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City Events - Downtown San Diego
4th of July Celebration
Wow! Our skies come alive with color! Celebrate our independence by viewing a spectacular fireworks show over San Diego Bay!
At 9:00p, tune your radio to FM 105.7 and listen to 16 1/2 minutes of synchronized music perfectly timed with the beautiful explosions in the night sky.
The most technically advanced pyrotechnics will be fired off from four barges located near Shelter Island, Harbor Island, B Street Pier, and Embarcadero Marina Park North. Look to the south for additional fireworks over Coronado Glorietta Bay.
Any location with a view of the bay is ideal for watching!
Celebration in the Diverse Community!
View an exuberant caravan of lavish floats, drag mavens in fancy duds, dykes on bikes, dignitaries in convertibles, civic organizations, and colorful displays of pride amid music and dancing. Celebrate diversity at the San Diego LGBT Pride Parade.
The Parade is Saturday, July 18. It begins at 11:00a and travels from west on University Avenue (Hillcrest) to 6th Avenue and Upas/Balboa Drive.
Whole Foods Market - Hillcrest
You can be stress free everyday! Massage hours: Monday through Friday: 4:00-8:00p,
Saturday and Sunday: 2:00-6:00p
• 7-2 thru 7-5, 20% off 6 Bottles of Wine Sale! Save big and stock up on your favorite wines! And, pair your faves with our $5.99 lobster tails (reg. $9.99) and all packaged hot dogs at 50% off! There are no rules!
• 7-3, noon-3:00p. The Great WFM Hot Dog Cook-off! Whole Foods Market is grilling up a selection of all natural and organic dogs so you can taste and compare.
• 7-4, all day. Come out and celebrate the 4th with Whole Foods Market. They’ll be grilling dogs, dishing up locally grown strawberries and shortcake, and showing off local summertime produce from their dedicated vendors. Life is good!
• 7-11, 11:00a-3:00p. Ask the N.D. Naturopathic Doctor Monique Mazza will answer your questions on supplements, the medicinal properties of various foods, and related topics.
• 7-12, 1:00p. Health Eating Tour. Join Whole Foods Market’s value guru for summertime tips on how to eat healthy on a budget. She’ll let you in on some tips on how to buy in bulk, quick easy recipes, and how to find the best seasonal produce. For reservations, sign up at our customer service booth or call (619) 294-2800.
• 7-13, 6:30-8:00p. Fever, Fatigue, Malaise, Aches and Pains …. Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue or Lyme Disease? The symptoms are often similar, so how do you know what affliction you may have and what steps to take? Learn more from Dr. Nicola McFadzean, Naturopathic Doctor. For reservations, sign up at our customer service booth, email ray.kau@wholefoods.com, or call (619) 294-2800.
• 7-18, 11:00a. San Diego Pride Parade. Join the festivities as tens of thousands of spectators turn out for the parade of the year. Whole Foods Market will be chillin’ and grillin’ outside our store to add to the fun.
• 7-19, 10:00a-4:00p. Tool Sharpening. Put an edge on your knives, scissors and gardening tools. Fee charged.
• 7-25, 11:00a-3:00p. Ask the N.D. Naturopathic Doctor Monique Mazza will answer your questions on supplements, the medicinal properties of various foods, and related topics.
• 7-27, 1:00p. Health Eating Tour. Join Whole Foods Market’s value guru for summertime tips on how to eat healthy on a budget. She’ll let you in on some tips on how to buy in bulk, quick easy recipes, and how to find the best seasonal produce. For reservations, sign up at our customer service booth or call (619) 294-2800.
Become a fan of Whole Foods Market Hillcrest on Facebook or follow on Twitter.
Click here for more information on Whole Foods Market or call (619) 294-2800.
More Fun Events in Downtown
(Note: All Balboa Park events are under Balboa)
• 7-3, 7:00-9:30p. Dancing Under the Stars. Downtowner Manny Cepeda performs Latin Salsa you can dance to at Piazza Basilone in the Little Italy Neighborhood.
• 7-4, 1:00-4:00p. Music: Midnight Heat perform a variety of music from every era. East Plaza Gazebo @ Seaport Village.
• 7-4, 7:30-9:30p. Music: Stacey Murray and the Stimulus Package perform soulful acoustics in Upstart Crow Coffeehouse @ Seaport Village.
• 7-5, 1:00-4:00p. Music: Rhythm Masters perform swing, jazz, rhythm, and blues revue. East Plaza Gazebo @ Seaport Village.
• 7-11, 7:30-9:30p. Music: Nadja Nara performs romantic Brazilian songs in Upstart Crow Coffeehouse @ Seaport Village.
• 7-12, 1:00-4:00p. Music: Blue Rockit perform house-rocking blues. East Plaza Gazebo @ Seaport Village.
• 7-18, 7:30-9:30p. Music: Stacey Murray and the Stimulus Package perform soulful acoustics in Upstart Crow Coffeehouse @ Seaport Village.
• 7-19, 10:30a-3:30p. Little Italy Stickball Summer League Competition. The game of stickball will be held in the Little Italy streets. State between A St & Ash AND India between A St & Ash.
• 7-19, 1:00-4:00p. Music: Bayou Brothers perform bluesy, rockin' Zydeco. East Plaza Gazebo @ Seaport Village.
• 7-25, 7:30-9:30p. Music: Nadja Nara performs romantic Brazilian songs in Upstart Crow Coffeehouse @ Seaport Village.
• 7-26, 10:30a-3:30p. Little Italy Stickball Summer League Competition. The game of stickball will be held in the Little Italy streets. State between Elm & Fir AND Union between Cedar & Date
• 7-26, 1:00-4:00p. Music: Cat.illacs performing rock and roll at its finest. East Plaza Gazebo @ Seaport Village.
Events for Children & Teens
• 7-9, 10:30-11:00a. Preschool Storytime. Children's Room, Central Library.
• 7-12, 10:00a-4:00p. No admission to the New Children's Museum Day! For children of all ages (yes, that includes even the young at heart). 200 West Island.
• 7-16, 10:30-11:00a. Preschool Storytime. Children's Room, Central Library.
• 7-23, 10:30-11:00a. Summer Reading Program Event with Magician Craig Stone. Children's Room, Central Library.
• 7-25, 11:00a. Family Storytelling. Storyteller Harlynne Geisler weaves fun and fanciful tales in front of selected masterpieces at the museum. The program for children ages 5 and up teaches the whole family creative ways to learn about art. Timken Museum of Art.
• 7-30, 10:30-11:00a. Preschool Storytime. Children's Room, Central Library.
Our Downtown library (Central Library) has two circulating New Children Museum (NCM) memberships available for checkout. Library patrons can check out the membership card and use for admission to the NCM of up to two adults and all children in the household, as well as discounts at the cafe and store.
For additional activities and playgroups for Downtown children, go to City Life – Community.
Summer Reading Program (June 15-August 15)
Join the summer reading fun at your local library with prizes, entertainment, story times, music and, of course, lots of great books! It's a great way to improve reading skills over the summer.
Ignite your imagination. Let fantasy take you places you have never been. Delve into strange science. Grab your favorite graphic novel. The world is yours to explore this summer at our library.
Kids Up to Age 12!
The Summer Reading Program gives kids a chance to have fun while continuing to build reading skills through the summer. There are prizes, entertainment, story times, music and, of course, lots of great books!
Sign up at our library. Read 10 books or 100 pages between June 15 and August 15.
Those who participate receive incentives, including: free bookmarks, free Legoland children's admission with a paid adult admission, and free Legoland Sealife admission with a paid adult admission, and a whole lot more!
Those who finish receive prizes, including free food coupons and free museum passes and more including: free kids meal at TGI Fridays, free kids meal at Joe's Crab Shack, free entrance admission to the San Diego Natural History Museum, San Diego Aerospace Museum, and Reuben H. Fleet Science Museum.
Early finishers receive extra bonuses! For more information, go to San Diego Downtown Library.
Teens between 13 and 19!
A whole lot of fun, while expressing who you are without teachers looking over your shoulder. There are prizes, entertainment, activities, music and, of course, lots of great books!
You also will continue to build your reading skills over the summer, which puts you ahead of the curve when you start school again in the fall. That's what's in it for you!
Sign up at our library. Read 100 pages between June 15 and August 15.
Those who participate receive incentives, including: free bookmarks, free Legoland admission with a paid adult admission, and free Legoland Sealife admission with a paid adult admission, and a whole lot more!
Those who finish receive prizes including: free Padre tickets (2 per finisher) and discounted tickets for August 2 and August 9 games, coupons for Sammy’s Pizza Messy Sundae, coupons for a free pretzel from Auntie Annie’s, and free admission to San Diego Natural History Museum, San Diego Air and Space Museum, and Reuben H. Fleet Science Museum.
Early finishers receive extra bonuses! For more information, go to San Diego Downtown Library.
Our Downtown Library
Our Library is located at 820 E St (on E St between 8th & 9th). Library hours: Monday and Wednesday: Noon to 8:00p. Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 9:30a to 5:30p. Sunday: 1:00 to 5:00p. Enjoy parking at the lot located at 8th & Broadway for no charge on Saturday and Sunday, while at the Library. For information, call (619) 236-5894.
Fireworks
Our summer nights light up!
• 7-3, after ballgame at Park at the Park.
• 7-3, after the pops off the South Embarcadero Marina Park.
• 7-4, 9:00p. Fireworks will be shot off four barges located near Shelter Island, Harbor Island, B Street Pier, and Embarcadero Marina Park North.
• 7-5, after the pops off the South Embarcadero Marina Park.
• 7-10, after the pops off the South Embarcadero Marina Park.
• 7-11, after the pops off the South Embarcadero Marina Park.
• 7-17, after the pops off the South Embarcadero Marina Park.
• 7-17, after ballgame at Park at the Park.
• 7-18, after the pops off the South Embarcadero Marina Park.
• 7-19, after the pops off the South Embarcadero Marina Park.
• 7-23, after the pops off the South Embarcadero Marina Park.
• 7-24, after the pops off the South Embarcadero Marina Park.
• 7-25, after the pops off the South Embarcadero Marina Park.
• 7-31, after the pops off the South Embarcadero Marina Park.
• 7-31, after ballgame at Park at the Park.
Waterfront Steel: Monumental Works
Smattered throughout Downtown is a collection of 13 large-scale steel sculptures by internationally celebrated conceptual artist Bernar Venet.
Take a stroll along the North Embarcadero South and North Parks to view a number of the geometric shapes.
Others can be found in front of hotels, museums, along Harbor Dr, on Harbor Island, and one hidden at the airport. Viewing from now through October.
Urban Trees 5
The fifth annual planting of Urban Trees 5 line the Embarcadero Esplanade between Broadway and Laurel.
Set against our beautiful San Diego Bay, thirty-one tree sculptures will stimulate your imagination. Stroll along the Esplanade and unearth your inner child.
Farmer's Market
You'll find fresh fruits and vegetables along with flowers, baked goods, hot foods, fresh fish, homemade cheeses, roasted coffees, handcrafted goods, and much more.
Every Thursday: 11:00a-3:00p. Farmer's Market NBC Plaza Park on Broadway Circle.
Every Saturday, 8:00a-1:00p: East Village Farmer’s Market at 8th between Market and Island.
Every Saturday, 9:30-noon. At the Farm at San Diego City College, corner of 14th & C St. Free parking!
Every Saturday, 9:30a-1:00p. Little Italy Mercato at Date between Kettner & State.
Every Saturday, 9:30a-3:00p. Barrio Marketplace at Island Avenue between 22nd & 24th.
Every Sunday, 9:00a-1:00p: Third Avenue Farmer's Market at 3rd between Island & J St.