Tag: weekend

Anime San Diego debuts at convention center!

The popularity of anime has absolutely exploded in recent years. Series like One Piece, Cowboy Bebop, My Hero Academia, Dragon Ball, Pokémon, Naruto, Attack on Titan, Chainsaw Man, Demon Slayer and many others have become pop culture mainstays in America and around the world.

This growing popularity has spawned a variety of events that attract anime fans. One completely new event, debuting in 2026, is Anime San Diego. It’s being held this weekend at the San Diego Convention Center, the famous home of Comic-Con.

I was able to visit Anime San Diego on Saturday morning!

In addition to hundreds of vendors, artists and celebrity guests (many voice actors), the convention features an arcade zone, gaming tournaments, karaoke, live music, industry and fan panels, cosplay meetups, itasha cars, cool merch, giveaways, and just a whole lot of fun!

I was surprised at how many fans showed up and how awesome it all is! Not bad for their first year!

Check out some photos of the action!

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Pirates take San Diego waterfront Labor Day weekend!

Unsuspecting landlubbers: BEWARE!

Pirates will take San Diego’s waterfront this Labor Day weekend . . . and on September 19–20, 2026, too!

The scurvy friends of Captain Jack might be spotted among other pirates on the Embarcadero, in the vicinity of the Maritime Museum of San Diego!

Pirates Take the Waterfront will be a fun activity for families. Anyone who dresses like a pirate will get a huge discount on museum admission!

Captain Jack will be roaming among the Maritime Museum of San Diego’s historic ships in case you’d like a photo with the legendary rascal. On the second event weekend, there will be a Rum Bar, too!

I wouldn’t be surprised to hear a bit of yo-ho-hoing!

To learn more, click here.

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Gutsy Lady guts fish in San Diego!

Crew members of Gutsy Lady were on the deck of their fishing boat gutting fish this morning for the Saturday Tuna Harbor Dockside Market!

They were cleaning their fresh catch to be sold to anyone in San Diego who enjoys a healthy, tasty meal.

Gutsy Lady’s captain told me they are based in San Diego, after having made Honolulu their home. They sell fish to restaurants and dockside buyers. Every part of their catch is eagerly bought, fish heads and all!

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Saturday morning photos outside Comic-Con!

It’s Saturday morning in San Diego. Not your ordinary morning. Comic-Con 2026 has taken over the city!

Here come photographs from my morning walk outside the San Diego Convention Center.

Cosplay, fun sights, a mysterious activation setting up, workers cleaning yesterday’s mess, staff arriving, an endless Hall H line…

(Did you know today is National Hot Fudge Sundae Day?)

Yes, the Hall H line stretches forever. Star Trek and the big Marvel panels today!

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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!

San Diego Scottish Highland Games in Mission Valley!

The 50th San Diego Scottish Highland Games are being held this year in Mission Valley. After making Vista their home for many years, the annual festival has moved to the expansive SDSU Mission Valley river park, conveniently located next to the Stadium trolley station. The games will continue through Sunday. (Check out the above website for all the info.)

A huge crowd came out Saturday to enjoy the traditional games, not to mention the rousing pipe and drum competition, Highland dancing, sheepdog trials and the friendly gathering of several dozen Scottish clans.

During my visit I enjoyed watching amazing men and women compete out on a wide field. They were tossing heavy cabers, throwing hammers, putting braemar stones, and engaged in all sorts of astounding heavy athletics.

I love bagpipe music. So watching and listening to pipe and drum groups from around Southern California as they practiced and competed was quite enjoyable. The sound of bagpipes throughout the grassy park made me wonder if I’d been transported to Scotland!

Adults enjoyed a beer garden, families checked out vendors and watched the colorful Highland dancing, kids loved petting the fluffy heritage cattle. There was tons of fun for everyone!

I took the next photo from atop the elevated Stadium trolley station. You can see how big this event is!

We gather to remember where we came from, celebrate what has been passed down, and welcome those discovering Scottish culture for the first time.

At the Highland Games, heritage is not just something we study. It is something we hear, taste, wear, dance, throw, share, and carry forward.

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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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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.

Flag Day colors in Balboa Park.

Today, June 14th, is Flag Day.

I enjoyed a leisurely Sunday afternoon in Balboa Park. Could I find anything related to Flag Day as I wandered about the park?

This year there seemed to be no special activities for the day, but I did observe the red, white and blue in various forms…

I knew there would be colorful red, white and blue inside the House of USA at the International Cottages! There was a friendly greeting, too!

I learned they’ll be having a lawn program for the Fourth of July.

Now resuming my walk into the Palisades area of Balboa Park…

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Photos of 15th Annual Vista Strawberry Festival!

Strawberries here, strawberries there, strawberries everywhere!

At today’s 15th Annual Vista Strawberry Festival in historic downtown Vista, tens of thousands would crowd into multiple city blocks, exploring over 500 vendors, buying strawberry-themed gifts, enjoying live entertainment, having bushels of fun, devouring every sort of strawberry treat imaginable!

Families wore strawberry costumes, strawberry hats, strawberry dresses and shirts. Dogs often resembled berries. The standout color at the festival was red, not surprisingly.

Kids filled with sugar didn’t need the bounce houses to get jumping.

Smiles and funny surprises everywhere!

Almost forgot to mention–there were loads and loads of actual fresh strawberries for sale, too!

Photographs…

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Free attractions this weekend in Campo!

By driving east of San Diego to Campo this weekend, you can enjoy free admission to four cool attractions!

Admission will be free at the Campo Railroad Museum, the Motor Transport Museum, the Gaskill Brothers Stone Store, and the Camp Lockett Equestrian and Event Facility!

This weekend, May 2-3, 2026, Campo Days promises unforgettable family-friendly experiences. Pile the kids in the car and have an adventure!

The incredible Campo Railroad Museum, operated by the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum Association, itself is worth the trip. You can explore many old train cars parked on tracks at the museum, and even ride a vintage train should you purchase a ticket! Learn more about the Campo Railroad Museum at their website here.

I learned about Campo Days when I swung by the La Mesa Depot Museum today. This small free museum is also operated by the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum Association.

Station master Timothy showed me some of the work being done to restore No. 3, the 1923 steam locomotive which you might have seen while driving through downtown La Mesa. I blogged about its history and restoration about a year ago here.

Timothy loves to talk about trains and his personal experience as an engineer. The always free La Mesa Depot Museum also has a cool HO-scale train layout kids love.

If you can’t make it to Campo Days this weekend, head to La Mesa on a Tuesday or Thursday from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm, when the La Mesa Depot Museum is open. Admit it–you love trains, too!

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