Welcome to summer, Encinitas! This weekend marks the unofficial start of summer with a three day weekend remembering and celebrating those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for us.
It's the first Cruise Night of the summer and it's Memorial Day weekend. Classic cars on the 101 tonight, youth bands battling it out Saturday, and a great weekend to get together with friends down at Moonlight before we roll into summer proper.
🇺🇸 Memorial Day Weekend
It’s the unofficial start of summer, but it’s also something more than that. Here are local events celebrating and commemorating Memorial Day.
Memorial Day at the American Legion — Monday, May 25 American Legion San Dieguito Post 416 hosts its annual ceremony honoring a century of service. Ceremony starts at 11 AM, followed by food and live music 2–5 PM. All are welcome. 📍 210 W F St, Downtown Encinitas · Free
Memorial Day at Fox Point Farms — Monday, May 25 An afternoon community gathering outdoors on the farm — spend the holiday in the sun with neighbors. Features live music, tractor tours, burgers and dogs fresh off the grill, and lawn activities to keep the kids busy. 12–4 PM, free. 📍 1200 Fox Point Farms Lane
Memorial Day BBQ at Blank Slate — Sunday, May 24 Get a head start on the holiday Sunday evening — the new chef-driven event space from Aron and Pam Schwartz opens the patio for a community BBQ. 4–7 PM. Reservations are encouraged. DM them on Instagram or contact them through their website. 📍 101 N Coast Hwy 101
And wherever you are Monday: at 3 PM, take one minute for the National Moment of Remembrance. Join Americans across the country to pause and honor those who gave their lives with a minute of silence.
🏄 The weekend at a glance
Weather. Upper 60s all four days — highs between 66–68°F Thursday through Sunday. Friday has a slight chance of drizzle (15%), nothing that should change plans. Classic May Gray mornings, warm afternoons.
Surf. Small mix of south swell with light winds expected. Conditions should be clean in the mornings. Get the latest from Surfline.
Tides. Midday lows this weekend are good for tide pooling at Cardiff Reef — check Tideschart for exact windows before you head out.
Sunset. Saturday ~7:53 PM. Sunday ~7:54 PM. Post up at the Moonlight Parking Lot.
Honestly, the best part of living here is that we don’t have to take a vacation to take a vacation. I hope you enjoy an awesome weekend at whatever local beach you call your own.
🎡 Featured Events
Encinitas 101 Cruise Night — May 2026 - Thursday
Summer's first Cruise Night is tonight. Every third Thursday May through September, the Encinitas 101 MainStreet Association shuts down a stretch of Coast Highway 101 for classic cars and live music. This month: Blame Betty on the F Street stage, Tower 7 Band at the E101 Office stage, plus car clubs rolling in — North County Cruisers (F Street), Locals Car Club (G Street), Samurai Car Club (H Street), and Rad Night on Charlie's Electric Bike. Free, all ages. Great night for a stroll on 101 checking out the classic cars.
📍 818 S Coast Hwy 101, Downtown Encinitas · 5:30–7:30 PM 💵 Free
Leucadia 101 Battle of the Bands 2026 - Saturday
Battle of the Bands at The Brown Studio in Leucadia.
Every year, local youth bands go head-to-head for one prize: a spot on the Summer Fun On The 101 stage in June. No buzzers, no celebrity coaches — just high school and younger players performing for real judges in front of their community. This year it's at the Brown Studio right on the 101 in Leucadia. You might be watching the next big thing to come out of North County. Free to spectate. 📍 The Brown Studio, 1144 N Coast Hwy 101, Leucadia · Saturday May 23, 11 AM–5 PM 💵 Free (spectators)
🗓️ Day by day
Thursday, May 21 (tonight)
Encinitas 101 Cruise Night — 5:30–7:30 PM. Blame Betty + Tower 7 Band. Classic cars, all ages. Downtown. Free. (See Featured.)
Happy Hour at Modern Times — 11 AM–5 PM. $6 beers, $6 plant based smash burger. We’re picking happy hour at Modern Times this week before walking 101 for Cruise Night. Grab a burger and a beer then go check out the Woodies. 📍 470 S Coast Hwy 101
Friday, May 22
Friday Sunset Sessions at Fox Point Farms — 5–8 PM. Text your friends and meet up at Fox Point Farms. Live music, farm food and drink specials, golden hour over the property. Show up around 5:30 for peak light, stay until 8. Free admission; food & drinks for purchase. 📍 1200 Fox Point Farms Lane
Grand Social: 80s Yacht Rock with DJ Chris Cantore — Opens 5 PM, music 6–9 PM. Local DJ legend Chris Cantore is spinning Yacht Rock as The Fairmont Grand Del Mar opens its outdoor summer lounge — three levels, ocean air, 80s and yacht rock. Dress code is “marina ready”. It’s the Fairmont Grand Del Mar, so it won’t be cheap, but Cantore playing Yacht Rock at sunset will be worth it. There’s a $20 cover charge, or you can reserve a cabana or fire pit on Open Table. 📍 Fairmont Grand Del Mar, 5300 Grand Del Mar Court (worth the drive)
Fallout Shelter at The Roxy Encinitas — Evening. Live music at the 1920s-styled supper club on the 101. No cover. 📍 517 S Coast Hwy 101
The Spazmatics at Belly Up — They’re nerdy and they rock. High energy 80s covers all night. Opening act is Geezer churning out Beasties and Weezer covers. 9 PM, Solana Beach. 80s tribute act. $22 adv / $27 door. Take the Coaster.
Farming Fridays at Fox Point Farms — 9–11 AM. Get your hands in the soil, meet the farmers, and learn what's growing at this free farming workshop. 📍 Fox Point Farms
Saturday, May 23
Leucadia 101 Battle of the Bands — 11 AM–5 PM. The Brown Studio, 1144 N Coast Hwy 101. Free to spectate. (See Featured.)
Cardiff Farmers Market — We got the day wrong on the Cardiff Farmers Market last week. We’re really sorry about that. It’s on Saturday, not Sunday! On Saturday from 10 AM–2 PM. Local produce, artisan goods, food vendors, live music. Free. On Saturday! 📍 MiraCosta San Elijo Campus, 3333 Manchester Ave (Saturday!)
Author Signing: Jendia Gammon & Joshua Pruett at Artifact Books — 3 PM. All-ages signing — Gammon brings Dungeon Crawl in the Haunted Mall (a choose-your-own-adventure book) and Pruett signs The Last Comics on Earth. Free to attend; books for purchase. 📍 944 S Coast Hwy 101
Saturday Run Club at Necessity Coffee — Encinitas Run Club meets Saturday morning at 8am at Necessity Coffee. Free to run, then treat yourself to a post run cortado after. 📍 687 2nd St
Sunday, May 24
Sunday Night Jazz at Mr. Peabody's — 6–10 PM. The Tony Ortega Band, every Sunday. A decade-long Encinitas tradition. Free, no cover. Open jam at 8 PM. 📍 136 Encinitas Blvd
Memorial Day BBQ at Blank Slate — 4–7 PM. (See Memorial Day section above.)
👨👩👧👦 Family-friendly picks
Cardiff Farmers Market — Saturday May 23, 10 AM–2 PM. 90+ vendors at MiraCosta's San Elijo Campus. Grab a snack, take a walk. Free admission. On Saturday!
Author Signing: Jendia Gammon & Joshua Pruett at Artifact Books — Saturday May 23, 3 PM. Gammon's Dungeon Crawl in the Haunted Mall is a choose-your-own-adventure story aimed at middle-grade readers; Pruett brings The Last Comics on Earth. If your kid is into comics, adventure books, or anything slightly spooky and funny, this is their Saturday afternoon. Free. 📍 944 S Coast Hwy 101
Farming Fridays at Fox Point Farms — Friday May 22, 9–11 AM. Hands in the soil with the farm's crew — kids learn where food actually comes from and walk away with dirt on their hands and a better story than "we went to the store." Free. 📍 Fox Point Farms
🚲 Bike Anywhere Day — Thursday, May 21
SANDAG's countywide ride-anything-to-anywhere day is today. Formerly Bike to Work Day — now it's Bike to Brunch Day, Bike to the Beach Day, or honestly Bike Around the Block for No Reason Day. 115 pit stops across the region with free commemorative t-shirts from 6:30–9:30 AM while supplies last. Local stops include Leucadia Cyclery, Cadence Cyclery, Trek Bicycles, and Swami's. Register (18+) for a chance to win one of five e-bikes from Ridepanda.
💵 Free
🔜 On the horizon
Ranch Grill Happy Hour — Wednesday, May 27 — 4–7 PM. Mid week happy hour on the Encinitas Ranch Golf Course’s ocean-view patio with live music by Skyler Lutes, burgers from Badas Burgers, and killer views. Free admission. Open to golfers and non-golfers alike. 📍 1275 Quail Gardens Dr
45th Annual Fiesta del Sol — Free Beachside Music & Art Festival — Plan ahead for next weekend! May 30–31, Solana Beach. Free outdoor festival, 45 years running. Headliner this year is English Beat! VIP seating available through Belly Up. A North County tradition.
Encinitas Wine & Food Festival — Saturday June 6, 4–7 PM. The 23rd Annual — 25+ wineries and breweries, 25+ local restaurants, live music, and a silent auction, all at Encinitas Ranch Golf Course. Presented by the Encinitas Rotary Club; every dollar raised goes back to local charities. This one sells out every year — grab tickets now.
Summer Fun on the 101 — A musical celebration a block from Beacons. June 13, Leucadia Roadside Park, 11 AM–7:30 PM. The Battle of the Bands winner plays this. Free.
Next Encinitas Cruise Night — Thursday June 18. Put it on the calendar now.
🤝 One ask
If this newsletter made your weekend better, forward it to a friend or neighbor. That's how we grow — one neighbor at a time.
And if you're out there this weekend and something catches your eye — a pop-up, a new spot, something worth sharing — hit reply. I read every email. 🤙
Have a rad weekend in Encinitas!
-Ryan
This week brought to you by __________ . (Want to sponsor What’s Up, Encinitas? I'm opening a handful of Founding Sponsor spots. Reply and let's talk.)