Travel to a new city with the family can be daunting: What to do, where to do, when to travel? There’s a lot to consider.
Planning a getaway with your crew can be made (a little) easier when traveling for a specific event. Find something everyone can get excited about and work it into your schedule, or simply use a fun festival as an excuse to get out and enjoy the city for the day.
One of the best ways to explore San Diego like a local is with the locals, and locals love a festival — luckily, there is always something going on in this City in Motion. After a long, cold winter, break away for the West Coast, just in time for San Diego’s spring festival lineup.
International Mariachi Festival
Celebrate Mexican arts and culture during the annual International Mariachi Festival. This San Diego tradition honors Mexican heritage with music — and lots of it. Festivalgoers head to Chula Vista’s Bayside Park, March 8, 2020, for live mariachi music, colorful costumes, traditional Mexican cuisine, an adults-only beverage garden, live ballet performances, folk dancing and more. Families have an entire area catering to all ages, with a children’s stage, face painting and rock-climbing wall.

Mariachi culture in San Diego. Photo: Scott Jones | Dreamstime.com
San Diego’s wild history of prospectors and gold rush opportunists come back to life April 6, 2020, at the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. This unique tradition kicks off at dusk (around 7:15 p.m.) with storytellers and, well, liars, competing in the Peg Leg Smith Liar’s Contest. In honor of 1800s mountain man and famous storyteller Thomas L. Smith, or “Peg Leg” Smith, web-spinners of all ages can enter in the competition to be judged on presentation, props, originality, costumes and theme.
Annual Fallbrook Avocado Festival
Did someone say avocado? While it may sound like millennial bait for your adult children, Annual Fallbrook Avocado Festival has actually been a beloved tradition since the 1960s. The April 19, 2020, event includes live entertainment, avocado-themed goods, cooking contests, guacamole-making contests, beer gardens, crowning of Little Miss and Little Mister Avocado and, of course, plenty of chances to sample the local product.
Chicano Park Day
San Diego’s diverse population of Chicano and Mexican residents celebrates its 50th anniversary with a free event, April 25, 2020. Home of the largest collection of Chicano murals in the world, Chicano Park hosts the free event, filled with dancing, music, indigenous traditions, a low-rider car show and art workshops for kids.
San Diego Surf Film Festival
With a strong surf culture and artistic side, this city expertly blends the two with an international surf film festival: San Diego Surf Film Festival. Guests can meet filmmakers and local artists at a luncheon, or just enjoy the live music, art and festivities each May.
Read This Next
#WhereverFamily
Insta FeedHotels
Mar 10, 2025This “Bee & Bee” Hotel Offers a Fun Take on London City Life
If you think taking the family to London means you’ve got to settle for a stuffy, old-fashioned hotel during your stay, then you haven’t heard of St. Ermin’s. This charming hotel has been around since 1892 in the heart of London’s historic Westminster neighborhood, residing midway between Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey.
Sponsored Content
Madrid: A Destination for All Ages
However one is traveling, what matters is having fun and creating unforgettable memories. Among many ways to travel, multigenerational trips — on which grandparents, parents and children get to spend quality time together — are gaining popularity. Setting out on this sort of adventure? Madrid has something to offer everyone!
Hotels
Mar 10, 2025Ko’a Kea Resort in Kauai Launches New Babymoon Offer
Ko’a Kea Resort on Po’ipu Beach, Kauai’s closest accommodation to the water, launched Blissful Beginnings, a new package for parents-to-be. Before your couple’s trip becomes family travel, embark on one last escape to connect and unwind in a scenic setting.
Hotels
Mar 7, 2025Family-Friendly Offerings at COMO Maalifushi
COMO Maalifushi invites family travelers to the Maldives for a host of family-friendly offerings.
Travel Goods
Mar 7, 2025This Device Ensures a Safe Spring Break for Your College Kids
Unexpected events can happen on every trip, let alone family travel with young ones involved. Factor in your older kid heading out on a trip with friends to a beachside destination, parents’ anxieties can reach an all-time high. Ease your stress this spring break with Silent Beacon, a safety device providing instant emergency responses without the need to unlock a phone or rely on stable cell service.
Hotels
Mar 6, 2025Spring Happenings at Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita
Plan spring family travel to Riviera Nayarit, Mexico, with a luxurious stay at Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita. This oceanfront resort has something for everyone, from hands-on activities to holiday celebrations.
ShareThis