Fantasy grows at San Diego County Fair!

Once Upon a Fair is this year’s theme for the San Diego County Fair. Fairy tales, beloved picture books, popular fiction and timeless classics are celebrated in fantastic exhibits throughout the Del Mar Fairgrounds.

The ever-popular Garden Show, not surprisingly, has become a place where gardening clubs from around the San Diego region have “hybridized” beautiful flowers and plants with . . . fantasy!

Walk around the Garden Show and you’re likely to discover scenes from wonderfully imaginative works like Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz, Snow White, The Three Little Pigs, The Tortoise and the Hare, The Little Mermaid, and more.

I always delight in the huge model train layout built by the San Diego Garden Railway Society. Their display this year contains fantasy elements from many well known tales.

Check out the following photographs! What stories can you identify?

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Longfellow quote graces Fletcher Cove Park.

A beautiful poetic quote by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow graces an ocean overlook at Fletcher Cove Park in Solana Beach.

Sit in reverie and watch the changing color of the waves

that break upon the idle seashore of the mind

Avengers: Doomsday comes to San Diego!

Doomsday has come to San Diego!

Street lamp banners have begun to appear around downtown San Diego promoting Marvel’s upcoming blockbuster movie Avengers: Doomsday. Comic-Con is a little over a month away!

You know the hype will be out of this world for a movie that fans are already excited about. Will Doctor Doom triumph over the multiverse’s mightiest heroes?

Will San Diego be the epicenter of world-shattering superhero action? It sure looks that way!

Stand by for much more Avengers fun in the days ahead!

If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!

Another cool Crunchyroll trolley for Comic-Con!

New trolley wraps are appearing almost daily in San Diego for upcoming Comic-Con 2026!

I spotted another one this morning at Santa Fe Depot that promotes multiple anime series offered by the Crunchyroll streaming service.

Shows depicted in the graphics include Chainsaw Man, Black Clover, One Piece…

If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!

My Hero Academia trolley for Comic-Con 2026!

A new San Diego trolley wrap for Comic-Con 2026 celebrates 10 years of My Hero Academia, all of which is available to stream on Crunchyroll!

The graphics represent exciting action from the long running, ultra popular anime series.

This trolley wrap celebrating My Hero Academia has rolled out just in time for “Hero Day” in Japan, which was observed on June 16th. A special 10th anniversary video can be viewed by My Hero Academia fans here. It’s titled “You Can Be a Hero.”

Meanwhile, check out what Comic-Con goers will be seeing next month on certain trolleys passing in front of the San Diego Convention Center!

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If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!

Learn beach safety in Encinitas and win a prize!

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This Saturday, June 20, 2026, you have the opportunity to learn about beach safety in Encinitas…and win a cool prize, too!

Come down to Moonlight Beach in Encinitas and visit the Ocean Safety Awareness Booth out on the sand between 11 am and 2 pm. The booth is hosted by the Encinitas Youth Commission, Encinitas Marine Safety Division and AMR.

In addition to learning CPR and ocean safety facts, you can win fun prizes and enter a drawing for a FREE pair of AirPods!

While you’re there, why not spend an awesome day at one of San Diego North County’s great beaches!

Some photos from past years…

Photo courtesy Chet Kinzelberg.
Photo courtesy Chet Kinzelberg.

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Fletcher Cove history at the playground.

A sign posted inside the playground at Solana Beach’s Fletcher Cove provides some history of the place. I discovered the sign this morning and thought you might enjoy a look.

An old aerial photograph allows the viewer to see how Fletcher Cove had changed between 1923 and 2023.

In 1923, Colonel Ed Fletcher began a project that would provide easy public access to the beach. High pressure water sprayed with a fire hose would carve a path down to the beach through the sandstone bluffs.

On July 4, 1924, Fletcher Cove opened with great fanfare!

Hotel del Coronado wood in Solana Beach!

You never know what cool sight you’ll find by just walking around randomly. This morning I spotted a bit of the Hotel del Coronado in Solana Beach!

Several old Douglas fir wood beams from the 1800s have been incorporated into the entrance of Rustic Root in Solana Beach. The old wood is from a construction project at the historic Hotel del Coronado. The salvaged wood was repurposed by Old Fashioned Lumber.

I once visited Old Fashioned Lumber in Barrio Logan. See those cool photos here!

Finest woodworking in the nation at Del Mar!

The most exceptional part of the San Diego County Fair is arguably the Design in Wood exhibition. Exquisitely crafted wood art, furniture, boats, musical instruments and more are exhibited in what has been described as the premiere woodworking show in the United States.

The San Diego Fine Woodworkers Association produces this annual show at the fair in Del Mar. Every time I go the fair I make sure to check it out. Most of the pieces that are displayed will absolutely, positively blow your mind!

Don’t believe me? I submit for your consideration a few photographs!

You might notice a few photos of woodworkers demonstrating their craft at the show. Several local woodworking organizations participate, right there in front of curious fair visitors, making tops, model ships, toys and other objects. Some carve by hand. Others shape pieces of spinning wood using a lathe, or use woodworking scroll saws.

Going to the San Diego County Fair this year? Don’t miss the Design in Wood exhibition!

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Come enjoy free Love City Heights Day!

Everyone is invited to enjoy a free festival this Saturday in City Heights. Love City Heights Day will take place at Pop-up Winona, at 4951 El Cajon Boulevard.

There will be live music, live painting, food, community vendors and fun for the whole family!

Come by between 2 and 9 pm. Check out the above flyer for all the info.