subject: San Diego events [print this page] With its warm climate, excellent beaches and diverse calendar of events, San Diego attracts visitors all year round, looking to sample the cultural and sightseeing experiences of the Southern Californian city.
Many of San Diego's most popular annual events are free of charge, making them popular draws for families. These include the Julian Apple Festival, which coincides with the apple harvest during the first two weeks of November and also offers plenty of opportunities to sample delicacies made with the fruit, such as fresh apple pies and cider.
Another popular family event that heads to San Diego in the autumn is the Mother Goose parade on the Saturday before thanksgiving - kick-starting the holiday season for local children as well as offering an insight into American culture for international visitors. San Diego's answer to the Macy's Day Parade, the event involves floats, marching bands and horse-drawn carriages heading down the streets of the East County.
San Diego's holiday season isn't restricted to the autumn though, with other popular events attracting the crowds throughout the year. These include the KIFM Jazz Festival, playing downtown on the second to last Saturday of May at venues such as the Gaslamp, and the San Diego County Fair, taking place in the last two weeks of August at the dedicated fair grounds.
Just because San Diego enjoys warmer weather than many other destinations in the United States doesn't mean Christmas is any less of an event either, with annual festivities such as the drive-through lights at Del Mar Fairgrounds, which are illuminated from Thanksgiving Day until New Year. You can also be certain that San Diego hotels and stores will be getting into the holiday spirit early, making San Diego into a winter wonderland in time for the influx of visitors over the holiday period.
All these events only serve to broaden San Diego's appeal further - the destination already being a big hit with sunbathers and lovers of water sports, thanks to its idyllic miles of sandy beaches. Areas such as Mission Bay and San Diego Bay have long been popular for sailing, while scuba divers could favour regions such as the Yukon and Wreck Alley, which make for fascinating exploring beneath the waves.
Visitors of a certain persuasion could even find beaches catering for their individual tastes - such as the 'clothing-optional' Black's Beach - though holidaymakers can rest assured that the majority of San Diego's white sand beaches are family-friendly.
