February roared in with a major storm to start the month, and while it marks the height of the rainy season in San Diego County, there are still events to enjoy in between the bans of rain.
North County communities, organizations and businesses all have a lot to offer. With a month as damp as February, it might be easy to forget that our region’s farmers markets, for example, are active at this time of year. The February Spotlight starts includes a rundown of our community farmers markets, which are open with winter hours, weather permitting.
February marks Black History Month as well, and institutions offer a variety of programs highlighting the contributions of local and national figures to our communities, nation, and world.
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.
Black History Month
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.
Feb. 21: “Six Triple Eight” online documentary screening — The Vista-based nonprofit Foundation for Women Warriors hosts an online screening of the documentary “Six Triple Eight” in honor of Black History Month from 6 to 8 p.m. The virtual event is free and open to the public. The documentary tells the story of the Six Triple Eight, which was a U.S. Army battalion of 855 Black women who were sent in 1945 to England and France to clear the backlog of mail in the European Theater of Operations. The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the origin of the name Six Triple Eight, was the only all-Black female battalion to serve in Europe during World War II. Visit the event site for more information.
MiraCosta College: Find events celebrating Black History Month throughout February at MiraCosta College, from virtual biographies of MiraCosta students, staff and faculty that share personal, educational and professional experiences and how they are making an impact as leaders today, to online displays through the campus library that feature items from its collections. Information about MiraCosta’s celebration can be found at the campus’ Black History Month event site.
Palomar College: The Black Faculty and Staff Association of Palomar College presents its fourth annual Black History Month celebration throughout February. With the theme “African Americans and the Arts,” the association invites the community to study the artistic contributions of people of African descent and the rich history of Black artisans. A Black History Month Fair is also slated for Thursday, Feb. 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the main campus Student Union in San Marcos. A Black History Month Workshop Series also runs the entire month. More information can be found at palomar.edu/pbfsa/.
California State University San Marcos: Black History Month takes a shift at CSU San Marcos with events celebrating Black Excellence Month. The university’s Black Student Center has set the theme “Empowerment to the People” to foster empowerment among the CSUSM Black community through the arts, education, student engagement and community initiatives. Information about Black Excellence Month can be found at the university’s website.
Farmers markets
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 noon and has international food offerings, plant sales and a variety of vendors. The Leucadia Farmers Market, sponsored by Leucadia 101 Main Street, runs Sundays, except Easter, 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 6 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.
Submit events for publication to the North Coast Current and OsideNews at currentevents[at]northcoastcurrent.com.