Calendar of La Jolla Summer Events
San Diego is a great year round travel destination, but summer is really our specialty. The beach scene goes into high gear, the weather is perfect for outdoor dining and open-air concerts and – the best part – neither humidity nor mosquitoes will spoil your fun.
Now thru Sept. 19 – “Here not There,” at The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) in La Jolla. San Diego visual artists and the variety, strength, and vitality of individual contemporary art practices are featured. “Here not There” explores the broad range of media and techniques used by local artists including an alternative art section that ranges from painting to furniture design.
June 15 thru July 11 – “Surf Report.” This world premiere at La Jolla Playhouse is a comic drama about a surf-obsessed venture capitalist, a hard-working mother, and her starving artist daughter who all receive a wake-up call when life in a beautiful Southern California town becomes filled with more than just good surf. For tickets: 858-550-1010 or visit their website.
June 16, July 21, Aug. 18, & Sept. 11 & 15 – Green Flash Concert Series at the Birch Aquarium at Scripps. Live music and spectacular ocean sunsets make this concert series a La Jolla favorite. A sophisticated mix of national performers – including Peter and Paul of Peter, Paul & Mary – will entertain on the aquarium’s outdoor tide-pool plaza. Green Flash Concerts take place from 6 to 9 p.m. and are for guests ages 21 years and older. Tickets: 858-534-4109.
June 19; July 10, 17 & 31; Aug. 14, 21 & 28, from 8-10 a.m. – Snorkel with Sharks. Naturalists from Birch Aquarium at Scripps will lead the way as you swim with schooling leopard sharks, smoothhound sharks, and guitarfish in the mild surf of the gently sloping beach at La Jolla Shores. RSVP: 858-534-7336 or online.
June 13, 22-26; July 8-12 & 22-25 with additional dates through September. Times vary. – High tide dinners at the Marine Room. San Diego’s best “dining with a view” only gets better during the summer high tides. Enjoy award-winning cuisine and dramatic surf crashing against floor-to-ceiling windows. Reservations: 858-459-7222.
June 25, July 24, and Aug. 23 & 24 from 7-9:30 p.m. and Sept. 22 & 23 from 6-8:30 p.m. – Full-Moon Walk on Scripps Pier. During this moonlit walk along the 1,090-foot concrete pier, Birch Aquarium naturalists will teach participants about the structure’s history, and guide them as they dissect a squid, make marine organisms glow in the dark, collect plankton, observe ocean conditions, and study the nocturnal habits of marine life. RSVP: 858-534-7336 or online.
June 26 & 27, 9a.m. – 5 p.m. – The 24th Annual La Jolla Festival of Arts, UCSD East Campus, corner of Genesee and Regents Rd. Over 190 award-winning local and national artists will display paintings, sculptures, fine jewelry, photography and more. Guests can enjoy a variety of cuisines in the festival food area, listen to live entertainment and visit the children’s area featuring interactive booths, hands-on games and activities. Info: 858-586-1202.
July 3 & Aug. 7 from 8-10 a.m. – Snorkel La Jolla Cove with naturalists from Birch Aquarium. Enjoy the calm, picturesque waters of La Jolla Cove, part of the San Diego-La Jolla Underwater Park and Ecological Reserve. Discover the exotic playground of such beautiful creatures as garibaldi, lobsters and octopuses. RSVP: 858-534-7336 or online.
July 4 – Fireworks at The Cove. Arrive early and bring a picnic for this very popular annual event.
July 11, 18 & 25; Aug. 1, 8, 15, 22, &29; Sept. 5 at 2 p.m. – La Jolla Concerts by the Sea. Held in Scripps Park near The Cove, these free Sunday afternoon concerts are a La Jolla summertime staple. Check the website for line-up details.
July 17-23, from 11 a.m.- 3 p.m. daily – Shark Week features a week of hands-on exploration for all ages into the world of these mesmerizing and misunderstood ocean predators. Birch Aquarium at Scripps.
July 20 thru Aug. 22 – La Jolla Playhouse will present A Midsummer Night’s Dream. This timeless classic of forbidden love will be re-imagined into a gravity-defying production where secret lovers find themselves in a world turned upside-down – literally. Tickets: 858-550-1010 or visit their website.
Sept. 12 – The La Jolla Rough Water Swim. America’s premier rough water swimtakes place at The La Jolla Cove every September. More than 2,000 swimmers churning up the water make for a memorable sight. This event has been part of La Jolla’s history since 1916.
There’s so much to love about summer in La Jolla. I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I do – and please let me know if I’ve left out a local event.
Category: Events, snorkeling, Wildlife
About the Author (Author Profile)
I live in La Jolla and I'm a travel writer, so in addition to enjoying my home town's great weather, beautiful surroundings, and range of cultural and recreational options, I also see La Jolla - and the rest of San Diego - as a travel destination. And what I see sometimes drives me batty. People vacation in La Jolla, but don't take advantage of everything our community offers, so I decided to start this blog and provide insider advice for out-of-towners. Hey. I figure if I can write insider tips about exotic destinations on Authentic Luxury Travel, I ought to be able to lead readers off the beaten path that starts just outside my front door. In the process, I'm having fun revisiting my favorite places and discovering some new ones. Travel writers are naturally snoopy, and this blog is my excuse to have a good ol' sticky beak around my home town. I hope you find it helpful. If you are coming to La Jolla or another area of San Diego and would like my help in planning your trip, please read "Need Help Planning Your Trip" and then email me at ehansen298@aol.com. Elizabeth HansenSubscribe
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