Happy Thursday! It’s almost time for another perfect weekend in Encinitas!
Do you have plans for Cinco de Mayo? Now you do! There’s a lot going on between now and next week, including a few things we think might be worth a drive or trip on the Coaster. We've got sharks eating whales just off Cardiff, the season's last weekend at the Flower Fields, the public opening of the orchids exhibit at San Diego Botanic Garden, and Cinco de Mayo fiestas on Tuesday. Plus: Surf's Up at Glen Park Saturday, FoodieLand at Del Mar all weekend, and a Sunday punk mariachi show at Belly Up that's basically Cinco-eve.
🚨 PSA — Shark advisory at Cardiff State Beach
This is a bit crazy. Did you see the dead whale that washed up off San Elijo State Beach on Monday? Life guards and coast guard towed it offshore — but at least one shark, estimated around 15 feet, was seen feeding on the carcass during the tow. The carcass is now over a mile out, but Encinitas lifeguards are asking beachgoers to use extra caution before getting in the water in this area for the next few days. Call lifeguards at (760) 633-2750 to report sightings. (Photo credit, City of Encinitas)
🏄 The weekend at a glance
Weather. Mostly partly-cloudy, mild coastal week. Highs roughly Thu 65°, Fri 66°, Sat 67°, Sun likely similar. Single-digit precip chances throughout — this is layered-up morning weather, t-shirt afternoon weather.
Surf. Small and inconsistent this weekend, cleanest in the early mornings before the afternoon onshore. Per the advisory above, paddle out somewhere other than Cardiff/San Elijo. Get the latest from Surfline.
Tides. Spring tide week, which means the deepest lows are pre-dawn — minus tides around 4–5 AM Fri/Sat/Sun. The afternoon "lows" only drop into the 5–6 ft range, so this isn't a great tide-pool weekend at Cardiff Reef. Save it for next week.
Sunset. Saturday 7:31 PM. Sunday 7:32 PM. Post up at the Moonlight Parking Lot for the best sunsets around.
🎡 Featured
Mariachi El Bronx — Sunday at Belly Up. The LA punk band The Bronx in their fully realized mariachi alter-ego — their first new album in 12 years (Mariachi El Bronx IV) just dropped in February, and this is essentially their Cinco-eve show. Authentic horns, harmonies, charro suits, and just enough punk DNA to keep it weird. One-of-a-kind. 📍 Belly Up, 143 S Cedros Ave, Solana Beach 💵 $32 advance / $35 day of • $56 reserved loft
Movie in the Park: Surf's Up — Saturday at Glen Park. The City's spring movie night returns to Glen Park with the animated surf-penguin classic that's basically required viewing for any Encinitas kid. Activities at 6:30 PM, movie at dusk. Heads up: Glen Park's parking lot is mid-ADA-improvement, so plan to arrive early. Surfing penguins!📍 Glen Park, 2149 Orinda Drive, Cardiff-by-the-Sea 💵 Free
Orchids in the Wild opens to the public — Saturday at SDBG. The 6th annual orchid showcase opens to all visitors on Saturday and runs through June 1, transforming the Dickinson Conservatory into a layered recreation of orchids in their natural habitats. New varieties rotate in weekly, and there's a weekend orchid marketplace adjacent to the Conservatory. (SDBG members get an early preview Friday 9 AM–3 PM.) 📍 San Diego Botanic Garden, 300 Quail Gardens Dr, Encinitas 💵 $18 general admission + $7 exhibition surcharge for non-members 18+ • Free for SDBG members
🌮 Cinco de Mayo (Tuesday)
Cinco de Mayo is on Tuesday! Here are some great local options for tacos and margs:
Ki's Cinco de Mayo Fiesta — Cardiff. All-day fiesta from a longtime ocean-view favorite. Rare daytime-friendly Cinco option; their regular taco dinner is $11.95 (two tacos, rice & beans, salsa, guac). Reservations.
Cinco de Mayo at Union Kitchen & Tap — Downtown 101. Order the Pork Chili Verde ($28.95). Drink the Stone Fruit Tequila Sour ($16) — built on Leucadia Blanco, the tequila brand made right here in town.
Casa de Bandini at The Forum — Carlsbad. North County's biggest Cinco party. Live music 11 AM–8 PM (Tinku Duo then Mariachi Zapopan), $8 street tacos, $12 house margarita, hourly tequila features noon to 8 PM.
Cinco de Bingo at Temaki Bar — 575 S Coast Hwy 101. Bingo with a fiesta makeover, $5 draft wine/beer/sake specials. Free to play, 5–11:30 PM.
🗓️ Day by day
Thursday, April 30 (tonight)
Surprise Pop-Up at Breakers — Benji Weatherley's Hawaiian café on Santa Fe runs unannounced live shows that have, in past months, been some big names like Jack Johnson, Donavon Frankenreiter, and Lukas Nelson. Tonight's lineup hasn't been announced — that's the whole point. Doors-ish 7 PM, cover TBD, check @breakerscbg for the latest.
Live music nightly at the downtown 101 spots — 1st Street Bar (Wed–Sat live bands plus karaoke on Sunday) and The Roxy Encinitas (live music Tue–Sun). There’s something playing every night, so check their online calendars for the full line up.
Friday, May 1
FoodieLand Food Festival opens at Del Mar — billed as the country's largest food festival, 200+ vendors, 3 PM–10 PM Fri/Sat/Sun. $12 advance only (no door sales), kids 5 & under free, parking $16 online / $20 at gate. Yum.
The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch — final week. Last chance! 50 acres of giant Tecolote ranunculus on the hillsides, 9 AM–6 PM. Season closes May 10, so you’re running out of days to get that classic Instagram shot. $25 adults / $22 seniors / $15 ages 3–10 / under 3 free. Ten minutes up the freeway.
Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert — Rady Shell. I love this movie so much. It’s not Encinitas, but worth the drive: San Diego Symphony plays John Williams' full Oscar-winning score live while the film runs on the big screen at the Shell. 7:30 PM. Tickets $68–$173.
Saturday, May 2 Big day: Surf's Up under the stars at Glen Park is the local headline, with the orchid exhibit opening and FoodieLand running all day for variety.
Movie in the Park: Surf's Up at Glen Park. Activities 6:30 PM, movie at dusk. Free. (See Featured.) 🌊🐧
Orchids in the Wild — public opening at SDBG. 9 AM–5 PM. (See Featured.)
FoodieLand Day 2 at Del Mar Fairgrounds. 3–10 PM. $12.
The Flower Fields — 9 AM–6 PM, the last Saturday of the season.
Sunday, May 3 Mariachi El Bronx makes Sunday night the social center of the weekend.
Mariachi El Bronx at Belly Up. 8 PM. (See Featured.)
Nature Collective Family Fun Day at the San Elijo Lagoon Nature Center. First-Sunday-of-the-month free family event with hands-on activities, animal encounters, and Junior Ranger badges. 10 AM. Free.
FoodieLand Day 3 at Del Mar. 3–10 PM. $12.
The Flower Fields — 9 AM–6 PM. Final Sunday of the season, last big bloom weekend.
👨👩👧👦 Family-friendly picks
Movie in the Park: Surf's Up — Saturday at Glen Park. Free, low-key, surf penguins. Hard to beat for a Cardiff family Saturday night.
Nature Collective Family Fun Day — Sunday at San Elijo Lagoon Nature Center. Free, hands-on, outdoors, and the Junior Ranger badges are a real motivator.
Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch — any day. Kids love the tractor wagon ride; you get the photos. Final week before it closes for the year.
🤝 One ask
Forward this to a friend or neighbor in Encinitas! The more locals get the heads-up about things like this weekend's shark advisory and the Flower Fields closing window, the more useful this thing gets. And hit reply to let me know about any great events coming up. I read every email!
I’ll see you around Encinitas this weekend! 🤙