Lakehouse Food & Wine Festival Returns to San Marcos

This lakeside celebration is bringing together 30+ local restaurants, breweries, wineries, and distilleries for an afternoon of unlimited samples and voting.

San Marcos is getting ready to host one of North County’s favorite food and drink gatherings. The 5th Annual Lakehouse Food & Wine Festival is coming back to the scenic lawn at Lakehouse Resort, and it’s shaping up to be another solid afternoon of local flavors and community vibes.

The Setup

This isn’t some stuffy tasting event. We’re talking about a laid-back lakeside setup where folks can wander around, sample unlimited bites and sips from more than 30 vendors, and vote for their favorites.

It’s the kind of thing that works whether we’re catching up with friends or just looking for a reason to spend a Saturday afternoon outside.

What’s Included in General Admission

The festival runs for three hours, giving everyone plenty of time to make their way through the vendor lineup. Expect to find a solid mix of North County and San Diego restaurants, craft breweries, local wineries, and distilleries offering samples of what they do best.

Each ticket comes with a souvenir glass and access to all the tastings, plus the chance to vote in the people’s choice awards.

The whole thing is set on the resort’s lakefront lawn, so the setting already does half the work. It’s one of those spots where the backdrop makes everything feel a little more special without trying too hard.

VIP Access Adds an Island Experience

For anyone looking to go a bit bigger, VIP tickets unlock early entry starting at noon and access to something called the Island Experience. That means a boat ride out to a more intimate tasting setup with select vendors, which is a nice touch if we’re in the mood to make an afternoon of it.

Early entry also means first dibs on samples before the general crowd arrives, which can make a difference when popular vendors start running low on their best stuff.

A Festival That Keeps Coming Back

This is the fifth year for the event, and that kind of consistency says something about how well it resonates with the community. It’s become a springtime tradition for a lot of people in the area, whether they’re serious foodies or just appreciate a good time with a drink in hand and some sunshine overhead.

The vendor lineup changes each year, so even if we’ve been before, there’s usually something new to try. And the voting element adds a little friendly competition that keeps things interactive.

See you there!

Grab an early bird ticket and spend the afternoon tasting your way through some of North County’s best food and drink on the lake.

📆 Saturday, April 18, 2026, 12 PM (VIP) / 1 PM (GA) – 4 PM
📍 1025 La Bonita Drive, San Marcos
🎟️ Tickets here
ℹ️ More info here

See you there, San Diego!