Welcome to What's Up, Encinitas!

Hey Encinitas 👋

Welcome to the very first edition of What's Up, Encinitas? — a weekly guide to the best things to do in and around the best place to live in San Diego.

My name is Ryan and I’ve lived in Encinitas my whole life. Today, my family lives in Leucadia, our kids play soccer with Encinitas Express, and we raise chickens.

Since forever, we’ve always gotten to mid week-ish and asked, what are we going to do this weekend? The two problem are that there is SO MUCH to do here and everything has a different website or Instagram or newsletter to follow. Who’s playing at the Roxy? Any cool things happening at Moonlight? Who’s teaching a fun class to try something new? What’s going on for the kids? Every thing to do has it’s own web page you gotta go track. So I decided to launch What’s Up, Encinitas?

Every week, I'll dig through the event calendars, Instagram feeds, and local buzz to curate a list of the best things to do this weekend so you don't have to. The goal is simple: open us up on Thursday, and by the time you're done reading, you've got your weekend planned.

And what a weekend for us to start. Taste of Leucadia is tonight, the forecast is sunny and mid-60s straight through Sunday, and there's enough going on this weekend that I guarantee, you will not be bored.

So here’s what’s up, Encinitas!

13th Annual Taste of Leucadia 🎟️ This is one of the biggest nights of the year in Encinitas. The Leucadia 101 Mainstreet Association takes over North Coast Highway 101 from 5-8pm for an evening of food, drinks, and live music — and it sells out every year.

Your ticket gets you:

Pro tip: Check in starts at 3:30 PM. Bike there if you can — Leucadia Cyclery is running a free bike valet with tune-ups at The Brown Studio (1144 N Coast Hwy 101). If you're driving, park at the La Costa Park-n-Ride and catch the trolley at 4:15 PM.

📍 N Coast Hwy 101, Leucadia | 5:00-8:00 PM | $55 Food Only / $65 All Access / $75 VIP 🎟️ Get tickets if they're not already gone

FRIDAY, APRIL 17

Sunset Sessions at Fox Point Farms Live music, food, drink specials, and golden hour on the farm. Show up, grab a drink, find a spot on the lawn. This weekly Friday hang has quietly become one of the best casual evenings in Encinitas. 📍 Fox Point Farms, 1150 Quail Gardens Dr | Sunset | Free entry

The Pettybreakers at Belly Up — Tom Petty Tribute Chris Torres performs alongside Ron Blair from the actual Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Atomic Groove Happy Hour kicks it off at 5:30 PM if you want to make it a whole evening. 📍 Belly Up, 143 S Cedros Ave, Solana Beach | 9:00 PM | $25 adv

SATURDAY, APRIL 18

Beach Yoga at Moonlight Beach All-levels flow on the sand. Toes in the sand, waves as your soundtrack. Mat rentals available. 📍 Moonlight Beach, 400 B St | 9:30-10:30 AM | $20 drop-in

Cardiff Saturday Farmers Market Local produce, prepared food, craft vendors, and makers. A great Saturday morning ritual. 📍 MiraCosta College San Elijo Campus, Cardiff | 10 AM - 2 PM | Free

Hercules at La Paloma Theatre (Family Pick! 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦) The Disney classic on the big screen at San Diego's oldest movie house (since 1928). 12:30 PM matinee for the kids, or catch The Godfather Part II at 7:30 PM if the babysitter comes through. 📍 La Paloma Theatre, 471 S Coast Hwy 101 | 12:30 PM | $12, cash only

Langhorne Slim at Belly Up Americana singer-songwriter on The Dreamin' Kind Tour with Laney Jones and the Spirits. Heartfelt, high-energy, and the kind of show where you leave feeling like you just saw something special. 📍 Belly Up, Solana Beach | 9:00 PM | Tickets

SUNDAY, APRIL 19

Leucadia Farmers Market The Sunday staple. Organic produce, food court, live music, crafts, and a full kids' playground. If you're new to Encinitas, this is where you start to feel like a local. 📍 Paul Ecke Elementary, 185 Union St | 10 AM - 2 PM | Free

DJ Soigné x Vinos Finos de California at Fox Point Farms 🍷 A Sunday evening of fine wine and vinyl on the farm. Rare records and curated California wines as the sun goes down. This is the kind of Sunday evening Encinitas does better than anywhere. 📍 Fox Point Farms, 1150 Quail Gardens Dr | 5:00 PM

SD Music Awards Nominee Showcase at Belly Up Anthony Cullins, The Film Company, Cassie B, Zavala Sol, The Brothers Burns, and RMthePoet — all SD Music Awards nominees on one stage. $2 from every ticket goes to the awards. Great way to discover your next favorite local band. 📍 Belly Up, Solana Beach | 6:30 PM | $17 adv

Sunday Night Jazz at Mr. Peabody's A decades-long tradition. Free live jazz 6-10pm with the Tony Ortega Band, open jam after 8. No cover, no pretense, just the best jazz in North County. 📍 Mr. Peabody's, 136 Encinitas Blvd | 6:00 PM | Free

Inside the Hive: Beekeeping Experience at Fox Point Farms Suit up in protective gear, inspect a live hive, spot the queen bee, and learn about the honeybee life cycle. Every Saturday and Sunday. Great for curious kids and curious adults. 📍 Fox Point Farms | Sat & Sun | Tickets on Eventbrite

The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch — Last Weeks! 50 acres of giant ranunculus flowers on a hillside overlooking the Pacific. Season closes in early May. If you haven't gone yet, this is your last chance for 2026. Bring the kids, bring your camera, just go. Don’t forget that you have to purchase your tickets online before you go! 📍 5704 Paseo Del Norte, Carlsbad | Tickets & info

Mr. Peabody's — Double Happy Hour Afternoon: 3-6 PM. Late night: 10 PM-1 AM. All day Wednesdays. $0.99 buffalo wings. $1.99 fish tacos. It's a dive bar in the best possible sense — the kind of place where you end up staying three hours longer than you planned. 📍 136 Encinitas Blvd | peabodysrocks.com

Cyclovia Encinitas — May 17 The City of Encinitas closes Coast Highway 101 to cars so bikes, skaters, and pedestrians can take over downtown. Ride Krew hosts a bike skills pump track. All the shops and restaurants stay open. Mark it now.

If you haven't hiked Annie's Canyon yet, this is the weekend for it. A short, dramatic slot canyon through ancient sandstone near San Elijo Lagoon — about a two mile round trip. There's a ladder climb through narrow canyon walls with lagoon and ocean views at the top. Kids LOVE this hike because they get to climb. You’ll love it because the views at the top are off the charts. It’s a mini adventure without leaving town. 📍 San Elijo Lagoon, off Manchester Ave, Cardiff | Free | naturecollective.org

That's your weekend, Encinitas. It starts tonight with Taste of Leucadia and doesn't let up until Sunday. Personally, I'm hitting the Taste tonight, hiking with the kids through Annie's Canyon Saturday morning, and ending Sunday with wine and vinyl at Fox Point.

If you know someone who'd enjoy this, forward it to them. And if you've got an event or a spot I should know about, just reply to this email — I read every one.

See you out there!

Ryan Kuder Founder, What's Up, Encinitas?

What's Up, Encinitas? is a free weekly newsletter for Encinitas locals. Subscribe at whatsupencinitas.com. If you have an event you’d like us to feature, email us at [email protected].