Table of Contents
Sports
San Diego Rodeo
Jan 16–18, 2026
Trade your Padres jersey for a pearl snap shirt because the rodeo is taking over Petco Park for the first time ever. Expect thrilling bull rides on the diamond followed by some seriously good outlaw country music from acts like Jamey Johnson and Charley Crockett. This is your official excuse to wear a cowboy hat in the Gaslamp without getting weird looks.
Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship
Jan 17, 2026
If you think the loudest thing in Mission Valley is the trolley bell, prepare to have your eardrums and expectations shattered. The AMA Supercross turns Snapdragon into a pyrotechnic-fueled dirt playground where elite riders defy gravity and common sense. Get there early for the FanFest to see the bikes up close before they’re just a blur of flying mud.
Carlsbad Marathon & Half
Jan 18, 2026
Feel like earning that 10 a.m. craft beer by running 26.2 miles up ‘rolling’ coastal hills? Great, this race is for you. For the rest of us sane San Diegans, you can skip the whole sweating part and head straight to the finish line festival to enjoy the live music, ocean views, and Ballast Point beer garden guilt-free.
Kids Marathon Mile at LEGOLAND
Jan 17, 2026
Finally, a marathon your kid can actually finish without you having to carry them for the last 25 miles. Let them burn off that pre-theme park energy on a one-mile course through LEGOLAND before it even opens to the public. They get a cool medal and bragging rights, you get a slightly less chaotic day and a free park ticket for them.
San Diego Gulls vs. Abbotsford & Coachella Valley
Jan 16 & 17, 2026
Witness the rare San Diego phenomenon of a giant block of ice not melting in January. The Gulls are hosting a chilly back-to-back weekend, taking on some visitors from Canada and then some birds literally on fire from the desert. It’s the perfect excuse to finally wear that one sweater you own.
Festival
42nd Annual MLK Jr. Parade
Jan 18, 2026
Come for the powerful tribute to Dr. King’s legacy, stay for the dazzling floats and soul-stirring bands along the waterfront. It’s one of the biggest celebrations in the country, and it’s the only time traffic on Harbor Drive is actually the main attraction. Afterwards, you can join the festival and 5K, because this is San Diego, and of course there’s a fitness component.
YPAC Annual Food Tour: Flavors and Stories
Jan 18, 2026
Get ready to earn your calories on this walking tour of the Convoy District, where you’ll dive into five amazing Asian and Pacific Islander dishes. You’ll also get the stories behind the flavors, which is way more interesting than just reading a Yelp review. This popular tour always sells out, so grab your tickets before you’re stuck at home eating sad leftovers.
Borrego Springs Film Festival
Jan 14–18, 2026
Trade the Hollywood red carpet for a sandy one at this fiercely independent film festival in the desert. You can actually chat with the filmmakers without a publicist intervening, all while enjoying cinema under an internationally recognized dark sky. It’s the perfect excuse to swap city smog for actual stars, both on screen and above.
Music
Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán
Jan 17, 2026
If you think mariachi is just for lively birthday parties, prepare to have your mind blown by the literal ‘Best Mariachi in the World.’ This legendary group brings over a century of soul and world class musicianship to the historic Civic Theatre for a night of pure elegance. It’s the classiest way to connect with deep cultural roots without having to do any genealogy paperwork.
Holo Holo Music Festival
Jan 18, 2026
Tired of San Diego’s brutal one-week winter? Escape to a tropical paradise without the TSA pat-down at this one-day island music festival. You can trade your light jacket for laid-back reggae beats from Common Kings and friends, all while pretending it’s still July.
Comedy
T.J. Miller Stand-Up
Jan 16, 2026
The guy you know from *Deadpool* and *Silicon Valley* is bringing his wonderfully bizarre ‘Philosophy Circus Tour’ to the Gaslamp. T.J. Miller’s off-the-cuff and absurdist style guarantees a show that’s anything but predictable. Grab your tickets for a date night that’s definitely more memorable than another taco Tuesday.
Fitness
Firefli Glow 5K
Jan 16, 2026
Forget your boring treadmill routine and get ready to light up Waterfront Park. This glow-in-the-dark 5K is less about your personal best and more about becoming a human firefly for the night. It’s basically a rave that counts as cardio.
