San Diego Fall Festivals – Fall 2021 CA Events

Carlsbad Music Festival - Carlsbad, CA - Aug 27 to Aug 29, 2021
Annual event with 3 days of adventurous music by the beach

Oktoberfest in El Cajon - El Cajon, CA - Sep 24 to Oct 3, 2021
Two weekends. Hosted by The German American Societies of San Diego, the Oktoberfest usually runs the last weekend in September and the first weekend in October. Authentic German food, beers, folk dancing, kids zone, craft booths and live music by the Guggenbach-Baum band from Germany.

Julian Autumn Jubilee - Julian, CA - Sep 25 to Oct 30, 2021
Enjoy a day at Fort Cross with hayrides, cider pressing & tasting, candle dipping, mini pumpkin painting, hoedown & jug band show, petting zoo, reptile show, u-pick pumpkin patch & veggie garden, archery, tomahawk throwing, ghost town slingshot range, fairy & dinosaur garden making, the lilac maze, tire swings, walking trails, and more

La Mesa Oktoberfest - La Mesa, CA - Oct 1 to Oct 3, 2021
It now attracts 200,000 to the 3 day festival. German food, beer, entertainment and childrens activities. Hosted by the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce and the La Mesa Village Merchants Association.

Carlsbad Rotary Oktoberfest - Carlsbad, CA - Oct 2 to Oct 2, 2021
For 2021, the kickiff event for OktoberFEAST month at local restaurants. See event website for details. Normally: Family event with German dinner, beer, dancing, live music, pumpkin patch and pumpkin decorating contest for kids. Net proceeds are donated to local causes.

Encinitas Oktoberfest - Encinitas, CA - Oct 3 to Oct 3, 2021
Annual German festival hosted by Encinitas Chamber of Commerce from 10 AM to 5 PM on Mountain Vista Drive and El Camino Real. Street craft fair with 200 vendors, German-American band The Bluebirds and Gemutlichkeit Apine Dancers. Ceremonial parade kicks it off at noon. Craft Corner is 21+ only and will highlight craft breweries. There will also be a family fun zone for kids. Free parking is available at Flora Vista Elementary School with free shuttle service.

Ocean Beach Oktoberfest - San Diego, CA - Oct 8 to Oct 9, 2021
The annual Ocean Beach Oktoberfest. This two-day eclectic, beachside festival will include a variety of exciting activities, contests and entertainment with proceeds benefiting local non-profit organizations. The event will kick off at 3:30 Friday afternoon with live music in the 21 and older beer garden. There will be a 2 for 1 happy hour Friday from 4:30 to 6:01. The Saturday morning festivities will kick off early with a Drill instructor workout on the beach, followed at 9 a.m. with the fifth annual OB Brat Trot, a fundraiser sponsored by the Ocean Beach Community Foundation with proceeds going towards local youth sports. All ages are invited to participate; registration is $25 per family (up to 6 participants) for the 2K Family Fun Run at 9 a.m. and $30 per person for the 5K Beach Run to follow at 10 a.m. Registration for the 5K Beach Run includes free entrance into the beer garden and two complimentary beers for runners 21 and older. New to the event this year, there will be a German microbrew tasting benefiting the Warrior Foundation Freedom Station. The special tastings dubbed Poured with Courage will be served by active and retired wounded service members on behalf of the Warrior Foundation Freedom Station, which will share in the proceeds. Tasting tickets are $30 and will be sold online at www.OBOktoberfest.com prior to the event and at the gate as long as they last. Saturday will also include a free beachside all-ages stage with performances by an OB Oktoberfest band, along with a food and craft vendor area on the Veterans Plaza lawn. Beer garden entertainment will include live music; the annual Sausage Toss Competition for a $1,000 cash prize; and bratwurst-eating, stein-holding and other competitions.

SD WhoCon - San Diego, CA - Oct 8 to Oct 10, 2021
A weekend dedicated to the Doctor Who series

La Jolla Art & Wine Festival - La Jolla, CA - Oct 9 to Oct 10, 2021
A two day juried art show and fundraiser featuring the works of over 150 established artists.

EdUCate! Oktoberfest - San Diego, CA - Oct 9 to Oct 9, 2021
Annual Oktoberfest from 1 to 6 PM to raise money for five U.C. public schools. Bratwurst, beer garden, live music from three bands, home brew contest and kids games.

Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival - Catalina Island, CA - Oct 15 to Oct 24, 2021
Lots of jazz with big name entertainers.  Headliners include Keiko Matsui, Nick Colionne, Boney James, Brian Culbertson, Ray Parker Jr., and many others.

Fallbrook Harvest Faire - Fallbrook, CA - Oct 17 to Oct 17, 2021
Come on down to Main Avenue in Fallbrook for craft and food vendors, pony rides and a petting zoo, pumpkin contests and a pumpkin patch, a pie baking contest and more!

San Diego Beer Week - San Diego, CA - Nov 5 to Nov 14, 2021
A 10-day celebration of independent craft breweries in San Diego County, with events held across the county in breweries, bars, restaurnats and more.

San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival - San Diego, CA - Nov 11 to Nov 14, 2021
One of the West Coast’s premier wine and culinary celebrations, this year’s lineup includes Celebrity Chef tastings, wine and food delights, culminating in a Grand Tasting event. Various venues.

Challenge Walk MS: Southern California - Oceanside, CA - Nov 12 to Nov 14, 2021
Come together for an endurance walking event fueled by your passion and your steps. 3 days, 50 miles, for a world without MS

Father Joe’s Villages Thanksgiving Day 5K - San Diego, CA - Nov 25 to Nov 25, 2021
San Diego’s original & longest-standing Thanksgiving Day turkey trot has returned in person, and we are so excited to welcome you back to Balboa Park! Help provide life-changing meals to feed hungry neighbors in need through Father Joe’s Villages’ Food Services Program.

Thank You Run - San Diego, CA - Nov 25 to Nov 25, 2021
5K tradition is back at 4S Ranch – Del Sur this Thanksgiving, all while benefiting the ALS Association – Greater San Diego Chapter

San Diego Jazz Festival - San Diego, CA - Nov 26 to Nov 28, 2021
Virtual for 2021. The San Diego Jazz Fest is one of the longest running annual music festivals dedicated to celebrating jazz music of the early 20th Century. Since 1980, this event has been held during Thanksgiving weekend in San Diego, California, and features a variety of musical artists performing traditional jazz, swing, blues, ragtime, boogie woogie, gospel, and rhythm and blues

Julian Country Christmas Tree Lighting - Julian, CA - Nov 27 to Nov 27, 2021
Due to their Cuyamaca Mountains location, the holiday time in Julian gets closer to a “white Christmas” than most spots in Southern California. You’ll feel a nip in the air, sniff wood fires, and maybe catch a glimpse of snow capped mountains surrounding town. The holiday season in Julian also offers an opportunity to shop at small boutiques, without crowds or lines, for one-of-a-kind gifts. Enjoy musical performances, watch the tree lighting, and see Santa! If you get the chance to stop for a slice of Julian’s famous pie, have a piece for us! We hit up quite a few pie establishments in October 2021 and enjoyed every single slice.