The launch of 2024 brings with it opportunities for self reflection and discovery. Several venues in coastal North San Diego County offer events that fall in line with this theme. From Encinitas and Carlsbad to Oceanside, you can find music, artistic expression, athletics and more. This time around, January turns out to be an active way to launch the new year.
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
Jan. 13: Challenging the Inner Critic — Join artist Cheryl Tall and art therapist Ellen Speert at the California Center for Creative Renewal for a clay workshop where participants will be led in how to hand build a representation of the voice that shouts or whispers unwanted messages, bringing the opportunity to quiet if not totally silence it. Tall is a Southern California based artist whose work focuses on the relationships between people and their environments, and often includes architectural and figurative elements. She is especially known for her pinch coil technique, which gives her work an unusual texture reminiscent of wood shingles or scales. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. the center, located at 1905 Crest Drive. Registration: artretreats.com/events/challenging-the-inner-critic.
Jan. 19: “Bach and Rock” — The Hutchins Consort presents its latest installment of the music of Johann Sebastian Bach paired with arrangements of great rock ‘n’ roll, including a new rock tune, “Rain Cried Softly,” by Gregg Young. Audiences will be treated to classic arrangements of artists such as The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix and Nirvana. Time is 7 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 890 Balour Drive. More information: givebutter.com/HutchinsBachRock-ENC.
Jan 21: Tu B’Shvat Food Forest Festival 2024 — The Coastal Roots Farm presents a festival highlighting a Jewish tradition that celebrates the interconnectedness of people and nature. This year’s theme, “Together we Grow,” is a reminder of the profound power of this connection. Every relationship, whether between people and plants, creatures and culture, is greater together than the sum of its parts. Tu B’Shvat Food Forest Festival 2024 runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Suggested donations are $20 for adults and $10 for children. The Coastal Roots Farm is located at 441 Saxony Road. More information: coastalrootsfarm.org/event/tu-bshvat-food-forest-festival-2024/.
Carlsbad
Jan. 13: Kids Marathon Mile at Legoland — Legoland California Resort joins In Motion to present this season’s Kids Marathon Mile ahead of the Carlsbad Marathon. The 1-mile fun run is available to children of all ages and abilities. A portion of each registration will be donated to the nonprofit Merlin’s Magic Wand. Registration and event information is available through In Motion Events at inmotionevents.com/event/kids-marathon-mile/.
Jan. 14: Carlsbad Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K Run — The annual Carlsbad Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K Run returns for an event that takes participants along miles of ocean views. Registration and event information is available through In Motion Events at inmotionevents.com/event/carlsbad-marathon/.
Jan. 21-Feb. 17: David Zapf Collection a Phes Gallery — The Phes Gallery in Carlsbad Village hosts a show honoring the David Zapf Gallery, which was a San Diego artistic mainstay until the mid-2000s. The show and sale, which launches Sunday, Jan. 21, with an opening reception, includes paintings, prints, photographs and sculptures from such artists as David Baze, Johnny Coleman, DeLoss McGraw and Philipp Scholz Rittermann. The full catalog is pending and will be available on our website. All proceeds go to the Zapf family. Phes Gallery is located at 2633 State St. Gallery hours are Thursday-Saturday, 2-7 p.m., and by appointment. More information is available at phesgallery.com.
Ongoing: State Street Farmers’ Market — The Carlsbad Village Association’s State Street Farmers’ Market returned to winter hours in November, running through next March. The market runs Wednesdays from 2:30 to 6 p.m. Visitors can purchase fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, cheese, eggs, nuts and honey, in addition to fresh flowers and plants. Artisan food vendors sell items such as bread, granola, yogurt, bone broth, kombucha, fudge, cookies and more. For more information visit the association’s market even page. Check the association’s website for weather-related cancellations at carlsbad-village.com/events/farmers-market.
Oceanside
Jan. 5-7: “RENT, The Musical” at Oceanside Theatre Co. — After a sold-out run originally mounted by Wildsong Productions at the OB Playhouse, The Oceanside Theatre Co. brings “RENT, The Musical” to the Brooks Theater in downtown Oceanside for one weekend.Set in the East Village of New York City, the show is about falling in love, finding one’s voice and living for today. The Brooks Theater is located at 217 N. Coast Highway. Show dates and times are available at wildsong-productions.ticketleap.com/rent-at-oceanisde-theater-company/dates.
Jan. 13: WSA Western Surfing Championship Tour — The Western Surfing Association’s western tour returns to Oceanside for an all-day competition at Oceanside Harbor. The WSA is the oldest competition surfing association in the United States and the largest on the West Coast. More information is available at visitoceanside.org/events/wsa-western-surfing-championship-tour/.
Feb. 17-18: “Generational Black Pioneers — Featuring Oceanside Firsts” — Presented by Oceanside Theatre Company, Oceanside Historical Society, and Bliss Tea and Treats, this year’s “Generational Black Pioneers” will recreate impactful moments in the 1960s to the present, depicting the turmoil and challenges that brought long-awaited change. Two shows are scheduled: Saturday, Feb. 17, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 18, at 2:30 p.m. at the Brooks Theater, 217 N. Coast Highway in Oceanside. Call the Oceanside Historical Society for more information at 760-722-4786.
Submit events for publication to the North Coast Current and OsideNews at currentevents[at]northcoastcurrent.com.