The North Coast Current and OsideNews appreciate readers’ patience in May as the sites had email and website accessibility issues during the first half of the month. With those challenges fixed, we bring you a rundown of some noteworthy events for the end of May and the start of June.
Click the links embedded in this story’s text for more information about the events covered. Information for this month’s Spotlight is provided by organizations and individuals in the communities covered by the North Coast Current and OsideNews.
Encinitas
May 23: “Common Ground” — Coastal Roots Farm presents one of a five-part series featuring documentary films, local musicians and conversations around equitable food systems, environmental justice, and caring for the planet. The documentary “Common Ground,” directed by Josh and Rebecca Tickell, covers toxic interconnections of American farming policy, politics and how regenerative agriculture and soil health plays an important role in changing these systems for the better. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with live music by Lee Coulter and table presentations by local organizations. Admission is $10 per person, and pre-registration is required. The nonprofit Coastal Roots Farm is located 441 Saxony Road in Encinitas. More information is available at the farm’s event page.
Starting May 25: Off Track Gallery Small Image Show submissions — The July Small Image Show at the Off Track Gallery is open to all Southern California artists including non-members. Cash awards will be awarded for Best of Show and First place in each of five categories. Show entries are accepted starting May 25. The deadline for entering is June 19 or once 100 entries are reached. A reception for participating artists and an award ceremony for the winners will be held on June 29 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. as part of the city of Encinitas’ Art Night. Email OffTrackMonthlyShow@gmail.com for more information.
Now through May 27: World of Orchids — The San Diego Botanic Garden hosts its annual spring World of Orchids showcase, in its 8,000-square-foot, glass-enclosed Dickinson Family Education Conservatory. The show also features vendors on select weekends selling plants, potting materials and other merchandise. The World of Orchids requires a special exhibition ticket of $7 in addition to general admission for non-members ages 18 and over. Members receive free admission. Online reservations are strongly encouraged for all guests. Go to the garden’s reservations page to purchase tickets. The San Diego Botanic Garden is located at 300 Quail Gardens Drive in Encinitas. Visit sdbg.org for more information.
Carlsbad
Now through June 30: U-Pick Strawberry Season — The family-run Carlsbad Strawberry Co. fields has opened its fields for U-Pick Strawberry Season, where visitors can pick their own berries. Customers must pay first, and then they can pick buckets of strawberries provided that they are not overfilled. More information and rules are available at the fields’ website. The Carlsbad Strawberry Co. is located at 1050 Cannon Road.
June 1: Fesstivity Pickleball Tournament — The Fess Parker Winery team comes to the Omni La Costa Resort for its first Fesstivity Pickleball Tournament. A $225 ticket price reserves a team of two and includes a tournament T-shirt for each team member in addition to wine and snacks at a reception after the matches. There is a limit of 26 teams (52 people total). The double-elimination pickleball competition will take place from noon to 2:30 p.m., with a winners reception with wine, snacks and awards following from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Prizes for first, second and third place teams will be presented. Prizes include a two-night midweek stay at the Fess Parker Wine Country Inn in Los Olivos, horseback ride and tasting for two people and a Library Tasting for four people at Fess Parker Winery. Omni La Costa Resort is located at 2100 Costa Del Mar Rd in Carlsbad. For more information and to reserve teams, visit the Fess Parker Winery event site.
Oceanside
Now through May 26: “Next to Normal” at Oceanside Theatre Co. — The Oceanside Theatre Co. presents the 2009 Tony Awards winning “Next to Normal,” written by Brian Yorkey with music by Tom Kitt, directed by Frankie Errington with musical direction by Lyndon Pugeda now through May 26. The story centers around the shadows of the mother’s 16-year battle with bipolar disorder and the roles each of her family members has had to play. The Oceanside Theatre Co. is located at 217 N. Coast Highway. For more information and ticket reservations, visit the theater’s 2024 Main Stage Season webpage.
May 26: North County Fishermen’s Market — Head to Oceanside Harbor, 401 Riverside Drive, on Sundays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. to meet the local fishing community while shopping the freshest local fish and seafood at the North County Fisherman’s Market! Local chefs and foodies alike have access to fresh-caught markets that help supply Oceanside with the food on their plates. Keep track of the market’s schedule on its Instagram page, and go to the market’s website at https://fishermensmarket.co/ for a list of the kinds of seafood sold. (https://www.instagram.com/fishermensmarket/)
May 31: Summer movie season kicks off with “Barbie” — The Oceanside Parks and Recreation Department welcomes residents and visitors to the start of its Movies in the Park season with “Barbie” at the Junior Seau Pier Amphitheater from 7 to 9 p.m. The family-friendly event will include a variety of activities as well. Organizers recommend that participants bring chairs, blankets and snacks. The Junior Seau Pier Amphitheater is located at 200 North Strand. Call 760-435-5041 for more information, and visit the event’s Instagram post.
Farmers markets
Check out the region’s farmers markets, some of which have updated hours.
Encinitas: The city has two farmers markets highlighting the unique nature of its individual communities. The Cardiff Farmer’s Market, sponsored by Cardiff 101 Main Street and located at the Mira Costa College campus, 3333 Manchester Ave., runs Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and has international food offerings, plant sales and a variety of vendors. The Leucadia Farmers Market, sponsored by Leucadia 101 Main Street, runs Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Paul Ecke Central School, 185 Union St. The Leucadia market has more than 30 certified growers, 10 certified organic growers, and more than 70 vendors.
Carlsbad: The State Street Farmers’ Market is a Carlsbad Village staple, currently running winter hours from 2:30 to 7 p.m. through early March. The market is located at State Street between Carlsbad Village Drive and Grand Avenue. This lively market, sponsored by the Carlsbad Village Association, focuses on fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, cheese, eggs, nuts and honey. Fresh flowers and plants are also a big part of the market. Artisan food vendors offer such goodies as bread, granola, yogurt, bone broth, kombucha, fudge and cookies.
Oceanside: Like Encinitas, Oceanside has two markets, in this case highlighting morning and afternoon into the evening. The Oceanside Morning Farmers Market is held Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. all year. If you are searching for fresh local produce, flowers and nursery items, this is the market for you! But that’s not all we have. The market offers a variety of gourmet foods including artisan baked goods, organic honey, salsa and chips, dips and sauces, olives and olive oil, as well as floral and plant sales. The Sunset Market runs Thursdays from 5 to 9 p.m. and features about 200 merchants. The market spans four city blocks on Pier View Way west of Coast Highway. The Sunset Market includes children’s activities including Dorothy’s KidZone. Both markets are sponsored by MainStreet Oceanside.
San Marcos: The open-air San Marcos Farmers Market is held in the growing North City area near California State University San Marcos and is held Tuesdays with winter season hours of 3 to 7 p.m. The market can be found off Twin Oaks Valley Road at 251 N. City Drive. Visitors can find a variety of vendors offering local fresh fruits and vegetables, baked goods, fresh flowers, local honey, bread, eggs, yogurt, Kombucha, and artisan-packaged foods and specialty prepared hot foods.
Vista: The Vista Farmers Market runs 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays, rain or shine. at the San Diego County Courthouse, 345 South Melrose Drive. The event is made up of five marketplaces — Food Specialties, consisting of foodmakers and farmers who produce what they sell; Certified Farmers Market, where farmers sell what they grow and benefit from being in a Certified Farmers Market; Worlds Fare, which serves foods from ethnic traditions around the world; Artisans Marketplace, which features local entrepreneurs who sell what they make; and the Gardeners Market, where farmers and craft makers sell items for your garden, from plants and pots to soil amendments.
Also in North County: The Solana Beach Farmers Market is open Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. at the Cedros Design District, 444 S. Cedros Ave. The Del Mar Farmers Market runs Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m. at the Del Mar Civic Center, 1050 Camino Del Mar. Free parking is available in the nearby garage. The Escondido Arts Partnership operates the Escondido Certified Farmers Market on Tuesdays from 2:30 p.m. until sunset at Heritage Garden Park in Downtown Escondido along Juniper Street between Grand Avenue and Valley Parkway. Also in Escondido, the Hidden Farmers’ Market offers fresh produce, baked goods and local products Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 123 Woodward Ave., near Grape Day Park and James Stone Pool.
Submit events for publication to the North Coast Current and OsideNews at currentevents[at]northcoastcurrent.com.