Happy Thursday, Encinitas!
Biggest Encinitas festival weekend of the year coming up! The Spring Street Fair shuts down six blocks of the 101 Saturday and Sunday, the 52nd Olivenhain Beer & Brat runs Sunday afternoon. Oh, and the Sockers (San Diego’s winningest professional sports team) are in the Ron Newman Cup Finals at Frontwave Arena Friday night. Weather is holding — low 60s, partly sunny, a slim shower chance Saturday but nothing that'll stop the music. If you've been saving up your "I live here" energy for a weekend, this is it.
One PSA before we get into it. Coast Highway 101 is closed between D and J Street both Saturday and Sunday, 3am–7pm (yes, really — no parking on that stretch or your car gets towed). So plan accordingly:
Park at Moonlight Beach (409 4th St), City Hall (561 S Vulcan Ave), or Parking Lot B (SW corner of Vulcan & E St). The Coaster station lots at Vulcan/D and Vulcan/E are also in play.
Bike there. Free bike valet at both ends of the festival — D Street and J Street.
🏄 The weekend at a glance
Weather. Mixed bag. Highs 62–66°F with light rain likely on both Saturday and Sunday — bring a layer.
Surf. 2–3 ft at Swami's, light wind, clean lines. Mornings will be the glassiest.
Tides. Midday lows Saturday (≈12:08pm) and Sunday (≈12:51pm) — the sweet spot for tide pooling at Cardiff Reef.
Sunset. Saturday 7:26pm. Sunday 7:27pm.
🎡 Featured
Encinitas Spring Street Fair 2026 — Sat & Sun, Apr 25–26, 9am–5pm The 101 shuts down and becomes the best street fair in North County. 450+ vendors, three live music stages (Beer Garden, Lumberyard Courtyard, Hansen's Community Stage), kids' rides, the works. 2026 lineup includes Surf Birdz, Cappo Kelley, Anthony Cullins, Totally 80's, and Revival. Free. 📍 S Coast Hwy 101 between D St and J St, Downtown Encinitas
52nd Annual Olivenhain Beer & Brat Festival — Sun, Apr 26, 12–4pm Olivenhain's biggest neighborhood party of the year is back for its 52nd run. Craft beer, sizzling bratwurst, and live music at the historic Olivenhain Meeting Hall. Bring your lawn chair, your appetite, and your neighbors. This is the real Encinitas. 📍 Olivenhain Meeting Hall, Rancho Santa Fe Rd between 7th & 8th St 💵 Adult Beer/Wine/Food: $45 prior / $50 day of ($40 OTC members). Adult Food & Soda: $30 prior / $35 day of ($25 members). Kids (Hot Dog & Soda): $10.
Sockers RNC Finals — Game 2 vs Milwaukee Wave — Fri, Apr 24, 7:30pm The San Diego Sockers — the winningest team in professional indoor soccer history — are in the Ron Newman Cup Finals chasing championship #17. Game 2 is Friday night at Frontwave Arena. Tickets still available for as low as $27. Go Sockers! Beat Milwaukee! 📍 Frontwave Arena, 2400 El Camino Real, Oceanside
🗓️ Day by day
Thursday, April 23 (tonight)
Live Country Music Thursday at Mr. Peabody’s — Grab your boots! Country Western Swing and Line Dancing with North County's Finest Country Musicians plus a $19.99 Prime Rib special. No cover, 21+. A weekly Encinitas staple. 8:30pm, 136 Encinitas Blvd. Free.
Friday, April 24
Girl Rising Bazaar at The Rhoades School — The Rhoades School's student-led Girl Rising Club hosts their annual cultural bazaar to raise money for girls' education in Guatemala, Bangladesh, and the Philippines. Handmade crafts, food, a raffle with prizes from Cinépolis and Aloha, and a panel of young refugee students from the International Rescue Committee sharing their stories. 4:30–7:30pm, 910 Encinitas Blvd. Free, no ticket needed. (Tip from De Anna — thanks!)
Mia and the Dadbods — Double Birthday Bash — Local favorites throw a birthday show at the American Legion with special guests The Pals. Hometown band, hometown venue, no cover. 7pm, 210 W F St. Free.
Rocky Horror Live Shadow Cast at La Paloma — If you've never been to a shadow cast: live actors in costume lip-sync and act out the entire Rocky Horror Picture Show in front of the screen as the film plays. It's been a Friday-night cult ritual for decades. Crazed Imaginations performs at Encinitas' 1928 theater. Audience participation encouraged. 10:30pm, 471 S Coast Hwy 101. $12.
Sockers RNC Finals Game 2 vs Milwaukee Wave — see Featured, above. Go, Sockers! ⚽️
Saturday, April 25
The Street Fair is the main event for Saturday — full day on the 101, 9am–5pm. Here's what else is happening:
Cardiff Saturday Farmers Market — Local produce, prepared food, craft vendors, makers. Perfect Saturday-morning move before heading up to the fair. 10am–2pm, MiraCosta San Elijo Campus, Cardiff. Free.
Duck Foot Leucadia 3rd Anniversary Party — Duck Foot's Leucadia taproom turns three. Vinyl DJ all day, brand-new special release beers, food from Breakers, a photo booth. This Leucadia party is a great complement to the downtown Street Fair. 12pm–10pm, 978 N Coast Hwy 101. Free entry.
Sunday, April 26
The headliners today are the two festivals — Spring Street Fair, Day 2 (downtown) and Olivenhain Beer & Brat (Olivenhain). Pick one, or do the crawl: Street Fair in the morning, drive 10 minutes inland for Beer & Brat at noon.
When the festivals wind down:
Ernie's Craft Deli & Wine Bar — Sunday Happy Hour — Gourmet deli by day, wine bar by night. Sunday happy hour runs all afternoon from 3pm to close: curated wine list, shareable plates, live acoustic music. The kind of spot where you walk in for one glass and stay for three. 3pm–close, 114 N El Camino Real. Happy hour pricing. (Tip from Monique — thanks!)
👨👩👧👦 Family-friendly picks
Three kid friendly ideas for the whole crew this weekend:
Cardiff Farmers Market — Sat, 10am–2pm. Easy, free, snacks everywhere.
Spring Street Fair — either day. Kids' rides, the Community Stage, and plenty of room to wander. Go early to beat the afternoon crowd.
Cardiff tide pools — Sat around 11:30am or Sun around 12:30pm. Low tide exposes the 45-million-year-old Table Top Reef. This is great for kids of all ages. Sea stars, anemones, crabs, occasionally octopi. Free. South of Lifeguard Tower 10 at Cardiff State Beach.
🔜 Plan ahead!
Sockers RNC Finals Game 3 (if necessary) — Monday, Apr 27, 7:30pm, Frontwave Arena
Taste of Cardiff — Thursday, May 7 (Super fun. Get tickets now, they sell out!)
Belgian Waffle Ride weekend — Sat–Sun, May 2–3, Del Mar Polo Fields. Massive cycling festival; 65+ vendors, live music, waffles, beer. Spectators welcome.
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