Events

Opening Day at Del Mar Racetrack

July 17. The Del Mar Racetrack hosts its summer season of thoroughbred horseracing—presented by the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club—beginning with Opening Day on July 17. (Bust out the seersucker suits and fancy hats!) Season highlights also include Turf Club Fridays; myriad beer, wine and tequila festivals; the $1 million Pacific Classic on Aug. 22; and Closing Day on Sept. 7. (And save the date for fall racing season, which returns Nov. 6.) Gates open on Opening Day at 11:30 a.m. See website for all details and tickets. 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. dmtc.com 

L’Auberge Opening Day After Party

July 17. L’Auberge Del Mar returns with its legendary seaside soiree, this year with a chic “Palm Royale” theme. The party comprises an evening of dancing, DJ sets, live music, “coastal bites” and libations under the stars—all amid an elegant ocean backdrop and vintage Palm Beach-inspired touches. Unwind after a day at the track or get dolled up and head straight to the party. 5 p.m.-midnight. General admission is $300 online in advance ($325 for day-of tickets). 1540 Camino del Mar, Del Mar. Details

Rancho Valencia’s “After Pony Party”

July 17. The fun at Opening Day at the Del Mar Races continues at Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa—host of the official 2026 after-party of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. Glam it up for an evening dancing, dining and drinks. Admission includes a welcome cocktail, an endless food buffet, and tunes by DJs Murphi Kennedy Ayla Simone. 6 p.m.-midnight. General admission begins at $325 per person. (Group discounts, VIP packages and limited cabanas also available.) See website for all details. 5921 Valencia Circle, 858.756.1123. Details

San Diego Pride Festival

July 18-19. Join tens of thousands of people for the city’s largest two-day event: the 2026 San Diego Pride Festival. The all-day fun includes dancing, live music and entertainment across four stages; along with community education and resource booths, interactive exhibits, cultural presentations, food trucks and much more. See website for details, tickets, parking and transportation info, and talent/entertainment lineup. Festival hours: Sa noon.-10 p.m.; Su noon-9 p.m. See website for ticket pricing. Marston Point, (Sixth Avenue and Laurel Street), Balboa Park. Details

San Diego Pride Parade

July 18. Among the largest Pride parades in the U.S., the annual San Diego Pride Parade draws more than 250,000 LGBTQ+ supporters. Don your rainbow attire and grab the sunscreen for a festive day of floats, performers, local dignitaries and marching bands. The parade route begins at the Hillcrest Pride flag at the corner of University Avenue and Normal Street; continues west along University; then turns south onto Sixth Avenue; then left onto Balboa Drive; and ending at Quince Street—near the entrance to the San Diego Pride Festival. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Hillcrest. Details

Kayaking & Snorkeling with Leopard Sharks

Ongoing. Leopard shark season is here! But fear not; you are their friend, not their food. Known for their leopard-like spots, these ‘puppies of the sea” migrate to the warm, shallow waters hugging the La Jolla coastline every summer. Ocean adventure company Everyday California lets you get safely get close to them, offering eco-friendly kayak and snorkeling tours of the La Jolla Ecological Reserve—home to one of the highest concentrations of sea life on the West Coast. The hour-long tours are offered daily. Starting at $64. 2261 Avenida de la Playa, La Jolla, 858.454.6195. Details

Food + Drink

JOEY La Jolla

Now Open. Enjoy premium casual dining and a globally inspired menu at JOEY, the successful chain whose first S.D. County location has opened at Westfield UTC. The spacious restaurant and bar features a striking fire bowl that greets guests, framed by wrap-around seating and lush landscaping. On the menu: starters like Bang Bang Chicken and Korean Fried Cauliflower; mains from fajitas to truffle-udon carbonara; sushi, salads, steaks and handhelds; and exceptional craft cocktails. See website for hours. 4489 La Jolla Village Drive, Suite 1600, UTC, 858.834.7639. Details

Telefèric Barcelona

Now Open. Visit Barcelona via this stunning new destination at Westfield UTC. Founded by the Padrosa family, it’s Telefèric Barcelona’s eighth U.S. location. The relaxed contemporary restaurant boasts a central bar, patio with lush greenery, private dining room and Spanish market. The cuisine embodies Barcelona in every bite, offering tapas like patatas bravas, Jamón Ibérico de Bellota, and Gambas al Ajillo; plus a half-dozen iterations of Paella. To drink: house-made sangrias, Barcelona-style gin and tonics, and specialty cocktails. 4489 La Jolla Village Drive, Suite 2550, UTC. Details

Arts + Culture

The Old Globe: North by Northwest

Through Aug. 2. The Old Globe stages the North American premiere of North by Northwest—based on the 1959 American spy thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock; and recently adapted as a play and directed by Emma Rice. The adaptation is funny and fast-paced, following an ad man who is mistaken as a Cold War spy; plus “bad guys” and a mysterious femme fatale—all set to a 1950s soundtrack and Mount Rushmore as the backdrop. See website for showtimes and tickets. 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park, 619.234.5623. theoldglobe.org

Birch Aquarium: Imagine Wild Exhibit

Now Open: Learn all about the resilient Mountain Yellow-legged Frog at Imagine Wild at Birch Aquarium at Scripps. The immersive exhibit transports visitors to a SoCal meadow, forest and lake landscape—where you’ll learn about the critically endangered frogs’ habitat and threats they encounter. Come face to face with these unique amphibians and see firsthand how their coloring camouflages and protects them from predators. Centered on sustainability, most of the exhibit’s materials are reclaimed or reused. 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla, 858.534.3474. Details

Photo credits: “North by Northwest” is by Rich Soublet II. All other images are courtesy of the venues and businesses featured.