What’s up, Encinitas?!
June is here and it’s the last full weekend before the kids get out of school. Shout out to all the EUSD sixth graders getting promoted next week! The headliner this weekend is the Encinitas Wine & Food Festival up at Encinitas Ranch Golf Course on Saturday — it sells out every single year, so if you've been meaning to go, that ship is mostly sailed (but read on). And down on the 101, La Paloma is running a brand-new Jack Johnson surf-and-music film all weekend, which might be the most on-brand way to spend a summer evening that I can think of.
Then the biggest summer party of them all kicks off next week! The San Diego County Fair throws open its gates next Wednesday, June 10 — ten minutes down the road in Del Mar — with Chicago lighting up the Grandstand stage for opening night. More on that below, because you'll want to plan ahead.
Also coming up next weekend, we’ll see you at Moonlight for Bro-Am!
Let's get to the weekend…
🏄 The weekend at a glance
Weather. A gentle warm-up into the weekend: upper 60s to low 70s, mostly sunny once the morning marine layer burns off. Thursday ~70°, Friday ~69°, Saturday ~66° with a slight chance of a morning sprinkle before 11am, Sunday back to ~66° and mostly sunny. Light winds throughout.
Surf. Swami's is running a fun, manageable 2–3 ft on a WNW swell with a little south swell mixing in to add some shape — cleanest in the mornings before the afternoon onshore bump. Water's a comfortable ~66°. Get the latest from Surfline.
Tides. Mornings are your friend for tide pooling: a low around -0.4 ft near 6:11am, with the high (~3.1 ft) rolling in around midday. Cardiff Reef is the move for the kids if you time the morning low.
Sunset. Saturday ~7:55 PM. Sunday ~7:56 PM. Post up at the Moonlight Beach parking lot or grab a perch above Swami's — the late golden hour this time of year is hard to beat.
🎡 Featured
🎪 The Fair is back! — San Diego County Fair 2026 opens Wednesday, June 10 kicking off with concerts by Blue Oyster Cult and Chicago. The Fair returns to the Del Mar Fairgrounds June 10 through July 5 (closed Mondays and Tuesdays, 11 AM–11 PM otherwise), and this year's theme is "Once Upon A Fair" — a celebration of reading and storytelling, anchored by a 20,000-square-foot theme exhibit built with Dr. Seuss Enterprises. 70+ rides, pig races, livestock barns, deep-fried everything, and a different big-name concert most nights.
A few things worth knowing before you go:
Opening day deal (Wed, June 10): $5 admission if you're through the gate before 5 PM. Easily the best value of the whole run.
Opening night concert: Chicago kicks off the ticketed Toyota Summer Concert Series on the Grandstand stage (the legends behind "25 or 6 to 4" and "Saturday in the Park"). Over on the free Chevrolet Paddock stage, Blue Öyster Cult (More cowbell!) opens that same night — included with fair admission.
Ways to save: kids 5 & under always free; kids 12 & under free every Friday; read 10 books for a free kids' admission (Reading Certificate at sdfair.com); Albertsons/Vons discount tickets; season pass from $65 for all 20 days. 📍 Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd, Del Mar 💵 Youth/senior from $14, adults from $17; some concerts are ticketed separately 🕚 11 AM–11 PM daily (closed Mon/Tue) 📅 Add opening day to your calendar
🍷 Also Featured
Encinitas Wine & Food Festival 2026 — Saturday, June 6. The 23rd annual edition of the Encinitas Rotary's signature event, and the single biggest reason to put on real pants this weekend. 50+ food, wine, beer, and spirit vendors from across California spread across the Encinitas Ranch Golf Course, plus live music, a big silent auction, and a raffle. The majority of proceeds go straight back to local charities — over $1.4 million distributed since 2005. It draws 1,000+ guests and sells out annually, so if you don't have a ticket yet, check availability before you make plans around it. 📍 Encinitas Ranch Golf Course, 1275 Quail Gardens Dr 💵 $156.27 General Admission (21+) — buy ahead, this one goes 🕓 4:00–7:00 PM
Jack Johnson: SURFILMUSIC — Friday through the weekend (and beyond). Jack Johnson has a new surf-and-music film and soundtrack tracing how his early years making surf films led to his creative life and music career. It's playing all weekend at the historic La Paloma. You’re likely to see some familiar local faces in the film. It runs through June 11 if you can’t make it this weekend. 📍 La Paloma Theatre, 471 S Coast Hwy 101 💵 $18 (special engagement) — cash at the door or advance tickets online 🕓 Fri 6:30 & 8:40 • Sat 6:30 & 8:45 • Sun 3:30 & 6:30
🗓️ Day by day
Thursday, June 4 (tonight) - Apparently, Thursday is comedy night in North County 😂
Comedy Show: Laughter is Medicine with James Connolly at Fox Point Farms — A feel-good comedy night out at the farm built around the trials and hilarity of parenthood. 🕖 7:00–9:00 PM
Worth the drive: Kevin Nealon (with Kirk Fox) — the SNL vet brings a seated stand-up show to the Belly Up in Solana Beach. 💵 $50 • A quick hop down the 101 (or the Coaster to Solana Beach).
Friday, June 5
Friday Sunset Sessions at Fox Point Farms — The weekly golden-hour gathering: Celina and the Embers playing pop rock, food and drink specials, and the sun dipping behind the farm. 🕔 5:00–8:00 PM • Free admission; food & drink for purchase
Jack Johnson: SURFILMUSIC opens at La Paloma (see Featured). 🕡 6:30 & 8:40
Worth the drive: The Belly Up hosts Beatles v Stones — a live tribute battle pitting Beatles songs against Stones songs head-to-head (9 PM, ticketed). Personally, I’m a Stones guy, but my wife is team Beatles all the way. Who do you have in a head to head? 🤘
Saturday, June 6 The Wine & Food Festival is the headliner (see Featured) — here's a few other ideas to start and close your day.
Open-air Yoga at San Diego Botanic Garden — A gentle morning flow among the gardens; your class fee includes daytime Garden admission, so linger afterward. Bring a mat, hat, and sunscreen (limited shade). 18+. 🕘 9:00–10:00 AM • Non-members are $27 pre-reg / $30 walk-up (members are less)
Live music on the 101: The Roxy (1920s-style supper club, live music + Sat brunch) features The Surf Birdz and 1st Street Bar (dive-bar live bands) hosts Dress Blues Americana and rock.
Sunday, June 7
Beach Yoga at South Ponto — Sunday morning yoga on the beach. 🕤 9:30 AM • ~$23 drop-in
Sunday Night Jazz at Mr. Peabody's — A decade-plus Encinitas tradition: the Tony Ortega Band holds it down every Sunday, free and no cover, with an open jam at 8PM if you want to sit in. One of the best free jazz nights in the county. 🕕 6:00–10:00 PM • Free
👨👩👧👦 Family-friendly picks
Three moves for the whole crew this weekend:
Morning tide pools at Cardiff Reef (free) — Grab a breakfast burrito at Pipes then catch the tail end mid-morning before the tide fills back in.
The Sheep Detectives at La Paloma — a 94%-on-Rotten-Tomatoes kids' film, Saturday 11:00 AM matinee, in the coolest old theatre on the coast. (showtimes)
Inside the Hive beekeeping at Fox Point Farms — a 30-minute, up-close look at a working hive, Saturday & Sunday mornings. (details)
🔜 On the horizon
San Diego County Fair opening night — Wednesday, June 10, in Del Mar. Gates at 11 AM ($5 before 5 PM on opening day), Chicago on the Grandstand and Blue Öyster Cult on the free Paddock stage that night. Runs through July 5. (Full rundown above.)
Switchfoot Bro-Am Benefit Party — Thursday, June 11, at Viasat in Carlsbad (the elevated evening with auctions + an intimate Switchfoot set).
Switchfoot Bro-Am Beach Fest — Saturday, June 13, at Moonlight Beach. Free, family-friendly, surf contests + live music noon–5PM. The big one.
Rocky Horror Picture Show with live shadow cast — Friday, June 12 (10:30 PM) at La Paloma. (A "shadow cast" is a troupe that acts out the film live in front of the screen while it plays — costumes, props, the works.)
The Church: The Singles 1980–2025 — Friday, June 12 at the Belly Up.
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See you out there. 🤙