Hello, May! Here’s to the last full month of spring – it’s easy to enjoy it, with so much going on in America’s Finest City. We’re starting with tons of Cinco de Mayo events, and moving on with concerts, festivals, flowery fields, and so much more. Here’s what you can’t miss in San Diego this May.
The Dean Collection exhibition ‘Giants’ – featuring over 130 works by nearly 40 Black diasporic artists – makes its exclusive West Coast debut at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego. You can catch it from April 18 to August 9, 2026. Coolest part? It’s curated by superstars Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz!
Vista’s highly anticipated, free Strawberry Festival returns this May to celebrate the city’s heritage as the former “strawberry capital of the world.” This street fair is the perfect outdoor weekend for family and friends, packed with local vendors, live music, and even a film festival. You can jump into the action with a 5K or kids’ run (rewarded with a free beer or strawberry milk), or compete in quirky events like strawberry pie eating, frozen t-shirt, and beer stein-holding contests. More below!
Whether you’re looking for a romantic night out, or an artsy outing, a candlelight concert is the perfect activity to add to your to-do list this May in San Diego. These wonderful shows take place in magical locations, such as the Fleet Science Center. This month, you can see:
- Coldplay & Imagine Dragons
- Tribute to José José
- 90s hip-hop on strings
- Tribute to The Beatles
- The best of Hans Zimmer
- Tribute to Metallica
- …and many more. Click below for the full list, and grab your tickets – there’s something for everyone!
Mark your calendars for the 13th Annual Asian Pacific Cultural Festival, taking place on May 16, 2026. Set in beautiful Balboa Park near the International Cottages, this highly anticipated, family-friendly event is entirely free to the public.
Food enthusiasts can savor authentic regional delicacies, ranging from savory Pakistani specialties to classic Vietnamese dishes. And yes – there’s Boba and Matcha as well.
If you’re looking for a little slice of the Louisiana bayou right in here in SoCal, Gator By The Bay is the place to be. Often described as “Mardi Gras in May,” this 4-day festival is the largest and most authentic Louisiana-themed cultural celebration on the West Coast. The absolute highlight of the event is the 10,000 pounds of live crawfish trucked in straight from the Louisiana bayous.
The festival takes place between on Mother’s Day Weekend!
From May 1 to May 18, your museum membership gets even better. If you’re a member of any participating museum, you can use that membership to get free general admission to more than 60 other museums, historic sites, gardens, and aquariums all over San Diego County! Read below for the full list.
The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch are open their 2026 season – but only through May 10. Don’t miss the impressive 55 acres of Tecolote Ranunculus, new pop-up vendors, an enhanced butterfly greenhouse, family activities, tractor rides, and seasonal events.
Check out the 14th Annual San Diego International Fringe Festival
The 14th annual San Diego International Fringe Festival runs from May 12 to 24, 2026. This is an unjuried, uncensored platform for artists worldwide. 2026 is particularly significant, as the festival prepares to host the World Fringe Congress (previously in Australia) and launches the Baja California Pilot Program – this would expand its cross-border creative footprint into Mexico. The festival promises nearly 2 weeks of boundary-pushing performances.
For Padres fans (so all of us?!), it’s the most wonderful time of the year! Baseball season is in full swing, so every weekend in May is packed with action. With many games at home, it gets even more fun with Party in the Park, or one of the many themed games.
P.S.: don’t miss these legendary games:
- Padres vs St. Louis Cardinals at Petco: series running between May 7-10
- Padres vs LA Dodgers at Petco: series running between May 18-20
The San Diego Zoo Safari Park recently welcomed a baby pudu, which is the world’s smallest deer species native to South American rainforests. Because fully grown pudus only reach 13 to 17 inches tall, this newborn fawn is exceptionally tiny. He weighs just a few pounds and sporting a white-spotted coat for camouflage – you just have to see them!
Check out this intimate, one-hour live concert at The Jazz Room celebrating the timeless music of Frank Sinatra and Louis Armstrong. It’s performed by a live band in a cozy, relaxing venue. The show reimagines classics like Fly Me to the Moon, What a Wonderful World, and more beloved songs. Grab your tickets below!
Chef-driven pasta destination Pastaria Vivi is opening this spring inside the Encinitas Village Shopping Center. It offers a casual Italian market and a pasta bar, where chefs hand-roll fresh noodles. The shop will also launch San Diego’s first monthly fresh pasta subscription box featuring pastas, housemade sauces, focaccia, and artisan cheeses.
San Clemente is a quiet, picturesque surf town reachable by a quick 45-minute drive – or better, via the Pacific Surfliner. The seaside town features Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, a charming downtown, romantic gardens, and a scenic 2.3-mile Pedestrian beach trail.
This May, Balboa Park hosts the 41st edition of the Ethnic Food Fair – a historic free event that you cannot miss. This gathering brings together dozens of nations to share their heritage through traditional cuisine, music, and dance. Enjoy Lithuanian ice cream, classic pastries from the House of France, delicious langos from Hungary (don’t skip this one), and much more. It’s a unique opportunity to travel the globe without a passport, reconnect with your own roots, or discover new cultures.
Don’t miss SoCal Taco Fest San Diego at SeaWorld
SoCal Taco Fest is a 2-day, family-friendly food and music festival held between May 2 – 3 at SeaWorld. The events celebrates Southern California’s taco culture with a wide variety of tacos, live Latin music (including headliners like Frankie J), DJs, cultural performances, and entertainment like lucha libre wrestling. There’s also a guacamole competition, and even a chihuahua pageant. This is all set within the broader Viva La Música celebration – prices start at $69.
Don’t miss ‘San Diego Zoo Food, Wine & Brew’
The ‘San Diego Zoo Food, Wine & Brew’ event returns on May 3, offering guests an evening of unlimited tastings from over 130 local restaurants, breweries, and wineries. This event features a Conservation Stage where attendees can meet wildlife ambassadors and hear stories from care specialists. General admission tickets are $179, while VIP packages are $299 – all proceeds directly support the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s global conservation efforts.
Cinco de Mayo fiestas
There are few cities who do Cinco de Mayo better than San Diego. Bars and restaurants will celebrate all over the city, or you can choose events such as the Gaslamp Cinco de Mayo Fiesta.
This is a vibrant, 3-day “Frida Fiesta” to celebrate Cinco de Mayo on the evenings of May 1, 2, and 5, 2026. Kicking off at American Junkie, this Frida Kahlo-inspired event takes over more than 30 bars, restaurants, and clubs along Fifth Avenue. Attendees can expect an unforgettable celebration, featuring tacos, tequila, art, and a lively mix of reggaeton and salsa music.
