May 8 issue: Local and regional events

WILDCOAST presents 13th annual Baja Bash fundraiser
WILDCOAST, an international team that conserves coastal and marine ecosystems and addresses climate change through natural solutions, invites the community to celebrate their quarter-century of impact at the 13th annual Baja Bash fundraiser on June 14, 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., at Montbleau Estate, Solana Beach.
The evening raises vital funds to support WILDCOAST’s programs to preserve wild coastlines and wildlife in California and beyond, according to a news release. The event will feature gourmet food stations with San Diego and Baja chefs.
The highly curated epicurean affair will also feature fresh sustainable seafood, farm fresh produce, small batch tequila and mezcal, fine wines from the Russian River Valley, and craft beers. In addition, the fiesta will feature live music and many local artists in the event’s silent and live auctions. For tickets go to Learn more at .
Fiesta del Sol 2025
Fiesta del Sol, Solana Beach’s largest street fair, will be held May 31 and June 1 this year at Fletcher Cove. The event features live music, an arts & crafts fair, children’s activities, an international food court, and a beer & wine garden.
The this year’s Fiesta del Sol be held on Saturday, May 31 from 9 a.m.-10 p.m. and Sunday, June 1, from 9 a.m.- 8 p.m. at Fletcher Cove.
The Solana Beach Chamber of Commerce has been hosting this free two-day arts and music festival for over 40 years as a kick off to summer in Solana Beach, according to the City of Solana Beach website. For more information, visit
Del Mar’s 2025 Summer Solstice event
Del Mar’s popular Summer Solstice will be held this year on Thursday, June 12, 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at Powerhouse Park in Del Mar.
The Del Mar Village Association will present the event featuring delicious tastes and sips from award-winning Del Mar Village restaurants, as well as a variety of beverages, a beachside musical performance from Ben Benavente, and more.
The event helps support sustainability efforts to keep Del Mar’s beaches and downtown welcoming to all, and to support its small business community. For tickets and more information visit:
2025 US Police & Fire Championships set to return to San Diego
The California Police Athletic Federation, a dedicated nonprofit organization promoting sports and physical fitness among first responders, recently announced that the 2025 United States Police & Fire Championships is back in San Diego for the 58th year, taking place from Saturday, May 31 to Saturday, June 7.
The event celebrates camaraderie, sportsmanship, and community pride through spirited competition, bringing together first responders from across the nation. This year, the Marriott San Diego Mission Valley will be hosting athletes and many of the popular competitions.
Offering a variety of Olympic-style competitions, the USPFC features more than 35 different events ranging from team sports like basketball and soccer to individual competitions such as track and field, swimming, and CrossFit.
The event fosters unity among law enforcement officers, firefighters, and other emergency responders while showcasing their physical prowess and dedication, according to a news release. To register for the event go to To learn more about the California Police Athletic Federation and its games, visit
Bestselling children’s book author to appear at local events
Mom’s Choice Gold Medal award winner and bestselling author Scott Feld has followed the success of his first children’s book, “Dax to the Max, Book1: Imagination,” with the publication of a sequel, called “Dax to the Max: Blah Blah Blobs vs. Power Pods.”
Feld will be appearing at local book stores on a book reading and signing tour. He will be at Barnes & Noble Encinitas on Saturday, May 10 from 5 p.m.-7 p.m.; Barnes & Noble Mira Mesa on Saturday, May 24 from 12 p.m.-2 p.m.; and Wa7 ick’s La Jolla on Sunday, June 1 from 1 p.m.-3 p.m.
Like the initial volume that came out in 2022, the new book promotes self-empowerment among youth readers by using themes and language to which they can relate. The main character is a fictionalized version of Feld’s son Dax. Dax attends Encinitas Country Day School, where Feld, a certified life-skills coach, helps with communications. Visit for additional information.
Carmel Creek School to hold Class of 2025 Senior Reunion May 22
On Thursday, May 22 from 3:45 p.m. — 4:45 p.m., Carmel Creek School will hold the Class of 2025 Senior Reunion which will be held inside Carmel Creek School at the stage area. All past students of Carmel Creek School who attended between Fall 2012 — Spring 2015 are invited.
Seniors will have the opportunity to reconnect with classmates, share future plans, and thank past teachers and staff who contributed to their success. This event is being organized by Class of 2025 parent volunteers, in conjunction with the Carmel Creek PTO. RSVP and/or contact ccreunion2025@ for more information.
RSF Village Church to hold annual Women’s Spring Luncheon
Women from across San Diego are welcome to attend the Village Church annual Spring Luncheon on Wednesday, May 14, starting at 11:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall at 6225 Paseo Delicias in Rancho Santa Fe. The guest speaker, Michelle Le Beau, is a senior vice president at the San Diego Rescue Mission. She will speak on “Shining a Light on the Overlooked.”
Ladies are asked to support the church mission partner, Care House, by bringing $10 gift cards to McDonalds, Subway or are $20 and seating is limited. RSVPs are required. Sign up on the church patio on Sundays or visit: /womens-spring-luncheon
El Camino Quilt Guild meeting features guest speaker
El Camino Quilt Guild meets at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday May 13, at El Corazon Senior Center, 3302 Senior Center Dr. Oceanside 92056. Guest fee $10. The May guest speaker is Katheryn Pellman. Her lecture is titled “Word Salad, Fashionistas & Girlfriends.”
Her workshop, “Paper Dolls for Grownups with a Splash of Word Salad” will be May 14, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Quilt in a Day quilt shop in San Marcos. Workshop fee: $55. For more information or email info@.
El Camino Quilters is a nonprofit group that donates hundreds of quilts and other handmade items to a variety of groups including Rady Children’s Hospital, Senior centers, hospitals, police and military.
Wildlife tour at lagoon
The Nature Collective will put on a free Wildlife Tour from 9 to 11 a.m. May 10 at the San Elijo Lagoon, 2710 Manchester Ave., Cardiff. The tour includes plants around the lagoon and any wildlife that might be out. Event is weather permitting. Registration is required at /event/wildlife-tour-may-10-2025.
Bats topic of talk at lagoon
The Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation will hold a free presentation at 10 a.m. May 10 titled “The Fascinating World of Bats” led by Cynthia Myers of Project Wildlife and a wildlife outreach volunteer. The lagoon is a habitat for a number of species of bats rarely seen by visitors. Attendees will learn about bats and see a live bat “ambassador.” The family event is open to adults and kids age 10 and older. Meet at the Nature Center, 7380 Gabbiano Lane. Visit .
Coastal Roots Farm to hold 10th anniversary celebration ‘Taste of the Farm’ event
Coastal Roots Farm invites the community to celebrate its 10th anniversary with “Taste of the Farm” on Sunday, May 18, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Enjoy farm-to-fork tasting stations, artisan-crafted libations, live music, and meaningful connections, all while supporting the Farm’s mission of nourishing community and caring for the planet, a news release stated.
The evening will feature local chefs, curated bites, and craft drinks in a vibrant celebration of the Farm’s impact and future. Featured Culinary Partners include: Chef Christina Ng of Berry Good Food Foundation; Chef Mark Enciso of Order Fire Barbecue; Chef Tiffany Tincher of The Blooming Apron; Culinary Concepts; Fox Point Farms; Jimbo’s; Pure Project; Snake Oil Cocktail Co.; Urban Kitchen tickets and more information, visit
Lego Festival through June 9
The Lego Festival will run on weekends from May 3 through June 9 at Legoland California Resort, One Legoland Drive. Highlights of the event include five hands-on zones focused on music, creativity, dance, gaming and chill time. Visitors receive festival lanyards and can pose with a Lego “I Heart Play” model unique to California. Day passes typically start at $89. Visit /california.
Art guild puts on garden tours
The Mother’s Day Weekend Art, Garden & Studio Tour hosted by the nonprofit San Dieguito Art Guild will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 10-11 at eight North County homes featuring more than 30 exhibits by local artists. Refreshments will be served. Tickets are valid for both days and homes may be revisited. Tickets are $35 at Off Track Gallery, 937 S. Coast Highway 101, or , or day of event sites. Tickets are free for children ages 17 and younger.
‘World of Orchids’ at Botanic Garden
The San Diego Botanic Garden hosts its annual spring orchids show, “World of Orchids,” from May 4-June 1 in the glass-enclosed Dickinson Family Education Conservatory, 300 Quail Gardens Drive.
The show includes plants on loan from the San Diego County Orchid Society and the Palomar Orchid Society, along with local businesses. There will be classes and vendors on select weekends. Garden hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Tuesdays).
Reservations are recommended. Show entry is included with $18 garden admission; $15 for military, student, adults 60-plus; $10 for ages 3 to 17 and free for younger than 3 and for garden members. Visit /world-of-orchids.
Animal shelter seeks teen foster volunteers
The Teen Foster Program at Rancho Coastal Humane Society gives teenagers 15 and older a chance to work hands-on with animals while they earn service hours for their school or other organization. The average length of stay in foster care is four to six weeks. Training and parent approval are required. For more information, call 760-753-6413 or visit .
Pet adoption fees reduced
Rancho Coastal Humane Society at 389 Requeza St. is among the animal shelters participating in Bissell Pet Foundation’s Empty the Shelters event through May 15. Adoption fees for adult dogs and cats will be $70 through May 15. Visit /empty-the-shelters.
Criminalist to speak at AAUW meeting
The Del Mar-Leucadia Branch of American Association of University Women will host Monica McCall, a criminalist at the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office, for a presentation, “Forensics: The Science of Solving Crimes,” from 2 to 4 p.m. May 10 at the Encinitas Community Center, 1140 Oakcrest Park Drive. McCall will talk about her job as a forensic scientist.
The event will also honor 15 seventh-grade girls from San Dieguito Union High School District chosen by the branch to attend Tech Trek virtual STEM camp or weeklong residential camp at the University of San Diego this summer. There will be social time at 2 p.m. followed by the program at 2:30. Visit .
North Coast Symphony presents ‘Voices of Spring’
The North Coast Symphony Orchestra presents Voices of Spring, a program of operatic favorites, on Saturday, May 17 at 2:30 p.m. at the San Dieguito United Methodist Church, 170 Calle Magdelena, Encinitas.
The performance features Katherine Polit (soprano), Sarah-Nicole Ruddy-Carter (mezzo soprano), Aaron Humble (tenor), and Michael Sokol (baritone), and includes selections from operas by Delibes, Saint-Saens, Donizetti, Verdi, Offenbach, and Wagner.
The orchestra will also premiere the orchestrated version of “A Long Trip,” a 17-minute opera by its conductor Jordan Kuspa. Admission: $18 general, $15 seniors/students/military, free for children 18 and under. For more information, visit
North Coast Rep presents comic mystery ‘Peril in the Alps’
North Coast Repertory Theatre is now featuring the world premiere comic mystery “Peril in the Alps” through May 25 (recently extended date).
The twin sister of Captain Hastings wife, Dulcie, has been kidnapped — and Hercule Poirot rightly expects not only extortion to follow, but murder. Using elements of Agatha Christie’s “Poirot Investigates,” Steven Dietz creates a sequel to his wildly popular Murder on the Links, taking the audience on a thrilling and dangerous trip to the snow-capped Alps, where the famed Belgian detective may finally meet his match.
Six actors bring to life dozens of eccentric characters and clever suspects in this diabolically funny comic mystery, according to a news release. North Coast Rep is located at 987 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Solana Beach. For tickets and more information, call 858-481-1055, or visit .
Balboa Park Pow Wow
The 37th annual Balboa Park Pow Wow celebrating Native American heritage is from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 10-11 in Balboa Park at the corner of Park Boulevard and Presidents Way.
The family-friendly community event, hosted by San Diego American Indian Health Center, features Native American music, dance and art. Highlights include Native American singers, drummers and dancers in traditional regalia from throughout the Southwest sharing traditions such as Kumeyaay Bird Singing, gourd dancing, inter-tribal dancing, and honoring of community leaders.
There will be dozens of local vendors and food booths serving fry bread and other Native American dishes. Native American artists will sell handcrafted goods, such as jewelry, clothing, blankets and art. Admission is free. Visit /powwow.
Braver Angels group offers cross-partisan discussion
The San Diego Alliance of Braver Angels will hold a discussion from 10 a.m. to noon May 10 on the First Amendment and the Separation of Church and State at the Serra Mesa-Kearny Mesa Community Library, 9005 Aero Drive. For more information or to RSVP, email byoung@.