Summer may be winding down, but America’s Finest City is prepared to throw the season an encore celebration with countless San Diego Labor Day weekend events.
Edited by Lisa Kelley
Tchaikovsky Spectacular
Sept. 2-4. The San Diego Symphony’s Bayside Summer Nights wraps up with their annual Labor Day performance of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, set to a fireworks finale. Embarcadero Marina Park South, 200 Marina Park Way, San Diego Marina. sandiegosymphony.org
U.S. Sand Sculpting Challenge & Dimensional Art Expo
Sept. 2-5. Master sculptors from all over the world compete to create gorgeous and intricate sand sculptures. The weekend-long event will feature 11 master sculptures, dimensional art exposition (with works made of metal, wood, glass, fabrics, etc.), a family fun zone, live entertainment, gourmet food trucks and a wine and beer garden. B Street Pier, 1140 North Harbor Dr., San Diego Embarcadero, ussandsculpting.com
San Diego Bacon Festival
Sept. 3. In honor of international bacon day, San Diegan’s will flock to Liberty Station to celebrate this porky holiday. Tickets include unlimited food and beverage samples from 50+ local eateries, breweries, distilleries and more. $60/pp. 2-5:30 p.m. Treble Field at NTC Park, Liberty Station. sdbaconfest.com
Luau at SummerSalt Pool Lounge
Sept. 3. SummerSalt Pool Lounge, atop Kimpton Hotel Palomar, will be celebrating Labor Day weekend Hawaiian-style. The luau event features all-you-can-eat Hawaiian lunch, tiki cocktails, DJ beats and poolside fun. $20/pp. 1047 5th Ave., Gaslamp Quarter. hotelpalomar-sandiego.com
San Diego Festival of Sail
Sept. 3-5. The Maritime Museum hosts the launch of Cabrillo’s San Salvador Pacific Heritage Tour as part of the Labor Day celebration during San Diego’s Festival of Sail. The vessel will continue on a two-month maiden voyage with three additional port stops along the West Coast. Guests of the largest tall ship festival on the West Coast will enjoy boarding ships and exhibits, viewing demonstrations, playing in the kids zone and sipping in the beer garden. 1492 North Harbor Dr., San Diego Marina, 619.234.9153. sdmaritime.org
Stick Ball Tournament
Sept. 3-4. This Labor Day weekend, gear up for a fun day in Little Italy as contestants bring broom sticks, table legs or any other kind of stick to the annual Stick Ball Tournament. 8 a.m.-5 p.m.. India St., from W. Ash to W. A streets and Columbia St., from W. Beach to W. Cedar St., Little Italy. littleitalysd.com
Polo on the Beach
Sept. 3-4. Equestrian athletes compete on the beach for two days of beach polo at Hotel del Coronado. Catch two polo games, meet-and-greet with the players, dining options from Hotel del, a fashion show, polo lessons and more. 1500 Orange Ave., Coronado, 760.668.6093. poloamerica.com
Labor Day BBQ Brunch Cruise
Sept. 5. Give summer a grand farewell with bay views of downtown, the Coronado bridge, Point Loma and more, while aboard Hornblower cruise. Tickets include a barbecue brunch with Hawaiian barbecue chicken, hickory-smoked baby back ribs, housemade ceviche, chilled shrimp and grilled salmon. Boards at 10:30 a.m. Grape St. Pier, 1800 N. Harbor Dr., San Diego Marina, 619.686.8715. hornblower.com
Oceanside Pier Swim
Sept. 5. An 87-year-long tradition continues with the annual Oceanside Labor Day pier swim. Contestants swim a one mile course out and around the Oceanside pier. The tradition draws avid swimmers of all ages and from all over the country to participate in swimming around one of the longest wooden piers on the West Coast. Oceanside Pier, Lifeguard Tower 1, Oceanside. labordaypierswim.com
