The Craving: San Diego Food + Drink News – Week of August 31, 2026

The Craving is ThereSanDiego's weekly guide to what's worth eating and drinking in San Diego right now. Every Tuesday, we surface new restaurant openings, standout happy hours, limited-time menu specials, and upcoming food events across the city - so you know what's happening before everyone else does.
San Diego Botanic Garden Fall Festival
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Autumn Magic Blooms at San Diego Botanic Garden
  • San Diego Botanic Garden
Who says we don’t do fall in Southern California?! San Diego Botanic Garden is about to prove the naysayers wrong with their Annual Fall Festival....
Artwalk Carlsbad
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ArtWalk Carlsbad Brings Fine Art to North County
ArtWalk Carlsbad is back for its 5th year, and it’s going to be a feast for the senses. Imagine over 150 talented artists from across...
Grand Social Concert Series at Fairmont Grand Del Mar
Grand Social’s Summer Vibes Keep Rockin’ Into September
Summer might be winding down, but the party’s just heating up at Fairmont Grand Del Mar! The Summer Concert Series at Grand Social is rolling...
Street Level Vol 2.4
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Dive Into OMA’s Ocean-Inspired Block Party Finale
  • Oceanside Museum of Art
We’re gearing up for an epic send-off as Oceanside Museum of Art drops its final summer block party. Street Level Vol 2.5 is rolling in,...
summer pop-up shopping event
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Seasonal Pop-Up Marketplace Brings Fall Favorites to Bazaar del Mundo Shops
  • Bazaar del Mundo
Old Town is getting a major style upgrade with a one-day-only Fall Pop-up event that’s not to be missed. Diane Powers’ Bazaar del Mundo Shops...
Let's Beat Breast Cancer Rally
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Plant Power Meets Pink at San Diego’s Breast Cancer Rally
  • North Park Mini Park
We’re turning North Park pink this September with the Let’s Beat Breast Cancer Rally, and you’re invited to join the beat! PlantDiego is hosting this...
Old Mission Beach Athletic Club To Host OMSurf 26th Annual Classic Longboard Surfing Contest
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OMBAC to Host OMSurf Classic Longboard Surfing Contest
Surf’s up, San Diego! Get ready to step back in time and catch some gnarly waves at the 30th Annual OMBAC OMSURF Classic Longboard Surfing...
Boots in the Park Waterfront Park San Diego
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Boots In The Park is Back at Waterfront Park
  • Waterfront Park
It’s time to dust off those cowboy boots and prep those vocal cords because Boots In The Park is galloping back into Waterfront Park! We’re...
The Secret Society of Adultologists at The NAT
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Dive Down the Rabbit Hole at The Nat’s Whimsical Wonderland Bash
  • Natural History Museum
We’re all mad here in San Diego, and we’re about to get even madder! The Secret Society of Adultologists is throwing a topsy-turvy shindig at...
Pirate and Mermaid Ball
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Ahoy, Mateys! Set Sail for the Ocean Institute’s Epic Maritime Festival
We’re dropping anchor at Dana Point for a swashbuckling celebration of maritime history that’ll shiver yer timbers! The Ocean Institute’s 40th Annual Maritime Festival is...
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Tropical Paradise Blooms in Balboa Park
We’re about to dive into a fragrant sea of color at the annual Plumeria Festival! The Southern California Plumeria Society is transforming Casa del Prado...
Public Impact Day Balboa Park
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Creativity Meets Action at Balboa Park’s Public Impact Day
  • Museum of Photographic Arts
Public Impact Day is rolling into town, and it’s set to transform Balboa Park into a hotbed of creativity and social change. This isn’t your...
Punches in piazza
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Knockout Night in Little Italy Packs a Punch for Charity
  • Little Italy
Get ready to rumble, San Diego! Our beloved Little Italy is about to transform into a boxing ring for one electrifying night. The second annual...
Christian Garcia-Olivo
A Vibrant Tapestry of Culture Comes to Liberty Station
The latest artistic marvel hitting ARTS DISTRICT Liberty Station is “Interlaced,” a solo exhibition by San Diego’s own Christian Garcia-Olivo set to blow your mind...
San Diego Botanic Garden
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San Diego Botanic Garden Caps Off Their Summer Season With “The Garden Party”
  • San Diego Botanic Garden
Get ready to party with a purpose, San Diego! The Garden Party at San Diego Botanic Garden (SDBG) is back, and it’s bringing all the...
Stefanie Bales Fine Art Celebrates 5 Years
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Stefanie Bales Fine Art Turns 6!
  • Stefanie Bales Fine Art
Join us in helping award-winning Fine Artist, muralist, and boutique gallery owner Stefanie Bales as she celebrates the 6th anniversary of her Little Italy gallery,...
live performances at Lou Lou's Jungle
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Lou Lou’s Jungle Room Heats Up Fall Nights
As the summer sun starts to set earlier, live performances at Lou Lou’s Jungle Room at The Lafayette Hotel are turning up the heat with...
pop-up market
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Oceanside Sunset Market Goes Big! More Food, More Fun, More Everything
Our beloved Oceanside Sunset Market is about to get even bigger and better. MainStreet Oceanside is rolling out the red carpet for an epic expansion,...
Dive In Movie Nights at The Pearl Hotel
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The Pearl Hotel’s Dive In Movie Nights are Back!
  • The Pearl Hotel
We’re diving headfirst into a pool of nostalgia, San Diego! The Pearl Hotel is bringing back its beloved Wednesday night tradition, Dive In Movie Nights....
KICKcancER Cocktails for a Cause
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KICKcancER’s Cocktails for a Cause Hits Oceanside
KICKcancER is bringing their “Cocktails for a Cause” event to Oceanside, and it’s shaping up to be the feel-good party of the season. Shake It...
Christopher Osborne joins Moe's Mission Beach
Moe’s Welcomes Renowned Chef Christopher Osborne to Lead its Culinary Revival
The beloved Mission Beach steakhouse, Moe’s, is leveling up its culinary game with the arrival of Christopher Osborne as the new Executive Chef. It’s a...
Living Seas exhibition
Birch Aquarium Announces Living Seas Transformation
The beloved Hall of Fishes is getting a major makeover, and we’re all invited to the grand reveal. Living Seas, the aquarium’s most ambitious exhibition...
Spreckels Organ Society
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Rock On, Balboa Park: Spreckels Organ Goes Psychedelic
  • Spreckels Organ Pavilion
Hold onto your tie-dye shirts, San Diego! The Spreckels Organ Society is about to blow our minds with their Annual Labor Day Classic Rock Concert....
Books & Records anniversary
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Books & Records’ Epic Birthday Bash
Our favorite vinyl-and-literature haven, Books & Records, is celebrating its one-year anniversary, and we’re all invited to the shindig. Tunes, Treats, and Tempting Tipples Get...
Upcoming Events
Wellness Experience at MCASD
Activate House Takes Over MCASD for the Last Mornings at the Museum of 2025
December 13, 2025
9:00 am
  • Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego
Mornings at the Museum is closing out 2025 with a full-blown, energy-packed takeover of the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego in La Jolla, and...
san diego santa run
San Diego Santa Run Brings 5K Fun to Pacific Beach
December 13, 2025
8:00 am
The 13th Annual San Diego Santa Run is happening in Pacific Beach, and if you’ve been looking for a 5K that’s less about PRs and...
Christmas in the Park at Old Poway Park
Enjoy an Old-Fashioned Christmas in Poway Park
December 12, 2025
3:30 pm
Step back in time and see old-fashioned holiday traditions come to life at Christmas in the Park at Old Poway Park. This annual celebration is...
Charlie Chaplain
Silent Movie Mondays Brings a Holiday Double Feature to the Balboa Theatre
December 10, 2025
7:00 pm
  • Balboa Theatre
The Balboa Theatre is dusting off two classic silent films for a special holiday edition of Silent Movie Mondays. We can catch Old Scrooge (1926)...
holiday nights Bernardo Winery
Bernardo Winery’s Holiday Nights is Back for 10 Festive Evenings
December 10, 2025
5:00 pm
  • Bernardo Winery
One of San Diego’s favorite holiday traditions is back, and it’s exactly the kind of festive escape December needs. The Full Holiday Experience Picture this:...