a bit sporadic, so it’s hard to tell if you will have a nice beach day or some rainfall. Come prepared for both!
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The Best Time to Go to San Diego is a post from: The Blonde Abroad