Your guide to San Diego summer music festivals
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Wonderfront Music & Arts Festival on the downtown waterfront. Photo: Events.com
It's been a rough few years for the festival industry nationwide, but San Diego is coming into its own.
Why it matters: In the years after festival-culture pioneer Street Scene folded in 2009, the region experienced fits and starts establishing a replacement, but multiple events are gaining momentum now.
Here's a rundown of 14 festivals to plan your summer around.
- We'll update this guide in the coming months, if there's any late announcements or lineup changes.
May
🐊 Gator by the Bay — May 8-11 — brings New Orleans to Spanish Landing Park, with a lineup highlighted by Ozomatli, Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys, and Nathan Williams & the Zydeco Cha Chas.
- Don't miss local music standouts like Kimmi Bitter, Gregory Page, and Robin Henkel.
🤠 Outlaw Music Festival — May 15 — again welcomes Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan to Chula Vista's North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre.
- This year includes Billy Strings, Sierra Hull and Lily Meola.
🌅 Wonderfront — May 16-18 — the region's biggest multi-genre festival takes over the Embarcadero behind Seaport Village and is headlined this year by Peggy Gou, Daniel Caesar, Anderson .Paak, Foster the People, Khruangbin, Jason Mraz and Gary Clark Jr.
- There are free community events — including a stage with five and a half hours of music each day — just outside the festival gate all weekend.
☀️ Fiesta del Sol — May 31 & June 1 — is a free, family-friendly festival at Fletcher Cove Park in Solana Beach. The reggae-heavy lineup includes Z Trip, The White Buffalo, Missing Persons, Through the Roots, the Aggrolites and Pettybreakers.
June
🎶 North Park Music Fest — June 7 — is now located in eight venues throughout North Park, in the fourth year of a festival benefitting North Park Main Street. Lineup will be released soon.
🎈Temecula Valley Balloon + Wine Music Festival — June 20-22 — offers camping, hot-air balloon rides, wine tasting and a music lineup that'll drop soon (last year's was good).
🌇 Into the Horizon — June 21-22 — throws a giant party at Waterfront Park with Alesso, The Chainsmokers, Gryffin and Sofi Tukker headlining this year.
🏖️ Ocean Beach Street Fair & Chili Cook Off — June 28 — is a free, daylong event that always packs its oceanfront stage with a lineup of great local musicians.
July
👙Almost Nakey Freedom Fest — July 5 — celebrates Independence at the Beach House on the boardwalk with headliners Nelly and Shiba San.
🏳️🌈 San Diego Pride — July 19 & 20 — is the region's biggest LGBTQ party, and this year's performers (besides everyone in the parade) are Kehlani and Kim Petras at Marston Point in Balboa Park.
August
🇲🇽 Baja Beach Fest — Aug. 8-10 — is a fast-growing reggaeton and latin music festival on Rosarito Beach with big-time headliners J Balvin, Don Omar and Maluma.
🏝️ Holo Holo Music Festival — Aug. 30-31 — celebrates island culture and is moving this year to Petco Park's Gallagher Square, with headliners J Boog, The Green, Common Kings, and Wyclef Jean.
September
🪩 Same Same But Different — Sept. 26-28 — is a DJ-heavy dance party where you can swim in Lake Perris and camp out all weekend, with headliners LSDREAM & Clozee and ZEDS DEAD.
🌴 Ohana Festival — Sept. 26-28 — brings Eddie Vedder, Kings of Leon, Hozier, Leon Bridges, Green Day and Cage the Elephant a short drive away on Doheny Beach in Dana Point.
- Smaller-font acts like Wet Leg, Margo Price and Mdou Moctar make it worth the trip.