San Diego Events to Look Forward to in 2021

2020 will soon be behind us. And for the social butterflies among us, that’s great news. It’s been a pretty tough year for getting out and enjoying everything the city has to offer. 

Thankfully, 2021 is shaping up to be a much more robust period for the overall San Diego events calendar. Here’s just some of what San Diegans and visitors can look forward to next year. 

(Note: every event listed here is still in the city’s calendar at the time of this writing. Even so, due to ever-changing COVID conditions, please make sure to check ahead of time before you plan attend any of these events.)

San Diego Restaurant Week (January 17-24, 2021)

Thanks to our melting pot of cultures, pier-to-plate seafood, and mild weather that lets us get out to enjoy ourselves (no matter what time of year it is), San Diego is one of the best foodie destinations in America. And that’s never more evident than during Restaurant Week. From January 17-24, 2021, countless eateries will be participating in this festival of food. Every kind of cuisine imaginable will be on offer, with restaurants across the city offering irresistible packages and deals designed to appeal to hungry diners. You may be tempted to try a little of everything!

Multiple Locations 

San Diego Wing Fest / Festival of Cars (April 25, 2021)

The humble chicken wing has enjoyed an explosion in popularity lately, and it’s thanks in large part to events like the San Diego Wing Fest. The City’s top wing-slingers will convene at Broadway Pier to ply their delicious wares. Wing Stop will be on-hand to offer free samples, and scores of other vendors will be letting their delicious wings fly out to anyone who’s hungry. Attendees will also be able to sample scores of local craft beers, lots of live local entertainment, and great giveaways. And as though that weren’t enough, the San Diego Festival of Cars will also bring a classic car show to the event. 

1000, The Embarcadero, San Diego, CA 92132

Craft Beer Fest and Over-the-Line Tournament (May 15-16, 2021)

Old Mission Beach Athletic Club will be hosting this annual Mariner’s Point Park event that features sports, food, beer, and lots of fun. For the unfamiliar, over-the-line is a baseball-like sport involving a narrower field, smaller teams, and modified rules. Due to its ease of organization (and ability to be played on beach sand), the game has enjoyed a great deal of popularity in San Diego for many years. The tournament itself features teams from all over Southern California, and the event surrounding it is a great opportunity to sample amazing fare from area food trucks and sip some incredible local beer.

1215 Mariners Way, San Diego, CA 92109

Ocean Beach Street Fair and Chili Cook-Off (June 26, 2021)

The annual Ocean Beach Street Fair & Chili Cook-Off is a classic SoCal “fun in the sun” event. It always draws revelers to one of our hippest neighborhoods every year to eat, compete, and bring the heat. This year’s 41st annual festival is slated to show off the unique charm of OB, with local shops, music, entertainers, and artists pulling out all the stops to offer their best. The chili contest awards amateur chefs prizes in several categories, including Hottest Chili, a best-in-show Judges’ Award, and the biggest prize of all: the People’s Choice Award. Entry to the fair is always free.

5000-5070 Niagara Ave, San Diego, CA 92107

San Diego Comic-Con (July 22-25, 2021)

The world’s biggest and best convention of comics culture returns to the San Diego Convention Center in 2021. The reputation of Comic-Con precedes it for fans of pop culture. For the uninitiated, Comic-Con is a massive event that draws more than 135,000 attendees every year, all of whom are there to celebrate the huge impact that all things superhero, sci-fi, fantasy, and magic have had on our collective consciousness. Expect elaborate costumes, board-game tournaments, video games, panel discussions, writers, artists, meet-and-greets, and — of course — comics galore. Excelsior!

111 West Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92101

KAABOO Food and Music Festival (September 19-21, 2021)

San Diego’s favorite music festival had to take a break in 2020, but next year sees its triumphant return. Petco Park will once again play host to the festival, which features loads of amazing local food, an energetic atmosphere, and more music than you can shake a (drum)stick at. Headliners in years past have included Jimmy Buffett, Tom Petty, Katy Perry, and Foo Fighters, so you know you’ll be in for a full day of feeling the beat of the city. 

100 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101