What’s Happening in San Diego This Weekend

What’s Happening in San Diego This Week: September 25–27, 2026

San Diego Hidden Gems | A Local Guide from Nancy’s Vacation Rentals

Looking for things to do in San Diego this week?

You picked a pretty incredible week to be here.

September 25–27, 2026 brings one of the most action-packed weekends of the fall, with fighter jets screaming over Miramar, electronic music taking over the downtown waterfront, Pacific Island culture filling Mission Bay, Oktoberfest arriving in El Cajon, Halloween season beginning in Balboa Park, Padres baseball at Petco Park and plenty more.

Whether you're visiting San Diego for the weekend or you're a local looking for something different to do, here are some of our favorite events happening around town.

✈️ MCAS Miramar Air Show

September 25–27, 2026

Few San Diego events are quite as spectacular as the MCAS Miramar Air Show.

For three days, the skies above Miramar become the stage for military aircraft, civilian aerobatic performers, historic planes and demonstrations that can be seen—and definitely heard—for miles.

The event is particularly interesting because of Miramar's extraordinary aviation history.

This is the former Naval Air Station Miramar, the base where the Navy's legendary Fighter Weapons School—TOPGUN—was established in 1969.

Decades later, Miramar remains one of the most recognizable names in American military aviation.

General admission and parking are free.

Gates open at 8:00 a.m.

Local tip: Bring hearing protection, especially for children. These aircraft are LOUD.

Official Miramar Air Show Information

🌺 Pacific Islander Festival of San Diego

September 26–27, 2026 | Ski Beach, Mission Bay

This is one of our favorite events happening in San Diego this weekend.

The Pacific Islander Festival transforms Ski Beach into an enormous celebration of the cultures of Polynesia, Micronesia and Melanesia.

Organizers expect more than 900 entertainers, 60+ craft vendors, 30+ community organizations and 20+ food booths.

Expect traditional dancing, live music, cultural performances, arts and crafts and plenty of incredible island food.

There's also a fascinating story behind the festival.

Its origins are connected to the arrival of the legendary Polynesian voyaging canoe Hōkūleʻa, whose voyages helped revive traditional Polynesian navigation and wayfinding.

That gathering helped bring San Diego's Pacific Island communities together and eventually contributed to what has become an enormous annual celebration.

Admission is FREE.

Local tip: Parking around Ski Beach can be extremely difficult during large events. Consider rideshare and arrive early.

Pacific Islander Festival Information

🎧 CRSSD Festival

September 26–27, 2026 | Waterfront Park

San Diego's downtown waterfront becomes one enormous dance floor this weekend.

CRSSD Festival returns to Waterfront Park with two days of house, techno, electronic and live music surrounded by palm trees, downtown skyscrapers and San Diego Bay.

The 2026 lineup includes artists such as:

Chris Lake b2b Disclosure
Mochakk
Boys Noize
Groove Armada
Big Wild
Sonny Fodera
KETTAMA
I Hate Models
Prospa
Salute

One of the things that makes CRSSD special is its location.

The festival takes place at Waterfront Park directly between downtown San Diego and the bay, creating one of the most distinctive festival settings in California.

CRSSD is a 21+ event, and the party continues after the main festival through CRSSD After Dark events at venues around San Diego.

Local tip: Skip the car. Take the trolley to County Center/Little Italy and walk to Waterfront Park.

CRSSD Festival Lineup & Information

🍺 Oktoberfest in El Cajon

September 25–27 & October 2–4, 2026

Break out the lederhosen.

The German American Societies of San Diego kick off the first of two Oktoberfest weekends in El Cajon.

Expect German beer, bratwurst, ox-on-the-spit, potato pancakes, sauerkraut, pretzels, traditional music, dancing and plenty of German culture.

And there's some surprisingly interesting history behind all of it.

Oktoberfest traces its origins to 1810, when Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig married Princess Therese.

The public celebration included a horse race outside Munich.

People enjoyed the celebration so much that they did it again the following year.

More than two centuries later, we're still celebrating it.

Even in El Cajon.

2026 Hours:

Friday: 4:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m.
Saturday: Noon–10:00 p.m.
Sunday: Noon–9:00 p.m.

Local tip: Parking at the German American Societies property is extremely limited. Rideshare is a much easier option.

El Cajon Oktoberfest Information

👻 The Haunted Trail of Balboa Park

Opening September 25, 2026

Apparently San Diego has decided it's officially Halloween season.

The Haunted Trail of Balboa Park returns this Friday near Marston Point.

Unlike a traditional haunted house, much of the experience takes place outdoors along a roughly mile-long trail through Balboa Park after dark.

And the location couldn't be better.

Balboa Park already has more than a century of strange history, legends and ghost stories surrounding its historic buildings and grounds.

Add darkness, theatrical fog, monsters and elaborate Halloween sets...

and things get considerably creepier.

The attraction continues through the Halloween season.

Local tip: This isn't really designed for little kids. Check the attraction's age recommendations before bringing younger children.

🤠 Poway Rodeo

September 25–26, 2026

Want something completely different?

Head north to Poway.

The Poway Rodeo brings traditional rodeo competition to San Diego County, including events such as bull riding, bronc riding, barrel racing and roping.

It's one of those events that reminds you just how geographically and culturally diverse San Diego County really is.

You can spend the morning at the beach...

and watch bull riding that evening.

⚾ San Diego Padres vs. Arizona Diamondbacks

September 25–27, 2026 | Petco Park

Baseball fans have three opportunities to see the Padres this weekend as San Diego hosts the Arizona Diamondbacks at Petco Park.

And if you've never been to Petco Park, go even if you're not a huge baseball fan.

It's one of the best ways to experience downtown San Diego.

The Gaslamp Quarter is right outside the stadium, and the views from inside the ballpark incorporate the surrounding city.

Sunday's game is scheduled as San Diego's regular-season home finale.

Local tip: Take the trolley. Parking around Petco Park can get expensive quickly on game days.

🐉 San Diego International Dragon Boat Race

September 26–27, 2026 | Mission Bay

Mission Bay is going to be busy this weekend.

In addition to the Pacific Islander Festival, the area hosts the San Diego International Dragon Boat Race.

Dragon boat racing has ancient roots in China and has evolved into an international team sport.

Long boats filled with synchronized paddlers race across the water while a drummer helps maintain the crew's rhythm.

It's fast, colorful and extremely fun to watch.

Admission for spectators is free.

🥃 San Diego Spirits Festival

September 26–27, 2026

If your idea of competition involves cocktails rather than dragon boats, there's another option.

The San Diego Spirits Festival returns with tastings featuring dozens of brands, craft cocktails and spirits.

The event has become a showcase for established producers as well as newer brands looking to introduce visitors to something different.

As always, drink responsibly and plan transportation ahead of time.

🎭 Topdog/Underdog at The Old Globe

Opening September 25, 2026

If you'd rather spend the evening at the theater, head to Balboa Park.

The Old Globe opens a production of Suzan-Lori Parks' Pulitzer Prize-winning play Topdog/Underdog this weekend.

The production is scheduled to run through October 18.

And there's an interesting piece of San Diego history here too.

The Old Globe traces its roots to the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition in Balboa Park.

The original theater complex was inspired by Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London.

More than 90 years later, theater is still being performed in essentially the same corner of Balboa Park.

🎸 Live Music Around San Diego

Even beyond CRSSD, this is a strong week for live music.

Venues around San Diego are hosting concerts ranging from major touring performers to tiny local shows.

And if you're visiting, don't overlook the smaller venues.

Check the calendars at places such as:

The Belly Up in Solana Beach
The Casbah
Music Box in Little Italy
SOMA
Humphreys Concerts by the Bay
The Sound in Del Mar

Some of San Diego's best concert experiences happen in rooms holding only a few hundred people.

🌴 If We Had Just One Weekend...

So what would we do if we were visiting San Diego this weekend?

Honestly, we'd mix things up.

Friday: Miramar Air Show during the day, Oktoberfest in El Cajon that evening.

Saturday: Pacific Islander Festival at Mission Bay, then CRSSD downtown for sunset and the evening.

Sunday: Brunch in Little Italy, explore the waterfront and finish the weekend with Padres baseball at Petco Park.

And if Halloween is more your thing...

Swap one evening for the Haunted Trail in Balboa Park.

That's a pretty incredible San Diego weekend.

🏖️ Stay a Little Longer

One of the things we love most about San Diego is that the major attractions are only part of the experience.

Between events, leave yourself time to explore.

Walk the boardwalk in Mission Beach.

Watch the sunset from Ocean Beach.

Explore Little Italy.

Grab tacos.

Walk around Balboa Park.

Visit La Jolla Cove.

Or simply sit on the beach and do absolutely nothing.

Sometimes that's the best San Diego activity of all.

San Diego Hidden Gems — A Local Guide

At Nancy's Vacation Rentals, we think a great San Diego vacation is about much more than finding a place to sleep.

It's about discovering the neighborhoods, events, food, history and local experiences that make this city special.

That's why we created our San Diego Hidden Gems — A Local Guide series.

We'll keep sharing the places we love, the stories most visitors never hear and what's happening around San Diego while you're here.

Local places. Incredible stories. A more curious San Diego.

Nancy's Vacation Rentals — Changing the way you vacation.