Alice Coopers’ song is what popped into my head when hearing about the San Diego City College cuts for the summer of 2011. What are students to do with their extra time? Why not take advantage of all San Diego has to offer in various parts of the county.
Music Festivals, Concerts
The North Park Festival of the Arts will take place May 15 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The free event will be held between 30th and 32nd Street on University Avenue and includes live music, vendors, food, art, and kid friendly activities. northparkfestivalofarts.com/
The San Diego Symphony Summer Pops Season is held from July to September under the stars along the San Diego Bay. sandiegosymphony.com
SummerFest hosted by the La Jolla Music Society will be presenting musicians from around the world specializing in classical and new music from August 5 to 26. The events will take place at various locations in La Jolla and San Diego. ljms.org
CityFest is on Aug. 14 from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. under the Hillcrest sign. There will be a beergarden, arts and crafts, games, with an expected attendance of over 150,000. fabuloushillcrest.com/events/hillcrest-cityfest/
La Jolla Festival of the Arts and Food Faire will take place at UCSD’s La Jolla campus June 25 and 26 and will present artists, food, music and various entertainment. lajollaartfestival.org
San Diego LGBT Pride Parade, Rally and two-day Balboa Park Festival will hit town July 16 and 17. Surely, it will be exciting and offer many great photo opportunites. sdpride.org
Theatre
The Old Globe Theatre’s Summer Shakespeare Festival showcases three productions, which rotate in the outdoor theatre from June 13 until Sept. 25. Get some culture. oldglobe.org
Competitions/ contests
The Over-the-Line Tournament will be from the weekend of July 9-10 and 16-17. This tournament is not one to miss! This event is not one for the kids, as it is a beach soft-ball tournament with many people drinking while on Fiesta Island on Mission Bay. ombac.org/over_the_line
For the animal lover, check out the Annual Loews Coronado Bay Resort Surf Dog Competition. Dogs try to catch a wave in various heats, categorized by dog size, July 16-17. loewssurfdog.blogspot.com
Beach
Any and all beaches are entertaining in San Diego County. Things to keep in mind: drinking is not allowed, only certain beaches are dog-friendly at certain hours, and wear sunscreen!
Camping / Hiking spots
There are a lot of great hiking and camping areas in San Diego County. I have listed a few of the favorites areas people have suggested: Torrey Pines, Cowles Mountain, Julian, Mount Helix, Mount. Solidad and Twin Peaks.
Marathons- Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon is a party and 26.2-mile race. It begins in Balboa Park and ends at Sea World with live music and cheer squads along the way. At the conclusion of the race there is a concert. san-diego.competitor.com
Downtown
Whether you are looking to go to a Padres day or night game (sandiego.padres.mlb.com) or go out for a night on the town, downtown offers a bit of everything. www.gaslamp.org/
Learning
The Media Arts Center of San Diego offers workshops in various multi-media fields. Since you have extra time on your hands why not add to your skill set. Classes are $20 and change monthly. mediaartscenter.org
Libraries
Read books you have been wanting to now that school materials no longer get in the way. You might learn something you actually want to learn about. sandiego.gov/public-library/
Other
The Del Mar Horse Races will be from July 20 to Sept. 7 at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, five days a week. Get your hat ready for Opening Day. dmtc.com
Julian StarFest, Aug. 25-28 allows you to explore astronomy in the second biggest astronomy festival in California. The four-day festival will feature guest speakers, exhibits, swap meet and more at Menghini Winery in Julian. julianstarfest.com
The San Diego County Fair is set to be from Friday June 10 to July 4 at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. The annual festivities include concerts, exhibits, and rides among many other attractions. sdfair.com/
